by John Jefferson

I received an announcement recently about a new .22 caliber rifle being marketed by the CZ USA company. It spoke of the rising interest in small game hunting – particularly for squirrels and rabbits.

I’m all for that! There was a time I even promoted hunting for nutria, since they were abundant in southeast Texas, where I lived. Access to huntable land having adequate wetlands – preferred habitat for nutria – and the threat of ricochets from rifles or pistols fired over water prevented that from becoming popular.

But squirrel and rabbit hunting have always been high on the lists of myriad hunters. At one time, squirrel hunting was more popular than deer hunting. During the Great Depression, deer were shot for food. It became rare to see whitetails at all in parts of Texas. I was 14 before I ever saw one.

My first hunt ever was accompanying Uncle Josh Munro squirrel hunting in the hardwood Beech Creek bottomland at the edge of the Big Thicket one cold, dim morning at about age ten. I didn’t realize the awakening that was taking place. Or what it would lead to.

From then on, I dreamed of hunting the Lawhorn Woods whenever we passed them going to Galveston.

Then, as veterans returning from WW II began hunting, the infamous screwworm infestation devastated Texas livestock and deer on into the early ‘60s. Once the tiny, winged beasts were controlled with the release of sterile male flies, Texas Parks and Wildlife’s extensive restocking of deer throughout Texas changed a lot of things.

Photos of kids proudly holding a squirrel or two were being replaced with a young ‘uns first animal kill – a young deer a little younger than the hunter.

As deer mania rose, access, again, became a problem since deer hunting commanded center stage. More land was leased for the sport that provided the most revenue to landowners. Some deer hunters were reluctant to share turf with squirrel hunters.

The vast forested land in East Texas, though, provided a veritable wonderland for squirrel hunters. Although the namesakes of the Pineywoods themselves offered nothing for squirrels to eat, Chinkapin oaks and other oaks and nut-bearing trees did. Much of it was National Forest land and open to excellent hunting. A lot still is.

Some use shotguns; others .22 rifles. I’ve used both. My preference is a trusty Winchester Model 62-A, .22 pump rifle reminiscent of the .22 that Uncle Josh used to introduce me to riflery. The last time I saw him, he was alert, but non-talking. At one point, he smiled and pointed at his .22 pump hanging on the wall. I looked at it, smiled and nodded. He silently did the same, and pointed at me as he did. I think of him every time I handle my .22 pump.

Squirrel hunting with a rifle is a challenge but makes one a more accurate rifleman in the long run. And a .22 is a great teaching tool for kids.

One they’ll never forget.

JJ