When it comes to hunting all the valor goes to snagging big game. Elk, Bear, Sheep, Deer, these make the best photos. Since so much of our world comes down to what we can show then things like dove and squirrel tend to get lost.
Truth is small game hunting, particularly squirrel, are some of the most fun you can have hunting. On many hunting lands the squirrel population is overlooked because shooting a squirrel with a 12-gauge shotgun or a 30-06 round is just a waste of good meat.
I want to tell you why squirrels are the Darkhorse of hunting season. Whether you are a seasoned big game hunter or brand new to this whole scene, squirrels deserve your attention. So, dig out the old .22 rifle because you and your kids are gonna be chasing those bushy tails.
Longer Seasons
The firearms deer season is a short one. This is the big game season that is most open to your average hunter. Deer hunting is wildly popular all over the country, but it ends in a matter of weeks.
Squirrely seasons, on the other hand, across the nation are much longer. In many locations, they have a continuous season.
This means whenever you get the itch you can head out with a bow or a .22 and do a little hunting. This is something most hunters do not take advantage of. It could be because they hunt for antlers or large amounts of meat.
Either way, it’s a lost opportunity to get out into the woods at times of the year when you are not usually stalking around.
Varied Weapons
When it comes to squirrel hunting you get to employ all kinds of weapons. You can have a great time out with the old .22 rifle. You can grab your quiver with small game heads, thrasher heads, or judo tips, which is not something you get to shoot around very often.
Sharpen up your aim by shooting stumps with these small game tips. Most are tough and durable.
If you don’t want to shoot .22 and you have no skills with the bow, then you can even employ the pellet gun. A scoped pellet gun is one of the best weapons to put in the hands of a newbie because it doesn’t go boom and it doesn’t kick.
However, if your scope is sighted properly, you can have great accuracy and develop serious confidence in your ability to hunt small game.
Fun for Kids
Since the weapons and methods, you can use are so varied squirrel hunting makes a perfect opportunity to get children involved in hunting. You can start a child very young shooting a .22 rifle. The Savage Rascal is a great little rifle that is great for children. It’s also very affordable.
Whether you are sitting in a blind or stalking around the woods looking for squirrels, your child will feel very good about themselves carrying their own gun. It’s even better when they are trained to use it and know how to carry the weapon safely.
Squirrel Hunting is Cheaper
If you are going to shoot a deer, you need a tag. If you are going to shoot an elk, you might even need to enter some kind of lottery where having the opportunity to hunt the animal is not guaranteed.
I understand that a squirrel is not an elk. That said, all you need is a small game hunting license to not only hunt squirrel but all other small game. Here are some examples:
- Crow
- Groundhog
- Grouse
- Quail
- Pheasant
- Rabbit
- Squirrel
It is a sin that most hunters rarely take the opportunity to hunt these animals.
It Makes Better Scouting
Even if you prefer deer hunting, you can’t get around scouting. This is a necessary aspect of hunting for deer or anything for that matter. However, scouting starts long before the hunting season.
Some people really enjoy skulking around the woods in search of droppings and scrapes. Taking along a .22 rifle can make scouting for deer a much better time. Squirrels are out and the season is usually on around the time you start scouting for deer.
If you cannot use rifles in the woods you scout, then you can bring along a bow or an air rifle.
Conclusion
Hunting squirrels doesn’t make the cover of many magazines. It’s not why people trek into the backcountry. That said, time outdoors is good for the soul no matter what you’re out there for.
It’s one thing to get yourself out into the woods more regularly but giving the next generation a reason to is an entirely different matter. Hunting something that bounces and frolics is more enjoyable for a child than hunting deer. Take every advantage and try chasing bushy tailed Darkhorse.
