ARKANSAS SPORTSMAN: Workshop aids squirrel hunters

If you are interesting in learning to squirrel hunt, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will hold a beginner's squirrel hunting workshop Oct. 25 at the Central Arkansas Nature Center in Little Rock.

The workshop will run 6:30-8 p.m., and will be tailored for novice squirrel hunters. Topics will include how to hunt squirrels successfully, where to hunt squirrels, how to identify squirrel habitat, firearms safety at home and afield, and tasty squirrel recipes.

Participants must register by calling (501) 907-0636.

Squirrel hunting is a particularly easy, affordable, accessible portal into the sport of hunting. It does not require expensive gear or a deep investment in ammunition. You don't need to own land or belong to a hunting club, and you don't need any special permits or licenses besides a standard hunting license.

Arkansas has more than 3 million acres of land that's open to squirrel hunting for nine months. You can hunt anywhere you want in the Ozark and Ouachita national forests when squirrel season is open, and you can hunt on most AGFC wildlife management areas anytime the season is open.

Equipment is simple. A shotgun or a .22-cal. rimfire rifle puts you in business.

Shotguns are better before the leaves fall because a heavy payload of multiple pellets penetrates leafy cover. That makes it easier to kill squirrels, and success is important for encouraging new and young hunters.

For safety's sake, I recommend using shotguns for all squirrel hunting. One commandment of hunter safety prohibits firing single projectile firearms into the air. A second commandment requires a backstop behind your target.

Since squirrels are always in trees, you have to shoot in the air. If you don't hit a squirrel, you will hit a branch and ricochet, or launch a bullet unimpeded into space. Neither will stop until it hits a distant, unseen, unintentional and hopefully benign object.

Many hunters prefer using single-projectile rimfires because they enable meat-preserving head shots. However, if you pattern a preferred shotgun load, you can accomplish the same thing by covering the head with the edge of your pattern. That's how I do it, and almost all of my kills are clean head shots.

You can kill squirrels in any environment at any responsible distance with a 20-gauge shotgun and a 1-ounce load of No. 5 or No. 6 shot.

For clothing, any earth-tone garment will diminish your presence. If you have light skin, wear long sleeves and a drab ballcap. I've killed many squirrels while wearing blue jeans, but I prefer camo.

The greatest thing about squirrel hunting is that it teaches and reinforces basic hunting skills, like stealth and woodsmanship.

The key to success is to move slowly and rely on your eyes and ears. Scan the treetops for movement that is inconsistent with the weather. If a branch waves or bounces out of sync with wind rhythm, it's probably due to a squirrel.

Listen for soft raspy sounds that squirrels make when they "cut" hickory nuts or acorns. It sounds similar to someone filing fingernails with an emery board.

Also listen for squirrels barking or chattering. They have a "Daffy Duck" tone that can sound like annoyed chattering or even like a cat's meow. Move slowly to the sounds -- a step or two at a time -- until you see the squirrel.

Squirrel hunting is a great activity for parents and youngsters because you are afoot and mobile. You can walk together and talk quietly, and there's always something to see in the woods, so a child never gets bored.

Skinning and cleaning squirrels is the most laborious part of the hunt. It's tedious at first, but it gets quicker and easier with practice. There are a lot of excellent videos on YouTube that show how to do it.

One piece of equipment called the Hunter's Helper makes skinning a lot easier. Made in North Little Rock, it's a metal frame designed especially for skinning squirrels and rabbits. Every hardcore squirrel hunter I know has one.

Also, high-definition, high-contrast copper tinted sunglasses help you see squirrels in the treetops.

Eating squirrel is a pleasant reward. Squirrel is an acquired taste, but there are a lot of recipes that can help make it a welcome part of your family's diet.

Sports on 10/13/2016

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