While everyone wants to chase the big game animals that command all of the attention, it is the small game like rabbit, squirrel, and raccoon that are actually the most hunted animals. These animals are the most widespread and offer the most opportunities for all hunters no matter the skill level or age.
Hunting for these small critters can be a little trickier than you might think, however. Each one will be different than the other, and can provide plenty of great practice for the larger game!
Hunting for Squirrels
Squirrels are some of the most common small game species that you will find and give a hunter plenty of fun with multiple shooting opportunities. If you can find some good squirrel habitat, you will most likely find plenty of action and it can give you great practice for deer season. Deer and squirrels will often live in the same types of areas, as they eat the same kinds of food!
Of course, squirrels can be found just about anywhere there are trees to live in. Most squirrel hunters will walk quietly and slowly through promising areas, looking and listening for nearby squirrels to stalk and shoot. And while squirrels aren’t your typical dinner meal, they actually eat extremely well in many different recipes.
Hunting for Rabbits
Rabbits also provide plenty of fun while getting to practice your shooting skills. They are also one of the best-tasting game animals on the planet. After hunting them and trying them out, you might want to dedicate more time to hunt them.
Rabbits are most active in the mornings and late evenings and tend to stay near their food sources which include open fields, orchards, and agriculture plots. They will often sit tight and let you walk right by them, so make sure you are paying attention to the nearby cover like shrubs, bushes, and tall grass.
Hunting for Raccoons
Raccoons are a very popular small game species where they are found, and many hunters will hunt them with hounds. They release these dogs at night to search for the raccoons, and once the dogs have treed them they will then dispatch them in the trees. Raccoons have beautiful pelts that are often kept by hunters.
Raccoons are omnivores, meaning that they eat just about anything. Favorites include nuts, berries, shellfish, fish, snails, snakes, frogs, and bird eggs. Raccoons are often found around water where they can hunt for aquatic prey. They are most active at night, so make sure you bring a good light when hunting them and carefully walk around water areas, taking the time to be quiet and shine your light ahead of you. When you spot a raccoon, be prepared and shoot quickly before they scurry off.
Final Thoughts
Hunting small game doesn’t get the spotlight as the large game does, but many hunters get much more hunting and practice each year by going out and pursuing squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons.
For more great ideas on how to fish and hunt from the experts, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Hunting & Fishing Blog for more great tips & tricks.
