As the weather cools and the acorns and leaves fall; we're at the peak of the squirrel hunting season. While squirrel hunting is largely overlooked; it is still one of the most popular game species throughout the country. I will be focusing on the Eastern Grey Squirrel for the sake of this article, as it is the predominant species here, but the hunting strategy remains largely the same throughout the country. Squirrel hunting is an important habitat management tactic; as squirrels readily reproduce; about one-third of females having two litters per year; each with an average of three young, the remainder having one litter of a similar size. This means a squirrel population can easily double in the course of a year. In fact, squirrel hunting currently culls around one third of the squirrel population and most state wildlife departments indicate that over one half of the squirrel population can successfully be taken annually to stabilize the populations. Without squirrel hunting; competition for food could push further numbers of squirrels into residential areas, where they can wreak havoc on homes.
The key to squirrel hunting is being in the right area. Prime squirrel habitat consists of a variety of hard mast, namely acorns. Hard mast trees located in proximity to small running streams and row crops, namely feed corn, make for optimal hunting. Squirrel populations up to six squirrels per acre are possible in such areas, especially in smaller wooded lots. Large expanses of land typically yield a lower population density; around one or two squirrels per acre.
In regards to hunting strategy, it is important to watch more than you look. Many squirrel hunters will walk through the woods too fast, which will cause squirrels to go into hiding, making it nearly impossible to see them. Perhaps move 20 yards at a time; waiting for ten to fifteen minutes in between.
Squirrel calls are another important area to discuss. Many people expect that squirrel calls will work similarly to deer, turkey, predator, etc. calls by attracting squirrels to them. However, these calls do not work in the same fashion. Rarely will squirrels come to the source of the call; rather, they will bark or chatter which will allow the hunter to locate the squirrels, at which point, closing the distance through carefully stalking becomes the strategy. Primos makes a great squirrel call, the Squirrel Buster ($12.99 at Cabela's), which can be used for both fox squirrels and grey squirrels. It can reproduce the bark, chatter and distress calls of both of these species and comes with an instructional CD that will get you up and going.
I typically start off with a chatter; moving quickly into a distress call. While performing the distress call, I will use a small branch to rustle the leaves on the ground, simulating a hawk catching a young squirrel. This will usually spark the curiosity of surrounding squirrels and will cause them to let out a bark or chatter. Once you lock onto the squirrels, you need to then slowly move through the woods to a location you can take a shot from. If, in the process, you spook the squirrel into hiding, the best thing you can do is to get to a large tree that you feel comfortable taking the shot from and wait quietly. To speed up the process you can use two poker chips, quarters or half dollars. By rubbing the ridges along the outside of the coins or chips, you can recreate the sound of a squirrel cutting a nut. This will fool the surrounding squirrels into thinking that other squirrels have emerged from hiding and that it is now safe to come out.
Hunting can be slow during the day, but barking can be used to get squirrels on the move. Sometimes it will simply spark the curiosity of local squirrels and they'll come out for a look. It's important to keep an eye up in the canopy when doing this in the middle of the day, as more than likely, squirrels will be in their dens or tree cavities.
Of the potential weapons to use on the hunt; .22 caliber rimfire rifles are often the best choice; especially if you're looking to add a little marksmanship to the hunt. If you're not, a 410-gauge shotgun can do the trick. I prefer to use a .22 caliber high-power air rifle, similar to the one shown above, which will shoot in the 800-900 FPS range. The benefit of the air rifle is two-fold. From a safety perspective, air rifles do not have the trajectory of a rimfire rifle, meaning that they can be used in more confined spaces without risk of injuring anyone in surrounding areas. The greatest benefit, however, is the quieter firing. The pellets travel slightly below the speed of sound (some .177 caliber air rifles will break the sound barrier, something to consider when selecting a weapon) which reduces the likelihood of spooking surrounding squirrels. In fact, if you happen to miss a shot, the target squirrel may give you a second chance or will go into hiding for only a brief period. No matter what weapon you choose, make sure that it has the power behind it to ensure a humane kill; something with at least 15 ft/lbs of energy. To calculate the energy exherted by your weapon, you can use this simple energy calculator.
I also want to mention Mepps Squirrel Tail Program. Mepps is a maker of fishing lures and uses squirrel tail fur on many of their lures. For the fisherman in you, you can earn credit of upwards of $0.40 per squirrel tail which you can use to purchase Mepps lures, or $0.20 in cash. While by no means am I presenting this as a means to make money, as squirrels should be taken primarily for their meat, I am throwing it out there as a way for hunters to be resourceful in utilizing all of their kill.
In short, squirrel hunting is a great way to spend time in the woods, perhaps scouting for deer season. It is a great way to introduce children into the world of hunting and can present a challenge for even the most seasoned hunter.
No comments:
Post a Comment