Hunters ready to head into the woods don’t have to wait much longer, because squirrel hunting season begins Sunday, August 15, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife Resources.
“Many people may think of hunting as just standing still and waiting for your target to come close to you, but squirrel hunting often provides more action, so you may be moving around looking for ole’ bushytail – this creates an opportunity perfect for engaging an energetic youngster or someone new to hunting,” said Alan Isler, WRD Game Management Section Chief.
Squirrel season runs from August 15 to February 28, 2022, and hunters can go after both gray and fox squirrels. The maximum daily bag limit is 12 per hunter. However, new this year, some wildlife management areas have a limit on the capture of fox squirrels.
The Georgia WMA offers access to nearly a million acres of hunting opportunity, and squirrel hunting is permitted in the WMAs at specific times during squirrel season statewide (https://georgiawildlife.com/allwmas) . Hunters are advised to consult the current hunting regulations for specific dates and information from the WMA (http://www.eregulations.com/georgia/hunting/).
THE TWO SPECIES
Both gray squirrels and foxes can be found throughout Georgia. The gray squirrel, abundant in both rural and urban areas, is the most common species. Although primarily associated with hardwood forests, grays can also be found in mixed pine-hardwood forests. Predominantly gray, with white underparts, gray squirrels appear to have a slimmer body than fox squirrels, weighing between 12 ounces and 1.5 pounds.
Fox squirrels have various color phases, ranging from silvery gray with a predominantly black head, to solid black, to a light beige or brown tinged with reddish yellow. Generally larger than grays, fox squirrels range in weight from a pound to almost three, and are most closely associated with mature pine and mixed pine/hardwood habitats, and especially in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions.
For more information on the 2021-2022 squirrel hunting season or other hunting seasons, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/hunting/hunter-resources. To renew or purchase a hunting license, visit www.GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com.