Winter months can be favorable for hunting

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation/ A busy gray squirrel feasting on a tasty morsel. In the Ozarks, gray squirrels outnumber the red bushy-tails.

Don't tell a growing group of Missouri outdoorsmen, that there isn't anything to do in January or February in the outdoors.

In fact, they say, they keep as busy then as they do in the summer months. Many Missourians finds plenty of things to do in the Ozark outdoors during the winter months. Hunting seasons are still going on for several species including rabbits, squirrel, goose and ducks.

In the south zone, trapping season is in full swing and fishing can be good on the big impoundments. Trout anglers on Lake Taneycomo catch some of the largest fish of the year in late-January and February. The catch and release season in trout parks is open Fridays through Monday. The winter catch and release season runs through the second Monday in February.

Submitted photo/ A red squirrel hiding from a hunter

Other things outdoorsmen enjoy during January and February include Eagle Days.

Paul Roberts, of Harrison, Ark., said, 'I have seen more eagles this past week than I ever have. With most of the winter yet to come, it looks like it will be a good time to view the nations symbol around area lakes."

There are sport, boat and travel shows going on this time of year that help to bring the outdoors inside. There are plenty of things to do during the winter months

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation/ Jim Low, who recently retired from the Missouri Department of Conservation, checks a tree for a squirrel.

John Harper of Bolivar, said, "After the duck season, which runs through Jan. 25 in the south zone, I try to get in a few fishing trips at area lakes. Even if the fish aren't hitting, there are plenty of waterfowl to watch and photograph. I usually make a trip to Grand Lake in Oklahoma to fish for crappie in one of the heated docks.

The only thing better than catching crappie in the winter is eating them. I have found several places around docks that hold crappie in the winter and I have had many good days that I have caught a limit. My crappie ultralight rod never gets put up. I always carry my camera with me because even when there is snow on the ground I have taken some good shots of deer and turkey. But I am not much of a wildlife photographer. I don't stay inside waiting for spring, because there's a lot to do and much enjoyment to be had during January and February in the outdoors."

Since rabbit and squirrel seasons don't close until February 15, hunters have plenty of targets for their .22 rifles. Should there be snow on the ground, rabbit hunters and their beagles have a field day. Without the snow, squirrel hunters keep busy hunting the many bushy-tails in the woods.

Submitted photo/ The result of a successful winter squirrel hunt.

Most squirrel hunters prefer to use a 22 rifle in the woods, figuring the shortest shots might be as close as 50 yards and the longest ones not much farther. With the rifle sighted at 50 yards, there would be no need to hold much over or under at other distances.

One of the two most popular methods of hunting squirrels in the winter is to walk as silently as possible through the woods, watching everything from the ground to the tree tops for the twitch of a tail, a patch of grey or red or whatever shows and listening for their chatter.

A veteran winter squirrel hunter I knew, Bob Guffey, used a muzzleloader to get his squirrels. He told me that you need to hit the woods before daylight and sit motionless at the base of a tree that offers a good view of the surroundings. Squirrels are good at staying out of sight when they see or hear anything alarming. Woods seem barren when you move about noisily, but can come alive when you are still.

Some hunters learn to imitate the clicking or chattering of squirrels A friend I used to hunt squirrels with, Glen Atkinson, Carrollton, could make the clicking sound with his mouth, a trick that usually worked and would draw an inquisitive squirrel or two.

When prowling the woods for squirrels, check the ground for acorns or other nuts that have been freshly gnawed. Should you find some, sit down nearby, in a place where you will have a good view of the trees, and remain still for 20 minutes, you my get a shot much sooner than that.

As squirrel hunters know, a favorite tactic of squirrels is to simply scurry around to the other side of the tree away from the hunter. There have been many times when a hunter simple picks up a fallen branch to throw to the other side of the tree and the squirrel will move around within easy shooting range.

Although squirrel numbers are high in the state, there aren't as many hunters taking advantage of this hunting opportunity. Guffey told me that there would be more squirrel hunters if they started their morning with a batch of fried squirrel along with biscuits and gravy. He said, " It doesn't get any better."