advice for squirrel/ rabbit hunting

[greeneman5]

Hey everyone!

Can anyone give me some advice on squirrel and rabbit hunting? This is my first year I have tried this, and I havent done to well yet. Ive got 3 or 4 so far but ive spent alot of time in the woods, theres just gotta be something im missing im hunting in an area with quite a few nests, and I even saw tons of tracks sunday morning ive tried sitting for hours, walking through the woods, no dog though but any help would be appriciated!!!

[DANNY ELLER]

Feel Like A Drive I Live In Sheridan And Just Had Surgery So I'm Off Work And On The Mend, But Can Walk In The Woods And Have A Good Squirrel Dog If You Want A Hunt Let Me Know I Up For It Dan

[MDHunter]

You'll pick up plenty of tips quickly if you're persistent!

I live in Maryland, hunt squirrels here, and used to hunt cottontails when there were a lot more of them.....and was born in Alaska, and hunted snowshoes there throughout my youth.....so I'll toss out my two cents.

As for the squirrels - nests in Maryland typically stay intact long after the squirrels have moved on, so they never seem to be a good indicator for me. Once the cold weather starts, if you can find some trees with holes in them, our squirrels like to bring leaves and grass into the hollow portions of the trees to make a snug nest. If you sneak into the woods just before light and don't make much noise, if there are squirrels around they typically will get active soon after shooting light. If you stay there for a couple of hours and don't see or hear much, and the wind isn't howling that day, there may be relatively few squirrels in that area, or they may have been hunted out already.

As for snowshoe hares - I used to hunt them with a .22, sneaking along fencerows, or looking along the bottom of spruce trees and other brushy patches. In Alaska if I snuck along slowly and looked for LITTLE black patches (the center of their ears or their eyes), you'll be surprised how soon you learn to pick out that little black spot! If you hunt with a shotgun, use the same technique, but stop abruptly from time to time, and you'll spook some you didn't see - they'll think you've seen them when you stop quickly, and will bolt to make their getaway.

For the cottontails - try the thicker fencelines, brushpiles, and hedgebushes with lots of thorns. I used to hunt them without a dog, be prepared to tear your legs up on sticker bushes pretty good that way! Always used a shotgun on them, never learned how to see them while they were still sitting - too thick for that where we hunted.

Good luck and stick with it, you'll be bagging them in no time!

[D_Hunter]

Get yourself a partner.

1 person stand still while the other person slowly moves about 30 yards ahead and stop. Then the other person walks upto and past the lead person about 30 yards. (leap frog each other)

This will let the standing person cover the walkers back as well as scan ahead. Squirrels will try and use the tree tops to get behind a person walking.

Other than that..mornings and evenings seem to be better times. Also, in the winter, warm sunny afternoons will find them out sunning. If you can find crop (corn or bean) fields that works too.

Good luck.

[Huntsman27]

I usually work the brushline/fencelines and thickets. Good to have a good pr of coveralls or cordura pants to prevent the thorns from getting you. [remember many times as a kid coming home and changing clothes my legs looked like I had the measles, it was the thorn bushes].

Brush piles are good to jump also. I like to get out after a fresh snow and track them. They are crafty, and I have had them backtrack, reverse again and jump off trail into the snowbank. One memorable hunt this happened and I saw the hole in the snow, and took my pocket knife out and stuck him, and he took off with my knife. Lucky for me I shot him with the 16 gauge, and didnt blow the knife grip apart.

Squirrels are looking for warmer areas, as stated before they will use a hollowed tree before a nest in the sky where its cold. The other point made is watch the food source areas they have been digging in. They will travel out into cornfields so I watch those to. If you happen to tree one and it wont give you a shot, I always grab a stick and throw it to the opposite side of the tree, and usually they will run to your side and give you a shot. But, be ready as they see you down there they dont sit still for but a second!

Also watch for overgrown orchards and such as the rabbits love this and tall grass. They sun themselves during the day along fences so keep your eyes open. Good luck, Rich