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squirrels, locate a section of timber. Regarding a weapon of choice, you have several options, including bow, pistol or even a slingshot. But the most oft-used choices are shotgun or .22 long rifle. Shotguns usually range from .410 to 12-gauge, with shot size being from 6 to 7½. A modified to full-choke barrel is recommended due to the desire to group as many pellets as possible at your quarry and this weapon is often used in the early part of the season when leaves are on the trees. Any number of .22 rifles can be used, including a Ruger 10/22 or a Remington Model 597, once the leaves fall or when you want a more difficult challenge. Whether hunting with a shotgun or rifle, head shots are the best placement, keeping meat shot free. Camouflage depends on the time of year, but use common sense and match what you see in the woods and camouflage yourself from head to toe. Cover yourself up with grass or make small blinds with nearby tree limbs to help break up your outline. The less you move, the more chance you have of shooting a squirrel. If you happen to shoot and miss, just wait. The squirrel will usually come back to investigate 20-30 minutes after a shot has been taken. Because squirrels are early risers and late afternoon feeders, hunt at sunrise and sunset near den and nest areas in the woods. Active dens are tree cavities worn smooth around the edges, and active nests are big, leafy and look structurally sound. Leaf nests that look ragged or have daylight shining through them are probably not being used. Now, if you take the preceding information and read no further, you'll be introduced to a passion that gets a lot less attention than it should. But if you read on, then you might just develop a love for an age-old sport that, after its best days, will excite you enough to keep you up at night before opening day. Grad School Squirrels Like any other outdoor passion, squirrel hunting can get as complicated as you want it to be. But the next step to learning more about squirrel hunting is identifying food throughout the hunting seasons. In many parts of the state, where nut trees aren't abundant, look for squirrels eating seeds, conifer cones, fruit and berries, lichens, buds, roots, leaves, twig, bark, fungi, vegetation and insects. In areas with plentiful nut trees, such as the eastern part of the state along the Missouri River, look for acorns to ripen from September to October. Other nuts include shagbark hickory along the Missouri River south of Omaha and hazelnuts in southeastern Nebraska. Once these trees are identified in the woods, quietly walk to the area and The Rock Trick Carry a small pile of rocks in your pocket. If a squirrel spots you and moves to the other side of a tree, keep still for a few minutes then throw a rock on the side the squirrel is on, tricking it to move to the side of the tree where you are on. Work with a hunting partner in the same way. Sitting on opposite sides, your partner will then entice the squirrel to move to your side, giving you a safe shot. –JG Both rifles and shotguns are used by squirrel hunters. This Ruger 10/22 (left) with a 3x9x40 Tasco scope costs about $250, while the break-action 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun costs about $70, both affordable options for the beginning squirrel hunter. e f the tree r in the same way squirrels, locate a section Regarding a weapon of have several options, incl pistol or even a slingshot most oft-used choices are .22 long rifle. Shotguns u from .410 to 12-gauge, w being from 6 to 7½. A m full-choke barrel is recom to the desire to group as m as possible at your quarry weapon is often used in t of the season when leave trees. Any number of .22 be used, including a Rug Remington Model 597, o fall or when you want a m challenge. Whether hunti shotgun or rifle, head sho placement, keeping meat Camouflage depends o of year, but use common match what you see in th and camouflage yoursel to toe. Cover yourself grass or make small b nearby tree limbs to up your outline. The move, the more cha of shooting a squi happen to sho just wait. T will usuall to investig minutes af been taken Becau are early and late feeder The Rock T Carry a small pile o pocket. If a squirrel s to the other side of a few minutes then thr squirrel is on, tricking where you are on. Wo Sitting on opposite si move to your side, gi Bot Thi $25 co s

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