Welcome to the
Shawnee
Squirrel Hunt
Website

Each year since 2002, several squirrel hunters have attended the annual Shawnee Squirrel Hunt in Southern Illinois. For more than 20 years, people from all over the US and even some as far away as New Zealand and Great Britian, have been attending and enjoying the great outdoors of the Shawnee National Forest. Some come to hunt, others to share the experience, whether it's camping, hiking, or just seeing old friends.  We would like to extend a welcome to hunters new and old, novice or experienced to attend the annual hunt and we look forward to seeing you.

2024 Hunt Begins in

About the Shawnee Squirrel Hunt

The Annual Shawnee Squirrel Hunt takes place in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois each September, as a rule of thumb the hunt begins the next to the last Saturday of September. People attending the annual hunt gather and camp at Pine Hills Campground on Pine Hills Rd, just off of the State Forest Rd near Wolf Lake, IL. Although several folks may arrive days early and leave days after, the official hunt lasts 5 days.

Saturday night there is a carry in supper under the pavilion, followed by live music. Sunday there is a "Iron Sights Contest", ending at sundown, closing with the announcement of the winner and awarding of prizes, again followed by more live music.

Occasionally, a few folks leave Sunday evening to be able to return to work Monday, others may roll out Monday morning. Several will stay for the entire hunt or longer. For those that do stay, the pace slow down a little, hunting in the mornings and spending more time around camp an campfires socializing.