I have been interested in hunting for some time now, and am only just finding the time to get into it. I figured the best way to get into it would be small game, namely squirrels, hoping that it would allow me to learn some woodsmanship skills. Sadly, as I do not know anyone who actually goes squirrel hunting, I have found that my learning ability is quite limited. I tried scouting a local area out called Reef Snider Park, and didn' t see a single squirrel, even though I was told that it was a GREAT place to start. I decided that I was there way too late, so I took the advice of a certain website and turned up before first light... 4 AM... I was rather perturbed that I still did not see a single squirrel, after being there for 4 hours! So once again, I think I am just not looking in the right places... but how would I know where to look? I have read that I should look for hickory trees etc, and look for nests, but I don' t have the woodsmanship to recognize these features! Does anybody please have any idea where I could start / go to learn these things??? Thanks in advance.

KJ

look for alot of oak trees find you a nice spot and just sit there and after sitting there for about 45 min if you dont see any thang move to a different spot and do the same thang dont move around alot squiarls have got real good site also squirl nest look like huge bird nest

Guitarzan;
Ok, lets put the truck in reverse and back up. Your getting discouraged before you start. Squirrel hunting is a great place to start. And here are a few thing that will help you out. First of all if you can' t identify certain species of trees get a book, that you can carry with you in the woods, and look for those certain trees. You want to look for beech, hickory, and oak trees. Squirrels nest this time of the year are a bunch of leaves usually in a crotch of a tree, about the size of a good size beach ball.

Also if there' s a corn field around, you want to hunt the edge of the woods by the corn field. Squirrels love corn, and will be running back and forth between the corn field and the woods. When you find an area you want to hunt, get comfortable and sit and wait. A squirrels mind capasity is around 5 to 10 minutes. so if you spook one just sit still and wait him out.

You can still hunt them, which means totally different then what it sounds like. You quietly walk around the woods until you find a squirrel. Now I don' t mean marching around the woods sounding like a herd of cattle. You walk 10 to 15 yards then stand and watch for awhile, if you don' t see anything in a few minutes walk another few yards. Also when you do stop find a good tree to lean against so your comfortable, and you' ll also have a good rest for your gun to lean against. Also get youself a pair of small binoculars, this will help you see the squirrels in the trees.

So go out and enjoy yourself, be patient, and you' ll will start seeing all kinds of squirrels.

yeah that is what i did when we firsed started hunting them furry tailed rodents[8D]

the others popped it on the nose!

I agree. I remember a great squirrel hunt back when i was in 5th grade.My dad and all his friends (who all were cops as well) when camping in this area full of those rat-tailed rodents. I swear we had our an arsenel with us; glocks, 9mm, 22s, some other guns lol. We must have taken out half the population and i got about 8 myself.

read all about it here...

http://lewand.tripod.com/sq.html

Thanks very much for all your help, with these hints and tips I hope to be a little more skillful and successful in my next squirrel hunt. (Anyone in or around Warrenton Missouri, feel free to get in touch if you wanna go for a hunt!) And thanks in advance for any more hints and tips you give me!

KJ

just curious, what kind of those rat tailed rodents you mean anyway?

Here comes my regrettable ignorance once again, as I do not know what kind are prevalent in my area. My only answer would be: the edible kind... lol.

KJ