Squirrels - The Elusive Tree Rat - Donald Parker

Squirrels
The Elusive Tree Rat
By Donald Parker - Primos Prostaff (FL)

Growing up in the country, I was fortunate enough to have a dad that liked to hunt. Like most folks in the area, hunting and fishing was a favorite pastime.

I can recall many trips to the woods with my dad. Squirrel hunting was one of the first critters I hunted. My dad always said, that if you are going to be successful in the woods hunting the first thing you need to learn is woodsmanship. If you learn woodsmanship then he said you would be able to track and hunt most game. The first thing you need to know when hunting squirrel is where to hunt them.

Tree rats are what he always called them. Squirrel sign is easy to find. One reason being that they always leave behind scraps when feeding. Also when they are feeding it makes it easier to sneak in on them because they will not be aware of their surroundings. Squirrel hunting is a challenge, but it is made easier when squirrels begin to work the hickories. On a crisp, still morning you can hear the grating of teeth on hickory nuts and the sound of hulls falling to the forest floor.

Here in the south we lived on a farm that my grandfather owned. Surrounding the fields was cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks and you could always find squirrels there on the edges of the woods. Hardwoods are great places to hunt squirrels because of the nut bearing trees, Oak and hickory trees are favorites for squirrel, there nuts provide protein that they will need before and after the colder weather arrives.

Another good food source are pinecones. I can remember walking along side my dad and him showing me a pinecone that had been stripped clean like corn from a cob. When the pinecones are green is when those gray ghost like them the best. Although squirrels can be hunted threw out the day the best time to set up on them is in the morning, right before daylight. I feel as the day goes on that there instinct to detect predator's increases greatly. When it's hot, their activity is slow. But find a supply of hickory nuts this time of year and you'll usually find squirrels.

Around dusk is a good time also, but your chances of not being seen when entering the wood at this time are not good. If spotted don't worry usually with in 10 minutes, they will have forgotten you where there, and begin moving and feeding again. Still-hunting is a method that I like also, it gives you a chance to relax and take in what Mother Nature has to offer.

Nowdays with all the game calling companies, there are many different types of calls made to get a squirrels attention. I have tried most of them and would have to say the one I keep going back to is the SQUIRREL BUSTER by Primos Hunting Calls. The SQUIRREL BUSTER is five calls in one. It reproduces all five calls of the gray squirrel's language: alarm bark, distress scream the chatter, gray squirrel squeal, and fox squirrel chatter. Making it the only squirrel call you will ever need.

Another tactic I like is to scan the woods a couple of hundred yards ahead. If I see a squirrel then I'll try to sneak in for the kill. Most squirrels will make nest out of tree bark, leaves and pine straw. Another place that you can fine squirrels making their homes is in wholes in trees or trees where the tops have rotted out. These are good places to set up in the evening because at dusk they will be headed back to these places offend in numbers and the chances for multiple kills are increased greatly.

As a kid starting out, I always carried a shotgun when hunting squirrel. A 410 is a good gun for kids to start with and as they get older they can move up to a bigger ga. like 20 or a 12 ga. Almost all hunters' use No. 6 or No. 4 shot, they will give you cleaner kills with less shot in the body. Medium powered shells are best. Don't use extremely light loads or you'll cripple and lose too many squirrels. When hunting with my dad and not old enough to carry a gun. I remember that he always carried a 22 rifle. He said always aim for the head son this way you don't ruin the meat. It was a macho thing to him to make a headshot then he would look down at me and say that's the way it's done boy.

Nowdays I only carry a 22, and will have to say, I know the feeling he got when the perfect shot was made. One thing you will need to remember when hunting with a 22 is knows your surroundings. Although we hunted the farm we never hunted near fields where livestock were grazing or near the house or barns. It's a challenge to hunt squirrels with the small-bore rifle, but always think of where that bullet might travel.

Whatever tactics or gun you plan on using this fall, remember, introduce someone new to the woods or take a kid hunting, they are our hunting's future.

Hunt hard and be safe.

© Copyright 2002 Donald Parker