The woods should be thick with squirrels—and no doubt mosquitoes as well—during Virginia’s first-ever spring/summer squirrel hunting season June 2-23.
Hunt squirrels in June? You’ve got to be kidding!
Pat Cook admits he felt that way at first. Then the more he thought about it the better he liked the idea. Cook, who is the small game project leader for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, believe others will follow the same logic.
I asked Cook to respond to a number of questions designed to give newcomers to June hunting some background information on this new season and what they can expect from it:
Q. Why did DGIF decided to promote squirrel hunting in June?
A. In order to offer additional hunting opportunity, especially at a time when few other species can be hunted.
Q. How many other states offer a similar season?
A. Seven
Q. What areas will be open to June hunting?
A. Only certain DGIF-owned Wildlife Manage Areas: Amelia, Big Survey, Briery Creek, Chickahominy, Dick Cross, Dismal Swamp, Fairystone, Goshen, Havens, Hog Island (Carlisle tract only), Horsepen, James River, Pettigrew, Phelps, Powhatan, Thompson, Turkeycock Mountain and White Oak Mountain.
Q. Do you anticipate additional hunting areas will be included in the future?
A. I can’t speculate on that.
Q. Will squirrels be abundant in June?
A. Squirrels will likely be very abundant this June on many of the areas. The results of a survey of the squirrel population in August 2006 were the highest ever recorded. Plus, there was a bumper acorn crop this past fall. Therefore, all those squirrels likely had great survival rates and entered the first peak of the breeding season in prime condition turning out a lot of new squirrels.
Q. How much interest in this season do you expect?
A. Initially, I don’t expect there to be a great deal of interest. Over time, I think interest will grow as it has in other states that have adopted such a season.
Q. Have you received any opposition to the season?
A. Very little.
Q. Will the June season be a hardship on pregnant squirrels and those caring for young?
A. From a biological standpoint, the June squirrel season will actually occur at an opportune time. A study conducted in Virginia found that squirrels can produce young throughout the year. However, 81 percent of all litters were born February through March and July and August. Only 0.9 percent were born in May and 1.4 percent in June. Very few pregnant squirrels or ones caring for young will be harvested during the June season, much fewer than during parts of the regular season.
Q. Do you anticipate that the heat will be a challenge for hunters?
A. Compared to September, the first month of the regular squirrel season, June really isn’t that much warmer. Averaged across the entire Commonwealth, the normal maximum temperature in September is 78 degrees. In June it is only 3 degrees warmer. Hunters will probably focus their efforts in the early and late parts of the day, but they do that in the regular season as well. That’s when gray squirrels are most active.
Q. Won’t squirrels likely to be carrying “wolves” or other parasites?
A. Although it is possible that squirrels taken during the June season could be infested, it’s not very likely. Infestations are greatest in the late summer and early fall.
Q. Is the bag limit the same as it is in the fall/winter? Are fox squirrels legal game?
A. The 6-per day bag limit is the same. Fox squirrels are legal in areas that lie in counties where fox squirrel hunting traditionally is permitted.
Q. Will the season be disruptive to other wildlife that may be carrying for young?
A. That’s not an easy thing to answer. Any time someone leaves their home they could disrupt wildlife. However, the season will not cause the decline of any populations.
Q. How will June hunting techniques differ from those used during the fall/winter season?
A. You won’t have much success searching for areas with an abundance of acorns or hickory nuts. Hunters will have to find where the squirrels are feeding and focus on those areas.
Q. What will be the likely food sources?
A. Mostly the buds and flowers of trees, such as ash, elm, maple and sweet gum. They also will be feeding on some of the soft mast that matures during this time. In particular, they will key in on the fruit of the mulberry tree if available.
Q. Do you think the season offers opportunities to introduce youngsters to hunting?
A. It will be a great time to take youngsters hunting. They will be out of school and there are very few other hunting opportunities available this time of the year.
