Shadows, those darn shadows.
What does the word “shadows” mean to a squirrel hunter? Sounds innocent and simple enough, eh? After all, everyone knows what a shadow is, but not so fast here. Let’s look at this more.
Any halfway seasoned squirrel hunter knows to remain in the shadows of the trees whenever walking through the woods. It helps keep one concealed by doing so. The worse thing a hunter should do is anytime the sun is an issue, in terms of shadows, is to walk out into the bright sunshine whenever the woods is otherwise dark. Doing so will certainly make a person stick out like a turd in a punch bowl. It can give your position away fast like. So, we all do our best to avoid such situations.
So what’s another “shadows” thing of interest to a squirrel hunter? Well, I can think of at least two. One of which I’m quite certain most of you have experienced.
During the early fall squirrel season here in Kentucky, the woods and underbrush are thick. The woods are also, generally speaking, quite dark. During those nice, clear early mornings while out squirrel hunting when the sun is rising, depending on location, this can create some rather unpleasant situations. The woods are dark yet the sun often shines nice and bright behind you, or off to the sides. This can distort your sight picture substantially. So much so that one morning last week, I had a squirrel that was close to me, yet due to the sunshine behind me, and the fact that I was pretty much in the shadows of the trees, I could not see well enough through my sights to make the shot. This same squirrel kept moving on the ground for about a 120 degree radius from me. Not once was I able to see due to the glare of the sun even though I was about halfway in the shadows while leaning up against a tree. Rest assured that had I been in complete shadows to where the sun was not a factor, I could have easily made a shot.
Another very interesting aspect of squirrel hunting in the shadows I once again experienced a few days ago. I was standing next to a tree watching a few squirrels cutting hickory nuts up in a tall hickory. I had been there for quite some time just watching and patiently waiting for my chance to put the smack down on any squirrel that would come down lower and stop, thus giving me a shot. While doing so, the sun was getting higher in the sky behind me. I was still in the shadows of the thick trees behind me, however, the sun was bright on the ground and the brush in front of me. All of a sudden, and this happened multiple times, I noticed the shadow on the ground in front of me that was absolutely tree limbs moving. I could also clearly make out the shadow of a squirrel in those limbs. Then I heard it. Sure enough, it was a squirrel that was on its way to join the festivities up in that tall hickory in front of me. So, try as I did several times of this, not one time was I able to score one of those squirrels that were sneaking in from behind me. However, at least one of those times it was my fault. Had I played my cards right I could have gotten one or two of them.
Now I’m sure some of you all have experienced this one as well. Ever be in the dark woods standing in the shadows, looking around, then all of a sudden, in front of you a little bit you spot a squirrel either on the ground or up in a tree that you never knew was there until it moved from the shadows out into the the sunlight? I’m amazed at how bright looking a grey squirrel can be when out in the sunlight after walking from the shadows. They almost glow.
Indeed, one thing this ole boy absolutely hates is to be in the dark woods, being very quite while easing around, then have no other choice but to have to step out of the shadows into the bight sunlight. This is especially true whenever trying to put the sneak on some squirrels. In those situations, I do my very best to avoid walking in those spots even if it means having to side track a ways. However, sometimes it’s just not possible. In those events, the best I can do is move really, really slow with each step until I can get back into the shadows.
Those shadows can be an asset for a squirrel hunter as much as they can be counterproductive. Like many things in life, ya just gotta play each one out.
