By: Bob Hendricks
The woods were quiet on that day, stone cold quiet,
until the sound of acorn hulls began to fall through the leaves of the big oak tree across the small creek. I had crept up the side of a small hill that overlooked the creek and kept the big oak tree in easy gun range of the little .410 that I was holding. My heart was pounding and sweat was dripping off my face as I frantically scanned the treetops for what I had come here for in the first place. All of a sudden I spotted the big furry tail and the unmistakable outline of a big red fox squirrel flattening himself to a tree limb. I aimed my shaking hands and fired the little scattergun only to have the squirrel run to the top of the tree and onto a network of other trees and out of sight. My heart sank as I felt the sickening feeling of defeat and my brother-in-law chided me for shooting too quickly.
I had never taken a game animal up to that day and getting one of the fox squirrels with my dad’s old .410 that he had during the depression marked an important day for me and now the moment was gone forever. My brother-in-law realized my disappointment in myself and said “ come on let’s go after another one”. We walked slowly through the woods scanning the tree limbs for movement of any kind while I proudly cradled the old .410 shotgun a family heirloom. “ Wait, stop!” my brother-in-law whispered. “ Look up in the fork of that tree just to the left”. Sure enough it was another nice fox squirrel.” He’s yours, take careful aim,” my brother-in-law advised with anticipation in his voice.
I steadied the shotgun on the fork in the tree where the big bushy tail laid hanging out the other side and tried to hold on the squirrel’s head. The sound of the shotgun went off almost as a surprise to me and the squirrel dropped to the ground stone cold dead. I ran up to the big fox and admired him with a grin that must have been as wide as my face. “I got him,” I yelled. “ You sure did “ my brother-in-law said as he congratulated him. “ Mom will fry him in the skillet for us for supper” I boasted knowing my mom knew how to make fried squirrel just right so that it melted in your mouth.
Since that day in a hollow in western Illinois I have never been the same. The big fox squirrel was my initiation into the brotherhood of the hunter. Squirrels are probably the best game animals to start the potential hunter out on. They are plentiful in most areas, fairly easy to sneak up on and the shots are not terribly difficult.
While nothing beats a scoped .22 rifle for getting head shots that don’t spoil meat I don’t discount the shotgun in this type of hunting. One of the biggest squirrel killers in my arsenal was a single shot 20 gauge shotgun that seemed to be just what the doctor ordered on hunting the fox of the treetops. A #6 or #5 shell in the twenty gauge seems to work very well on bushy tails. I have even shot them with 12 gauge shotguns and still not ruined the meat. Try to aim for the head if at all possible and you will find more unspoiled meat for the table. The .410 shotgun is very nice squirrel as well as rabbit medicine.
My favorite method for hunting the foxy bushy tail is to walk very slowly to a group of hardwood trees. I clear off a spot under a tree and sit down. I use a Lohman squirrel call that has the rubber bellows on it. I tap it one sharp tap on the stock of my gun followed by two short and quick taps on the stock of my gun. I do not pretend to know what this sequence says to the squirrels but it will get them up and moving. Sit perfectly still and watch the tree branches. I have even had squirrel come in and begin barking as though they are scolding some unforeseen intruder. When you spot a squirrel within gun range take your time and shoot him, but don’t go right over and pick him up. All the other squirrels have heard is a loud noise but they don’t know what it is. Mark where the squirrel dropped and remain silent and sitting. Soon others will venture into the area and you may get even more chances on these squirrels.
If things are slow I will get up and slowly stalk through the forest scanning the treetops. I can’t tell you how many squirrels I have seen by seeing their bushy tails hanging over a limb. If you see one and he sees you walk on by a few steps and sit down under a tree, sooner or later he will come out. The only exception is when they go into a hole or den in a tree. I have waited them out but sometimes it can eat up a lot of hunting time, if he isn’t out in twenty minutes or so, move on, you may catch him out on the way back through.
Starting in August in most states ushers in the season of the fox, why not pick up your rifle or shotgun and go get the fixings for some fine fried squirrel. Incidentally if you have not eaten squirrel you are really missing out on some good eating. Good luck!!
