Hunting Forum

I finally got to go squirrel hunting yesterday and was it strange. I drove one way 70 mins to hunt here as I also deer hunt here. I usually see at least 100 squirrels in these wood while deer hunting and no deer! So I figure I'd get my limit in about 1/2 hour and then deer hunt. Walked in and almost immediatly have 7 deer come to "spearing" distance with me in the open. I hunted 5 hours and seen 3 squirrels with only a running shot at one and he was running on the ground faster than a rabbit. So I figure that I would go deer hunting to squirrel hunt and vice versa. But was wondering if anyone else has seen this happen where the squirrels don't come out at all. I thought it being mating season they'd be out, but maybe they all had a Friday night orgy and were to tired.

Were you walking or still hunting? I usually see more squirrels in a treestand or just plant myself somewhere and hold still. Walking will cause them to scurry and hide on the back side of the tree. You probably walked past quite a few in your travels. Do you have a call? If there's a hawk in the area you won't see any. I've had those days when I didn't see a squirrel all day also? Maybe you are onto sumpin with that whole orgy thing? LOL!!

Late season when the leaves are off the trees the Squirrels can see you from Looong way off . This time of year they are gathering less and eating in the nest of tree hollows so best time is early morning and late evening ,midmorning when the sun is out you catch them sunning but unless there's a female in heat they tend to be cautious ,Hawks and Owls you know.

HAHA@the Friday night orgy!
I think it's like what the others were saying, still hunting might be better. Did you go alone?

You should take people with you (and of course I'd recommend a little rat terrier or feist)! When I hunt them, it is usually four of us and we bring Stinky Pete, too.. We can be as loud and chatty as we want.. When we find viney trees with nests in them, one of us will put our gun up against a nearby tree and find a vine (one of them will almost always lead up to the nest), and SHAKE the heck out of the vine while the others watch.. Also keep your eyes peeled on the nearby trees, too, because a ruckus will get the nearby squirrels hauling tail, too!

Sometimes we hunt nearly an hour until coming across bushytails.

I was actually hunting the same way I deer hunt when I seen oodles of them. I actually have had them almost jump on me. I belive it was the weather fronts coming in. I was told that they came out late afternoon and I was hunting early morning. I have deer hunted one day and see tons of them and then go back in the next day to same place and may only see 3 or 4 of them. It is weird!

I always just sit an wait. The first 1/2-1 hour is quiet cuz they heard me coming in and hide. Then as time goes by and I sit still, they return to their normal activities. What gets me, is that I got a new pellet gun about 6 months ago and havn't seen one squirrel yet! I have the pleasure of seeing these buggers where they play from in my house. But when I get the new toy out, they really dig in. I guess it's just "That time of season" where they are chowing on all the stuff they stored in their nests before the season change.

i have that happen to me all the time when i go to shoot bait for foxes or just want to go out and shoot squirrels there never around or f they are they take off so fast and the days i dont have my gamo they are everywhere i get so mad lol ive gotten to the point id actually hide my gamo in woods thinking they were smart and saw me walking with it and same problem id walk to get gun and nothing. i think its just a luck thing sometimes or they are just that smart i always bring a call with me usually helps atleast lure a few out for the day.