Going for the kill takes skills, strategy, persistence, and a lot of patience. Squirrels have become a common prey for many hunters. They are in the low ranks of the food chain which makes them very vulnerable to predators but also at times get to feed on some smaller insects.
Sure, squirrels look unassuming yet they are downright tactical by nature. In order to keep up and get ahead, you have to do your research. Knowing the best time to go squirrel hunting will give you that vantage point in the hunting arena.
Why Squirrel Hunting Is Your Best Option
Now is always a good time to go squirrel hunting! Most hunters would jump the gun for the big game and target turkeys and deers but the best way to start is to hit the small games first and go for squirrel hunting. Here are the many reasons why hunting for squirrels hits the all-time top charts:
· Versatile for Any Season. Whether it’s winter, spring, summer, or fall, squirrels thrive abundantly in any location. There is always a huge window of opportunity to catch a squirrel at any time of the year. It’s always a squirrel hunting season all year round. Need I say more?
· Sharpen Your Hunting Skills. To be able to catch squirrels, you need to be equipped with the ability to move on stealth mode. This means you need to learn how to stand-hunt and sit-hunt so you can efficiently hunt squirrels. In addition, you also learn to sharpen your skills in marksmanship and gun safety with squirrels as a target. You become a well-rounded hunter when you hunt for squirrels.
· Action-Packed Outdoor Activity. Learn to multitask with squirrel hunting. If you are looking for some action, then squirrel hunting is a great exercise as it is bound to give you that heart-thumping adrenaline rush. It’s not just about making quick movements but doing variations and syncing your actions to mimic other animals which allow you to blend in its natural surroundings. When you’re not seen as a threat, you become invisible to a squirrel and that allows you to be out of its radar and hunt with precision.
· Both Kids and Adults Enjoy! You can be 15 or 50 and yet enjoy squirrel hunting. It’s addictive because it blends the excitement and action of how you can effectively outwit the squirrel in its own comfort zone or environment. This is a great bonding activity for families to enjoy while learning basic survival and hunting skills in the wild. This is a fun way to integrate hunting skills with basic life problem solving skills. Taking the lead as a parent would allow your kid to enjoy squirrel hunting and look forward to your adventures every single time.
· Yummy to Eat. Ask any hunter or chef and they would agree about how delicious and mouth-watering squirrel meals are. This clearly is one of the many reasons why squirrel hunting is such a popular and preferred sport for any ages and genders. In fact, you can find many recipes online or cookbooks available in specialty stores that are dedicated to preparing meals with squirrel meat.
Best Time to Go Squirrel Hunting
You can’t judge a squirrel by its size. A lot of hunters leave the woods in dismay and frustration because they haven’t fired a single shot while some have never seen a single squirrel. Are they missing some clues or perhaps not in the right hunting spot? Really, what is the best time to go squirrel hunting? Below are some points to consider:
· Season or Time of the Year. It is mentioned that you can catch a squirrel all-year-round which is a plus point for hunters. However, for each season, squirrels do have some noticeable behavior that you can take cue from to know the best time to hunt. Well, it is concluded that the best times would be during Fall and Winter seasons. During Spring and Autumn, squirrels would be out looking or hunting for food too and you have more opportunities to hunt successfully. You are more likely to cross paths as squirrels would be out of their burrows or dens with the same motivation during these seasons. It’s clearly a hunting season for both squirrels and humans!
· Day or Night? Most squirrels are naturally active all day long, especially when they are out in search of food. However, like any rodent, squirrels too are nocturnal and are most active during dusk and dawn. This serves as your cue to hunt and catch one (or more).
· No to Full Moon. Most small animals like squirrels are detected to have minimal or lesser activity during the full moon. This goes the opposite for large animals like lions. Checking your calendar would be a huge help to know when is the best time to hunt for squirrels and increase your success rates.
