Missouri’s squirrel season begins next month. The season opens Saturday, May 24, 2008 and runs through Sunday, February 15, 2009. May is a month of action for squirrels. They are busy rebuilding nest sites and scurrying from place to place in search of food and a mate. Their fast pace scampering and noisy calls often tell of their presence.

Observation is the first step in squirrel hunting. The squirrels will watch for any threat and keep out of sight when they sense danger. On the other hand if they are safely out of sight or at a far distance they will sound an alarm by chattering and growling to alert anything within a quarter of a mile. Spend an afternoon watching them react to intruders as they lie flat against the top of tree limb or peek out of a knot hole. They are natural camouflage artists. Slipping around the trunk of a tree, they will try to avoid alerting hunters to their whereabouts. Too much pressure will send them into hiding. Sometimes it is possible for a hunter to sit still long enough to bring a curious squirrel in for a closer look. When the squirrel gets close enough to shoot, it is too late.

Watching a squirrel in his usual activities when he is unaware of your intrusion into his business is the best way to scout him. Squirrels are not as stealthy nor do they bother hiding while not being pursued. The best way to observe this is to find a partially hidden or sheltered place in the shade and spy on him for a couple of hours. Even if he sees you arrive, he will soon forget or drop his guard if you do not make any movement. As you watch his reaction to other squirrels and other predators you will see his ability to hide and seek play out before you. Binoculars and a camera are great tools for wildlife observation. A compact digital camera and a pair of Nikon, Monarch binoculars will help you catch the natural camouflage artist in the act.

The usual tendencies of squirrels in the natural surroundings they inhabit are carefree and much of their activity is out in the open either on the ground or in the brush. They will sit up and eat when they do not feel threatened. Immediately their posture changes under duress. They run with their bodies pressed low to the ground or run and hide with only an occasional eye peeking from behind a log to watch for the danger to pass. Squirrels caught on the ground, without any nearby trees can scoot along the leaf litter and behind taller grasses, undetected, until they get caught sitting up for a better look.

That natural state of casual behavior disappears when they spot someone watching or know someone or something is moving toward their territory. Another way they blend into their surroundings can be seen when they stay motionless. Hunters easily overlook the grey and reddish colors of squirrel pelts against the rough bark and shadow of the timber. Even sitting upright they appear to melt into the background of tangled branches. Like any other animal remaining still is an exceptionally good way to avoid detection.