Squirrel hunting: 5 reasons to fall in love with the sport (again)

Many of us were probably introduced to hunting as kids in the squirrel woods but most of us abandoned the sport as we grew up or switched to a big-boy sport, such as deer hunting. Meantime, the squirrel hunter has steadily morphed into an endangered species on the public hunting land. Hopefully, we can reverse the trend and help you rekindle the old flame by showing you 5 amazing reasons you should take up squirrel hunting right now.

Introducing Younger Ones to Hunting

Scouting for squirrels can teach children to scout for bigger games, including whitetails. You’ll have the opportunity to teach youngsters the signs squirrels leave in nature just like with deer and to spot the grounds where this quarry feeds. What’s more, with squirrels, you don’t need to wake up early in the morning and stand still for hours like you would when deer hunting. So, you won’t have to worry about hunter wannabes losing their patience before they down their first target.

On top of that, squirrel hunting will help kids improve their marksmanship, camouflage, and other skills they’ll likely be using later on; and they’ll be getting out in the Great Outdoors away from electronic devices, which has been proven to improve their attention, mood, and even grades.

A Great Way to De-Stress

Since squirrel hunting is not as competitive as deer hunting, it is a great way to unwind and have fun. Many big game hunters seem to have forgotten that hunting should be relaxing and fun. With squirrels, you don’t need to invest big bucks into fancy equipment or worry about the size of their antlers or about not being positioned downwind from them. And all is not lost if you manage to scare off some – there are many more around.

A Cost-Effective Supply of Healthy Meat

Squirrels are delicious and they are not raised with harmful chemicals. Plus, their meat doesn’t make your cholesterol go through the roof. If you have a good recipe on hand, squirrel meat can be delicious, lean, and filling… and is basically free. So, what are you waiting for? In addition, because the squirrel hunting season is longer than deer hunting season, you’ll have access to this quarry nearly year-round.

The Perfect Opportunity for Socialization

Since hunting squirrels doesn’t require you to find the perfect spot for a tree stand, mount trail cameras, install wildlife attractants, mask your scent, or stand still and silent as a rock, it is the perfect opportunity for socialization with family and friends. While some squirrel hunters would rather spend their time alone in the woods, looking for the elusive critters is more fun with a friend or two along.

Also, bushy tails are much more forgiving if they catch you talking than whitetails, and having more people around means that the harvest is bountiful. You could also make some nice memories with your loved ones by taking pictures and socializing over a BBQ fire while dinner is getting ready.

Squirrel Hunting Is Cheap

Last but not least, since you don’t need top-notch equipment to land some bushy tails on the table, squirrel hunting is very easy on the pocket. Think about all the cash you’ve invested in the gear for whitetail hunting over the last few years. It is dizzying, isn’t it? With a.22-caliber rifle and a small-game hunting permit, you have everything you need to hunt the small rodents for the next decade, and that shouldn’t cost you more than a few hundred dollars.

In other words, squirrel hunting reminds you that hunting doesn’t have to be costly or complicated even though many of us seem to have forgotten this simple truth. This sport requires some tactics to get it right, but that should not be a problem. In our fast-paced age, some of the best hunting advice including Grandpa’s long-forgotten squirrel hunting tips are just one click of a button away.

ConclusionIf you are looking to get back to basics and take up a sport for fun rather than for the ultimate prize, squirrel hunting is for you. Squirrel hunting is also a great opportunity to socialize with family and friends and to get back to simpler times when hunting was not that stressful, complicated, or costly.

My mission is to provide you with the best information on the market pertaining to all things outdoors. Happy camping, hunting, hiking, and fishing in the Great Outdoors!