This is for anyone who has never squirrel hunted with a dog. I’m not going to tell you that it is the best or only way to squirrel hunt, but I will tell you it is the most fun way to hunt ‘em! I’ve still hunted, stalked, and sat and waited at many a food sources in my younger days. All of those methods work and all have their place. But for sheer fun and excitement, ya can’t beat a dog that loves to hunt squirrel.
From seeing the excitement in a dog’s eyes when you drop the tailgate, to hearing that hard bark that says, “here he is, up this one”, to watching him follow the squirrel to the ground once you shoot him out, man it’s action packed! It’s a great way to introduce young hunters to the sport. They don’t have to sit real still or be quite and they get to move through the woods - they just plain have fun. As a bonus, a young hunter will have a better chance for a shot at a motionless squirrel. Once treed, the squirrel will flatten out and freeze . Getting the young ones to see the squirrel can be a chore sometimes but with some patience and practice, it doesn’t take long. When the squirrels aren’t moving much, I still enjoy watching the dog do what thousands of years of instinct has taught her to do - hunt !
There are folks, just about everywhere there are squirrels, that hunt with a dog. If you don’t know anyone, check with your state fish and game, ask other hunters, or maybe put an ad in a local paper . I would almost guarantee that there is a squirrel-dog hunter within reasonable driving distance that would welcome the chance to introduce you to the sport!
While you may not think it’s for you, it could very well be JUST the thing for you. Give it a try ……………… and be sure to bring that little one along.
Rifle-Man www.gutpilestyle.com Squirrel Hunting!
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