14 Nebraskaland • August-September 2025
It's understandable why you don't squirrel hunt. The
weather might be hot, often muggy, and despite all of your
readings, you're still not quite sure you can distinguish
between Virginia creeper and poison ivy.
But you're missing out. Start, or re-kindle, your love for
squirrel hunting for these reasons.
Shoot Better
The margin for error when shooting squirrels with a
rimfi re rifl e is small. But for young or inexperienced shooters,
practicing with an inexpensive 3-9x40 scope atop a Ruger
10/22 provides the perfect pre-season classroom for big
game fi rearm season. Squirrel hunting forces the shooter to
slow down, allowing them to look for the head or heart shot
necessary to bring down this quick-moving quarry.
Hunt Better
Tree identifi cation can become a huge advantage for
hunters of various species. While deer will spend the majority
of their feeding time in crop fi elds, knowing when walnuts,
acorns and other tree nuts drop helps hunters determine
travel routes for these big game animals — and determine
where squirrels can be found throughout the season that
begins Aug. 1 and doesn't close until Jan. 31.
Fish Better
In-line spinners made by Mepps are one of the most
recognizable and versatile fi shing lures on the market, and
they are interested in your squirrel tails. Mepps provides an
opportunity for you to recycle the tails of harvested squirrels
for money or Mepps fi shing lures. Visit Mepps.com/squirrel-
tail for more information.
Cook Better
After a successful hunt, enjoy squirrels at the dinner table.
Tasting similar to rabbit — perhaps a bit darker — squirrel
meat is nothing to scoff at. Quarter the squirrel(s) into smaller
pieces and remove as much silver skin as you can to prevent
toughness. Then batter and fry the pieces for a simple meal of
fried squirrel. Another option is to simmer them in a stew or
gravy, leaving the silver skin on, until tender. Squirrel pot pie
or squirrel and dumplings come to mind.
Regardless of how you cook and serve squirrel, the fi rst
step is to go to the woods and hunt. Although there are many
more reasons to hunt this small game, enjoying them at the
dinner table is good motivation alone.
Refining rifle steadiness and accuracy is just one reason to hunt squirrels this fall. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
IN THE FIELD
By Jeff Kurrus
A CASE FOR SQUIRRELS
