Shaking the vines for a good squirrel hunt

 

This squirrel hunting method is often overlooked

Squirrel hunting is a great way to spend time afield with friends and family, and a great way to get kids interested in the outdoors. Right now, the majority of hardwoods in the Carolinas have dropped their leaves. This makes it easy on hunters to spot squirrels from a distance. And while the squirrels can also see hunters as well, hunters still have the advantage with the ability to shoot from a distance.

One style of hunting that many hunters either overlook or just don’t like to discuss is shaking vines or even whole trees when they see a squirrel retreat to its nest. This is a very effective method, especially this time of year.

And even if you find a squirrel nest in the crook of a tree but didn’t see a squirrel enter it, it often still pays dividends to shake any vines that run up to the nest. Especially in the late afternoon, this can catch squirrels that have gone home for the day off guard.

Dogs are helpful in more than one way when hunting squirrels

Squirrels sometimes build nests in fairly thin trees that hunters can shake without much effort. This can also cause squirrels to come out of their nest to see what all the ruckus is about. It helps to have multiple hunters that can spot the critters no matter which side of the tree they try to hide.

Many hunters take small dogs with them that spot squirrels on the ground, then chase them up a tree and into the crosshairs of a waiting hunter. Other hunters take a dog along simply to retrieve squirrels once they’ve been shot out of the tree.

This video from Carolina hunter Dillon Walling does a good job of showing squirrel hunting with the vine method.

About Brian Cope 2726 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@sportsmannetwork.com.

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