Five Squirrel-Hunting Lessons to Practice at the Fall Gathering

Some of my fondest outdoor memories come from squirrel hunting with my dad when I was a kid. At the time, I thought we were simply going hunting. Looking back now, I realize those mornings in the woods were some of my earliest and most valuable lessons in woodsmanship.

Squirrel hunting taught me how to move through the forest, how to observe what was happening around me, how to identify trees, how to care for natural resources, and how to enjoy time outdoors with people who mattered to me. I have continued developing and teaching those skills for 50 years, but many of their foundations were laid during those early hunts.

You do not have to be a hunter to benefit from these lessons. Each of them can improve your ability to hike, photograph wildlife, practice bushcraft, study nature, or simply spend more meaningful time outdoors. They are also lessons you can begin practicing during the Georgia Bushcraft Fall Gathering.

1. Learn How to Be Quiet

Sound discipline is critical in hunting, but I first began learning it while hunting squirrels.

A squirrel feeding in a tree may tolerate a little movement while it is busy cutting a nut or moving through the branches. When it stops, however, you had better stop too. I learned to move when the squirrel moved and remain still when it became alert.

That required paying attention to every step. I learned not to step directly on sticks, how to place my feet carefully among dry leaves, and how to move slowly enough that I could hear the woods around me instead of only hearing myself crashing through them.

This skill extends well beyond hunting. Quiet movement helps you see more wildlife, get closer for photography, notice animal behavior, and experience the forest without constantly announcing your presence.

The Fall Gathering offers an excellent place to practice. Walk through an area covered with dry leaves from broadleaf trees such as oaks and maples. Notice how difficult it can be to move quietly. Then move into an area covered with pine needles and compare the difference. Pine litter often makes quiet travel much easier.

Do not rush through the exercise. Pick a destination and see how slowly and silently you can reach it. The goal is not simply to move from one place to another. The goal is to become aware of how you move.

2. Understand That Camouflage Is More Than Clothing

I can still remember the first kid-sized camouflage jacket my dad bought for me. When I put that jacket on for my first hunt, I felt like the king of the world.

Camouflage is cool. There is no need to pretend otherwise.

That jacket also gave my dad an opportunity to teach me that camouflage clothing was only one small part of remaining unseen. I could wear the best pattern in the world, but it would not matter if I stood in the open, moved at the wrong time, or failed to pay attention to the background behind me.

He continued teaching me stalking, tracking, concealment, and how to use the landscape. The real skill was not simply wearing camouflage. It was understanding where to move, when to move, and how the human outline stands out in the natural environment.

Let us be honest about the Fall Gathering too. Some of us enjoy finding the latest pouch, knife, bag, jacket, or piece of gear that helps us look like one of the cool kids. I hope there is nothing wrong with that because I enjoy good gear too.

Find yourself something cool while you are there. Just remember that equipment works best when it is supported by knowledge. A new camouflage jacket may help conceal you, but learning to control your movement, use shadows, avoid skylining yourself, and choose the right background will make it far more effective.

3. Practice Stewardship from Field to Fork

Stewardship was one of the most important lessons my dad taught me.

I learned to take good shots rather than poor ones. I learned not to waste the animals we harvested. I learned to treat game with respect in the field, while preparing it, and all the way to the dinner table.

Today, people often use the phrase “field to fork.” For us, it was simply part of hunting responsibly.

Stewardship means recognizing that natural resources are limited and should never be treated carelessly. It means respecting wildlife, habitat, landowners, regulations, and the food provided by the land. It also means understanding that taking something from nature carries a responsibility to use it well.

You can explore this connection during the Fall Gathering even if you are not hunting. Several food vendors will be available, and many attendees will bring food to prepare at camp. Depending on the event rules and the areas where fires are permitted, you may even find an opportunity to cook something over one of the firepits.

There is very little food that is not improved by eating it outdoors. Cooking in the field also teaches practical lessons about planning, fire management, food safety, resourcefulness, and cleaning up after yourself.

