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Post by hunterstt on Sept 8, 2021 14:50:09 GMT -5
Newbie here looking for advice.
Went on my first two solo squirrel hunts recently and came back empty handed. I was hunting the state forest just south of Martinsville early in the morning. My main strategy was to look for plenty of acorns and other nuts on the forest floor to give me an idea of good habitat, then hunt slowly while looking for movement high up in the trees and listening for barking. Only heard barking once and never set eyes on a squirrel.
Also, I have both a 12 guage and a .22 rifle though it's not scoped. I'm leaning toward the shotgun but don't have enough experience to really make a solid decision.
Anybody here have some advice on your early season tactics?
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Post by featherduster on Sept 8, 2021 17:31:36 GMT -5
Don't look down....look up.
Carry the shotgun until you can get the 22 sighted in.
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Post by deadeer on Sept 8, 2021 19:15:19 GMT -5
Best advice from personal experience I can give is easy. Find a mast tree they are hitting at the right time of season, and sit still. I have stalked 10k times, and have about 2 to show for it. You have to stay put and let everything calm down in the area. You can thank me later. Lol. Good luck!
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Post by indianajoe on Sept 8, 2021 19:45:13 GMT -5
move slow, be quiet, stay hidden, and listen. I got 4 Monday morning by listening for them cutting and sneaking in on them. it's great practice for deer season. all mine were cutting walnuts.
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Post by esshup on Sept 8, 2021 20:01:12 GMT -5
You can stalk them if they are in the trees. Gotta hunt on a day with no wind. Early morning is best, maybe until 8 or 9. Once the wind starts moving branches, forget it.
Look for branches that are moving. Then slowly stalk close paying attention to not make noise walking in the woods. With leaves on the trees, use the shotgun, use #4, #5, or #6 shot.
Then once you get the .22 sighted in and can reliably hit a 1" circle at 50 yds then you can use it for squirrel hunting.
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Post by HighCotton on Sept 9, 2021 5:59:21 GMT -5
Don’t read the check in posts from omegahunter and others that show awesome pics, limiting out on squirrels!!!😂
Seriously though, just hang in there.
I’ve been out to a “new to me” woods and I’ve only heard one bark.
So far,
I’ve not laid eyes on a tail, except the road kill, to and fro!
By the way, where is HillBillyJeff???
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Post by hunterstt on Sept 9, 2021 20:16:17 GMT -5
Thanks a million for all your advice!
I will not let these tree rats get the best of me. My grandmother wants some squirrel gravy and biscuits. She hasn't had since she was young and darnit I'm gonna make it happen!
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Post by INhuntin on Sept 13, 2021 23:15:12 GMT -5
They are not cutting yet here so nothing going to be on the ground, I sit in the woods & listen for them to bark at me.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Sept 14, 2021 8:40:50 GMT -5
Find the trees they want to be in. Don’t shoot the first squirrel that comes in. Others will join. Patients is the key if it’s a hot tree. Shot three in just a few minutes this morning. Saw six  |
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Post by omegahunter on Sept 14, 2021 8:47:19 GMT -5
You can stalk them if they are in the trees. Gotta hunt on a day with no wind. Early morning is best, maybe until 8 or 9. Once the wind starts moving branches, forget it. Look for branches that are moving. Then slowly stalk close paying attention to not make noise walking in the woods. With leaves on the trees, use the shotgun, use #4, #5, or #6 shot. Then once you get the .22 sighted in and can reliably hit a 1" circle at 50 yds then you can use it for squirrel hunting. 100% what esshup said. Hunting a new woods is tough. The more you hunt a place, the better you understand and remember where the squirrels are located. And that changes some as the season progresses. For instance, they cut Beech rather early in the season down here in Southern Indiana, but quickly clean off a tree and move on to another. The BEST piece of advice I can give anyone squirrel hunting is not to get in a hurry to move after you shoot one. Reload as quietly as possible and stand still up to 20 minutes. One squirrel often turns into 2 or 3. When you do move, move slowly and absolutely quietly. I started using a walking stick like maddog does. I use it to steady my shots when I get caught away from a tree to rest against. Get you a scope on that rifle for when the leaves start falling and your range of vision opens up. Best of luck to ya! |
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Post by esshup on Sept 14, 2021 13:26:54 GMT -5
^^^  Just like when you are deer hunting and walk to your stand in the afternoon. It takes 20+ minutes for the woods to settle down and "forget about you" once you are in the stand. Squirrel hunting is like that. If you cannot walk slowly and quietly enough so the woods "forgets about you", then you will have to get to a tree or an area that you know they are cutting and wait 20-30 minutes for their activity to resume. Talking, moving around, sneezing, coughing, etc all re-sets the waiting clock. |
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Post by deadeer on Sept 14, 2021 19:12:24 GMT -5
For sure
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Post by hunterstt on Sept 15, 2021 19:56:10 GMT -5
Hopefully I'll be able to hit the woods again soon and give it another go.
Morgan Monroe will be my focus for the time being. I'm sure the more I study the woods there I'll get better at recognizing good squirrel trees and habitats.
Pictures incoming if I'm successful!
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