Hone Your Shooting Skills During Squirrel Season

Spring turkey season will be here soon in Missouri, but after it's come and gone Squirrel hunting is about the only firearms hunting opportunity until October. This causes some hunters to put their guns in the safe until fall turkey and deer season arrives, but savvy hunters know that squirrel season gives them the perfect opportunity to hone their shooting skills while providing them with a tasty dinner.

Missouri offers a long squirrel hunting season, stretching from late spring through the middle of February the following year.  The long season offers hunters plenty of opportunities to get out and hunt when other wild game is not in season.  Hunting squirrels is a great way to introduce children to hunting, and doesn't require much more than a suitable gun and some camouflage.  Shotguns, .22's, and high powered pellet rifles can all be used for squirrel hunting. 

 In Missouri there a two species of squirrel, the eastern grey squirrel and the fox squirrel.  Fox squirrels are the larger species, and can weigh up to three pounds.  Fox squirrel prefer open woodlands where trees are spread farther apart.  Fox squirrels are active between sunrise and sunset but their major active times are right after sunrise, noon, and right before sunset.

 The eastern grey squirrel prefers mature forest with thick canopy's, so they can travel and forage without having to spend much time on the ground where they are more vulnerable to predators.  Grey squirrels are most active two hours after sunrise and two to five hours before sunset in the spring, summer and fall.  During the winter they are most active two to four hours before sunset.

Here are a few squirrel hunting tips.

• Wear camouflage that matches the season.  Try using a face cover also.
• If you spook a squirrel sit down and wait, It will usually show its self again.
• Your ears are your best tool, listen for rustling leaves or gnawing.
• Look for squirrels along creeks bordered by hardwoods.
• Try hunting hardwood edges that border cornfields.

Squirrel hunting is often an overlooked season, leaving you the opportunity to have the woods to yourself.  When your out in the woods hunting squirrels don't forget to take a little to time to scout for deer and turkey. 

Spring Turkey Hunting

As cold gives way to blooming trees and greening grass, there is no doubt you have seen turkeys out in fields looking for spring feeding grounds.  This can mean only one thing... It's almost time for spring turkey hunting!  Now is the time to start scouting for your prime hunting location.  If you are hunting a new area try getting an overview of the area using google maps.  Looking at the map ahead of time can give you clues as to the best areas to focus your scouting efforts.  After you find some locations to scout print the map and mark these areas so you can refer to the map when your out scouting.  When scouting an area look for turkey tracks left in mud or snow.  Check ridges for signs of scratching by flocks of turkey, when you find fresh scratching the area will be moist.
Look for fresh droppings, fresh droppings will be moist and soft.  If your scouting early in the morning listen for gobblers on the roost.  Try to find out how the birds are getting to the fields and back to the roost.  Another way is to go out in the evening to an area you have scouted with good signs of activity and listen for birds flying onto the roost. Once the birds are settled in for the night wait until its dark and quietly sneak out.  It is also a good idea to mark the spot using gps so can find your way back in the dark.  Now all that's left for you to do is get out early in the morning an fill your turkey tag.  

What do you do when scouting for spring turkey? 

Free Turkey Hunting Classes In Kansas City Offered By MDC

                                          Photo Courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation


The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer free turkey hunting classes for new hunters to learn basic turkey hunting Skills.  Attendees will learn about scouting for turkeys, using calls to attract toms, use of blinds and decoys, patterning shotguns, and turkey hunting safety.

Registration is required, so register now to learn turkey hunting skills you will use for a lifetime.

The classes will be held at  Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, Parma Woods Shooting Range, and the Lake City Shooting Range.  For more information or to register for a class visit the MDC here:    http://mdc.mo.gov/node/32462