Tracking and Stalking: 4 Tips
There are two primary techniques for hunting squirrels: passive and active hunting.
- Passive hunting: Thisinvolves choosing a location and waiting for your prey to come to you
- Active hunting: When actively hunting, you’ll stalk squirrels through the woods.
Both methods can be effective for collecting squirrels. However, to increase your chances of success, here are a few tips to follow.
Wear Camouflage Clothing
Although you don’t need camouflage clothing for squirrels, neutral or camouflage gear can be a good idea. It can help make you less noticeable to your prey for the element of surprise.
However, remember that some states or hunting areas require squirrel hunters to wear high-visibility (or blaze orange) vests for safety.
1. Go Slower
Most of us hunt too quickly, especially when chasing animals that also move quickly.
Try slowing down and studying the trees above you. Scan the ground ahead and don’t move – yet. When spooked, squirrels have a short attention span. If they don’t leave the area, they’ll be back to whatever they were doing before they were doing within 10-30 minutes.
Wait for the closest squirrels to settle. The squirrels in the distance will soon return to shuffling through the leaves to give away their location.
An effective hunter spends far more time glassing and listening than moving.
2. Move Quietly
As we mentioned, squirrels are prone to getting spooked due to their skittish nature. A loud noise can send them scurrying back to their nests.
So, as you actively hunt a squirrel, walk carefully. Try not to step on sticks or loud ground cover so avoid making noise.
3. Use Binoculars
Other than your gun or bow, no other item is more valuable to a hunter in the field than a good pair of binoculars.
Binoculars will help you identify that suspicious-looking bump on a limb as a squirrel or nothing to get excited about. Also, binoculars allow you to scan the distant forest floor for movement and give you a close-up view of the treetops.
4. Use the Sun’s Position to Your Advantage
It can be more difficult for a squirrel to see you with the sun at your back. Use this to your advantage!
Stand or sit against a tree with the sun behind your shoulders. This position also makes it easier to make an accurate shot since the sun won’t be in your eyes.
