AmmoLand.com

Squirrels Abound In Pennsylvania’s Forests And Woodlots

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- If there’s one game animal that could use some additional attention in Pennsylvania, it’s squirrels. Pennsylvania Game Commission field officers report squirrel populations are strong in most areas of the state.

Gray squirrels continue to be found across Pennsylvania in sizable numbers, and the black-phase gray squirrel isn’t hard to find north of Interstate-80 and east of the Ohio line all the way into the state’s north/central counties.

Fox squirrels also are becoming increasingly available as they continue to push east of the Allegheny Front and north through Pennsylvania’s ridges and valleys. Fox squirrels can be found as far east as the Susquehanna River.

Squirrel populations have been enjoying the benefits of declining hunting pressure and the maturation of habitat in the state for some time. These factors have spurred fox squirrel range expansion and recovery.

Squirrels Abound In Pennsylvania’s Forests And Woodlots

“Gray squirrels are our most abundant game species and are found throughout Pennsylvania,” said Tom Hardisky, Pennsylvania Game Commission biologist. “Look for mast-producing trees such as walnut, butternut, oak and hickory when searching for the best hunting areas. In agricultural areas, woodlots in the vicinity of standing cornfields often support large numbers of squirrels. They can be found throughout deep woods areas. The black squirrel is actually a color phase of the gray squirrel. In general, black squirrels can be found in the northern half of Pennsylvania. Squirrels with this black color variation often occur in local concentrations scattered about their northern Pennsylvania range.

“Fox squirrels are up to 50 percent larger than gray squirrels and weigh about two pounds,” Hardisky explained.

“Fox squirrels have been expanding their range eastward in recent years and now inhabit much of the western half of Pennsylvania. They prefer more open areas than gray squirrels and are not found in the deep woods. Fox squirrels favor open fields and pastures with large trees nearby. Small woodlots and forest edges are typical fox squirrel haunts. Although some gray squirrels may possess orange coloration along their sides and tails, fox and gray squirrels do not interbreed, nor do gray and red squirrels. Each squirrel species has some color variation, even within local populations. However, this color variation largely results from genetic differences. Local diet, habitat, and climate differences also may contribute to color variation.”

When hunting squirrels, look for large-trunked trees near a food source. Larger trees offer better protection from predators and are favorite den sites. Gray squirrels are most active during the early morning and evening, while fox squirrels often travel during mid-day.

Squirrel season opens on Oct. 15, and runs through Nov. 26. The season reopens on Dec. 12-23, and Dec. 26-Feb. 25. The daily limit is six.

Pennsylvania’s youth squirrel hunt opened on Oct. 8, and closes today, Oct. 14. The season open to youths 12 to 16 years of age who have successfully completed a Hunter-Trapper Education course and are properly accompanied by an adult. A hunting license is not required to participate.

Hunters also are reminded that squirrels are listed as a game animal that can be pursued by youngsters participating in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which permits those under the age of 12 to hunt under the guidance of a mentor.

Squirrel hunters are required to wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing, visible 360 degrees, at all times.

Filed under: Hunting News by Ammoland No Comments »

Early Season Provides Additional Hunting Opportunities West Virginia
This year, hunters will add squirrel, dove, goose, deer and coyote to the game that can be hunted in September.
By Frank Jezioro – Director, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

West Virginia Wild

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- Dawn broke cool and quiet with only a hint of a breeze.

The aroma of fall leaves was drifting on the breeze. There was some fog rising from the valley below where the river wound its way through the bottoms and pastureland.

It had been a good year for hickory and the squirrels were already cutting in the shellbark and pignuts. In years past, the squirrels had often cut out the hickory and moved by the time the season opened around the 15th of October.

This year would be different. This early September season would provide some good shooting before the squirrels cut out the hickory and dispersed throughout the woods in search of acorns.

WV's Frank Jezioro Squirrel Hunting

The first sounds I heard were those of a few scolding crows. Then some songbirds woke up. I was concentrating on the birds when a rustle of leaves high in the hickory in front of me caught my attention. I could see the leaves moving and knew it was a squirrel pulling off hickory nuts, but I just couldn’t see him. I was hunting with a Winchester Model 52 Sporter and low velocity hollow points and needed a good clear shot at a sitting squirrel. I could hear the squirrel cutting the nut but couldn’t see it.

Then I caught another glimpse of movement and picked up a second squirrel scampering up the 60-foot-high shellbark. It too went out on a limb and pulled off a nut. The mistake it made was to then go back to where the limb joined the main trunk of the tree. There in the fork of the limb the big gray sat up and began to work on the nut. I squirmed into a good solid position, resting my hand with the forefend of the rifle against the trunk of the tree I was sitting by. The squirrel continued cutting as I put the tiny Lee Dot in the scope on his head. At the crack of the .22 the squirrel pitched out and hit the ground with a thud. The forest got quite again. I let it lie there while I began to again search for the first squirrel.

After a few minutes it, too, began to cut on a nut. This time, its movement betrayed it sitting high on an outer limb. Another crack of the .22 and a second hit the ground, adding to the ingredients needed for a great dinner of squirrel, gravy and biscuits.

The options for hunters in September are many and varied. Over the years, the Division of Natural Resources has searched for ways to increase hunting and fishing opportunities. Providing more time in the fields and on the streams is a priority. When reviewing any change to the seasons or bag limits, the first consideration has to be the welfare of the resource. We must be ever vigilant to make sure that any change doesn’t have a negative impact on the game and fish.

After several years of consideration and review of information, it was decided that we could in fact provide some early hunting for squirrels, bow hunting for deer and muzzleloader hunting for deer. This year, our hunters will add squirrel, dove, goose, deer and coyote to the game that can be hunted in September. Whatever your pleasure, the opportunities are there this September. If at all possible, introduce another person to the out-of-door activities of hunting and fishing, especially a youngster or two.

That old axiom still rings true that “if you take your children hunting you won’t wind up hunting for your children.”

Filed under: Hunting News by Ammoland No Comments »