Hunters, depending on their location, may target bird and waterfowl or deer and larger game. One small animal, suitable for hunting throughout the majority of the year, is the squirrel. Squirrels can be hunted as a food source, and shooting squirrels is one way to control an out-of-control squirrel population that has turned destructive.
Items you will need
Hunting permit
Squirrel or bird feeder
Fruit, nuts, seeds
Step 1
Verify which permits and licenses you are required to have to hunt for squirrels. Squirrels are considered small game, and every state and municipality has rules regarding legal times, seasons and methods of hunting squirrels. Obtain all permits and licenses before hunting squirrels --- or any animal. Follow all outlined and required steps to obtain licenses as outlined by your state's Department of Wildlife.
Step 2
Define the area in which you will be shooting. Verify your ability to access the area, especially if the area is part of state-controlled game lands, as access may be limited to certain days and times. If you are using your own backyard for hunting squirrels, check with local law enforcement to ensure that you are allowed to hunt on your own property. Additionally, investigate by what method you will be allowed to hunt. Make sure to ask if you must hunt on private property with a gun, a bow or either.
Step 3
Set out food in the area to begin attracting squirrels. Know that squirrels prefer foods such as sunflower seeds still in the shell, walnuts, acorns, apples, pears and general bird seed, provided sunflower seeds are part of the mix. Set squirrel feeders, such as hanging feeders from which to suspend corn cobs, as squirrels are also attracted to corn and will linger at such a feeder to get all the corn kernels off of the cob.
Step 4
Watch the habits of squirrels to determine what times of day and night the squirrels come to feed. Schedule your shooting times around the time the majority of squirrels are visually present. Know that once you shoot the first squirrel, the rest will run away and you will need to wait for others to return at a later point in time.