Squirrel hunting is a classic small game pursuit that is both fun and challenging, offering hunters of all experience levels an engaging way to sharpen their skills while enjoying fast-paced, action-filled days in the woods. Squirrels are among the most popular small game animals pursued by hunters, prized for both sport and food. Whether you’re chasing fox squirrels in hardwood ridges or targeting greys in dense timber, success comes down to strategy, patience, and using the right squirrel hunting gear—especially squirrel calls, proper game-carrying equipment, and clothing suited for the terrain. Scouting for signs like shredded pine cones, acorn hulls, and active habitats is a key part of a successful hunt, helping you locate the best spots and increase your chances.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best squirrel hunting calls, how to carry your harvest, and the key tactics that consistently put more squirrels in your bag. Careful shot placement and thoughtful equipment choice also help minimize meat damage, preserving the quality of your harvest for the table. While you don’t need fancy equipment to get started, having the right gear can make your hunting experience more effective and enjoyable.
Best Squirrel Calls (And How to Use Them)
Using squirrel calls effectively can turn a slow hunt into a productive one.
🔊 Barking / Alarm Calls
- Mimic a squirrel spotting danger
- Great for stopping or exposing hidden squirrels
- Can trigger defensive movement
When to use: After squirrels go quiet or you've been detected
🔊 Distress Calls
- Simulate a squirrel in trouble
- Attracts curious or territorial squirrels
- Works well in pressured areas
When to use: Midday or slow activity periods
🔊 Feeding / Cutting Sounds
- Replicate squirrels chewing nuts
- Keeps nearby squirrels calm
- Subtle but very effective
When to use: Early morning feeding times
Top Squirrel Calls (Recommended Gear)
Primos Squirrel Buster Call
- Built for Squirrel Hunting: A reliable calling tool designed specifically to help hunters locate and draw in grey and fox squirrels
- Reproduces Multiple Squirrel Calls: Reproduces all five calls of the grey squirrel and fox squirrel's language
- Realistic Sounds: From young squirrel distress squeals to excited chatter, this call helps trigger natural responses from nearby squirrels
- Compact & Easy to Use: Simple design makes it easy for beginners and experienced hunters
- Reproduces the calls of Gray and Fox Squirrels
- alarm bark, distress scream, grey squirrel chatter, grey squirrel squeal, and fox squirrel chatter
- "Shaker" style call is easy to use
Why it works:
- Produces both bark and chatter sounds
- Compact and easy to use
- Great for beginners
👉 Best for: All-around hunting situations
Hunters Specialties Squirrel Call - Easy One-Handed Effective Operation Versatile Realistic Squirrel Sounds Game Call
- REALISTIC SQUIRREL CALLS - This game call is expertly designed to imitate both fox and gray squirrels, producing lifelike sounds such as barks, chatter, alarm calls, and baby-squirrel distress calls to attract squirrels in various hunting scenarios
- VERSATILE PERFORMANCE - Whether you're targeting fox or gray squirrels, this call provides a wide range of vocalizations, helping you adapt to different hunting conditions and drawing squirrels with authentic, natural-sounding calls for a successful hunt
- EASY TO USE - Simple and intuitive, even beginners can use this game call with ease. It ensures that hunters of all experience levels can effectively produce realistic squirrel sounds without a steep learning curve, making it an essential tool for hunters
- WORKS IN ANY WEATHER - Whether you're hunting in rain, wind, or cold, this call is designed to perform reliably in all weather conditions, providing consistent sound quality and durability, making sure you're always ready to lure in squirrels
- MULTIPURPOSE CALLING - From barking and chattering to creating distress calls of young squirrels, this versatile game call offers a range of effective sounds that can be utilized throughout different stages of the hunt
Quaker Boy Squirrel Scolder
- Simple To Use
- Create Barks And Chatter
- Model Number: 2606
- Material Name: Plastic
- Sport type: Hunting
💡 Pro Tip: Use calls sparingly. Overcalling can alert squirrels and shut down movement.
How to Carry Squirrels While Hunting
Carrying your harvest correctly keeps you mobile and your meat in good condition.
