Although the foundations of hunting that you learn in a hunter safety course are important, Darin Potter adds that there are several tactics that will increase your squirrel hunting success.

A buddy of mine called me up one day last September and asked if I wanted to do some squirrel hunting inside the Pinckney Recreation Area in southern Michigan.

Like many other youngsters, squirrel hunting was my first taste of hunting after I completed a hunter safety course. It taught me the foundation of hunting: Sit still, stay quiet, patience, and safe and responsible gun handling. Although all of these are extremely important, several additional tactics will increase your chances of success in the squirrel woods this fall.

Hunting methods

Most squirrel hunters either find a location in the woods and sit and wait for squirrels to appear (stand hunting), or still hunt and then stalk squirrels that are spotted. All these methods have proven to be successful. I’ve had the most success with sitting in one spot and allowing the woods to settle for about 20 minutes before moving on to another setup. During one particular hunt, I shot a gray squirrel less than a minute after finding a log to sit on. If you deer hunt, you’ve probably seen numerous squirrels running around your treestand or blind. It doesn’t take long for them to come out from their hiding places after you’ve settled down to hunt.

When still hunting and stalking, be on the lookout for moving branches and leaves as squirrels hop from limb to limb. Eventually, the squirrel will stop, giving you a shot opportunity if you haven’t been spotted yet.

Another thing to pay attention to when scanning the trees and canopy on the move is a squirrel’s tail. It is oftentimes wrapped around their backside as they feed. Sometimes, the tip of the tail is all you will see at first. After spotting a tail, quietly get into a position where you can pull off a shot. A good place to find a squirrel is close to a tree trunk, where they feel safer while they are feeding. Also, listen for the sounds of squirrels as they are feeding. When they are chewing, small debris from nut hulls will fall to the ground, forming piles called cuttings. These will allow you to pinpoint their location.

If you’re hunting solo, try tossing a large stick or a rock to the opposite side of a tree where you saw a squirrel escape. The motion will likely cause them to move to your side, providing a shot.

The best places to hunt squirrels are woods that are filled with hickory, walnut, beech, and oak trees. Squirrels begin feeding heavily throughout the fall as they prepare for the winter months. Some scouting before the season begins allows you to find where the best locations to hunt squirrels.

Squirrels are also drawn to cornfields throughout agricultural areas. You can often find bare corncobs several hundred yards away from the fields that squirrels have fed upon. Setting up near a fencerow by a picked cornfield could prove to be very productive.

I’ve found that the best time to hunt squirrels is during the early morning hours, just after the sun starts to appear, and a few hours before dusk. Lower light levels cause squirrels to become more active as they scurry about looking to fill their bellies and stock up for the winter.

If you have a hunting buddy join you on a squirrel hunt, the best way to hunt is to have one person slowly walk ahead of the other, scanning the trees and branches for squirrels, and then coming to a stop once around fifty yards or so away from where they are located. The hunter who stayed behind then moves forward, around the opposite side of the tree, while the hunter in front stands in one spot, watching for any squirrels. Squirrels like to conceal themselves by moving to the opposite side of the tree that the hunter is approaching. The hunter in front will be in a better position to pull off a shot on a squirrel trying to elude the moving hunter.

Squirrel calls

A variety of squirrel calls on the market today will help you locate squirrels in the woods. These come in the form of a bellows call that you rapidly tap with your hand to create a bark, and a blow-style call that produces a distress call. Using a squirrel call will entice a nearby squirrel to respond, thus giving up its location. Hearing the squirrel’s response will allow you to begin a stalk in the direction of the squirrel.

A simple way to call in squirrels is by rubbing two quarters together. This produces a sound that imitates a scolding squirrel. Simply place one quarter beneath the other and then rapidly rub them back and forth between your thumb and forefinger.

Squirrel hunting guns

Shotguns and .22 rifles are what most hunters use to hunt squirrels. A 12- or 20-gauge shotgun, shooting number 6 or 7 shot, works best for longer ranges. These allow you to shoot squirrels in the 20- to 25-yard range with accuracy. I mostly use a 20-gauge with a modified choke, shooting number 6 shot.

An orange, small game vest with a game pouch and plenty of shotgun shell holders is essential when hunting in the squirrel woods. This helps keep all of your shells organized and transports your harvested squirrels.

A .22 rifle mounted with a 2X to 4X scope is a great gun to use for squirrel hunting. A .22 rifle is not nearly as loud as the shotgun and won’t scare off nearby squirrels as much. A .22 will accurately shoot up to 50 yards, allowing you to shoot squirrels that are higher up in a tree. However, be careful which direction you’re shooting; a .22 bullet can travel extremely long distances.

Even seasoned hunters can learn new methods to make their hunt more successful. Find more in the fall issues of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.