squirrels how to hunt them

[nonnie]

every time i go out squirrel hunting i never see them i hunt many diffrent spots i dont like to sot so i walk with my 410 shotgun for 2 or 3 hours and never see any thing how do you hunt squirrels in the fall and winter i live in the catskills in green county n.y

[132 eight pointer]

I always see them when I sit.Treestand.fallen tree or tree seat sitting.I always have squirrels close if I am in hardwoods.Sometimes it takes a little while especially in the snow.You should see the nests in the trees easily now.If I remember right sunny winter days are better but it has been a while since I hunted squirrels.

[fasteddie]

Well Nonnie , the way you hunt squirrels is make them think you are deer hunting and they will be all over the place .

[bubba]

climb a tree and act like a nut.  they come running.

[apertureguy]

Sitting quietly and still for a good while (in a nice area with a nest or two nearby) can work well. Least ways I always see a slew when waiting for Deer.

But if you'd rather walk for them you really need to practice stalking. Squirrels can see movement and easily hear your steps. So walk very slowly & quietly, stopping often and scanning as far off as you can see...you'll eventually see some movement.

When you do...don't go rushing over. Slowly head that way, using the trees as a sheild to hide from them. I've been able to walk up to a lot of game this way...which is good for the shotgun.

Around here when Deer season is over I can also go with the .22 Mag...which is really nice. I can sit on a ridge and take them from a distance while hunting yote's.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

agree with the guys here....movement can be your worst enemy. I have noticed that it takes about a half hour after I get in my deer stand to start to see squirrel movement again. I have also had luck using a chatter call as I approach an area. sometimes they will give away there position to see what made the noise or even call right back. Mine looks like a duck call with a rubber ball on the end you tap to force air through it.

[Elmo]

My little brother and I got our first squirrel today.  I missed with the .22LR but my bro took it down with a 12g.  I called it out with the Primos Squirrel Buster.  It really works.  It won't get the squirrel to come to you.  We walked around using the untouch snow to look for squirrel activity.  Tracks, chewed up nuts, and droppings.  All fresh.  We hid off to the side somewhere, kept quiet and still for 10 minutes or so, then use the call.  If the squirrel is in its tree borrow, it'll climb out onto a limb to see what's going on.

[Elmo]

Second day, second squirrel.  Another thing I forgot to mention is the time of the day.  Squirrels come out first thing in the morning to feed right after dawn.  Since there are no nuts left on the trees, they have to come down to the ground and bring the nuts back up to their little cubby hole.  After they finish feeding, they go back to sleep and come out for a second feed near the end of the day.  Based on the fresh nut shavings I found, it seems they are in back in bed by 9AM.  I haven't tried hunting them at dusk.

[greybeard]

Years back I used to squirrel hunt quite often. I did best in early morning in areas where I saw a lot of squirrel nests and food sources.I would walk quietly to a previously scouted spot and take a stand with my back against a large tree and listen for barks and scampering, and watch the trees

My thoughts on them were that in early fall I'd see a lot of young active ones, and in January I figured it was mating time so I'd see some doubles. One winter  I got 2 with one shot with #5's . I took a quick shot as I led one up a tree thru branches with my shotgun.( I never saw the second one until it fell)

I  have tried calling them, but only was successful once, so from my limited experience with calling I couldn't judge how good it works.

  I like eating them and  I would home tan the hides; use the tails for streamer flys; or mount them.

My coonhounds would barked treed at them sometimes in the day, but I never really hunted them with dogs.

  I had logged almost all of my hunts since around 1965 so although I haven't hunted in a couple of years now, I look at my old records and have some good squirrel hunting memories.

[Elmo]

yes, I got excited about the call when it worked like a charm my first time out but I haven't had any luck with it ever since.  My kills now comes from just hiking around the woods and spotting a squirrel here or there up in the trees by chance.

[greybeard]

  I understand that ,I still get excited when I call anything . Too bad squirrels aren't more responsive.

Well calling them , or not, I'm glad to hear that you are getting some. They are fun to hunt..I hope you get a bunch more before the season ends and have some memorable hunts.

  If you ever have luck calling squirrels again  I'd like to read about your success

[Arrowsmith]

Find yourself a nice oak or hickory laden woodlot and get in the woods early in day, or later in afternoon on nice WINDLESS days (squirrels seem to hate wind) and sit with your back to your favorite tree. I usually take along a small cushion or folding stool for comfort and then just wait for about 1/2 hour. If no squirrels, move and repeat sit a couple hundred yards away. This is some of my favorite hunting.  Good luck! PS Mepps fishing lure company may still buy squirrel tails. Another buyer may be local fly shops. Check with them.