Squirrel hunting is as synonymous with Kentucky as Daniel Boone himself. The grey squirrel was a great part of America’s beginning days. Squirrel recipes were served in the finest restaurants and dinner tables throughout the early frontier. Many young hunters today began by chasing squirrels along fence rows and hardwood ridges across Kentucky. Squirrel hunting opportunities in Kentucky is as strong today as ever before.
October is one of my favorite times of the year and squirrel hunting is one of the reasons why. The cool mornings, fall colors, and the barking of a grey squirrel in a hickory tree has always signaled the beginning of hunting season. While deer season is open in September, I have always preferred to hunt squirrels until the days began to cool. Kentucky offers a long squirrel season. Opening day of squirrel season is a tradition for many Kentucky hunters. I caught up with a father and son who enjoys this tradition each fall and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Vince Dorman has hunted with his father Troy in Western Kentucky for several seasons now. Vince says, “I look forward to opening day of squirrel season every year. I carry my grandfather’s double barrel .410 and get to spend time with my dad doing something we both love to do. It is one of those things that I hope continues for many more seasons.”
Kentucky offers many great hunting opportunities so I might be going out on a limb in saying that deer and squirrel hunting ranks at the top in the bluegrass state. Squirrel hunting is arguably the best first step to deer hunting and so many of today’s Kentucky hunters take that route. Whether sitting still or slowly sneaking through the oak and hickory trees, the practice of scanning ahead for the flick of a tail or listening intently for the rustling of leaves, prepares us for hunting deer. Woodsmanship and marksmanship are the two most important skills for any hunter to take to the woods. Woodsmanship encompasses a great many things that are best learned over time spent afield. Marksmanship is vital and should be practiced and learned before the hunt and honed during it. Have fun this hunting season and try and introduce someone new to the great outdoors and all the great hunting opportunities that Kentucky has to offer.
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