Hunting squeakers in the spring

By Hunter Mike

Kentucky’s spring squirrel season will be open June 5-18.  This is a great time for hunters to get out and enjoy the woods.  Hunters can also use this time to do some early scouting.  June is a perfect time to hang tree cameras to monitor the antler growth on the bucks that are hanging around your property.

Hunting squirrels in the spring can be a challenge.  Hunters that face that challenge will improve their skills by having many obstacles to overcome while stalking spring tree rats.   Instead of hearing that too familiar rick-a-dee-rick of a squirrel cutting on a hickory nut, hunters will have to rely on sight to locate squeakers.  With the summer foliage, this is a challenge in itself.

Calling

Calling is one of the most effective ways to locate squirrels in the spring, according to C&C Outdoorsman Keith Sutton.  Some calls bark, some chatter and some imitate the distress call of a young squirrel.  Most of these calls are not necessarily designed to bring the squirrel to you.  They are designed to coax the squirrel into revealing its location.  The calls make them move in the trees, or they might bark back at you.  From personal experience, the distress call of a young squirrel is highly effective.  I have bagged several gray, and fox squirrels that have come right to my position when I’ve used this call.  When used properly, calls can help hunters see more squirrels than they would without calling.

Hunters should consider hunting aggressively during the first three hours after dawn.  This is the coolest part of the day, and the time when squirrels will be most active.  Truth be told, it’s more comfortable for us to be out there at this time as well.

Spring Food Sources

Squirrels won’t be munching on hickory nuts, walnuts or acorns at this time of the year.  In the fall, finding these food sources is like finding a gold mine.  In the spring, squirrels will thrive on leaf and flower buds, fungi and berries according to Sutton.  Hunters must find these types of food sources if they want to find squirrels.  Sutton suggests that mulberries are the X-factor for spring furry limb chickens.  If you find a mulberry tree, you are likely to fill the daily bag limit.

Remember, squirrels like to forage on the ground to try and find leftovers from last fall’s nut crop.  Don’t spend all of your time looking up in the trees.  Scan the entire area.  Many times during the deer season, we sit in our stands and watch squirrels come out of their tree dens.  Keep in mind where these spots are and go straight to them on opening day.

Go to http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us/ to check out the 2010 Spring Hunting Guide if you are uncertain of bag limits or any other regulations.  Be safe and good luck!