🎯 Game Straps
- Lightweight and simple
- Keeps squirrels accessible
- Hands-free movement
👉 Best for: Mobile hunters
🎯 Hunting Vests with Game Bags
- Built-in rear pouch
- Even weight distribution
- Comfortable for long hunts
👉 Best for: All-day hunts
🎯 Belt Game Carriers
- Minimal bulk
- Easy access
- Lightweight
👉 Best for: Short trips
Best Gear for Carrying Game
Browning Upland Vest
- 12 oz., 100% cotton canvas
- 100% polyester blaze overlay
- Soft, brushed Tricot lining
- Blood-proof game bag with zip opening
- Shell pockets with hook and loop close pocket flaps for easy shell pocket access
- Large rear game pouch
- Comfortable fit
- Built for serious hunters
👉 Best overall choice
Hunters Specialties Game Bag, Deluxe Size Reusable Washable Heavy-Duty Canvas Field Dressing Game Bags, 40" X 48"
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION - Crafted from heavy-duty canvas, these game bags are built to withstand rugged outdoor conditions, ensuring long-lasting use even in the harshest environments. Whether you're hauling out an elk, moose, caribou, or deer
- EFFECTIVE PROTECTION - Designed to keep meat clean and safeguard it from insects, these game bags offer superior protection to ensure the freshness of your harvested game. With their sturdy construction and secure closure, you can trust these bags
- MULTIPLE SIZES AVAILABLE - From XL to Quarter size, hunters have a range of options to accommodate different game types and quantities, providing versatility in their hunting gear. There's a game bag size to suit your needs
- REUSABLE AND WASHABLE - These game bags are reusable and washable, making them convenient and cost-effective options for hunters who frequently embark on hunting trips. After each use, simply wash the bags to remove any dirt or debris
- CLOSURE TIE INCLUDED - Each game bag comes with a closure tie, ensuring secure storage of game meat and peace of mind for hunters during transport. With the closure tie securely fastened, you can confidently carry game without worrying about any spills
👉 Best budget option
DynoGoods Game Carrier, 12 Drops, Slip Ring - Bird Tote for Waterfowl, Duck, Geese, and Other Wild Game, Paracord
- Durable, paracord design easily holds 12 ducks or even more when you place multiple birds on a drop
- 12 corrosion-resistant metal slip ring drops total, 6 per side
- Convenient loop to hang from a carabiner, waders, pack, or other hunting gear
- Hold the game carrier by the strap or place the strap around your neck while gathering birds
- Use to display hunt's success when taking post-hunt pictures
Keys to a Successful Squirrel Hunting Tips
Hunt the Right Areas
- Oak, hickory, walnut, and pecan trees—especially in hardwood forests with mast-bearing trees- are prime food sources for squirrels. In early fall, focus on hickory trees on upland ridges, since they attract squirrels before acorns ripen. In late summer, squirrels are especially active, feeding on pine seeds, hickory nuts, and acorns, making this a crucial period for locating food sources and observing squirrel behavior as they prepare for the coming seasons.
- Active mast production, including white oak acorns, red oak acorns, and hickory nuts. Squirrels prefer white oak acorns because they contain less tannic acid, making them more palatable.
- Open woodlands and edges between timber types, as fox squirrels often thrive in less dense forest areas.
- Forest floor and ground beneath mast trees—scout for signs of squirrel activity such as shredded pine cones, gnawed mast hulls, broken acorn shells, and nests (large clumps of leaves and twigs in trees). Squirrels are messy eaters, so look for hulls and pine cone shards scattered on the ground. In autumn, squirrels begin feeding before dawn, actively searching for hickory nuts, acorns, walnuts, and pine nuts to store for winter.
- Areas near a water source, since trees close to water tend to produce larger fruits and acorns, attracting more squirrels.
- Evidence of different species, including red squirrels, may be present depending on your region. Understanding local squirrel populations and their activity patterns is important for both hunting success and wildlife management. Squirrels have two breeding seasons per year—one in summer and one in winter—but their activity levels are more influenced by weather and food availability than by mating behavior.
