How to Combine Them for Maximum Success
The Perfect Way to Kick Off the Season
For a serious hunter, the season doesn’t really begin with deer. It begins the first crisp morning when you step into the woods and smell wet leaves, hear acorns crunch under your boots, and feel the air cool on your face. Hunting Western gray squirrels (Sciurus griseus) is the perfect way to get tuned up for deer season.
Western grays stay active year-round, and their season opens several weeks before the deer opener. That timing is ideal. You can:
- test-fire your rifle, shotgun, or .22,
- check optics, calls, and camo,
- get a feel for new country, learn fresh deer trails and feeding areas.
Squirrel hunting is more than a warm-up. It’s real hunting that demands patience and skill, yet carries none of the high-pressure intensity of opening day for deer. Every morning spent after squirrels is a lesson — in movement, marksmanship, and woodsmanship — that pays off later in the season.
Habitat and Behavior
Western gray squirrels are the biggest tree squirrels in the West, with long silver-gray tails, creamy bellies, and a wary nature. They thrive in mature oak and pine forests, especially where there’s a mix of habitat types — so-called “ecotones” where oak woodlands meet Douglas fir or pine.
When scouting, look for:
- Cuttings: piles of acorn shells or nut husks on logs and stumps,
- Fresh gnaw marks on branches and dropped limbs,
- Tracks and droppings near feeding trees,
- Vocalizations: their barks and chatters can carry across a canyon.
Squirrels feed heavily in the early morning and again late in the afternoon. Sunny, calm days are prime time. On windy days, they often stay tight in a den. When you find a heavy mast crop — acorns or pine seeds — you’ll likely find squirrels, and deer won’t be far behind.
Hunting Tactics
Stand Hunting
Find a productive oak or hickory grove, slip in quietly, sit down with the wind in your favor, and let the woods calm down. Fifteen to thirty minutes of stillness is usually enough before squirrels begin to show themselves again. A good stand hunter picks a tree with back cover, stays motionless, and keeps binoculars handy to pick out tails flicking in the canopy.
Still-Hunting
Still-hunting is more active and perfect for covering new ground. Move slowly — just a few steps at a time — then stop and scan the trees for movement. Listen hard: the rustle of leaves, the sound of a nut hitting the forest floor, even the faint clatter of claws on bark. Pause often; let the woods reveal its secrets. This method is excellent for locating new feeding areas that you can return to later in deer season.
Some hunters blend the two approaches: slip through the woods until you strike fresh sign, then settle in and let the squirrels come to you.
Firearms and Gear
Weapon choice depends on your style, terrain, and personal taste.
Shotguns (.410, 20-gauge, 12-gauge): The go-to for fast-moving squirrels on the ground or leaping between trees. Load with #6 or #7.5 shot. Shotguns forgive minor aiming errors and allow quick, instinctive shooting. They shine in late fall when dry leaves make it hard to sneak within rifle range.
.22 LR Rimfire: The classic squirrel rifle. Cheap, quiet, accurate. Perfect for head shots from a steady rest. A low report means you can often take more than one squirrel from the same tree before the woods go quiet. Downside: requires precision; a poorly placed body shot can waste meat.
.17 HMR: Ideal for open-country squirrels or longer shots. Flat-shooting and very accurate, with minimal meat damage when you hit the head. The tradeoff is higher ammo cost, but for many hunters, the confidence it provides is worth it.
Other must-haves:
- Compact binoculars to pick out an ear or tail blending with bark,
- Camo clothing that matches early fall foliage,
- Squirrel calls to provoke a bark or movement from a hidden squirrel,
- A small game vest or pack to carry squirrels comfortably as you move.
Deer Scouting While Squirrel Hunting
Every squirrel hunt doubles as a deer-scouting trip. While you slip through the woods, take mental notes:
- fresh deer tracks on muddy trails,
- well-worn runs leading to bedding or feeding areas,
- rubs with bright, fresh shavings indicating active bucks,
- scrapes with overturned soil that signal pre-rut behavior.
Droppings can tell you how recently deer were in the area. Moist, shiny pellets mean deer are using that spot right now. Pay close attention to mast crops — when acorns are dropping, both squirrels and deer focus their feeding there. If you find a grove where squirrels are busy all morning, there’s a good chance a buck will be nearby come October or November.
This overlap makes squirrel hunting one of the most productive preseason activities a deer hunter can do. You’re not just shooting small game — you’re mapping the woods, figuring out wind patterns, and getting comfortable in the same places you’ll hunt later.
Conclusion
Squirrel hunting is more than small game practice — it’s an education. It teaches you to move quietly, to watch and listen with focus, to shoot precisely. It gives you extra hours in the woods, which means more knowledge about the land, more confidence, and ultimately a better chance of tagging a deer when the season opens.
The hunter who spends September and early October chasing squirrels isn’t just filling a game bag — he’s sharpening every sense and stacking the odds in his favor for deer season.
