LIFE CYCLE:

On average, the eastern gray squirrel lives to be about 18 months in the wild. Provided that excellent mast bearing trees are abundant and shelter is available, squirrels could live up to 8 years as has been recorded by biologist. South Carolina however, is not so fortunate in that with the tremendous amount of clear cutting going on across our state and the replanting of pines,  it has not left many stands of mature hardwood forest available. Predators such as hawks, foxes and the encroaching coyote also play a factor in the numbers of squirrels left once the hunting season begins in the fall. The Eastern gray seems to be somewhat smaller in South Carolina compared to those above the Mason-Dixon line. Easterns breed twice a year with the majority of females being bred in December-Febuary and then a shorter cycle in May and June. The average little size is 2-3 young. Most females do not reproduce until they are a year old. In comparison to other small game animals, squirrels produce fewer offspring per year,  but are more successful at rearing them. Young squirrels are born blind and naked and after a period of six weeks they can be seen outside the nest. After 10-12 weeks the young squirrels are completely weaned and feeding on available forage.

MANAGEMENT:

Except for research and the setting of bag limits, little has been done towards squirrel management is South Carolina.The largest obstacle that any squirrel management effort may see is in the area of habitat improvement. Unlike other small game habitat restorations projects or improvements, the benefits from such efforts may not be seen in that persons lifetime. Quail habitat can be restored in a single season by planting wildlife patches. Rabbit habitat can be improved by providing brush piles and allowing areas around field edges and old farmsteads to thicken. Not so with the squirrel. Squirrels need nut and fruit bearing trees which often take 25-50 years to produce. While nest made of leaves and twigs and the occasional artificial den boxes may serve as homes for the squirrel, ideally he needs den trees to survive and prosper. In the South, the best dens trees are oak and hickory. Pine trees also provide temporary homes after either being stuck by lighting or after the onset of disease. Many good den trees provide both shelter and mast. Squirrels prefer three dens, one for normal living, another for escape and one for raising young once breeding takes place.

RIFLE OR SHOTGUN ?

The firearms that can be used to take bushytails vary as many as there are opinions that support them. Shotguns, .22 cal rifles, muzzleloaders and even archery equipment can find it's place in the squirrel woods. Early in the season when the leaves are still on the trees the scattergun can't be beat. Dense foliage makes it difficult to take head shots with a .22 rimfire. Sometimes the only notion that a squirrel hunter may have that a squirrel is present is by the swaying of limbs in the canopy above or the sound of acorns or cuttings hitting the forest floor. Number 6 shotshells in either 12 or 20 gauge will bring these critters to the forest floor. Close shots are the norm as hunters are able to stalk undetected by using the available ground cover to his advantage. Nevertheless , the .22 rifle is still king of the squirrel woods proven by the shear numbers who use this little caliber. Many deer hunters consider this method preseason practice for whitetails. Using firearms topped with scopes enable good marksmen to take head shots up to 50 yards. Not any rimfire load will do. Debates continue whether to use hollow points or solid base bullets, standard velocity or hyper-velocity. It is true that a solid based bullet placed in the head will send a busytail to the ground in a hurry. However; if you have spent much time in the squirrel woods in the fall you will know that getting one to stand still long enough for a head shot will often send you home with only enough meat to feed one person. I prefer the CCI Stingers which give a standard muzzle velocity at 1681 FPS. Squirrels hit with this round act as if they were struck with the hammer of "Thor !" Bullet placement limited to the head and front shoulder will reduce meat damage and help increase your daily bag limit while adding to your enjoyment in the time spent afield.

WHEN AND WHERE TO HUNT:

Regardless of the hunting method, the best hours to be afield are no doubt the first 3 hours after sun up and the last 2 hours before sunset. Full camouflage including a face net and gloves and limited movement will add to a successful hunt.The eastern gray is an early riser and can often be seen exiting the den before available shooting light. Much can be said about hunting den trees but usually this action is limited to a short gunning time as squirrels are quick to renter the den once the shooting begins. I prefer to first locate the squirrel den and then find the current available food source and set up in between these areas and take them as they travel to and from the feeding activity. Often shooting time can be prolonged until mid morning because individuals from nearby colonies will use the same food source. Many hunters prefer cold, bright , sunny mornings for hunting, but more often than not these days are cut short by high mid-morning winds. Squirrel activity greatly diminishes once the wind begins to pick up. On those mornings with absolutely no wind, stalking is difficult because every step of the hunters approach can be heard by an alert squirrel. My favorite time to hunt is on cold, heavy overcast days with minimal wind. Some of my best gamebags have come from hunting during a light drizzle while slipping quietly from tree to tree looking for feeding squirrels. Evening hunts should be spent hunting den trees. After the hunter has located a few den trees from previous scouting, he should sit and wait as the squirrels will move slowly back towards the den feeding along the way. Most of the time the bushytail will feed right up to dark so make sure you set up so you can use the last shooting light to your advantage. Too often the hunter will sit facing the sun thus limiting his visability. The hunter should always have the sun behind him to illuminate the den and reduce any glare through his scope. More often than not, todays squirrel hunters tend to hunt too fast, thereby alerting the squirrel of their approach. Slow down, take the time to enjoy every moment you have to spend afield. A empty gamebag is not a measure of success or failure, but a gamebag full of memories sure are. !