The woods were quiet on that day, stone cold quiet,
until the sound of acorn hulls began to fall through the leaves of the big oak tree across the small creek. I had crept up the side of a small hill that overlooked the creek and kept the big oak tree in easy gun range of the little .410 that I was holding. My heart was pounding and sweat was dripping off my face as I frantically scanned the treetops for what I had come here for in the first place. All of a sudden I spotted the big furry tail and the unmistakable outline of a big red fox squirrel flattening himself to a tree limb. I aimed my shaking hands and fired the little scattergun only to have the squirrel run to the top of the tree and onto a network of other trees and out of sight. My heart sank as I felt the sickening feeling of defeat and my brother-in-law chided me for shooting too quickly.
I had never taken a game animal up to that day and getting one of the fox squirrels with my dad’s old .410 that he had during the depression marked an important day for me and now the moment was gone forever. My brother-in-law realized my disappointment in myself and said “ come on let’s go after another one”. We walked slowly through the woods scanning the tree limbs for movement of any kind while I proudly cradled the old .410 shotgun a family heirloom. “ Wait, stop!” my brother-in-law whispered. “ Look up in the fork of that tree just to the left”. Sure enough it was another nice fox squirrel.” He’s yours, take careful aim,” my brother-in-law advised with anticipation in his voice.
I steadied the shotgun on the fork in the tree where the big bushy tail laid hanging out the other side and tried to hold on the squirrel’s head. The sound of the shotgun went off almost as a surprise to me and the squirrel dropped to the ground stone cold dead. I ran up to the big fox and admired him with a grin that must have been as wide as my face. “I got him,” I yelled. “ You sure did “ my brother-in-law said as he congratulated him. “ Mom will fry him in the skillet for us for supper” I boasted knowing my mom knew how to make fried squirrel just right so that it melted in your mouth.
Since that day in a hollow in western Illinois I have never been the same. The big fox squirrel was my initiation into the brotherhood of the hunter. Squirrels are probably the best game animals to start the potential hunter out on. They are plentiful in most areas, fairly easy to sneak up on and the shots are not terribly difficult.
While nothing beats a scoped .22 rifle for getting head shots that don’t spoil meat I don’t discount the shotgun in this type of hunting. One of the biggest squirrel killers in my arsenal was a single shot 20 gauge shotgun that seemed to be just what the doctor ordered on hunting the fox of the treetops. A #6 or #5 shell in the twenty gauge seems to work very well on bushy tails. I have even shot them with 12 gauge shotguns and still not ruined the meat. Try to aim for the head if at all possible and you will find more unspoiled meat for the table. The .410 shotgun is very nice squirrel as well as rabbit medicine.
My favorite method for hunting the foxy bushy tail is to walk very slowly to a group of hardwood trees. I clear off a spot under a tree and sit down. I use a Lohman squirrel call that has the rubber bellows on it. I tap it one sharp tap on the stock of my gun followed by two short and quick taps on the stock of my gun. I do not pretend to know what this sequence says to the squirrels but it will get them up and moving. Sit perfectly still and watch the tree branches. I have even had squirrel come in and begin barking as though they are scolding some unforeseen intruder. When you spot a squirrel within gun range take your time and shoot him, but don’t go right over and pick him up. All the other squirrels have heard is a loud noise but they don’t know what it is. Mark where the squirrel dropped and remain silent and sitting. Soon others will venture into the area and you may get even more chances on these squirrels.
If things are slow I will get up and slowly stalk through the forest scanning the treetops. I can’t tell you how many squirrels I have seen by seeing their bushy tails hanging over a limb. If you see one and he sees you walk on by a few steps and sit down under a tree, sooner or later he will come out. The only exception is when they go into a hole or den in a tree. I have waited them out but sometimes it can eat up a lot of hunting time, if he isn’t out in twenty minutes or so, move on, you may catch him out on the way back through.
Starting in August in most states ushers in the season of the fox, why not pick up your rifle or shotgun and go get the fixings for some fine fried squirrel. Incidentally if you have not eaten squirrel you are really missing out on some good eating. Good luck!!