- Scouting is key: find squirrels by observing these habitats, food sources, and activity signs to locate the best hunting spots.
Slow Down Your Hunt
This is known as the ‘still-hunt’ approach—a proven method for hunting squirrels. Slow your movement speed by half compared to your normal pace; this simple adjustment can help you spot more squirrels. As you move, practice active scouting by walking slowly through the woods, stopping often, and carefully scanning both the treetops and the forest floor for signs of squirrel activity. Watch for movement, listen for rustling leaves, and look for clues like nut hulls or disturbed leaf litter on the forest floor. Squirrels move when you don’t.
Master the Sit-and-Wait Method
- Find a productive tree
- Stay still
- Let squirrels return to normal activity
This is one of the most effective techniques in squirrel hunting.
Listen More Than You Look
You’ll often hear:
- Nuts being cut
- Bark scratching
- Leaves rustling as squirrels remain hidden in trees or foliage
Train your ears—it’s a major advantage.
Hunt Prime Times
- Early morning: Feeding
- Early afternoon: Squirrels, especially bushytails, are often actively foraging on the ground as they prepare for dusk, making this a productive time to hunt, particularly if weather conditions are mild.
- Late afternoon: Movement resumes, and squirrels become more active again as they search for food before nightfall.
- Midday: Best for calling
In winter, squirrels are typically most active during the warmer parts of the day, with midmorning and late afternoon being peak activity times. The best times to hunt squirrels are early in the morning or late in the afternoon, especially during cooler periods, when they are most likely to be moving and feeding.
Use the Right Firearm
The main types of guns for squirrel hunting are shotguns, rimfire rifles, and air rifles.
- .22 rifle (precision): Preferred by many experienced squirrel hunters for its accuracy and ability to preserve meat, the .22 caliber rifle is best used when the squirrel is a stationary target. This rimfire rifle allows for precise headshots, ensuring instant kills and minimizing meat waste.
- Shotgun (.410 or 20 gauge) for thick cover: Shotguns are a popular choice for squirrel hunting due to their large spread, which increases the chance of hitting a moving target. Using a full choke is effective for reaching distant tree-top squirrels, especially in early-season leafy woods. When using a shotgun, #4, #5, or #6 shot sizes are recommended; these loads release multiple small pellets that spread out, increasing the chance of a hit but potentially causing more meat damage. Carefully choosing shot placement is important—aim for headshots to ensure instant kills and minimize meat waste.
- Air rifle (quiet, ideal for urban or suburban areas; requires head shots for a clean, ethical kill): Air rifles can be effective for squirrel hunting, especially in urban areas where noise is a concern. However, they require head shots for a clean kill due to their lower power compared to firearms.
Archery equipment can also be used for squirrel hunting, offering a quiet and challenging alternative that requires specialized gear such as fixed pins, rangefinders, and small-game broadheads, as well as precise aim and skill.
Common Squirrel Hunting Mistakes
- Moving too fast
- Calling too often
- Not staying still long enough
- Ignoring wind direction
- Poor shot placement
FAQs
What is the best squirrel call for beginners?
The Primos Squirrel Buster is one of the easiest and most effective calls for new hunters.
How do you carry squirrels while hunting?
Game straps, hunting vests, and belt carriers are the most common and effective options.
Do squirrel calls actually work?
Yes—when used correctly, they can bring hidden squirrels into view or trigger movement.
What is the best time to hunt squirrels?
Early morning and late afternoon are best, with midday being ideal for calling.
Final Thoughts
Squirrel hunting is one of the most rewarding and skill-building hunts you can do. By combining effective squirrel calls, proper game-carrying gear, and patient hunting techniques, you’ll dramatically increase your success rate.
Tip: Squirrel hunters can use a squirrel dog, some have killed squirrels from a deer stand, and small game hunting is often considered the everyman game animal. Early season hunts, targeting other squirrels, or introducing a young hunter to the sport—whether you’re aiming for a squirrel’s head or simply enjoying the challenge—there’s always something new to learn.
👉 Get your gear ready, slow down, and let the woods work for you—your next successful squirrel hunt is just one trip away. Order today!
