If you plan on hunting Illinois public land, check the site-specfic regulations on the IDNR website about the land you plan on hunting. Many are shotgun only, so make sure you can use a .22 before you buy one. I think camo helps a little, but is not necessary--I frequently wear a solid, dark green jacket. I have a Quaker Boy scolder squirrel call. It seems to me it works best early in the year, before all the young/dumb ones that will respond to a call have been shot. It's more a locator than an attractor -- hit it a couple times, wait, sometimes (1 in 10 maybe? or less even??) you'll get a response and know where a squirrel is. Then wait some more, let him calm down, and try to sneak in on him.