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John N. Felsher's Squirrel Hunting Adventures
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Look to the towering pine trees
for more squirrels in early season
for more squirrels in early season
Chester Thompson admires some squirrels he bagged in a mixed
pine and hardwood forest near DeRidder, La. Squirrels often feed
upon green pine cones, especially in late summer or early fall.
Hunters who look into the pines might find more bushytails.
pine and hardwood forest near DeRidder, La. Squirrels often feed
upon green pine cones, especially in late summer or early fall.
Hunters who look into the pines might find more bushytails.
Time grew short in Holland Bottoms Wildlife Management Area near
Cabot, Ark. Already beginning to set, sunlight barely penetrated the forest
canopy. Then, I heard it!
High in a pine tree, I detected a faint scratching and clicking. Only one
animal makes such sounds. Somewhere in that tall stately tree, a squirrel
munched contentedly on a green pine cone. I could faintly hear the
scratchy chewing as the squirrel ripped seeds from the cone.
Unseen, it could hide in any of several pines clumped together in this
patch of mixed hardwood and evergreen forest. I must get closer.
Sometimes, I thought the squirrel feasted in one tree; sometimes in another
nearly identically pine. Loaded with cones, either evergreen could easily
conceal a herd of squirrels in its intertwined branches.
Shadows grew as the sunlight diminished; I had little time to waste.
Finally, a sparkle of vanishing sunlight glinted off a stream of telltale cone
chips dropping from one tree. Then, a shelled cone husk nearly bounced
off my head as the squirrel fatally reached for seconds.
Now, I had it. Silhouetted against a reddened sun, the bushytail
crouched at the base of a branch. It fell at the pop of a .22 from the top
barrel of my Savage Model 24 over-and-under .22 rifle mated to a 20-
gauge shotgun as another undetected squirrel bolted from an adjacent
tree. Two squirrels! No wonder they confused me. Scratching against the
rough bark, the second bushytail fell on the run to the boom of the 20
gauge.
Few hunters bother with evergreens when chasing squirrels. Although
a solid pine forest yields little nutritional value for squirrels, bushytails thrive
in mixed hardwoods and evergreens. Even in a mostly hardwood forest,
they frequently flock to pines like children to a candy store. In late summer
or early fall, they especially relish large, green cones. Squirrels tear apart
green cones to get at the succulent seeds and drop the chewed-up chips
and gnawed husks to the ground. In some places, piles of husks, chips and
other debris carpet the ground. Once hunters locate an area with a pile of
pine debris, they should hide about 20 to 30 yards away and keep watch.
Mostly, they must listen.
On quiet, foggy autumn mornings or still afternoons, every sound
seems amplified. Hunters usually hear squirrels long before they see
them. Claws make distinctive scratching sounds on rough pine bark. Teeth
click and scratch on gnawed cones. Hunters hear discarded cones or chips
dropping to the forest floor. Sounding like raindrops, falling chips or husks
can lead to feeding squirrels.
When squirrels intently concentrate on devouring cones, hunters can
often stalk close to them. Quiet needles, husks, chips and other relatively
sterile ground cover litter most heavy-canopied pine forests, creating
almost park-like conditions. Frequently, a hunter can get directly under a
tree harboring a feeding squirrel or two. Sometimes, it takes such an effort
just to see a bushytail well concealed in the nooks and crannies of immense
evergreens.
When hunting any forest, take only a few steps, stop, look and listen.
Covering part of a forest thoroughly yields more game than thoroughly
covering a forest. Listen for falling chips or claws scratching on bark.
Listen for barking squirrels, especially in late morning or mid-afternoon.
Scan trees for movement or odd shaped “knots” on tree trunks or
branches. After a few minutes, take two or three more steps and stand still
again. About every 50 yards, sit on a fallen log, or lean against a
comfortable tree trunk. Remain still and quiet for 20 to 30 minutes before
moving to other likely spots.
Many squirrel hunters prefer a rifle when hunting tall pines. Many pines
grow much taller than deciduous trees. In especially tall pines, shotgun
pellets might barely reach the top with sufficient killing power. Surprisingly
tough, squirrels can sometimes absorb immense punishment and keep
running. The pellets may barely penetrate their tough hides. Rifle
projectiles penetrate with greater force. In addition, huge pines frequently
hang heavy with spreading branches at the top that furnish excellent cover
to block or deflect shotgun pellets. Often, a squirrel exposes only a tiny
spot, like its head -- just enough for a well-placed rifle shot.
