Gunning Up For Squirrels & Small Game

A simple squirrel hunt can become a cherished memory.

Squirrel season in East Texas opens Oct. 1.

The majority of squirrel hunting takes place in this region and for good reason.

Whether it’s the Davy Crockett, Sabine, Angelina, or the Sam Houston National Forest or a myriad of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department-managed public hunting land, this region is ripe for super spring squirrel hunting.

Some hunters start off with a .410 or perhaps a .20 gauge but eventually graduate to a .22 Long Rifle.

The .22 LR is the standard issue for serious squirrel hunters. The challenge of being able to plink them off of trees builds patience and skill in a hunter. In areas where squirrels receive real hunting pressure, it can push even veteran hunters to the max.

Hunters can find a wide variety of .22 rifles as well as plenty of squirrel-appropriate shotguns and ammo at guns.com and find an easy online shopping experience.

Squirrel hunters have plenty of other options while in the woods in Texas as well as myriad small game are available and abundant.

This includes badger, beaver, fox, mink, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, otter, skunk, and ringtails, which are often called ring-tailed cats(although they are not really cats.

A hunting license holder may take a fur-bearing animal provided the furbearer is not to be sold or exchanged for anything of value. There is no bag or possession limit on furbearers.

These animals can be taken at night and in some cases hunting them is literally an act of conservation. Nutria are non-indigenous invaders that cause tremendous wetlands loss and can damage levees.

Their meat is quite tasty and has been marketed as “marsh hare” in Louisiana gourmet restaurants. Also, their skulls make a cool trophy as they have huge orange teeth, and they have an impressive pelt.

A squirrel hunter in good habitat with a quality .22 LR could do well to bring a varmint call along and see what comes in. They might get a shot at an elusive mink or get a clean shot on a bushy-tailed grey fox.

Small game opportunities abound in Texas and the kick-off of the East Texas squirrel season signals that it's time to hit the field in pursuit of simple, fun hunting opportunities.

Check out guns.com to get geared up for a great season.

TF&G Staff