by Jim Huckabee

Created on: November 13, 2008   Last Updated: November 18, 2008

Squirrel hunting is a great gateway to the sport of hunting. But first you need to choose a firearm for the sport. The best choice in a squirrel hunting gun is either the 4/10 or the 28 gage pump action shot gun. Either of these guns have an affective kill range of twenty to twenty-five yards using a high brass number six shot shell. These guns are easy to carry all day and neither will produce much stock butt recoil.

These two gages have a relatively short kill range; about twenty to twenty-five yards. A short kill range requires learning to stealthily move about the dry twigs and miscellaneous debris on the forest floor.

If you prefer to find the squirrels instead of sitting and waiting for them to come to you it is necessary to walk slowly avoiding as many twigs and acorns as possible. Everyone makes noise when they walk but if you place your heel on the ground then roll your foot forward it allows you to detect the larger noisier twigs before they can alert the game. This is a factor when squirrel hunting on the move.

The squirrel in the woods is not the squirrel in your backyard. They will stay on the far side of a tree and peep around to see when danger is clear. For this reason a good habit to pick up is to stop about every twenty yards and look back. As you walk listen for the squirrels chucking or chatter. It will sound like, chuck-chuck-chuck repeatedly with variations in pitch. If you are hunting with a partner one of you can remain behind and wait quietly for the squirrel to come out of hiding. Playing leap frog can mean your daily limits.

If you would prefer to pick a spot to sit out the squirrels then it is important to be where the squirrels are. Squirrels are found in the greatest numbers in a larger stance of trees. The beginner should look for oak, beech, and fir trees. Two of the three types of trees in an area is ideal. These are nut producing trees which are the main staple for the squirrel. The larger oak leaf does not decay as fast as other leaves making it a great squirrel nesting material.

To successfully still hunt it is important to break up your silhouette by sitting at the base of a large tree or in deadfall so that you are less conspicuous to the game. Wearing muted brown clothing will help you blend into the landscape.

When scouting for a good hunting area watch for large clumps, or balls of leaves high up in the larger trees. These are squirrel nests and the more nests means more squirrels. Squirrels move about freely in no particular pattern. But they will stay near any deadfall in the area for protection from predators. When a squirrel eats it will leave a pile of nut and pine cone debris where it ate so watch for these. Lastly squirrels as any animal leaves sign of their presents through body waste. Squirrel excrement is smaller than rabbit or deer, but it appears much the same. It is a dark brown to black and some what shaped like an egg.

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