· Weather Conditions. Squirrels are mostly active on a bright sunny day or dry weather conditions. Just like humans, squirrels would hurry for cover or shelter during bad weather conditions or wet seasons. So if you are going out for squirrel hunting, then a sunny day would be your perfect bet to do that. Yes, it would be wise to take a rain check during rainy days.
· Wind. There are good and bad days, and a windy day is not a good time to hunt for squirrels. During windy days, squirrels would usually just stay in their burrows for safety. If in case they would go out to hunt, squirrels would be very difficult to hear or chance upon because of vision and auditory difficulties brought about by the harsh winds.
Best Squirrel Hunting Tips from the Pros
Wood squirrels are perfect for the hunt because they are guarded and unpredictable. It may not be an easy hunt, but the challenge is glorious for hunters. Newbie and professional hunters alike agree to the fact that squirrels are the elusive kind but if you know how the professional or experienced hunters work then it would be a very exciting adventure. Here are some tips from the experts of squirrel hunting:
· Know Your Squirrels. You can’t just hunt without knowing your target and expect an easy hunt. Nothing good comes easy and that is very true with squirrels. You see, squirrels may look innocent and playful but they are evasive and strategic with the hide-and-seek game. Yes, they will surprise you as squirrels know how to detect movements even from afar and can spot a hunter nearby.
· Take a Hint with Silence. Squirrels are almost always active all throughout the day. But watch out for them at dusk and dawn. Squirrels would mostly go out to harvest nuts and acorns at these hours. The hunters should be able to listen actively to squirrel sounds while moving in a slow motion. The ability to still-hunt is crucial to penetrating their territories without giving them a clue that you are there. The moment the woods suddenly become still or silent, this would signal that squirrels know there is someone nearby or in their territory.
· Patience is the Key. When squirrels sense danger, they automatically freeze or keep still. This is a skill that hunters should master. Wait for the woods to resume its normal sound. Be patient and watch out for tiny sounds that could radiate from squirrels. Sit and then wait for squirrel movements and noises. You can take cover beneath bushes or rocks. If you fire a shot and miss, wait for a few minutes, don’t move a muscle, and squirrels would normally return to the same spot and feed.
· Shake-Squeak-Shot Strategy. You need to bark or make a squeaker call which mimics the sound of a young squirrel squeaking or calling for help. Buy a squeaker call in the market that allows you to mimic that sound perfectly. While doing this, you can rhythmically stomp on a branch to create panic sounds. This will allow you to detect the squirrel’s location. Experts advise doing the squeaker call early in the morning. If you detect no movements or squirrel noise, then wait for a few minutes to do it again.
· Spot-and-Stalk Strategy. This hunting technique is old school but works like a charm. As a hunter, it is a must to sharpen your stalking technique. Your senses should guide you on how to hunt down your prey and command the jungle like a pro. Squirrels would mostly be up in trees so that is where your eyes should be most of the time. Learn to time and stalk their movements and wait for the right time to strike.
Every hunter is a master in his own right. There are strategies laid out for others to emulate or follow through when it comes to the best time to go squirrel hunting but a mix of all strategies can give you more success in squirrel hunting. While this sport activity can be done in groups, squirrel hunting is described to be more of a solitary adventure that allows you to be attuned to your innate hunting instincts and implement modern stalking and squeaking strategies to get you that vantage point for the hunting game.
FAQ’s
1. What is the best time of day to hunt squirrels?
Early morning — about 30 minutes after sunrise — and late afternoon just before sunset are prime times. Squirrels are most active when they leave their nests to feed, so that’s when you’re most likely to see them scurrying around.
2. What time of year are squirrels most active?
Late summer through early winter is peak season. They’re busy gathering food for winter, which makes them more visible and predictable. Fall is especially good because leaves are dropping and visibility improves.
3. What is the best round for squirrel hunting?
A .22 LR is the classic choice. It’s accurate, quiet, and delivers just enough punch without ruining meat. If you’re using a shotgun, #5 or #6 shot works well.
