Earlier Opener

[Dutch]

this weeks PA Outdoor News has an article in it about opening the PA squirrel season earlier.

Many states nearby do have openers in September, with no problems.

Our PGC Biologist, Tom Hardisky" says we shouldn't because there is a chance we may be killing female squirrels with young at that time of year. Ohio bilogists say that is a very small part of the population. It goes on to say the number of squirrel hunters has dropped a great deal.

Hardisky is worried we will offend nonhunters.

I wonder why then, do we allow grounfhog hunting all year long. Don't we kill mothers with young that are in the burrows? Then why can't we have a September opener for squirrels?

What do you think?

Squirrel hunting is a great way to introduce kids to hunting. What harm could come from opening in mid September?

[gfanikf]

I think more people have issues and damages caused by Groundhogs. I know people who would set up a sniper net out of their bathroom if they could (overlooks the backyard). On the other hand squirrels are squirrels and not viewed as a nuisance like groundhogs are and it gets less of a pass for hunting and leaving them lay as they are, now if people utilize the squirrel that's different..

It's possible they want less firearm hunters out at that time so not to drain WCO resources being already allocated to Archery season for Deer.

Me personally, if I harvest something, and it's not a nuisance situation with groundhogs (stopping crop and land damage), I'd prefer not to leave young that will not be able to survive on its own. Then again I lack real hunting experience to comment and my views may shift over time.

[Deleted]

I see no problem with an earlier opener there populations certainly aren't hurting I would vote yes to movuing it up

[Deleted]

I think it would be more of a challenge with all the leaves still on.

[galthatfishes]

I think we could expand it a little to allow youth to have more opportunity and learn that many things are as fun; if not more fun; than deer hunting.

[Deleted]

I can still remember my first squirrel hunt out at the mink farm(the name we used for the property we hunted)--got my first fox squirrel just after daybreak--

[Deleted]

I too would vote for an Early Opener. I don't think there would be a lot of pressure.

[Deleted]

There are two mating seasons for grey and fox squirrels in PA. The first occurs in winter, usually January and February when they are really active in searching for mates and breeding. The second occurs during June and July. Young stay with their mother for about three months. Our late squirrel season extends into the period when mothers will be rearing their young. Not sure what difference it would make to open squirrel season in September if hunters kept within limits. I would be in favor of opening it earlier since we have very little pressure on squirrel populations anymore. If the opener were to be the same time as archery deer season I forsee little impact and very little more killing of females who are still nursing young than we have now with the youth seaon opening the first week of October. Perhaps if the opener were to be September 15 or thereabouts we might have some slight impact. As to the offense to non hunters, many already do not like killing those innocent animals of whatever species. My solution to that problem is not to kill any animal that does not look guilty. ;D

All of the kids I have started out in hunting have begun with squirrels. As was said before, it is a great way to introduce kids to hunting. Success is fairly good and the satisfaction index is high.