The fox squirrel is the largest tree squirrel in North America and one of the finest introductory game animals a new hunter can pursue.
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The fox squirrel is the largest tree squirrel in North America and one of the finest introductory game animals a new hunter can pursue. Squirrel hunting has long been the traditional first hunt for generations of American hunters — it teaches woodsmanship, marksmanship, patience, and quiet movement, all in accessible woodlots close to home. The fox squirrel, with its big body, rich coloring, and habit of feeding in more open hardwoods, is an especially rewarding target. Where it thrives, a good morning can produce both steady action and a genuine skills education.
For beginner-to-intermediate hunters, fox squirrels offer long seasons, generous bag limits, low-cost gear, and abundant public hunting land. The hunt can be as simple as sitting quietly under a hickory tree or as engaged as still-hunting a ridgeline. It is honest, affordable, and a wonderful way to learn the woods.
The fox squirrel is the largest of North America's tree squirrels, typically weighing 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and measuring around 20 to 28 inches including the long, bushy tail. Coloration is variable across its range: many fox squirrels are a rich rusty-orange and gray, often with a pale buff or orange belly, while in the Southeast some populations are dark, even black, often with white markings on the face and feet.
The fox squirrel is noticeably larger than the gray squirrel, with a heavier body and a more orange or buff tone overall, especially on the belly and tail edges. Gray squirrels are smaller, grayer, and have a white-edged tail and a white belly. Fox squirrels also tend to move more deliberately and spend more time on the ground than the quicker, more arboreal gray squirrel. The bushy tail, used for balance and as a signal, is a hallmark of the species.
Fox squirrels are widely distributed across the eastern and central United States, from the Great Plains east to the Atlantic and from the Upper Midwest south into the Gulf states. They are common throughout the Midwest, the South, and the eastern hardwood country, and absent or scarce in the far Northeast and the arid West.
Fox squirrels favor more open, mature hardwood forests with a relatively clean understory, as well as the edges of woodlots, savanna-like oak stands, hardwood bottoms, and farm woodlots interspersed with agricultural land. They are more associated with woodland edges and open timber than the gray squirrel, which prefers denser, closed-canopy forest. Prime fox squirrel habitat features mast-producing trees — oaks, hickories, walnuts, and pecans — near open ground and crop fields where the squirrels also forage.
Fox squirrels are active during the day, with peak activity in the few hours after sunrise and again in the late afternoon before dusk. Unlike many game animals they do not hibernate, remaining active through fall and winter, though they stay in their dens during hard weather. They nest in tree cavities (dens) and in leafy nests called dreys built high in the branches.
Their diet centers on hard mast — acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, and pecans — supplemented by tree buds, fruits, fungi, corn, and other crops. They spend autumn caching nuts for winter. Sign is easy to read: cuttings — the chewed shell fragments and nut hulls scattered beneath a favored feeding tree — are the surest indicator of activity. Other sign includes dreys visible in the canopy, gnawed nuts, scratch marks on bark, and the squirrels' own chattering, barking calls and the rustle of movement in the leaves and branches. A hardwood with fresh cuttings under it is a place to hunt.
Squirrel seasons are typically long and generous, often opening in late summer or early fall and running through winter, sometimes into late February. Daily bag limits are usually liberal. Always check the current season dates and limits with the state wildlife agency.
The early season offers warm, leafy-woods hunting when squirrels are working hickories hard. The cool, crisp mornings of October and November are a favorite time, with reduced foliage making squirrels easier to see. Late season hunting in bare winter woods is excellent for spotting squirrels and following them, though squirrels stay denned up in harsh weather. Time of day matters most: early morning and late afternoon are the prime feeding windows. Calm, mild days produce far more squirrel movement than windy or stormy weather.
There are two classic methods. The first is sit-and-wait still-hunting: choose a productive feeding tree — one with fresh cuttings beneath it — sit quietly with your back against a tree, stay still, and let the woods settle. After fifteen or twenty minutes of quiet, squirrels resume feeding and you take a careful shot. This method is simple, effective, and ideal for new hunters.
The second is still-hunting on the move: walk very slowly through the timber, taking a few steps and pausing to look and listen, scanning the canopy and the ground for movement and watching for cuttings. Patience is everything — most hunters move far too fast.
A third option, popular in the South and Midwest, is hunting with a trained squirrel dog (such as a feist or cur) that locates and trees squirrels and signals the hunter with a bark. This adds an exciting and effective dimension. All methods reward quiet, slow movement and sharp observation.
Read the woods for mast and food. The single best move is to find which trees are dropping nuts and being fed on. In early season, hickories are a top draw — listen for the distinctive sound of cuttings dropping and look for fresh hulls below. Oaks producing a good acorn crop, walnut and pecan trees, and the edges of cornfields all concentrate squirrels.
Fox squirrels favor open timber and woodland edges, so hunt mature hardwoods with a fairly clean understory, the borders between woods and fields, and oak savanna-type stands. Mast crops vary year to year and tree to tree, so scout for the productive trees rather than assuming. Den trees with cavities and visible dreys mark resident squirrels. When you find fresh cuttings under a feeding tree near good cover, you have found your spot.
