Squirrel Hunting

There are two squirrel species that can be legally hunted in Illinois — the Eastern Gray Squirrel and the Eastern Fox Squirrel.

Learn to identify species and habitat, recognize food sources, and scout effective locations throughout the season.

Private land squirrel hunting usually allows more opportunities to use rifles and handguns than public land sites. You still need the proper licenses and permits and must follow IDNR regulations. For some species and seasons, private land has slightly different rules.

See the Hunting and Trapping Digest or Hunt Illinois – Upland & Small Game for details.

Learn more about hunting on private and public land in Illinois.

Hunting ethics and hunter etiquette overlap, but aren’t the same. Learn how to be an ethical hunter and observe proper hunting etiquette, especially on public lands.

One of the best aspects of squirrel hunting is the minimal equipment required for success, although you can scale up your gear if desired.

At minimum, bring your means of take (bow/arrows or gun/ammo), licenses/FOID, camouflage or natural-tone clothing, and something to carry squirrels you harvest (e.g., a small cooler or zip-top bags).

You are not required to wear blaze orange while squirrel hunting unless:

• you are hunting another game species (like rabbits) that requires blaze orange/pink;
• you are hunting squirrels during youth firearm deer season; or
• you are squirrel hunting during other deer firearm seasons.

Many of us at Learn to Hunt still wear some blaze orange on public land to be safe.

A game vest is helpful for carrying ammo and harvested squirrels, and a chair or pad is useful if you prefer stationary tactics. Bug spray, water, and sunscreen can make early-season hunts more comfortable.

Recommended Resources

• What’s in Your Bag: Squirrel Hunting (video) by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Explore the pros and cons of shotguns and .22s, along with common hunting approaches: stationary hunting, still-hunting/stalking, and hunting with dogs.

Sometimes people say, “It’s just a squirrel.” But a life is still a life. Treat the animal with respect by using as much of it as you can and prioritizing ethical shot placement and regular practice to promote a quick, humane death.

• Shots depend on your equipment, abilities, and distance.
• Minimize meat waste: aim for the head with a .22; head/shoulders with a shotgun.
• Be aware of what’s behind the squirrel; a tree trunk or branch as a backstop is best.
• Your effective distance depends on your skill, firearm, ammo, and choke — practice with your exact set-up before heading out.

Dreys and Tree Cavities

Do not shoot a drey or cavity, even if the squirrel you were pursuing ran inside. You will likely not be able to retrieve it, which wastes the meat.

If a squirrel shelters in a drey or cavity, either:

• Note the location, continue hunting elsewhere, and return later; or
• Wait 20–25 minutes. If you’re quiet and still, squirrels often venture back out.

Good news — squirrels generally don’t require field dressing. They’re small, easy to process, and most people don’t spend all day hunting them, so you can wait until you get home. However, it’s much easier to skin them while they’re still warm.

If you plan to be out for a long time and want to gut in the field, bring plastic zipper bags. Then, gut and skin the meat fully before placing it in the bags and into a cooler with ice packs.

If you process animals on public land, you may leave the gut pile (not near the parking lot), but you may not leave any other parts (skin, fur, feet, head, bones). Dispose of those parts properly (on-site trash or at home). If you do not, it’s littering.

Recommended Resources

• The Rise and Fall (And Rise Again) of the American Small Game Hunter by Brody Henderson
• Video: How to Make Squirrel Tail Christmas Ornaments by Clay Newcomb
• Squirrel with Missing Fur in Wildlife Illinois

Learn how to properly process and cook your harvested squirrel.