4. What gun is best for squirrel hunting?
A lightweight .22 rifle is ideal for precision and range. For close-range hunts in thick woods, a .410 or 20-gauge shotgun is a solid pick — it gives you a wider margin of error.
5. What is the best time of day to see squirrels?
Mornings are usually the most productive. They leave their nests to forage as soon as the sun warms things up, so you’ll catch them hopping from tree to tree looking for acorns or nuts.
6. Is squirrel meat healthy?
Yes — it’s surprisingly lean, rich in protein, and low in fat. Many hunters describe it as a slightly sweet, mild-tasting meat that’s excellent in stews and slow-cooked dishes.
7. Do I need binoculars for squirrel hunting?
Not necessarily, but they help. Spotting squirrels high in the canopy or across a clearing is easier with a small pair of binoculars, especially on calm days when they’re less active.
8. What is a good shot size for squirrel hunting?
If you’re using a shotgun, #5 or #6 shot is the sweet spot. It offers enough power to bring them down cleanly without destroying too much meat.
9. Is a squirrel with a gun worth the money?
If you’re referring to the novelty game “Squirrel With a Gun,” that’s more entertainment than hunting advice. But if you mean investing in proper squirrel hunting gear, then yes — a reliable rifle and quality optics pay off over time.
10. Where to aim to shoot a squirrel?
Aim for the head or just behind the shoulder. A headshot drops them instantly and preserves the most meat, but a shoulder shot is a safer target if they’re moving.
11. Which is more powerful, .410 or 20-gauge?
The 20-gauge packs more punch and has a wider effective range, but the .410 is lighter, kicks less, and is great for beginners or younger hunters.
12. How many hours to beat a Squirrel With a Gun?
For the video game, most players finish it in 4–6 hours. But in real hunting, patience is key — a good morning hunt usually lasts 2–3 hours.
13. Is a .410 good for shooting squirrels?
Yes. It’s a fantastic choice for close-range hunting and small-game beginners. It’s also light, easy to handle, and won’t over-damage the meat.
14. What gear do I need for squirrel hunting?
At minimum: a .22 rifle or small shotgun, camouflage clothing, binoculars, a small game vest or pouch, and a good pair of boots. A rangefinder and shooting sticks are nice extras.
15. What is the best weather to go squirrel hunting?
Cool, calm, dry mornings are best. Windy or rainy days make squirrels less active because they prefer dry conditions for foraging.
16. Is a .17 louder than a .22?
Yes. A .17 HMR is generally louder because of its higher velocity. It’s also flatter shooting, but many hunters prefer the quieter .22 LR for squirrels.
17. Which season is the squirrel most active?
Autumn is the most active season. They’re busy collecting nuts and preparing for winter, which keeps them on the move throughout the day.
18. What time of day is best for squirrels?
Morning and late afternoon — those are your golden windows. Midday tends to slow down as squirrels rest.
19. Where do squirrels go in the day?
They spend most of midday resting in their nests (called dreys), often tucked away in tree cavities or leafy nests high in branches.
20. How long do squirrels last?
In the wild, squirrels usually live 6–12 years if predators and harsh winters don’t get them first.
21. What time of night are squirrels most active?
They aren’t. Squirrels are diurnal, meaning they’re active during daylight. At night, they’re asleep in their nests.
22. What shot do you use for squirrel hunting?
#5 or #6 lead shot is a reliable choice. It has the right balance of pellet count and energy for clean, ethical kills.
23. Is a .22 or .177 better for squirrels?
A .22 is usually better. It hits harder and is more reliable for clean kills. A .177 can work but requires more precise shot placement.
24. Is .223 too big for squirrels?
Absolutely. It’s overkill — you’ll likely destroy the animal and the meat. Stick with small-caliber rimfires for humane results.
25. What is the best thing to use for squirrel hunting?
A scoped .22 rifle paired with a steady rest is hard to beat. Add patience, camouflage, and a quiet approach, and you’ve got a winning setup.