Best way to squirrel hunt?

Does anyone know the best way to hunt for these elusive little rodents in Kansas? I went out today and didn't even see a nest.Best way to squirrel hunt?
Derek,





Aside from Dove and Quail, you're talking my favorite type of hunting. I have hunted the little Pine Squirrels in the Lincoln Forest of NM, the big Tassel eared squirrels in the Gila Wilderness and the Red and Grey's of Arkansas.





I am betting you're hunting Grey's and Reds. I have a bunch on and around my property and I do love studying the critters (and eating them). I can tell you that Reds and Grays are pretty much alike in their feeding and movement habits. They are busy right now gathering nuts. If you can find a native Pecan that still has Pecans in it, just find a spot to hide and sit. Two things that say you're in squirrel country is oak trees and nearby water.





Hunting squirrel alone is different that with a partner. Alone it is move and sit, move and sit, but mostly sit. If you find a food source, like a clump of Oaks just sit down and relax. If you have a call now is the time to use it. I have learned to make the bark sound with my mouth and can get them in. They are curious critters and your call doesn't have to be perfect. A rapid chatter, like when one is warning off another who is getting too close. If you don't have a call don't worry about it. Just wait. Camo is preferred and wear snake boots if you're out this early.





The problem with moving around hunting when you're alone is that squirrels hide on the opposite side of the tree till you pass. So when you sit and wait, the ones hiding will eventually come out and look around. You may be surprised at how many there are once you sit for a while.





The pros to hunting with a friend or a dog is that you can move around more and stay far enough away that you can see opposite sides of the trees. Thus when a squirrel moves around to hide, one of you sees it. If you have a dog who has alerted on a squirrel in a tree you move to the opposite side of the tree where it will be hiding from the dog.





You have to remember that they forage on the ground also, in order to gather nuts and acorns that have fallen, so don't always be looking up. They also like specific trails through the trees where branches are touching. I remember many years ago, accidentally finding a spot where they were crossing a wide trail by using some long branches from each side that were touching. A friend and I ambushed that trail all morning and both bagged out. They will do that crossing over small streams also. So squirrel hunting is about observation and the old art of stalking, which you'll never learn hunting from a tree stand. E-mail me if you have any other questions.Best way to squirrel hunt?
Like most have said, find a food source, but just because you have found one doesn't mean you will see any. The best way to tell if it is an active area is to look around for half eating acorns or other nuts, also if you hunt in an area with lots of pines look for pine combs that have been stripped to the core. Once you have found an area like this you should have alot of luck.
In the Mid-Atlantic states, the leaves are just starting to turn colors. They will start to be active now that we've had a a few days of cold weather. They really don't run around much until it gets cold and the acorns start falling from the trees...or the farmers start picking their feed corn and leaving bits of it behind. But, of course, the best time is early November when the leaves are off the trees and you can see them better.
find the food source, camp and pop those things as they come by,


make a food source and use glue traps to trap those things as they come buy (still targets are easier to hit than moving ones)





observe their routine for a week, then bring out the shotgun to blow those things away where you know they'll be at a specific time.
Hunt slow, hunt quiet, sit for periods with good camo on, when walking, take one step and stand still five steps.( old Indian saying about deer stalking- works good on squirrels too.
* Spot and Stalk them, or Still hunt them.*
Find their food source (trees producing/bearing nuts) and then wait under/near those trees. Odds are that you'll see squirrels shortly that way when they come to feed.
You have to find their food supply. I like hunting with a .22 short hollow point on a foggy morning with a little rain to cover my noise.
Try getting a call.