The Vermont hunting season for gray squirrels begins Sunday, Sept. 1and continues through Dec. 31, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. (VTF&W).
“Vermont has a healthy population of gray squirrels, concentrated in southern Vermont and the Champlain Valley,” said Hunter Education Coordinator Nicole Meier. “They’re a fantastic small game species for new hunters to learn the basics of reading the landscape, making a safe and ethical shot and cooking wild game.”
In Vermont, gray squirrels are often hunted with a .22 rifle, a shotgun or archery equipment. The department recommends that squirrel hunters wear a blaze orange vest or hat anytime they are afield.
The best habitat for squirrel hunting is stands of nut-bearing trees like oak, hickory and beech. The daily bag limit is four gray squirrels, and the possession limit is eight.
“Gray squirrels are incredibly tasty — many would say better than rabbit,” said Meier. “You can find great gray squirrel recipes in classic cookbooks, trendy culinary magazines, and of course anywhere that publishes wild food recipes.
Hunters need a small game license to hunt gray squirrels with any lawful means other than a trap.
It is illegal to buy or sell a wild bird, rabbit, hare or gray squirrel at any time.
For more info, visit: vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt.
