My Story
I have two sons, six years apart. When my oldest was a junior hunter, he and I would head out for deer season, rifles over our shoulders before sunrise. My youngest would watch us gear up at the door, eyes wide, pleading:
“Dad, can I go too?”
And every time I had to say, “Not yet, you’re still too young.”
That was hard for both of us. But then the day came when he was finally ready. He passed his hunter safety course, got his very first hunting license at ten years old, and I could see the pride in his face when I handed it to him.
I’ll never forget that first real hunt. It was early morning, a light fog hanging low over the oak trees, the smell of wet leaves and pine needles in the air. He walked beside me with his first real shotgun – a Mossberg 500 Youth Super Bantam, 20-gauge pump-action, with spacer inserts in the stock so it could grow with him. The gun was light, short, and perfectly balanced for a kid, but in his hands it still looked almost as big as he was.
We walked slowly down the trail, stopping every few steps. I pointed out squirrel cuttings under the trees – piles of chewed acorn shells. I showed him where to stand and how to keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. I whispered:
“Finger off the trigger until you’re ready. Watch the trees. Listen. Let the woods tell you where they are.”
His eyes never left me. Every word sank in.
Why Squirrels Are the Best Start for Kids
That hunt taught me something important – squirrel hunting is the perfect way to start a young hunter. There’s action from the very first step into the woods. You don’t have to sit still for hours, staring at an empty clearing like you often do for deer.
Kids hear squirrels barking, watch them chase each other through the branches, spot their tails flicking. There’s always movement, always something to do. For a young hunter, that means excitement instead of boredom.
Squirrel hunting is forgiving – if you spook one, another will chatter just a hundred yards away. It gives kids multiple chances to practice. Each opportunity is another lesson, another chance to get it right.
Haydel's Game Calls Mr. Squirrel Whistle
A Classroom in the Woods
Every trip became a lesson, not just in shooting but in woodsmanship:
- how to move quietly, heel-to-toe, without snapping twigs
- how to choose a tree for cover and use it as a rest
- how to pause and wait until the forest “comes back to life” after you enter
We would sit on logs and watch the woods wake up. I’d whisper:
“Do you hear that? That’s a squirrel cutting an acorn. Look for the branch that’s moving.”
And when he saw it, his face would light up – like he had discovered a secret.
Safety and Ethics From Day One
I wanted safety to become second nature, not just something from a rulebook. So every hunt, we practiced:
“Muzzle control. Finger off the trigger. What’s behind the target?”
I made sure he understood why it mattered – that one mistake could hurt someone or ruin the hunt.
Flextone Squirrel Call
We also talked about respect for the game. If you shoot, you take responsibility. We recovered every squirrel we shot. Back home we cleaned them together and cooked them for dinner. He learned that hunting isn’t just about pulling the trigger – it’s about bringing home food, respecting the animal, and wasting nothing.
The First Squirrel
When he finally made his first shot, it was perfect. The squirrel dropped cleanly. For a second he just froze – then looked at me, wide-eyed:
“Dad, I got it!”
That smile – I can still see it. That moment mattered more to me than many of my own trophies. It wasn’t just a squirrel. It was the start of his life as a hunter.
After that, he wanted to go every weekend. Each hunt built his confidence. Soon he was spotting indicators on his own, pointing out fresh cuttings, suggesting where we should sit.
Squirrels became his teachers, training his patience and focus.
Preparing for Big Game
By the time he graduated to deer hunting, the lessons from those squirrel hunts showed in everything he did:
- he knew how to play the wind and sit still
- he didn’t get impatient or fidgety on stand
- he knew when to shoot and when to wait
Last fall he harvested his first black bear – one clean shot. Later he told me:
“Dad, all those squirrel hunts made the difference. I wouldn’t have been ready otherwise.”
And I believe him. Those small-game mornings had shaped him into a safe, ethical, confident hunter.
The Right Gear for Young Hunters
The Mossberg 500 Youth Super Bantam was the perfect gun to start with. Its adjustable stock grew with him, the 20-gauge recoil was manageable, and its short barrel made it easy to carry through the woods.
A well-fitting gun builds confidence. Kids focus on their shot placement, not fighting the weight or kick of the gun.
Lessons Beyond Hunting
Squirrel hunting taught him more than shooting. It taught him patience, discipline, and respect – lessons that go beyond the woods.
He learned to think before acting, to be responsible for his choices, and to appreciate the quiet moments between the excitement. These are the same traits that make him not just a good hunter, but a better man.
Conclusion
Looking back now, I know that squirrel hunting was more than just a way to pass time before deer season. It was the foundation of everything that came later – from deer to black bear and beyond.
Take your kids squirrel hunting. Teach them safety, ethics, and woodsmanship when the stakes are low and the lessons are plentiful. You’ll not only raise better hunters – you’ll raise responsible, thoughtful young adults.
And years later, when your son or daughter takes their first big-game animal, you’ll know exactly where it all began: on a quiet fall morning, under the oaks, chasing squirrels together.
