Paleo Magazine Express September 2015 | Page 11

FINDING A PLACE TO HUNT SQUIRRELS IS EASY. Pick any piece of public or private land that has woods on it and there will be squirrels. Stick to the parts of the woods dominated by mast producing hardwoods like oak, walnut, and hickory and you’ll find tons of them. All you have to do for shooting opportunities is sit still for an hour in the morning or evening next to a tree trunk. Before long, they will think that you are gone and start moving around doing squirrel stuff. Eventually, one will hold still in long enough and close enough for you to get a shot. A MORE CHALLENGING HUNTING TACTIC you should try after you have success sitting is still hunting. Wild squirrels are constantly on high alert and have excellent eyesight, so sneaking up on them isn’t easy. Thankfully there are so many of them you can get in numerous stalks in a good hunt, whereas hunting big game you might only get the opportunity for a true stalk once every three or four times you go. When attempting to stalk squirrels, or any species for that matter, pay special attention to two factors: leaf cover and moisture. These key environmental factors, along with wind conditions, determine how visible and audible your movement will be. When squirrel season opens, the leaves will still be on the trees, but within a few weeks they will be gone. In the early season when leaves are still on the trees the limited range of visibility makes it is easier for you to get close to them but it is also more difficult to find them and get clear shots. In the late season, you can spot them easily from a distance, but of course they have a much easier time seeing you, too. If there has been no rain for enough time that the leaves on the forest floor are dry, it is very difficult to walk through the woods without sounding like a herd of elephants. If the ground is wet, you can walk in perfect silence as long as