Red Squirrel distribution map
Since I was a small boy I have pursued reds all over Northern Maine. Far more common here than greys. These pesky little tree rats are huntable all year and are not the easiest things to shoot. Due in part to there small size and quick movements. A sniper approach with a 22 long gun or pistol has worked best for me. A shotgun would be equally effective but the cost for shells would exceed the benefit. You see I have always shot the squirrels not so much to eat, since they taste like pine pitch. But for their tails to dress flies and spinners for fishing. In fact I have collected tails on numerous occasions just to trade them at Mepps for new fishing lures.
An added benefit if done early enough in the season. Is to reduce their population in aresa where I plan on deer hunting in November. The little sentries have ruined more than one hunt for me in the past.
Where available the bigger grey squirrels are not only superior tail wise but are far better fare to eat. Located all over the state a good population outside most towns and parks is a rare thing. It has never ceased to amaze me how many of them I see around town but so few in the woods. Even here in Houlton it is still true. Out in the woods I see very few of these big and fat well furred greys. Reds are everywhere.
Now imagine you sneak in on this big grey pictured above. This momma squirrel would make for a hard but reasonable shot. Strictly a head shot or you ruin too much meat. That’s the challenge here, nothing but head shots or you waste to much meat. But with the reds..that are unedible. Take the chest or head.
Remember, every squirrel is a trophy
Long after the hunts are gone you will still remember them. The flies you cast all summer for years to come will remind you of the hunts. The frozen squirrel meat in your freezer will warm your stomach in stews all winter. So these may not weigh 200 lbs… but yes Bubba these are trophy critters too!
Where to hunt?
In finding a good squirrel wood I look for mast. Things like beechnuts and acorns are essential. For reds you look for pinestands and cedar swamp areas. Reds leave behind little piles of kernels from shucking pine cones 24/7. Seeing these on a stump is a real good sign that they are there.
The best way to shoot squirrels is to combine silent sitting and sniping with calling. For greys I would suggest you use a commerial bellows call. Lohman makes a really effective one. You can pound it against your leg for barks, lightly tap it for chirps and shake it for that excited chortle of aggression the sound out with. Now for reds I just do it the old fashion way. I start by puckering up and making that smacky kind of kissing sound on the back of my hand. (chirps) Then I place my hands up to my mouth to form an echo chamber and do the same sound louder into the cupped hands. Moving my hands changes the tone and pitch. Alternating between an inhale and an exhale alters pitch as well. The chortle sound they make id the true “insult” you throw at them that makes them come. After listening to thousands of reds I can usually incite them to come to me and the gun. With practice this basic mouth calling will enable you to do it as well. Now I have to warn you in the beginning kissing your hand and making these “wierd” noises will have people looking at you funny. But that ceases as you get better and the reds come ot of the woodwork and try to pick a fight with you. You see the calls mimic a rivalry. Reds are territorial and will defend their homes. I use that warring against them. I can walk into any wood that has them in it and call him to me 99.9% of the time. But you still have to hit’em. My current weapon of choice is a scoped 22 mag Ruger single six. Shooting hollowpoints to reduce down range negatives if the bullet passes through or I miss. They are very frangible and a tree trunk always stops them. I intentionally wait for shots with a tree trunk backstop.
Another really good squirrel gun is the Marlin/Glenfield M60 semiauto. Mine killed several hundred squirrels. Along with some other notable guns like the Winchester M120 autoloader, a Remington nylon 66, High Standard Duramatic pistol, and a Savage M121 Cadet. The Savage was a singleshot..my first rifle. That little 22lr shooting piece of youthful memorabelia killed coon,partridge, squirrels,and a couple of pigs.
What you shoot doesn’t matter. Just get out there and have some fun. Essentially squirrel hunting is just fun with some meat thrown in to keep you nourished. Not to mention all the flies you can tye and the hours of fishing that result from that. Add into that the fact that most hunters don’t shoot squirrels so you have an untapped resource available. What more could you want? Need a further incentive…Mepps still buys tails.
I’ll even go so far as to make you an offer. If you send me your latest squirrel adventure along with pics. I’ll post them here so we can share them with everyone.
