BUSHY TAILS FROM A BOAT
By Mike Faulk

Squirrel season offers a unique and most pleasant opportunity for time outdoors in your boat especially in this abnormally hot September. East Tennessee rivers and streams are prime territory for hunters willing to invest a little extra effort to squirrel hunt from the river - were it's a bit cooler. And, to my knowledge, there’s no rule against having a fishing rod in the old jon boat at the same time.

Squirrels have been known to stop and stare as a boat approaches rather than scurry into hiding. And, we all require a little cool satiating sip of water – squirrels included. So you can bet on seeing a few squirrels on any float trip.

Basic strategy calls for stalking the squirrels from a flat bottom jon boat with a shooter and an oarsman. The flat bottom allows the boat to travel over logs hidden slightly under the waterline and is easier to drag across sandbars and shallow shoals. A boat longer than fifteen feet is tough to handle. A river jon is better than a lake jon since it isn’t as wide and is easier for one person to maneuver.


Knowledge of the river is essential. Obstacles in the river change their location just about every day - not just after a heavy rain. Hanging the boat on an invisible limb or banging into a submerged boulder seems to always happen just out of shooting range.

The idea is to stay in the shadows, as near to the bank as water depth will allow. The oarsman will have his work cut out for him negotiating around logs, limbs, and rocks in the water and low branches overhanging the shoreline. Depending on the lay of obstacles in the water, the shooter may have an easier shot when the boat is broadside rather than facing downstream.

It’s up to the oarsman to try to get the boat into range, produce the best shot, and keep the occupants safe. Steering the boat is easier when there’s some current. The danger is greater, too. Due to the serpentine pattern taken by the boat, running into an obstacle broadside makes overturning a common fear. Never lean upstream to help the boat clear the obstacle. Always lean downstream into the object.

Paddles are important. Although, otherwise traveling light will make dragging that jon boat over sandbars much easier, carry three paddles for two people. The third paddle often becomes necessary when you’ve broken one of the others prying the boat off some slimy log or rock. The oarsman will need a 5-6 foot paddle for steering and for forceful strokes to propel the boat past trouble spots. The shooter needs a 4 foot paddle to assist with rowing through areas of dead water and sparse cover and to help clear the boat when it hangs up. The shooter needs to keep his paddle close at hand for emergencies. Given the choice, an unscheduled dip in the river with loss of your gear and perhaps your life seems a poor alternative to being ready.

Also, two other comments on paddles: first, sand the lacquer off and paint them flat black. Water dripping off a shinny paddle when hit with sunlight is just like using a mirror to send Morse code to old bushy tail saying, “Here we come. You can hide now.” Secondly, the sound of a paddle, wooden or metal, clanging on the side of a metal jon boat carries a long way or at least to the next unsuspecting squirrel, which spooks after hearing that most unnatural sound.

Stealth is good. Squirrels don’t see river grass or anything else cream colored or light brown float down the river in September. Summer greens are best. The reeds growing in canebrakes up and down the river make a good front and side cover for the boat. Cut them off so they stand 12"-18" above the rim of the boat. If any taller, they hang up in the low branches and leaves that overhang the water. While these branches are home to few snakes, they are full of spider webs and bugs. For the fog less sunny morning, a face mask is a must.


Avoid much talking. Whisper when you must. An easy signal to your partner that you have spotted a squirrel ahead is a simple wiggle of your bottom just enough to rock the boat. Show the right or left hand down low below the line of sight blocked by the disguise on the front of the boat and indicate the bank where the squirrel is. Movement is a dead giveaway - whether hunting the woods or the water.

Two boat cushions allow the gunner to sit in the floor of the boat with a backrest so his vision is slightly above the materials covering the front of the boat. The oarsman is seated normally on the back seat allowing him to see over the gunner’s head while at the same time hiding behind the shooter.

Take turns being the shooter. Almost all the firepower should come out of the front of the boat. While the oarsman is loaded with his shotgun within reach, the oarsman should shoot cleanup only. Keep in mind that the oarsman’s muzzle blast will be near the ears and head of the gunner if shooting in any forward direction. Earplugs are a must for the gunner. Under no circumstance should the gunner stand up while guns are loaded in the boat. My rule is only one person is to stand in my boat when loading and unloading the boat. Otherwise, occupants should remain seated. The instability of two people standing in the boat increases the chance for an unscheduled baptism. No standing in the boat --period -- if there are loaded weapons.

Trolling motors are useful in tracking down your successes. Sometimes slow moving current speeds up where the river width constricts. Inevitably, you’ll shoot a squirrel just before reaching such a spot and there it goes shooting down the river while your oarsman struggles to keep up. A trolling motor will allow you to get ahead of the squirrel so it will float to you. Caution: it’s illegal to shoot when your boat is underway by means of mechanical propulsion. See that the trolling motor is completely off before shooting.

Challenging describes the shooting done from the floor of a jon boat while in the most awkward of positions, while passing under branches and around logs, and while moving downstream at 2-4 miles per hour at a wily squirrel. Following a few simple rules and taking a few extra minutes to plan your float trip will prepare you for the challenge. As in most things, the reward is directly proportional to the effort.