Shake them up, wring them out

Mike Marsh

Cory Nance jerks on vines to try and dislodge a squirrel from its nest.

When a dog’s barking tells the hunter there is a squirrel up a tree, but the hunter cannot see the game, it’s a good bet the squirrel has run into a nest or hollow.

If leafy nests are in the tree, the best bet to chase the squirrel out by shaking it. Most squirrel nests are located in forks of trees that have vines running through them. By pulling on the vines, the hunter can startle the squirrel into running back out into the open and offering a shot. If a nest is not visible, shaking vines will prompt squirrels into moving out of hiding places on large limbs, in forks, behind mistletoe patches or inside bunches of leaves.

If a squirrel runs into a hole that is low enough for the hunter to reach, a green sapling can be used to dislodge the squirrel. Cut the sapling and leave the twigs and a few of the leaves intact at the end. Slip the sapling into the hollow and begin twisting. If a squirrel is in the hole, it may make a growling noise, or the hunter may feel it moving when the sapling touches it. Sometimes, merely poking a stick into the hole can chase the squirrel into the open. Tapping on a tree trunk with a hard stick or kicking the trunk may chase a squirrel out of a hole that is too high to reach.