Squirrel Hunting Tips, Tricks & Secrets

Photo courtesy MDC

Hunting squirrels is exciting, challenging and fun all rolled into one.  The pursuit of these critters is a surefire way to hone in on your shooting skills and will provide you with an excellent meal.  Because I hunt mostly on public land I typically hunt squirrels with a shotgun or a high powered air rifle, but the .22 caliber is also a fine choice for taking them.

When using my shotgun I have #6 shot to be a great choice to get the job done.  When using a high powered air rifle I typically use my .22 caliber break barrel in combination a pointed pellet and have found this to be a lethal combination.  When shooting squirrels with an air rifle the best shot placement is just below the ear.  This shot will almost always cause the squirrel to be unable to run away and hide before you find it.

Because of the distance a bullet will travel I typically shy away from shooting a .22 long rifle on public land.  I am confident in my shooting abilities; however, I prefer not to take any chances with the safety of other hunters who may be in the area if I do happen to miss.  If you choose to use a .22, be sure to take shots when the squirrel is positioned so that you will hit the tree should your shot be off.  This will ensure that the bullet is unable to travel a long distance and hit some unknown object.

Because squirrels are capable of easily spotting their predators wearing camouflage while hunting them will go a long way in helping you get your limit.  Be sure to wear a face cover as well as gloves to gain the biggest advantage.  If a squirrel does happen to see you and darts to the back side of the tree, simply tossing a small rock past the tree is often enough to convince them that they should head back to the side you are on.  If you can find a spot to hide out near a field along a stand of oak trees the squirrels will probably not be too far away.

I typically head into the woods and find a comfortable place to sit waiting twenty to thirty minutes before deciding to move to another location.  This gives the squirrels plenty of time to show themselves before I give up on them.  An alternative to this method is to stalk them by slowly and quietly walking through the woods stopping every few steps and waiting for a couple of minutes before moving on.  

Whichever way you decide to hunt them, be sure to watch the treetops for any movement.  As you gain experience hunting squirrels you will quickly learn to spot them by listening for the rustling of leaves in the canopy of trees.  You will also want to listen for the sound of squirrels "cutting" or gnawing a nut out of the shell.  This sound will inform the other squirrels in the area that it is safe to come out and partake in a meal.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Improve Your Deer Hunting During Spring Turkey Season

As the leaves begin to turn green many of us start dreaming of hitting the woods for that next big gobbler.  We get our gear ready for the big day and hit the road as soon is it arrives thinking only of one thing....Turkey hunting!  However, there is something more that we can do while we are in search of that big Tom.

While in the woods take advantage of the opportunity to do some early scouting for deer.  Spring turkey hunting can be a challenge, but once you locate the birds chances are you have located a pretty promising spot to set up for deer hunting later in the year.  Do not pass up the opportunity to look around for sign.  You may well be passing up locating your best chance at tagging a monster buck.  Remember turkey and deer will often hang out in the same areas so finding one often means locating the other as well.

If you are going to spend all that time in the woods looking for that turkey honey hole, you might as well kill two birds with one stone.  Im not suggesting that you scout during turkey season and forget about it the rest of the year, but this early scouting can give you a heads up on where to begin your work later on.

If you enjoyed reading this article, you might like Successful Public Land Hunting.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day

Now Is The Time To Prepare For Fall Archery Season

Two years ago I began my journey to becoming a bow hunter.  This love affair with archery began by purchasing a used compound bow off of Craigslist from a guy who was hard up for cash.  Upon returning home with my new-to-me Bear Whitetail II I began researching how to properly sight it in (having a neighbor who is himself a longtime, avid bow hunter didn't hurt anything).  From the moment I released that first arrow I was hooked on the sport and haven't looked back.

That first deer season I just knew I would get a deer.  Unlike most people, I didn't care about getting an enormous buck, I just wanted to kill my first deer.  With every chance I had to escape the hustle and bustle of every day life I faithfully hit the woods.  Time and again I sat without so much as seeing a deer.  I would take my children along with me which only makes deer hunting more difficult (especially for a beginner), but I didn't mind, I was outdoors where I belonged.

One evening my daughter and I were headed back to the truck when three bucks about sixty yards ahead of us darted out of a cornfield across our path and into the woods.  I didn't even have time to begin thinking about shooting before they were out of sight.  Again I made many trips to my chosen hunting spot to no avail.  About a week before Christmas my brother and I headed out together and found a spot where we could sit fairly close to each other hoping that four eyes would be better than two.  About an hour before sunset my brother decided he would move to a different spot to try his luck.  Within fifteen minutes my first opportunity arose, but even with many hours of practice I was ill prepared for what would happen next.  At first I thought I must be dreaming.  I saw one deer, then two, then four and then I lost count.  I picked a doe out of the bunch, proceeded to take aim and that's when it hit me.  My heart was about to jump out of my chest, It was freezing cold outside but I was beginning to sweat, I couldn't stop shaking.....The excitement was too much!  I pulled the trigger on my release sending the projectile sailing off through the air.  Somewhere in the distance I heard the clank of my arrow as it struck a tree and faster than it began, the whole scenario was over.  I had made my first shot at a deer and cleanly missed it.  That was the last deer I happened to see that year but I learned a valuable lesson from the encounter.  Preparing for archery deer season is a year round commitment.

It is not uncommon for a hunter to get the jitters upon spotting a deer; however, being able to control your emotions when the time comes is an important discipline to learn and there's no time like the present to develop the necessary self control.

One method of taming your nerves is to spend every practice session shooting at realistic targets.  When taking aim at a 3D target imagine that it is a real animal.  This can help to stir those emotions up and teach you to contain your excitement when the big moment arrives.  Always strive to make every outing as realistic as possible.  Shoot from varied distances mimicking real hunting scenarios.  By shooting from the tree stand that will be used in the fall you will gain more confidence in your shooting skills.  This will also ensure that you are comfortable being in that particular stand and ensure accuracy when shooting at the angles which are necessary while hunting from a stand.  Using these methods of practice is a sure way to improve your hunting skills while reigning in those out of control emotions that are all too common among deer hunters.

Successful Public-Land Hunting

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation

If you are like me, the majority of your hunting is done on public lands that seem to be crowded with other people.  This can be a major problem when it comes to hunting success.  However, there are some things that can be done to improve your odds of having a successful hunt.  It may not always be easy, but the reward can be worth the extra effort.

First consider hunting during the week when the majority of people will be at work.  This will definitely improve your odds by ensuring that there will be fewer hunters crossing your path.

Second, be sure you are where the other hunters aren't.  This will most definitely require some leg work on your part.  Don't just get to the parking lot and plant yourself in the first spot you come to.  Instead, get to know the area you intend to hunt.  Find a promising spot that is half a mile or more (the farther the better) and off the beaten path.  Most public land hunters are in too big of a rush to learn the layout of the land or to hike a long distance to achieve seclusion.

Third, consider purchasing a climbing tree stand.  This option allows you to easily change locations if another hunter does happen to wander into your chosen area.  You can simply move to another promising location and avoid having an intruder blow your hunt.  This also ensures there will be no unnecessary pressure from your stand by other hunters finding your stand and using it when you're not able to be there.

Last, get to the woods as early in the season as possible.  The earlier you hit the woods, the less likely your spot will be to have been over-pressured by other hunters.

By following these tips, you can greatly improve your hunting success.  Good luck and enjoy each adventure you experience.

- Any day in the outdoors is a good day