Almost everyone gets their first go at hunting by chasing squirrels in the trees. They are abundant, but can still offer a challenge to beginners and veterans alike. Small game, like squirrel, set the stage and teach the basics of taking down larger game. This article will cover everything from identifying game to cleaning and preparation.
Know Your Target
Squirrels range all over the United States, into Canada, and various other parts of the world. They can be found from the forest to small parks in cities, wherever there is a tree with readily available food. There are two main types of squirrels that the hunter is commonly after: The Gray squirrel and Fox squirrel.
Gray squirrels are the most common species of squirrel ranging from parts of Canada all the way down to Georgia in urban and forest areas. Their fur is generally a lighter gray with variations of brown mixed in. They feast mainly on a diet of tree bark, acorns, walnuts, and berries.
Fox squirrels range about as far as gray squirrels. They are the largest squirrel species in North America and prefer a more forested habitat abundant in nuts. They are grey with rusty colored bellies and tails.
Choose Your Weapon:
There are many weapons you can use to hunt squirrel with, some even use bows for a challenge. The main firearms used to take down squirrel are .22 rim fire rifles, 20 and .410 gauge shotguns, and .177 air rifles. Each one has its pros and cons. Below I will break down each.
.22 rifles come in a variety of styles and actions ranging from bolt to lever. They are the most commonly used firearm for taking out squirrel due to its accuracy and ability to save more meat from the kill. Most hold at least eight shots and are great for The only downfall is .22 LR rounds are hard to find in recent years. You can purchase one new for a around $150.00 on up.
Shotguns are great hunting weapons all around. Their spray of bb’s from shells make it hard to miss your target. They come in a very wide variery from pump, semi-automatic, lever, single shot, and more. The only downfall to shotguns is picking the bb’s out of the meat when cleaning. Shotgun shells are always abundant, but guns can be pricey generally starting at around $300.00. One cool thing is you can also purchase shotguns that have interchangeable barrels to .22 rimfire.
Air rifles are great for people first learning to shoot as well as a option for hunting places close to people. Ammo for them is cheap and can be found at just about any sporting goods store. Low end models are cheap but can cost just as much as real rifles. They come in a variety of propellants from Co2, air, spring, and propane. Their biggest downfall is that most are single shots or have canisters that need to be refilled. You can pick one up from $100.00 to $500.00.
Scouting Your Prey:
No matter what you are going after the most important thing you can do is know the area you are hunting. Scouting an area for food and water sources will greatly increase your odds of a successful hunt.
Look for trees that grow the nuts these critters love to eat such as hickory, walnut, and oak. Pay attention as to what times of the day the squirrels are most active (usually early morning and dusk). Search the tree branches for nests or large holes they live in.
A really big thing to look for to see how active squirrels are on a particular tree is nut shells littering the ground near its base. Look for old stumps nearby they like to sit on while they crack the nuts. Don’t just look in the tree tops though. Squirrels spend more time on the ground than most people think, especially during fall. Listen for them scurrying through the leaves as they dig for fallen nuts.
The Hunt:
There are tons of ways to hunt, squirrel are no different. You could ask anyone you know who hunts how they do it and you will probably get different answers from everyone. We are going to focus on just two: stalking and good old fashion sitting.
Stalk hunting squirrel is the best way to cover large areas and hit your bag limit. It is also the hardest as it requires good eyes, subtle movements, and quick reflexes.
Move slowly. Walk two to three steps, stop, listen, look, and repeat. This mimics the sound of how deer and other animals walk. They are always on alert and in no hurry. Brisk, bipedal movement in a forest is unnatural to everything in it and a dead giveaway of a human.
Listen for barks and light scratching sounds of their claws against the trees. Watch for nuts dropping or leaves falling as they zip through the branches. If you think you spot one watch for their tail as it twitches uncontrollably and will give them away every time.
Stalk hunting is great to do in pairs if a squirrel spots you first. They will run around the opposite side of the tree and flatten themselves out. Have one person with their weapon at the ready and the other walk around the tree. When the squirrel runs back around you can take your shot. Just be sure to know your partners exact position.
Your other option is to sit near an active tree and wait. Lean your back to the trunk of an adjacent tree, rest your weapon on your knee, and keep quiet. I have literally had squirrels almost run straight into me doing this.
It is best to also use some surrounding brush to help break up your outline and help blend in if you don’t want to wear full camouflage. You can shoot a few, collect them, sit back down, and wait for the next wave to come.
When stalk hunting or sitting, don’t rush when you spot one, take your time. As long as they don’t see you first or are busy crunching on a nut they will not move right away. Just slowly lift your weapon and wait for your shot. Aim for the head with a .22 or for mass body with a shotgun.
Cleaning and Storage:
After getting your bag limit you need to learn to clean your kills. The best thing about small game is that they are quick and easy, especially once you have done a few.
First take a sharp knife or bone shears and cut off their tails and feet. Next cut a slit from their anus to their rib cage, careful not to rupture any internal organs that will spoil the meat. Reach inside and carefully pull out all the organs.
Flip them on their stomachs and cut, just through the skin, a hole big enough to get your two pointer fingers through. Grab the skin and pull towards opposite ends. The skin will pull off and over his feet on both ends. When you pull the skin up to his head on the front, stop and cut the head off.
Dispose of the skin and organs, or feed the organs to your dog as a treat. Take the skinned and gutted meat to your sink. Wash as much as the dried blood and any hair stuck to the meat off in cool water. The meat is now ready to be cooked or stored in the freezer.
To store the meat I lightly dry them with a towel and place them in storage bags. Get as much air out as you can before zipping them up. Stick them in the freezer and they will keep for up to a year.
Tips
Here are a few quick tips before you get out there and get to the woods:
- You don’t have to wear full camouflage to hunt squirrel or other small game. A orange vest or hat is a good idea though just so others in the area can see you.
- Consult your local hunting guide or official for rules pertaining to squirrel hunting. Know your bag and carry limit, as well what is and isn’t allowed for taking small game.
- Always check with land owners before hunting anywhere, and if on a WMA make sure you know the boundaries.
Finally have some fun and older guys remember to take the little ones out to keep the tradition alive.
All images courtesy of Cabela’s and Wikipedia.
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