Squirrel Hunting Tips and Tricks

Squirrel hunting brings a great source of pleasure to some people and a look of disgust from others. They wonder how anyone could shoot such an adorable little creature.

Did you know that the squirrel belongs to the rodent family? In other words, it little more than a furry rat. Sounds yummy, doesn't it?

Squirrel Hunting Tips But people react differently to squirrels than they do rats. Does that furry tail really make such a difference? You bet it does! I've never seen children throwing nuts to a rat.

There are four types of squirrels, the black squirrel, brown squirrel, red squirrel, and white squirrel. Other than color and a slight variance in size, there is little difference between them. But while squirrels don't differ much in different parts of the country, the rules for hunting them do. Be sure to check with your local government to learn the rules and get a permit.

If you live in the city, you might think that finding a squirrel is as easy as looking in the trees. They are all over the place. But squirrel hunting is illegal in most cities, so that's out.

City squirrels have grown up around people and have learned to co-exist. It's not uncommon for squirrels to take a nut right out of someone's hand. Rural squirrels, on the other hand, rarely see people and, like any other wild animals, remain a bit cautious.

Some squirrel hunters like to move through the woods hunting their prey. Others prefer to find a comfortable spot to sit and wait for their prey to come to them. The bigger question is what to do when you find them.

The best way to find squirrels is to look for a feeding area. Look for nut trees, such as walnut, oak, or hickories. Empty shells on the ground under the tree indicate that squirrels have most likely been feeding there and, unless the tree is bare, they will probably be back. It's a good place to start. When you spot your prey, sometimes you just have to outsmart it. You can be sure that if you are moving and spot a squirrel, he spotted you first. He will probably scurry up a tree, usually on the side opposite of where you are standing. You can wait him out or use some trickery.

If you have a hunting companion with you, one of you could move to the other side of the tree. If the squirrel doesn't move, your friend has a shot. If he moves to your side, then you have the shot. Just be careful not to shoot each other.

If you are hunting alone, try tossing a stone or stick to the opposite side of the tree. Believing that you have followed him to that side, he may come around to your side.

The best weapon to hunt squirrels depends on the time of year. In early fall, while the leaves are still on the trees, it's more difficult to get a clear shot, so a shotgun is usually preferred. However, the spray of the pellets leaves greater potential to contaminate the meat.

For this reason, once the leaves have fallen, or if they just like the challenge, some hunters prefer using a rifle. Squirrels are small and don't give you much of a target, but if you have a steady hand, a rifle allows for a cleaner and surer kill.

Whichever gun you use, keep in mind that the squirrel's vital organs are contained in the upper body and head, so you should always aim for this area. This could mean the difference between a clean kill and a wounded animal. The last thing any reputable hunter wants is to leave an animal wounded for other animals to prey upon.

Once you've made the kill, find your prey as soon as possible and enclose it in a plastic bag. The scent of a dead squirrel may frighten the other squirrels away, but is sure to invite some unwanted predators.

Squirrel hunting can be exciting, challenging, and loads of fun for young and old alike. Only small caliber guns are required for this and are great for younger people and women, but they sometimes face other challenges, as well. For more information on this, be sure to see Hunting for Women and Kids.

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