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Tis the season…to hunt bushytails. You know, limb chicken, chicken of the tree, whatever you call it, most squirrel seasons around the country are open now.

And while largemouth and other warmwater fish are catching the chill and slowing down, hunting is heating up - especially with oak, hickory and beech trees dropping their mast.

All you need to do (pretty much) is pack a gun, throw on some orange, and go sit under the trees until a shot presents itself.

Or, you can hit the water.

Water for squirrels? Yes, we are serious. As hunting pressure increases, small game gets more weary. But next to no one targets them from the water, and most squirrels will not see you as a threat if you’re on the water under them, even if your gun is lung and you’re decked in blaze.

So, here’s how to pull off the perfect kayak hunt for bushytails, all from your NuCanoe Frontier 12.

Squirrel Hunting Tips for Success

●  K.I.S.S.

First bit of advice, keep it simple. Squirrel hunting is the hunting world equivalent of fishing for bluegill with a can pole and a worm you dug up in the yard. It’s low expense, has a low learning curve, and is a blast (no pun intended). Don’t overthink it. Just find a creek or a lake fringed with hardwoods and you will almost definitely have squirrels presenting you a shot. Of course, make sure the land is legal to hunt.

The most important thing is that you need to be there. Find a parcel of public land where small game hunting is permitted, get the bare essentials together, and spend some quality time on the water listening and watching. You will find that opportunities present themselves if you are patient.

●  Carry a few calls

While you most definitely don’t need calls to hunt squirrels, they can be excellent locators, especially if the squirrels are skittish or feel pressured for any reason. A bark or whistle can rile them up in short order, convincing them to betray their locations. An alternative to a formal squirrel call is to carry two quarters and to use these to make cutting and grinding sounds, reminiscent of squirrels feeding on nuts in the woods. Oftentimes, the spare-change technique also tricks them into giving away their hiding spots.

●  Bring spare shells

One of the best things about squirrel hunting is you don’t need to quit after you take a shot. There are no tags to punch, no reports to make to fish and game, and liberal bag limits. Your day doesn’t need to end with the first harvest and it’s often a high-volume pursuit. So don’t just bring one box of shells; make sure you have some spares.

●  Keep quiet

More often than not, you will hear squirrels before you will see them. Oftentimes they will be digging around in the leaf litter caching nuts and seeds, but alongside the shoreline, they will also often be harvesting mast from overhanging limbs. Listen for the telltale sounds of squirrels scurrying over bark, ruffling through the leaves, or running through the trees. This makes them easy targets for kayak bound hunters. The other reason to keep quiet is that it’s noise as much as movement that scares squirrels away from you. Move slowly, too. This is one of the areas in which your NuCanoe Frontier 12 will benefit you - it is much easier to move noiselessly over the water than it is through the woods, and you will be able to sneak up on your quarry much more easily.

●  Where to look

Knowing where to hunt is an unavoidable aspect of harvesting the game you’re after, and it’s no different with squirrels than it is from deer or turkey or ducks. At this time of year, squirrels will be looking to cache some food for winter, and that’s mostly going to be seeds. Look for mast-dropping hardwoods overhanging the water. Oaks, hickory trees, and beech trees are the best species to look for, but squirrels will also congregate around maples (which are common in wet areas) as well as fruit trees. Look for these and you will find the squirrels.

●  Be ready for shots at other game

One of the great things about fall squirrel season is that so many other seasons are often open at the same time. While you’re out chasing bushytails, you may get a shot as passing geese, ducks, and other waterfowl like railbirds and snipe. This is also the time of year to hunt woodcock, crows, and rabbits. Keep your eyes open and remember to obey all state and local regulations, but be ready to swing on other targets as the opportunity presents.

Why Your NuCanoe Frontier 12 Is the Perfect Hunting Rig

Got a NuCanoe Frontier 12? It’s a great fishing vessel to be true, in both fresh and saltwater.

But the wide open space of the deck as well as the stability (and lack of a pedal drive) also make it perfect for hunting.

It’s also great as a hunting rig because:

• It can get you where you couldn’t go otherwise, and only draws 4 inches.
• The lack of a pedal drive means you can cut through thick, weed-choked water.
• It’s extremely stable as a shooting platform, even if you’re standing.
• Moving by water is inevitably quieter than walking through the woods.
• It offers excellent concealment.
• Re-entry, even from the water, is easy in a NuCanoe Frontier 12, ensuring a high degree of safety. Make sure you wear a life vest, anyway.
• For whatever reason, squirrels often will not see you as a threat when you are in the water.

These are just a few reasons that the NuCanoe Frontier 12 makes a great hunting rig, and our guess is chances are you’ll be the only one in your county, maybe even in your state, hunting squirrels from a yak.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and be safe.