14 Nebraskaland • August-September 2019
Many hunters don't realize it, but squirrels can be called
in just like turkeys or ducks. Under the right conditions, this
tactic can be highly effective. The key to squirrel calling
success is knowing when to call and what to say.
Calling is most effective on calm days so squirrels can
hear you. Also, wait until enough leaves have fallen to make
squirrels more visible, and pick a nice day when they are
more active. A warm afternoon following a cold spell is ideal.
A squirrel's vocabulary consists mostly of chatters and
barks. Chatters are a series of fast, staccato notes used
to express everything from agitation to curiosity. Barks
are short, sharp, single note sounds usually issued as a
challenge. Making one or two barks, followed by a long series
of chatters, is often all that's needed to spark a squirrel's
territorial curiosity and draw them in for a closer look.
Another sound is the distress whistle, which is often made
by young squirrels being attacked by predators. This drives
adult squirrels crazy and encourages them to abandon their
treetop hideouts to investigate, just
like kids on a playground come
running to watch a fight.
Most calls are of the basic,
bellows-style design. The
open, barrel-end of the call
is held in one hand, while
the palm of the other hand is
used to quickly compress the
bellows to make barks and
chatters. Some calls also
have a whistle integrated
into the barrel that imitates
distress sounds.
Regardless of what is
said through a call, the key
is to say something. The
squirrels will respond.
IN THE FIELD
PHOTO
BY
JEFF
KURRUS
CALLING SQUIRRELS
By Jarrod Spilger
