How To Hunt Squirrels

Knowing how to hunt squirrels offers the opportunity for challenging hunting, interesting dinner fare, and reducing the local pest population. Three types of squirrels can be found in any woods in the United States: the fox squirrel, the red squirrel, and the grey squirrel.

You Will Need:

• BB, pellet, or small-caliber rifle
• small game permit
• one or more dogs (optional)

How to Hunt Squirrel

1. Comb the woodlands. Fox squirrels in particular enjoy open deciduous woodlands, where they can forage the ground for food and scramble up the nearest tree if startled. Most fox squirrels will head to the tree holding their den, which takes the form of a large leafy nest in summer and a hole in a tree stuffed with leaves in the winter. Grey squirrels and red squirrels also prefer open deciduous woodlands, but are more likely to stay in the branches, where their smaller size allows them to make quick getaways. Red squirrels can also be found in conifers.
2. Use a .22 or similar small-caliber rifle. Pellet and BB guns are also deadly to squirrels and do less damage to the meat if the squirrel is intended to become dinner. Red squirrels are too small to make good eating, but are often shot to control their populations or for the challenge of hitting such a small, quick target.
3. Use one or more dogs if permitted. A dog can help locate and distract squirrels, if he is properly trained. Dogs may also “tree” squirrels, but this skill is not necessary to the hunt; when threatened, squirrels will tree themselves.

Reference:

How to hunt squirrels