Leaning back against the tree, I begin to slowly turn my head left to right, peering down the lane I shot my buck at two seasons ago.  Suddenly I sense, as much as I see, a slight movement from the corner of my eye.  As I freeze all movements, my eyes strain to confirm what I thought I saw.  A moment later more movement plus the accompanied sound give the animal away.  As I try to control my heart rate, I ease my head back.  Seeing the animal is relaxed and looking away, I ever so slowly raise my rifle.  I settle the crosshairs of the scope in the right area and wait for the animal to raise its head.  It does, and I pull the trigger. As the air is filled with my rifle report, my quarry falls lifelessly out of the tree with a crash into the leaves below.  It is my first squirrel of the day, but the day is still early.

Many of us were introduced into hunting with small game.  As we get older and progress to larger game animals, we often quit small game hunting altogether.  However, I would suggest that small game hunting is a great way to add to the enjoyment of your hunting season and even to help you prepare for your other hunting. 

 My father told me that when still hunting deer, you had to go slow enough that you didn’t disturb the squirrels.  If the squirrels are bothered by you, stop until they get quiet, and then resume at a slower pace.  I can still remember my father’s words every time I am cutting through the timber and not seeing anything.  He would be telling me to slow down.  What better way to perfect those still hunting tactics than by practicing?  Stalking squirrels helps sharpen those skills that some of us find go a little dormant during the off-season. 

 Another benefit of getting out there to chase the small game is for scouting purposes.  I own two properties that are about 100 miles each from my home.  While I try to get out to them as often as I can, I find that each season things change a little.  Large trees fall, a fence goes up or comes down on my neighbor’s side, the persimmons look good one year but not the next, etc.  New game trails and fresh sign emerge each year as well.  Getting out with the ATV or doing a normal survey on foot certainly can allow you to accomplish much of your needed scouting.  However, I have found that when I slow down enough to small game hunt, I notice things that I would otherwise miss while scouting.  Some trails, particularly the secondary trails mature bucks like to use, can be rather subtle and easy to pass over.  Whenever I hunt, I bring my binoculars with me and glass the area ahead of me frequently.  I rarely see deer or turkey when I just head out walking through the woods.  When I am actually hunting, no matter the quarry, I often observe non-target game species and often in places I might never have looked otherwise. 

 I have found that using my scoped Ruger .22 has made me a better marksman.  There is something about gaining the confidence to consistently hit a squirrel or rabbit in a spot about the size of a quarter that makes the vitals of a deer seem pretty easy. 

 Finally, many of us leave small game hunting as we grow up, and have forgotten how much fun it really can be.  For many of us the hunting season is just too short, and those times in the woods are too rare.  Getting out and chasing small game is an easy way of increasing the time you have to spend in the field.  True, it is not the same adrenalin rush bagging a squirrel as it is when you see a monster buck step into view, but it still can be a lot of fun to go along with the benefits of practicing your marksmanship, getting in some important scouting time, and sharpening your overall outdoors skills.  You can parlay all of these into a more successful big game season. 

Go ahead and take advantage of the small game opportunities afforded to you in your area.  While you are at it, maybe invite a young hunter to go along as well. 

By Doug DeJong

Doug "ddejong" DeJong lives in the Kansas City area with his wife, Mary, of 30 years.  Doug developed a love for hunting and fishing while growing up in the middle of Minnesota’s lake country.  On his first hunting outing he bagged a wood duck with a 16 gauge, and has been hooked on hunting ever since.  Doug has four children, including three boys all of whom enjoy hunting and fishing together.

Doug lost touch with the outdoors after moving to Dallas upon college graduation.  After relocating to Kansas in 1998, he was reintroduced to hunting and has taken it back up with passion.  Ten years ago he bought an 80 acre farm in SE Kansas which he actively manages for turkey, deer, and quail.  Five years ago he purchased another 100 acres on the Missouri side to allow him another set of seasons to hunt deer and turkey, as well as ducks and bass in the ponds and creek.  Over the years Doug has seen the results of active whitetail management with bigger and bigger bucks, but gets as much satisfaction of working the properties as he does with the harvest.  He has a German Shorthair Pointer named Pepper to share in the upland game opportunities central and western Kansas offers.  He has also made forays to Wyoming for antelope on two occasions.  He and the boys make regular summer fishing forays back to Minnesota and Canada.

Doug has a passion for introducing new hunters to the sport, and routinely brings ‘newbies’ on their first hunts at his farms.

Professionally Doug is a pharmacist, and serves as the Senior Director of Pharmacy for an eleven hospital system.  He relishes the fact that he loses cell phone coverage the moment he turns onto the gravel road leading to his farms, allowing him to unwind and enjoy the great outdoors.  Doug is an active member of Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, and the NWTF.