Hunting pines in a mixed forest can put more weight in a game bag and
adds a different twist to squirrel hunting. Also, sportsmen may find
themselves almost alone since mostly pine forests typically attract few
squirrel hunters, alone except for a bunch of bushytails!
Cabot, Ark. Already beginning to set, sunlight barely penetrated the forest
canopy. Then, I heard it!
High in a pine tree, I detected a faint scratching and clicking. Only one
animal makes such sounds. Somewhere in that tall stately tree, a squirrel
munched contentedly on a green pine cone. I could faintly hear the
scratchy chewing as the squirrel ripped seeds from the cone.
Unseen, it could hide in any of several pines clumped together in this
patch of mixed hardwood and evergreen forest. I must get closer.
Sometimes, I thought the squirrel feasted in one tree; sometimes in another
nearly identically pine. Loaded with cones, either evergreen could easily
conceal a herd of squirrels in its intertwined branches.
Shadows grew as the sunlight diminished; I had little time to waste.
Finally, a sparkle of vanishing sunlight glinted off a stream of telltale cone
chips dropping from one tree. Then, a shelled cone husk nearly bounced
off my head as the squirrel fatally reached for seconds.
Now, I had it. Silhouetted against a reddened sun, the bushytail
crouched at the base of a branch. It fell at the pop of a .22 from the top
barrel of my Savage Model 24 over-and-under .22 rifle mated to a 20-
gauge shotgun as another undetected squirrel bolted from an adjacent
tree. Two squirrels! No wonder they confused me. Scratching against the
rough bark, the second bushytail fell on the run to the boom of the 20
gauge.
Few hunters bother with evergreens when chasing squirrels. Although
a solid pine forest yields little nutritional value for squirrels, bushytails thrive
in mixed hardwoods and evergreens. Even in a mostly hardwood forest,
they frequently flock to pines like children to a candy store. In late summer
or early fall, they especially relish large, green cones. Squirrels tear apart
green cones to get at the succulent seeds and drop the chewed-up chips
and gnawed husks to the ground. In some places, piles of husks, chips and
other debris carpet the ground. Once hunters locate an area with a pile of
pine debris, they should hide about 20 to 30 yards away and keep watch.
Mostly, they must listen.
On quiet, foggy autumn mornings or still afternoons, every sound
seems amplified. Hunters usually hear squirrels long before they see
them. Claws make distinctive scratching sounds on rough pine bark. Teeth
click and scratch on gnawed cones. Hunters hear discarded cones or chips
dropping to the forest floor. Sounding like raindrops, falling chips or husks
can lead to feeding squirrels.
When squirrels intently concentrate on devouring cones, hunters can
often stalk close to them. Quiet needles, husks, chips and other relatively
sterile ground cover litter most heavy-canopied pine forests, creating
almost park-like conditions. Frequently, a hunter can get directly under a
tree harboring a feeding squirrel or two. Sometimes, it takes such an effort
just to see a bushytail well concealed in the nooks and crannies of immense
evergreens.
When hunting any forest, take only a few steps, stop, look and listen.
Covering part of a forest thoroughly yields more game than thoroughly
covering a forest. Listen for falling chips or claws scratching on bark.
Listen for barking squirrels, especially in late morning or mid-afternoon.
Scan trees for movement or odd shaped “knots” on tree trunks or
branches. After a few minutes, take two or three more steps and stand still
again. About every 50 yards, sit on a fallen log, or lean against a
comfortable tree trunk. Remain still and quiet for 20 to 30 minutes before
moving to other likely spots.
Many squirrel hunters prefer a rifle when hunting tall pines. Many pines
grow much taller than deciduous trees. In especially tall pines, shotgun
pellets might barely reach the top with sufficient killing power. Surprisingly
tough, squirrels can sometimes absorb immense punishment and keep
running. The pellets may barely penetrate their tough hides. Rifle
projectiles penetrate with greater force. In addition, huge pines frequently
hang heavy with spreading branches at the top that furnish excellent cover
to block or deflect shotgun pellets. Often, a squirrel exposes only a tiny
spot, like its head -- just enough for a well-placed rifle shot.
Hunting pines in a mixed forest can put more weight in a game bag and
adds a different twist to squirrel hunting. Also, sportsmen may find
themselves almost alone since mostly pine forests typically attract few
squirrel hunters, alone except for a bunch of bushytails!
