One man and his dog: squirrel control with a gundog in the making

There are few places more rewarding to spend a morning than in a well-managed pheasant estate. Long before the shooting season begins, countless hours have already been invested in creating the habitat that allows gamebirds to flourish. Woodland rides are maintained, release pens prepared, feeders serviced and cover carefully managed throughout the year.

One task that often goes unnoticed is grey squirrel management. Grey squirrels remain one of Britain’s most destructive non-native mammals. While many people enjoy watching them in parks and gardens, their impact on managed woodlands can be considerable. By stripping bark from young broadleaf trees they cause permanent damage, leaving valuable timber open to disease and reducing its commercial value.

On pheasant estates they create another expensive problem by helping themselves to feed intended for gamebirds. Feed isn’t cheap, and when squirrel numbers are high they can consume it in surprisingly large quantities. Left unmanaged, their numbers can quickly build, increasing both the cost to the estate and the damage they cause.

It’s not about removing every squirrel from the woodland. It’s about keeping numbers at a level where woodland regeneration can continue and the investment made by the estate is protected.

Preparing the ground with a peanut feeder

One of my regular permissions is exactly this sort of estate. The woodland is exceptionally well managed, with mature trees, well-maintained rides and carefully positioned pheasant release pens. It’s immediately obvious how much work goes into keeping everything in first-class condition.

Knowing there was already a large squirrel population, I spent several weeks preparing for this outing. I had built a simple homemade peanut feeder and every week topped it up with around 2kg of peanuts. Each visit showed plenty of activity, confirming that the squirrels had made it part of their daily routine.

Preparation like this often determines whether a morning is successful. Rather than simply turning up and hoping for the best, it allows you to understand the movement and habits of squirrels before you even settle into position.

A first outing for a young gundog

This trip also had another purpose. Joining me for his first proper outing was my seven-month-old fox red Labrador. Ultimately he’ll become my gundog for pheasant shooting, but every good dog has to start somewhere. This morning wasn’t about expecting polished retrieves or perfect obedience. It was about introducing him to the sights, sounds and atmosphere of a working estate while beginning to understand his role in the field.

We settled into a two-man pop-up hide overlooking the feeder well before the woodland became active. The hide provided excellent concealment and allowed us to remain comfortable while waiting for the squirrels to appear. It also proved to be an ideal environment for a young dog, encouraging him to remain calm and settled beside me.

It wasn’t long before the first squirrel made its way confidently towards the feeder. The weeks of regular feeding had clearly established it as a reliable food source, and before long more squirrels began appearing from different directions.

Over the morning I accounted for four grey squirrels. It wasn’t a huge number, but that’s rarely the objective on permissions like this. Regular visits throughout the year keep pressure on the local population and prevent numbers from reaching the point where damage becomes far more significant. Consistency is far more valuable than occasional large bags.

First natural retrieves

The highlight of the morning wasn’t simply the squirrels themselves; it was watching my young Labrador begin to understand what retrieving was all about. Each time I walked out to collect a squirrel, he accompanied me with growing confidence. His curiosity quickly turned into enthusiasm, and before long he was proudly picking up and carrying the squirrels back. At just seven months old there is still plenty of training ahead, but seeing him perform those first natural retrieves was incredibly encouraging.

Every experienced gundog handler knows that patience is key. Building confidence at a young age pays dividends later on, and there was no pressure placed on him. The morning was simply another lesson, allowing him to gain valuable experience in a calm and controlled environment.

Looking at him carrying his first squirrels back towards the hide, it wasn’t difficult to imagine him in a few years’ time sitting quietly in a pheasant drive, confidently retrieving game during the shooting season.

Management judged by what visitors never notice

Estate management is often judged by what visitors never notice. Healthy woodland, thriving pheasant cover and productive release pens don’t happen by accident. They’re the result of year-round effort from keepers and landowners who understand that every aspect of countryside management plays its part. Grey squirrel control is just one of those jobs, but it’s an important one.

By keeping squirrel numbers under control, estates reduce bark stripping, protect young woodland and ensure expensive pheasant feed reaches the birds it was intended for rather than disappearing into an ever-growing squirrel population.

As I packed away the hide and unloaded the rifle, I reflected on what had been an extremely worthwhile morning. Four squirrels removed from an area where they were causing damage represented another positive step in the estate’s ongoing management programme.

More importantly, my young Labrador had enjoyed his first proper introduction to life on a working shooting estate. He had remained settled in the hide, shown plenty of enthusiasm for retrieving and taken another small but important step towards becoming the gundog I hope he will be.