Sir: I am convinced from my own experience that gray squirrels are in fact spooked by blaze orange. It only takes one orange trip through a good area to screw it up for the rest of the season. Just like deer aren't spooked by farm equipment, or grounghogs by the pickup traveling slowly. Blaze orange was the liberal response to hunting accidents, like Little Red Riding Hood whistling as she walked through the dark paths.

Frank, welcome to AR! It is good to have another small game hunter here, and as far as I'm concerned you needn't go any farther in the site to find wisdom, compassion, and endless mirth.

As far as tree dwelling squirrel are concerned, I'm unaware of any studies on the matter, and in my experience squirrel are far more attuned to movement than color. I usually hunt them in jeans and whatever, though of late I've found that underwear don't scare them either when I'm on the balconey. Haven't tried it in the buff yet. Also, I've never seen them wear orange either.

The other variety of squirrel, usually found in the heavily populated metropolitan areas seem to be adverse to blaze orange however, since I never see them wearing it. It occurs that perhaps it's not guns they are afraid of, rather it might be the orange vest. I have no idea where this is going, but the next question I ask myself since you brought it up, "Is it the vest design or the color?" Again, I'm not aware of any studies on the matter. Have you ever seen a 'crat come down a tree head first?

BTW, some here call them SQUILL, an odd noun visited upon us by Big Mortie, who was/is another oddity in his own right. He claims to use a NEF 30-06 for squill, perhaps that is why he is deaf.

I suppose this is more than you wanted to hear on the subject(s), so I'll let you go for the moment. Welcome to the zoo.

Dan

Pres., TYHC

www.ColorBlind.Squill

Considering how many squirrels I see when deer hunting, with the mandatory orange vest and hat, I doubt that it effects them too much, or, they are smart enought to know we are after bigger game, who knows what goes on in their peabrains? As long as you sit still, DD is right, they will come around with blue jeans or tuxedo, movement is what gets them going the other way. I am a groundling when deer hunting, and I have had squirrels come right up to me, when I'm sitting on a fallen log, within arm's reach, checking me out, as long as I'm still and nonthreatening. I don't like the little buggers getting that close, they has sharp teeth!