The Basics of Squirrel Hunting

Some people may scoff at the notion of hunting gray and fox squirrels. Moreover, talking about eating squirrels may invite weird looks. I personally have heard the term "tree rat" or "rats with bushy tails" shot my way regularly when bringing up the topic. 

Truth be told, squirrels may be a rodent, but they taste great, and a squirrel is honestly one of my favorite wild animals to throw in some tin foil alongside some red potatoes. Their diet, which consists of nuts such as acorns, corn, and other wild vegetation, is probably the best explanation of why they don't taste like a New York sewer rat, but I digress. 

If you are interested in trying out squirrel hunting, let's take a look at how you should go about hunting these wily little tree-dwellers. 

Location and Hunting Methods

Squirrel hunting is pretty straightforward and is great for kids or people who have no hunting experience. In many places, squirrels are abundant, and the ease of hunting them is great for people who are unfamiliar with firearms and hunting in general. 

Find an area with a decent amount of oak, hickory, or ash trees, and if you have access to an area with these trees near water, you have some deadly squirrel hunting grounds, But in general, any typical wooded area will do, and the edges of cornfields will have an abundance of squirrels nearby. 

When you find your desired area, find a stump and take a seat. From here, all you have to do is sit quietly and wait for the action to start. Heck you don't even need to wear camouflage if you don't want to, but it certainly doesn't hurt. 

If you shoot or make a shot at a squirrel, in many cases, you don't even have to leave the area, simply wait for things to calm back down, and they will reappear in many cases. 

Simply stalking the woods is another great squirrel hunting tactic. Walk around slowly while watching up in the tree branches as well as on the ground, pause once and a while, and observe and listen for any noisy squirrels or movement. 

Weapons

For squirrel hunting, my weapon of choice is a .22 Magnum, but I have also used .22 LR, 12 gauge shotguns, 20 gauge shotguns, and even a bow. These are all acceptable, and although using archery equipment is incredibly challenging, that just adds to the fun of it. 

In this day and age, pellet guns have come a long way, and pellet guns on the market today are incredibly powerful. They will work well for squirrel hunting, and they honestly don't need to be the ultra-powerful air rifles that can run steep in terms of price. I used to hunt squirrels with a 50 dollar Powerline air rifle as a kid. 

Time of Day

Sunrise is a great time to hunt for squirrels as they will be up early and looking for a meal to start the day, and personally, this has been my best time hunting for them. 

You can hunt at any time during the daylight hours and have success, though, so don't stress the time you go out too much because they are active all day. 

Squirrels also prefer clear sunny days to be active, which is a plus, because who doesn't wanna be out on a clear sunny day? This means your best days in the woods chasing squirrels will be pleasant ones. 

Conclusion

Squirrel hunting can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. It's a great way to introduce kids to hunting, or anyone who may have an interest in trying, as it is an engaging and laid back form of hunting. 

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