Winter Squirrels
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I've got an article on this subject in the current (January) issue of Michigan Out Of Doors-you might want to take a look at it. Hunting squirrels in the snow and cold is not new to us up here in northern Michigan...we can just hunt a little longer this year.
I'm hunting this month, but I'll probably lay off them as of 2/1-I want to make sure we leave plenty of seed.
After a storm, wait for the first calm, clear morning. Calm is imperative. Get out there right after daylight, in areas that you've seen RECENT squirrel sign-in northern MI right now, because we have such a rotten hard mast crop, that's around corn fields. Wear snow camo, if you can, or match the surroundings as much as possible, wearing only the required amount of orange.
I carry a .22 rifle loaded with copper-coated magnum hollow point loads-I like the Velocitors and CCI Long Rifle Mags. A cheap deer scope makes all the difference.
Blend into your surroundings as much as possible, and find a good spot to sit. On a good morning, you should see squirrels moving within 10 minutes, but don't look for them on the ground much if you have more than six inches or so of snow. Silence is mandatory.
Study trees carefully, looking for bits of ear, tail, etc., rather than the entire animal.
Prepare for long shots, and usually, you'll only get one, two if you're real lucky.
Don't be surprised if you only see a handful of squirrels in the areas you saw dozens in earlier in the fall-squirrels are conservationists of energy in the winter, and don't move around more than they have to.
I don't use squirrel calls in the winter, as I've found they serve more as alarm calls than anything else when it's cold out. I'm looking forward to getting out with someone's squirrel dog soon, I hope. Will be interested in seeing how they do in the winter.
Have fun!
I'm hunting this month, but I'll probably lay off them as of 2/1-I want to make sure we leave plenty of seed.
After a storm, wait for the first calm, clear morning. Calm is imperative. Get out there right after daylight, in areas that you've seen RECENT squirrel sign-in northern MI right now, because we have such a rotten hard mast crop, that's around corn fields. Wear snow camo, if you can, or match the surroundings as much as possible, wearing only the required amount of orange.
I carry a .22 rifle loaded with copper-coated magnum hollow point loads-I like the Velocitors and CCI Long Rifle Mags. A cheap deer scope makes all the difference.
Blend into your surroundings as much as possible, and find a good spot to sit. On a good morning, you should see squirrels moving within 10 minutes, but don't look for them on the ground much if you have more than six inches or so of snow. Silence is mandatory.
Study trees carefully, looking for bits of ear, tail, etc., rather than the entire animal.
Prepare for long shots, and usually, you'll only get one, two if you're real lucky.
Don't be surprised if you only see a handful of squirrels in the areas you saw dozens in earlier in the fall-squirrels are conservationists of energy in the winter, and don't move around more than they have to.
I don't use squirrel calls in the winter, as I've found they serve more as alarm calls than anything else when it's cold out. I'm looking forward to getting out with someone's squirrel dog soon, I hope. Will be interested in seeing how they do in the winter.
Have fun!
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I've found that winter squirrels will be concentrated near a food source, and will not venture very far from their den tree. They will also be quick to beat-it back to that den tree when they see you moving. Disregard leaf nests in winter. They don't provide the windbreak and warmth that the hollow of a tree does.
The first couple of hours in the morning, and the last couple hours of the afternoon will see them moving the most. If it's under 20 degrees they'll pretty much stay denned-up all day, or for days on end if the temps. stay low.
The absolute best time to hunt winter squirrels is when it warms up after an extended period of bitter cold weather. This coming weekend should be good. The forecast for my area is temps. in the high 20's/low 30's for Satuday & Sunday. If the sun pokes out during this warm up it will be especially good hunting.
As for camo and hunting techniques I really won't address that since I use a little dog to find and tree them. So I wear orange hat, vest, and gloves and just take a stroll until I hear the dog on a tree.
We did well on Sunday treeing 14, I shot 4 and the dog caught one that came down the trunk as I approached the tree. It hit the ground in an attempt to make it to a den tree but the dog was on it fast.
As I already mentioned they are quick to leave the tree when you approach it. On 7 of the trees that the dog made, the squirrel bailed-out when I approached and "timbered" through the treetops straight to a den tree.
The first couple of hours in the morning, and the last couple hours of the afternoon will see them moving the most. If it's under 20 degrees they'll pretty much stay denned-up all day, or for days on end if the temps. stay low.
The absolute best time to hunt winter squirrels is when it warms up after an extended period of bitter cold weather. This coming weekend should be good. The forecast for my area is temps. in the high 20's/low 30's for Satuday & Sunday. If the sun pokes out during this warm up it will be especially good hunting.
As for camo and hunting techniques I really won't address that since I use a little dog to find and tree them. So I wear orange hat, vest, and gloves and just take a stroll until I hear the dog on a tree.
We did well on Sunday treeing 14, I shot 4 and the dog caught one that came down the trunk as I approached the tree. It hit the ground in an attempt to make it to a den tree but the dog was on it fast.
As I already mentioned they are quick to leave the tree when you approach it. On 7 of the trees that the dog made, the squirrel bailed-out when I approached and "timbered" through the treetops straight to a den tree.
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You ask where squirrels are? Early in the morning they are all in my bird feeders.
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I deer hunt a small 20 acre woodlot that is CHOCK full of them all year. can't step 1 foot in during daylight without them vanishing though. I sat for 1.5 hr and they never budged. Best bet is to sneak in before sunrise like for deer and wait for the sun to come up.
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Ain't that the truth! Get in a treestand with a bow and you have to fight them off....grab a scoped .22 and good luck!
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Walk around the trees. We had one last weekend stay in a crook the whole time. It was my "mothers squireel" so we could not shoot him. We hunted for at least another 2 hours and came back past the tree. He was still up there in the same spot. We watch for them in the distance. Then walk up to the tree with two people. One on one side and the other the shooter.
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