The meal is only one part of the experience. The real lesson is understanding where food comes from and appreciating the work, knowledge, and natural resources involved in bringing it to the table.

4. Turn the Woods into a Classroom

Squirrel hunting also pushed me toward environmental education long before I would have used that term.

During the late-summer opening days, squirrels might be feeding heavily in hickory trees. I needed to know what a hickory looked like and where to find one.

Later, squirrels might move into the oaks as acorns became available. I needed to identify those trees too. At other times, I might find squirrels feeding in beech trees or using other food sources depending on the location and season.

Knowing that squirrels eat nuts was not enough. I had to recognize the trees, understand when their mast was available, read feeding sign, and notice how wildlife movement changed throughout the season.

That is one of the great strengths of hunting as a woodsmanship teacher. It forces you to connect individual pieces of information. Tree identification connects to wildlife behavior. Wildlife behavior connects to tracks and sign. Tracks and sign connect to movement, habitat, weather, and seasonal change.

The Georgia Bushcraft Fall Gathering provides numerous opportunities to build those same connections. Instructors teach tree identification, animal tracking, fire craft, shelter building, traditional skills, tool use, and many other subjects.

Take as many classes as you can but also leave yourself time to walk around and practice what you have learned. Identify the trees near your campsite. Look for animal tracks along trails and muddy areas. Notice which plants grow in wet ground, and which favor higher, drier soil. Pay attention to where birds and squirrels are feeding.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.

The same can be said about learning woodsmanship. I was fortunate to begin learning these lessons as a child, but you do not have to wish you had started earlier. Whether you are 12, 42, or 72, you can start paying closer attention to the natural world today.

5. Build Camaraderie in the Woods

Camaraderie may be the most meaningful lesson of all.

I spent many hours squirreling hunting with my dad, and I remain thankful for those times with him. The skills were important, but so were the conversations, the shared experiences, and even the quiet stretches when neither of us needed to say anything.

As I got older, squirrel hunting continued to bring people together. I hunted with friends from canoes, with bows, with black-powder firearms, and in several other ways. Each variation gave us a reason to practice different skills while sharing time outdoors.

Squirrel hunting became a way to bring together everything we knew at that point: navigation, stalking, tree identification, marksmanship, tracking, fire building, cooking, patience, and decision-making.

The Fall Gathering has developed that same kind of spirit. In many ways, it feels like a large bushcraft family reunion. You get to see people you may not have seen since the previous year, reconnect with friends, learn from experienced instructors, and meet new people who share similar interests.

For a beginner, that community may be one of the most valuable parts of the entire event. You do not have to arrive knowing everything. Nobody does. You only need to arrive willing to learn, ask questions, and spend time around people who enjoy teaching and practicing outdoor skills.

You Can Start Now

Squirrel hunting was one of my earliest classrooms, but the lessons it taught me belong to anyone willing to spend time in the woods.

Learn to move quietly. Understand how concealment really works. Practice stewardship. Study the relationships between plants, animals, weather, and habitat. Most importantly, share those experiences with other people.

Whether you are bringing a child into the outdoors, beginning as an adult, or returning after years away, it is never too late to develop better woodsmanship.

The Georgia Bushcraft Fall Gathering gives you a place to begin. Take a class, practice moving quietly through the leaves, learn the trees around you, cook a meal outside, look at some cool gear, and introduce yourself to someone new.

You may arrive hoping to learn a few bushcraft skills.

You may leave with the beginning of memories that last a lifetime.

About the author

Craig Caudill is the Director of Nature Reliance School, where he leads in-person and online training in wilderness survival, bushcraft, tracking and disaster readiness. He is the author of multiple books on outdoor skills and has been featured as a consultant for the US Government, national television, and survival programs. With decades of experience, Craig is dedicated to teaching others how to interact responsibly with nature while building self-reliance. Learn more at www.naturereliance.org.