Fox squirrel hunting needs only modest, affordable gear. A .22 long rifle rimfire is the classic choice, rewarding precise marksmanship and ideal for squirrels sitting still in the canopy — always be certain of a safe backstop, since shots are often aimed upward. A shotgun, typically a 12, 20, or .410 with an improved cylinder or modified choke and size 6 shot, is excellent for moving squirrels and for new hunters. Some hunters carry both styles.
A compact binocular in 8x32 or similar is genuinely useful for picking a still squirrel out of the branches and confirming the target. Dress in quiet, camouflage or drab clothing and add the blaze orange required by your state. A small game vest or game bag carries harvested squirrels, and comfortable boots suit the walking. A small cushion makes long sits against a tree more comfortable. Insect protection is helpful in the warm early season.
Aim for a clean, certain shot at a still squirrel — for a rifle, the head or the head-and-shoulder area gives a quick, ethical result and preserves meat; with a shotgun, take only well-within-range shots in the open. Always confirm your target and what lies beyond it, and remember that an upward shot still needs a safe backdrop. The goal is always a quick, ethical harvest.
Cool harvested squirrels promptly, especially in warm early-season weather, by keeping them in an open game bag rather than sealed plastic. Skinning a squirrel is a learned skill best practiced with guidance; the meat is then cut into pieces for cooking. Wear gloves when cleaning game as standard hygiene practice, keep the meat clean and cool, and cook it thoroughly. If an animal appears abnormal, do not consume it.
Fox squirrel is excellent table fare and has been a staple of American wild-game cooking for generations. The meat is mild, slightly nutty, lean, and finely textured — young squirrels in particular are tender and delicate.
Because the meat is lean and older squirrels can be tough, slow, moist cooking is the traditional and best approach. Classic preparations include squirrel and dumplings, slow-braised or stewed squirrel, and the famous Brunswick stew. Browning the pieces first and then simmering them with vegetables and liquid until tender produces wonderful results. Young squirrels can also be fried after a gentle parboil. Always cook squirrel thoroughly. A few squirrels make a hearty, satisfying meal and a real connection to traditional hunting cuisine.
The most common beginner mistake is moving too much and too fast — squirrel hunting rewards stillness and patience, and a hunter who fidgets or hurries spooks every squirrel in earshot. Another error is hunting the wrong trees: squirrels concentrate on whatever mast is dropping, so hunting a barren tree wastes the morning.
Other mistakes include hunting during windy weather when squirrels move little and noise hides their rustling, giving up on a spot too soon before the woods settle, and neglecting target identification and backstop on upward shots. New hunters also sometimes overcook the lean meat. Finally, failing to scout for fresh cuttings means missing the simplest, surest sign of where to hunt.
Fox squirrels are an abundant, well-managed small-game species across most of their range, and regulated hunting with long seasons and liberal limits is fully sustainable. Their populations rise and fall with mast crops — a good acorn or hickory year boosts numbers — rather than with hunting pressure.
Hunters should buy the proper small-game license, follow current season dates and bag limits, and respect private land and access rules. The most important conservation factor is habitat: mature hardwood forest with good mast-producing trees. Supporting healthy hardwood forest management benefits fox squirrels and many other species. In a few regions, certain isolated fox squirrel subspecies are of conservation concern and protected, so hunters should know their local rules. Practice fair chase, take only ethical shots, recover every animal, and pass the squirrel-hunting tradition to new hunters responsibly.
Fox squirrel hunting is ideal for beginning hunters, young hunters, and anyone wanting an affordable, accessible hunt close to home. It is one of the best ways to teach and learn fundamental woodsmanship — quiet movement, observation, patience, and safe, precise marksmanship. It suits hunters who enjoy a relaxed, contemplative pace as well as those who like the more active style of still-hunting or working a squirrel dog. With long seasons, abundant public land, and excellent table quality, it is a perfect first hunt and a lifelong tradition.
How is a fox squirrel different from a gray squirrel? The fox squirrel is larger and heavier, with a rusty-orange and gray coat and often a buff or orange belly. Gray squirrels are smaller, grayer, with a white belly and a white-edged tail. Fox squirrels also favor more open timber and woodland edges and spend more time on the ground.
What is the best time of day to hunt fox squirrels? Early morning, the first few hours after sunrise, and again the late afternoon before dusk are the prime feeding windows. Calm, mild days produce far more squirrel movement than windy or stormy weather.
Should I use a rifle or a shotgun for squirrels? Both work well. A .22 rimfire rewards precise marksmanship and is ideal for still squirrels — always confirm a safe backstop on upward shots. A shotgun with size 6 shot is excellent for moving squirrels and is forgiving for new hunters. Many hunters carry one or the other depending on style.
How do I find squirrels in the woods? Look for fresh cuttings — the chewed nut shells and hulls scattered under a feeding tree. Find which trees are dropping mast, especially hickories early in the season and oaks producing acorns. Cuttings under a tree are the surest sign of active squirrels.
Is fox squirrel good to eat? Yes. Squirrel is a traditional American game meat — mild, slightly nutty, and lean. Because it is lean and older animals can be tough, slow, moist cooking is best: squirrel and dumplings, stew, or Brunswick stew. Always cook it thoroughly.