Any tips for a guy who just never seems to have any luck?

[matfalk]

Well, I'm starting my 3rd season hunting for rabbit/squirrel and I've never really had much luck. Since I started 2 years ago, I've only bagged one of each. I dont really know what I'm doing wrong, or if I'm just in the wrong spots. I've hunted Salamonie State Forest, Mississinewa, Wilber Wright, and Atterbury FWA. Salamonie is where I've gotten both my kills. The only time I can honestly say I have consistently see squirrels is as I'm driving away from a sight after calling it a day.:banghead3. Can anyone offer any tips, tactics or locations I could try so maybe I could start to get some results? I live near Anderson in Madison county and was planning a trip for tuesday, but havent decided where to go. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Its not that I mind spending all those times in the field, I'd just like to have something in my hand to show for it at the end of the day. Thanks guys.

[a_fishes_worst_nightmare]

i live here in pendleton this is my first year going squirrell hunting or actually hunting period i went 5 days and made limit all but 1 day i shot 4. i dont know what your tactic is sitting waiting or listening for them to start cutting then tracking them down. Ive been listening to them cutting watching the trees for bouncing spotting them and then dropping them like rocks. also just curious what are you using for squirrel? sorry if im not much help like i said im new at it also but i was wondering what your approach was

[Fish Hook]

For rabbits, get a good dog. For squirrels, pretend you are deer hunting.

[coonslayer21]

Well im mostly a bowhunter, when i'm on stand waiting for hours for deer i see a bunch of those little bushy tails, i've been lucky enough to take a few with my bow. So the best advice i could give you is find some semi open hardwoods sit in a likely spot and just wait. During the early when the trees are full of leaves i hardly see any squirells, but around late oct. through november i usually see a bunch of those little buggers.

[anon782010]

sqirrels arent early risers...trying getthing there a little later, and staying a little later

bo is right on rabbits...find a good dog. Once you rabbit hunt with a dog, you will never go without...

[matfalk]

I've done both stalking and played the sit and wait game. I'm probably just not waiting long enough. I use both a .22 and a shotgun, depending on what mood and how thick the cover is. But I havent gotten an opportunity to fire off too many rounds with either. Any suggestions on a good public place to try on Tuesday?

[hunter47331]

I have not sat in any deer stand yet and not seen a days limit before the day was over. Right now... they seem to be in the walnut trees.

[Gator]

Around here to kill squirrels just get your deer stand, put on an orange vest, have your bow in hand, drag a good buck lure to your tree, and climb up on a good deer trail about 20 feet, sit real quiet, every now and then blow a grunt call....rattle some horns...and sit back and wait! they'll be climbing in your tree.

[Hetch Muncy]

For rabbits get a good dog or find a buddy who owns one and hunts, for squirrels hunt around hickory trees. personally those little buggers are'nt worth the trouble but it does get you out of the house to do some early scouting...

[oldbuckkiller]

i plan on hunting rabbits and squirrels and training some pups if you want to join the party come on down. i have three female beagles to choose from if you don't have a dog.

[Fish Hook]

i have three female beagles to choose from .

Sounds like Deliverance, The Twilight Zone and a bad brothel all wrapped up in a bad situation.

[BRICH60]

CAN`T SAY MUCH ABOUT RABBIT HUNTING, NOT THAT MANY WHERE I HUNT. BUT SQUIRRLES... THATS ANOTHER STORY. SQUIRRELS ARE ON THE GROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR AS THE NUTS HAVE FALLEN, SO DON`T LOOK UP, LOOK ON THE GROUND.

I SUGGEST YOU FIND A LARGE EXPANSE OF HARDWOODS AND STILL HUNT VERY SLOWLY DOWN AN OLD LOGGING ROAD OR TRAIL. WHEN THE MORNINGS ARE COLD, SQUIRRELS WILL MOVE LATER IN THE MORNING, SO DON`T GO TOO EARLY. THERE`S PLENTY OF SQUIRRELS AROUND, YOU SHOULD BUMP A FEW.

[RainhunterX]

:banghead3 Around here to kill squirrels just get your deer stand, put on an orange vest, have your bow in hand, drag a good buck lure to your tree, and climb up on a good deer trail about 20 feet, sit real quiet, every now and then blow a grunt call....rattle some horns...and sit back and wait! they'll be climbing in your tree.
:banghead3 Thats the dang truth!!!!!!!!!!!! I havn't gone a single week of archery season without one of those &@$+#()$ ( that was somthing to do with being an illagitament child) climbing up my tree to stare me dead in the face at 6 inchs. I regularly spit my chew tobacco on there heads as they climb my tree. BTW I DO chew on stand and have never had a problem with spooking deer from it.:yikes:

[Tobias]

Get yourself a mountain fiest and go squirrel huntin! They'll point out every treerat in the woods and you'll have a blast doin it!

[dusktalk]

I don't agree with "they don't move real early", when squirrel hunting, I get to the woods right at daylight. I usually sit down and watch for movement and then make my way to the squirrel. If it is early in the year when the leaves are on, I sit down when I get to where it is at and wait, they will gradually present a shot (make sure a shot is possible from where you sit at). I am a bit overkill though, I use a .17. Gotta shoot em in the head, if you hit em in the body it will blow em in half. If you don't have many hardwoods available, find a tree line between fields, or just set beside a field line. Those are usually pretty happening places.
From what I see in early season, they move early, usually hole up (for the most part) by 8:30 or 9 and come back out in the afternoon for a bit and then again in the evening. In cooler weather, I see em move from daylight to dark.

[ssorrell]

Slow DOWN for rabbits. ZigZag and push through the thickest crap you can. Slow down again and they get real nervous and jump. If we ever get some snow that will help.