First shot: Virginia small game fall preview

Squirrel

Dates: Sept. 7 through Feb. 28 (gray and red squirrels); Sept. 7 - Jan. 31 (fox squirrels)

Bag limit: Six squirrels daily

Department of Game and Inland Fish small game biologist Marc Puckett is upbeat about squirrel populations.

"I believe squirrel numbers should be excellent," said Puckett, who works out of the agency's Farmville office.

The tree-scampering rodents are among the critters benefitting from wet weather, which has led to an exceptional growing season for soft mass, which includes tree flower buds, berries, fungi and maple samaras.

"Soft mast is especially important for young squirrels being weaned," said Puckett, noting that the conditions are favorable to the survival of young squirrels.

Interestingly, squirrels got a bonus food source across a wide swath of the state, joining the many other birds, fish and animals that gorged on 17-year-cicadas.

Even prior to the summer, the squirrel population was in good shape heading into the breeding season due to relatively mild winter weather.

Moving into fall, hard mast becomes more important for squirrels, and for the hunters who pursue them.

Puckett said the DGIF hasn't yet gotten results of its annual hard mast surveys.

Puckett said he expects the mast crop to be good, based on windy spring conditions that likely aided in oak and hickory pollination.

Hickory nuts are a traditional early-September favored food for squirrels, which is why squirrel hunters spend so much time with their eyes skyward, searching vast hickory canopies for squirrel movement.

Oaks and beech trees become popular squirrel feeding zones later in September.

Squirrel hunters will get some extra time to pursue their passion this season.

Early this year the DGIF's board voted to extend the seasons for gray and red squirrels through February.

Fox squirrel season will end at the close of January. The larger fox squirrels are not as abundant as grays and reds, so DGIF biologists didn't feel comfortable extending the season at this time.

September Canada goose

Dates: Sept. 2-25

Bag limit: 10 daily; 30 in possession

As might be expected, wet summer weather has been good news for Virginia's resident Canada goose population.

Nesting habitat was plentiful, and newly hatched goslings had no shortage of succulent greenery upon which to feast.

Gary Costanzo, the DGIF biologist who manages Virginia's migratory bird hunting programs, said he estimates the state's goose population to be in the 150,000-bird range.

"It's been like that for the past five to seven years," Costanzo said.

That doesn't mean that hunting this September will mimic conditions last year.

All that rain means geese have ample wet roosting areas. And, of course, they have ample feeding grounds.

"Scouting will be especially important," Costanzo said, noting that hunters need to do some pre-season recon to locate current goose feeding and roosting areas.

Resident geese are opportunists. In September, favored feeding spots often are cornfields.

While corn crops have done well this year, cutting will likely fall later than normal.

Green fields are a good alternative.

Because the September season is intended to help control the goose population, bag limits are generous, with hunters allowed to take 10 birds a day. A change this year also increases the possession limit, bumping it up to 30.

Dove

Dates: Sept. 2 - Oct. 14; Oct. 19 - Nov. 2; Dec. 31 - Jan. 11

Hunting hours: Noon to sunset Sept. 2-6;
30 minutes prior to sunrise to sunset balance of season.

Bag limit: 15 per day; 45 in possession

The DGIF’s dove banding program has provided an early indication of how this year’s dove hatch went.

“We are catching lots of young birds,” said DGIF migratory bird program manager GaryCostanzo said.

So, there should be no shortage of doves available.

But, like with geese, wet weather may impact hunting early in the season.

“The corn crop was great,” Costanzo said. “But cutting might be late.”

Hunters who stand to fare the best on the opener are those with access to wildlife plots planted specifically for doves.

The DGIF has a number of dove fields at its wildlife management areas. Although the program isn’t as extensive as it once was, due to budget constraints, the public fields can offer decent options.

The list of public dove fields is available at www.huntfishva.com.

Other early options

Rails
(Clapper, King, Sora, and Virginia)

Dates: Sept. 7-28; Sept. 30 - Nov. 16

Youth and apprentice deer

Date: Sept. 28

Urban archery deer (early)

Dates: Sept. 7 - Oct. 4

September teal

Dates: Sept. 23-30 (west of I-95; Sept. 16-23 (east of I-95)

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