Squirrel Master Classic: Day One

by
posted on February 19, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

The biathlon events in Sochi may be winding down, but another test of marksmanship prowess is about to begin. Only the competitors certainly won't be racing on skis in southern Alabama, and rimfires will be replaced by air rifles. The targets: squirrels.

As the first annual Squirrel Master Classic kicks off tomorrow morning, six teams of more than 30 hunters will vie for the top position. Event organizers Gamo Outdoor USA and Buckmasters have laid out a simple set of rules for the competition: Take a Gamo air rifle into the wilds surrounding Southern Sportsman Lodge and bag as many bushytails as your stalking skills and aim will allow in seven hours.

Field Editor Jeff Johnston and I—attracted by the total lack of snow and forecasted 70-degree temperatures in the Black Belt, not to mention a promised plethora of bushytails—hope to bring home the gold. We're on separate teams and will be joined by Gamo Pro Staff members, so I expect stiff competition.

To make things even more interesting, we'll be hunting over "world-champion" squirrel dogs (according to their doting owners). Look for updates throughout tomorrow.

Here's what we're after, the top prize. The title of Squirrel Master Champion. It would look real good sitting on my desk—screwed down so Johnston can't steal it.

Latest

Upland (5)
Upland (5)

5 Keys To Make This Your Best Upland Season Ever

Tired of walking long distances and coming home empty-handed? Here are five keys to help boost your bag of birds this year.

C&H Precision and MERUS Adventure Launch Guided Hunt Giveaway

Free entry runs through Nov. 13, 2026, and one winner and a guest will be heading to the Texas Panhandle for a fully guided hunt at MERUS Adventure—a private hunting and off-road park near Claude, Texas, outside Amarillo. The trip includes a fully guided hunt, range time with top-tier optics and gear, on-site lodging for the length of the stay and off-road driving across the property.

Things I’ve Learned About Public-Land Elk

Every generation has a story starting with, “I remember the good old days.” Elk hunters have a similar dialogue and although elk numbers are at some of their highest in modern history, public-land hunting still represents a sea of challenges. With decades of elk hunting in my rearview and an ongoing education, a few lessons I’ve learned from elk hunting may aid you in your public-land elk pursuits.

Colorado Ballot Battle Heats Up

The required number of valid signatures to put a “Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment” on Colorado’s Nov. 3 ballot was reached on Sept. 4. If approved by voters—according to Ballotpedia’s summary—it would add the “…right to hunt, fish, and take fish and wildlife through traditional methods” to the state constitution.

#SundayGunday: CZ 600+ ST3 American

On this week's #SundayGunday, we are taking a look at the new-for-2026 design of the CZ 600+ ST3 American, the ST3 being the long- and magnum-action model. Built by the legendary Czech company for the American market, this is a rifle adapted perfectly to hunting on this continent.

How Can Hunters Travel Out of State With Suppressed Firearms?

Getting federal and state agencies out of the way of the citizens who wish to use suppressors to make their guns more polite to their ears and to their neighbors’ is an ongoing, complex and multifaceted effort. There is, however, progress being made thanks to the Trump administration.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.