Squirrels are very abundant in the South. Many people have them in their yards and we can walk in almost any woods and see and hear squirrels scampering from the ground to the safety of the trees. Squirrel hunting for me has always been a fun sport after a long deer season when I just want to get out in the woods with my friends and family.
Squirrel season in Georgia begins on August 15th and ends on February 29th and the daily limit is 12. While many hunters don't regard hunting squirrels as seriously as larger game, squirrel hunters tend to be very good woodsmen and the sport itself requires skills as challenging and rewarding as any other hunt.
Squirrels have many predators hunting them daily such as hawks, bobcats, coyotes and foxes. They are therefore a smart and fast animal often easy to catch a glimpse of but not as easy to get a good shot at. Squirrels are also constantly communicating and will bark to let other squirrels know when danger is nearby.
If you are not hunting squirrels, chances are you will see them by the hundreds. Pick up your gun and they suddenly become as elusive as the wind and patience as well as skill is required to bag a few. I hunt squirrels two ways by still hunting or stalking.
My choice of gun when hunting squirrels depends on which type of hunting I plan to do. When I am still hunting my choice is a .22 caliber rifle. The mild crack of the .22 does not scare squirrels as easily as the loud blast from a shotgun. I also feel that using the .22 is more challenging when still hunting. If I am walking and stalking squirrels I prefer to use a 20 gauge shotgun.
Still hunting for squirrels is a lot like still hunting for deer. Good hunting skills are necessary and the hunter must be as silent and still as possible and able to make difficult shots at a small target. Before still hunting, it is important to scout an area to see if it is a good place for squirrels. The best way to do this is to locate a food source. Squirrels love acorns and hickory nuts and hunting near these trees is a good choice. If it is early in the year squirrels are often high in the trees cutting the nuts loose and may not come down to retrieve them that day. Waiting for them requires a lot of patience. Squirrels also like corn and can often be found in fields after harvest. Later in the winter the squirrels spend a good bit of their time on the ground searching for the nuts they buried. Like deer, squirrels are the most active early and late in the day. Squirrels also tend to move about more on calm days, preferring to stay put when the wind is up and the tops of the trees are swaying. Pick your spot, remain still and watch, listen and wait. After shooting remain still, often the crack of the .22 won't scare the squirrels for long and you can often take several from your location.
When walking and stalking squirrels it is important to know that it is easier for the squirrel to see you long before you see him. I like to hunt in big hardwood flats to stalk squirrels. A steady walk seems to work best to create opportunities to shoot at squirrels. If they are available, use old trails or roads to walk on to remain as quiet as possible. Hunting when the ground is damp is ideal because a hunter can move almost without noise through the woods. When hunting on noisy ground try to sound as little like a human as possible. Taking short, quick steps and moving and pausing will often fool the squirrel long enough for you to get close enough to take a quick shot. Keep in mind that you don't need to move immediately after shooting. Squirrels will be alert after the sound of a gun being fired and time is needed for them to settle down enough to resume feeding.
Squirrel hunting can be done alone or with friends. If you have never experienced this sport I encourage you to hit the woods and give it a try.
Remember, when hunting alone please make sure someone always knows the area you are hunting and the time you should return.
Justin is Wildlife Manager for the Wade Plantation in Screven County. Contact him with questions or comments by email at
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Squirrels are very abundant in the South. Many people have them in their yards and we can walk in almost any woods and see and hear squirrels scampering from the ground to the safety of the trees. Squirrel hunting for me has always been a fun sport after a long deer season when I just want to get out in the woods with my friends and family.
Squirrel season in Georgia begins on August 15th and ends on February 29th and the daily limit is 12. While many hunters don't regard hunting squirrels as seriously as larger game, squirrel hunters tend to be very good woodsmen and the sport itself requires skills as challenging and rewarding as any other hunt.
Squirrels have many predators hunting them daily such as hawks, bobcats, coyotes and foxes. They are therefore a smart and fast animal often easy to catch a glimpse of but not as easy to get a good shot at. Squirrels are also constantly communicating and will bark to let other squirrels know when danger is nearby. 