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.