Squirrels...Seriously?!

[Racks&Beards]

I haven't done any squirrel hunting this year yet, but I feel your pain. I've gone back to the same spot I had a had a treestand during bowseason where I'd sit and count 15-20 different squirrels every evening or morning I hunted it (most within 50 yards). I go back literally the weekend after deer season is over and its like a ghost town. I've always had more luck in past (on public) just still hunting them rather than sitting and waiting.

[dan]

In winter they seem to hole up till its warm and sunny. When I was a kid I shot and ate a lot of them. I would look for nests in the trees and where they were digging in the leaves. Rather than just hunting random spots.

[Huntress13]

I went and sat in a stand the last couple of weekends, hoping to pop a coyote. First sit was a morning, and I did see a few squirrels but not a lot. It was snowing. There was a little bird activity Second sit was an afternoon and it was light misty snow, on the verge of rain and I didn't see one squirrel, very little bird activity too.

[NorthStar]

In winter they seem to hole up till its warm and sunny. When I was a kid I shot and ate a lot of them. I would look for nests in the trees and where they were digging in the leaves. Rather than just hunting random spots.

This is my approach as well. Once I see a nest, I sit and wait because squirrels seem to freeze when they hear/see potential predators but their memory is short and they will start moving again shortly.

[gmark]

January was the first time that I have ever gone squirrel hunting. I also went to a spot where I had seen 10+ squirrels in a sit during deer season but didn't see or hear any.
I found a slightly different area with some oak trees mixed with some pine trees and I eventually ended up shooting 4 squirrels out of the 5 morning hunts that I did in January (the last 2 were shot within 5 minutes of each other in practically the same spot). I have learnt that the wind plays a big role in whether or not they will be active - if the wind gets close to or over 10 mph then they don't move.
They are also very good at spotting humans and hiding behind branches so I walk very slowly and quietly with a small tripod chair attached to my back pack and as soon as I see or hear one in the trees, I sit down in a place where I can get a shot and wait for them to forget that I am there and to start moving around again. Unfortunately the small game season on this property ended last week so now I will have to find some new spots on a different property.

[Racks&Beards]

Unfortunately the small game season on this property ended last week so now I will have to find some new spots on a different property.

Dang, that reminds me. I wasn't even thinking about it earlier when I posted, but the Missouri squirrel season ends next Saturday so I'll have to get out this weekend and give it a go.

[Moose]

In winter they seem to hole up till its warm and sunny. When I was a kid I shot and ate a lot of them. I would look for nests in the trees and where they were digging in the leaves. Rather than just hunting random spots.

This is my approach as well. Once I see a nest, I sit and wait because squirrels seem to freeze when they hear/see potential predators but their memory is short and they will start moving again shortly.

This is the way i was taught also.

[Archivist13]

Well, assuming I can make it out this Saturday, well see what happens. One thing I do know, is that beast style hunting has not only upped my deer hunting, but brought me back to basics and my youth with squirrel hunting. Perhaps if I found them everywhere and easy prey on my first hunts I would have lost interest. Being they are proving elusive, I am finding myself challenged and that is a good thing.

[NorthStar]

Well, assuming I can make it out this Saturday, well see what happens. One thing I do know, is that beast style hunting has not only upped my deer hunting, but brought me back to basics and my youth with squirrel hunting. Perhaps if I found them everywhere and easy prey on my first hunts I would have lost interest. Being they are proving elusive, I am finding myself challenged and that is a good thing.

Right on! Good luck and have fun!

[gsquared23]

Glad I’m not the only one that was outwitted by these dang things. Went out at 0800 last weekend, and the combination of crunchy snow and 15-20 mph winds landed me zero squirrel sightings. Had fun walking the property and then running the chainsaw, but I woulda loved to bring a few home. I’d agree that a calm, fair weather day would be optimal. They do seem to move during “deery” times (8-10, 3-dark), but not during deery cold fronts.

[Archivist13]

Well, I did make it out on Saturday. Spent from noon till dark and didn't see anything until the final 20 minutes of light. Shot one, but couldn't find it for some reason. Must have crawled off into a hole or something before I got to it. I have to admit revisiting hunting these critters has been a load of fun. Gonna be sad when the season closes at the end of the month. Of course that just means turkey season is on the horizon!

[ThePreBanMan]

Here in MA... Our woods are filled with red squirrels willing to rat you out to any deer in the area. We only have a grey squirrel season though. All the grey squirrels are in my back yard and bird feeders... It's exceedingly rare I see a grey in the woods. They all live in the suburbs - where you can't hunt them.

[Archivist13]

Here in MA... Our woods are filled with red squirrels willing to rat you out to any deer in the area. We only have a grey squirrel season though. All the grey squirrels are in my back yard and bird feeders... It's exceedingly rare I see a grey in the woods. They all live in the suburbs - where you can't hunt them.

I actually know exactly what you mean. grew up hunting in NW PA and red squirrels were everywhere. Grey squirrels were mostly in town. You would see more fox and black phase gray squirrels in the woods than regular gray squirrels. Also chipmunks were/are everywhere. I have yet to see a chipmunk, fox, red, or black squirrel here in Southern Maryland's woods.

[ThePreBanMan]

Chipmunks... I hate those darn things... They're always borrowing their little hidey holes in my garden and tearing up my vegetable plant roots. One of those little killed a squash plant on me this past year...

[Archivist13]

I will admit to shooting a lot of them with my .22 when I was younger. They weren't legal for some reason, but made great target practice.