question to squirrel hunters

[North Shade]

This is my first year of hunting squirrels with a dog and I really enjoy it. I get great pleasure watching and/or hearing my Walker run and tree a squirrel. Last night I was reading my Full Cry Magazine and read an article written by a man in Tennessee. He wrote that they still had 6 weeks of good hunting left and then he said that the squirrels were in rut. If he keeps hunting, he will be killing pregnant females. Near the end of his season, he will be killing females with babies in the nest. The babies will freeze or starve to death. This man is not breaking any laws but my question is, is he doing the right thing? Could he be called a true sportsman? Is it in the best interest of the sport? Just because the season is in, should we keep on killing when we know we are killing pregnant or nursing females? Depending on when the squirrels start breeding in our area, should we have our own cut off date? Thank you for your replies.

[Linda G.]

We do, March 1. And most years, that's well ahead of the time when squirrels begin having litters, in most parts of the state. That said, I quit hunting squirrels as of February 1 to give them all a little peace and quiet for the mating season.

They have a spring season in Tennessee, too, I understand. I have no idea if anyone hunts it. I don't think I'd want to. But from my turkey hunting experiences there, I can tell you there's NO shortage of squirrels-they're everywhere.

But the squirrels are different down there-they look like red squirrels, with gray bodies and white bellies. Definitely a lot smaller than the squirrels in Michigan.

[Ferg]

All hunting seasons are closed unless opened by specific Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission proclamation.

Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit except on opening day. Dogs allowed for hunting all small game species, except on specific WMAs where indicated.

Species // Opens // Closes // Daily Bag
Squirrel (fox, red, gray) // Aug. 27 //Feb. 28 // 10
Spring Squirrel (2006) // May 13 //June 11 // 10
Grouse (closed W. of I-65) // Oct. 8 // Feb. 28 // 3
Rabbit // Nov. 12 //Feb. 28 // 5
Quail // Nov. 12 // Feb. 28 // 6

Source: TWRA 06 guide: http://www.state.tn.us/twra/hunt001b1.html


ferg....

PS: Armadillo, Beaver, Coyote, Groundhog, English Sparrow, Nutria, Starling, Striped Skunk -

Open year-round - No Limit

[panfishpuller]

well I hunt them until about new years and then it is turkey time for me by the 4th month I have had enough squirrel any ways:lol:

[jackbob42]

I'm not a squirrel hunter , but what's the difference?
What's the difference between that or any other female ( deer , bear , turkey , etc ) that get's shot? The " time " they're shot is the only difference. Either way , your taking out next years young. I mean , if you take a female out in the fall , sure she has raised this years little ones , but what about next years? They're gone as well.
I say it's up to us. Nobody knows our hunting spots better than us. If your not seeing many squirrels , don't shoot any. If your seeing alot , shoot what you want as long as it's legal . One things for sure , don't count on the DNR to know how many of what animals are in your hunting spots every year. They don't have enough people to know all that so they can adjust the seasons. So it's up to us to police ourselves. But at the same time , to not worry about what the other guy is doing on the other side of the county , state , or in another state.
It's almost as bad as the guy who preaches the " Let them go , Let them grow " deer hunting philosophy , and then he goes out and shoots a jake turkey. Again I have to ask " What's the difference "?

[Dangler]

You can choose to have faith in your DNR to set the seasons based on what's best for the critter as determined by science, or follow your own judgement. I believe most state DNRs have a grasp of what's best for the critter.

Having said that, I choose not to shoot anymore bunnies this season because I believe they are into their breeding phase, I don't want to kill pregnant moms. Too few bunnies around here as it is.

Linda, the TN squirrels you're describing sure sound like the common gray squirrel to me. Don't they also have fox squirrels down there?

[Linda G.]

Ferg says they do, Dangler. I've never seen one, just hordes of little gray squirrels, like I said, about the size of our red squirrels.

[victor mi pro bowhunter]

I stop hunting them after bow season ends(MICHIGAN).there seams to be a decline in the last two years where i hunt
I have never hunted in ten.but dont think i would if they had babys