Squirrel hunting tips: the best time to hunt squirrels, by season and hour

When and how to hunt squirrels: the best time of day, early season vs late season, weather, wind and moon, where to find squirrels, and still-hunting vs sitting tips.

Squirrel hunting is where many hunters start, and where many go back to every fall. It's woodsmanship in its purest form: quiet walking, reading the trees and timing your hunt to when squirrels are busy.

Best time of day to hunt squirrels

The first 2–3 hours after sunrise: the best window almost every day. Squirrels come down from their nests and feed hard.
The last 2 hours before sunset: a second feeding period, usually a bit weaker than morning.
Midday: slow in early season heat; in late season, on cold sunny days, squirrels can be active until noon or later.

If a solunar major or minor overlaps the first hours of light, the morning is usually at its best. See best hunting times today.

Best time of the season

Period	What squirrels do	How to hunt
Early season (Aug–Sept, by state)	Cutting green hickory nuts, beech nuts. Heavy foliage.	Sit near cutting trees; listen for falling bits and shaking branches.
Fall (Oct–Nov)	Acorns drop; squirrels bury food all day. Leaves falling.	Still-hunt oak ridges; morning and late afternoon.
Late season (Dec–Feb)	Bare trees, squirrels easy to spot, nests (dreys) visible. Breeding chases in midwinter.	Hunt sunny, calm late mornings; watch nest trees.

Season dates and bag limits vary by state, so check your regulations.

Weather and squirrel activity

Calm, clear mornings are best. You can hear squirrels cutting and moving.
Wind is the worst: moving branches hide squirrels and make them nervous. On windy days, hunt sheltered hollows.
Light rain or the clearing after rain: squirrels often come out to feed as soon as it stops. Wet leaves let you walk silently.
Cold snaps: squirrels move later in the morning; aim for mid to late morning in winter.
Before a storm: activity often spikes as pressure falls.

Do squirrels move more with the moon?

Squirrels are daytime animals, so the moon's light doesn't affect them directly. But many hunters notice more activity when a solunar period falls in the morning, and slower days after bright nights. Treat it as a tiebreaker after weather and food.

Where to find squirrels

Food is everything. Find the trees dropping nuts: hickory first, then beech, then white oak and red oak acorns.
Look for "cuttings": piles of nut shells on stumps and logs.
Edges between hardwoods and cornfields are excellent.
Den trees and leaf nests in late season.

Still-hunting vs sitting

Sitting: get to a cutting tree before sunrise and sit still for 20–30 minutes. Squirrels resume activity after you settle.
Still-hunting: take a few steps, stop for a minute, scan and listen. Walk in the steady rhythm of a squirrel, not the step-step-step of a person.
Hunting with a partner: squirrels circle the trunk away from you. Have your partner walk around the tree.
Squirrel dogs (feists, curs) are great in late season.

Safety

Wear blaze orange when required, always identify what's behind the squirrel before shooting upward or across a ridge, and use a small-caliber rifle only where the backstop is safe.