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Post by trapperrick on Aug 2, 2015 15:05:28 GMT -5
On Saturday, August 1st, squirrel season opened. In Illinois.
I'm on a national trappers forum and people from all across America and Canada are member of this. One of the members from Illinois posted that yesterday was the first day of squirrel season and he went out and bagged 4 of them and was ready for a dinner of fried squirrel and taters for dinner.
I've been an advocate of opening squirrel season earlier than our mid-October opener but I think August is a bit too early.
Here is a question for all of you. When would you like to see squirrel season open?
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Post by bushmaster on Aug 2, 2015 15:24:48 GMT -5
September 1st would be perfect.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 16:39:17 GMT -5
Squirrel is not something that I have hunted much over my life, so the current seasons are fine by me. I really don't hear too much chatter (no pun) about earlier/longer seasons. IMO, most folks don't think about hunting until the leaves start to change and temps begin dropping. An earlier opener with hotter weather would require a cooler with ice...at least that's what I would do.
Small game numbers have declined like a lead balloon since I was a kid. Personal I think habitat loss along with the increased presence of predators, in the air and on the ground, small game populations can be controlled by them. Either way, don't matter to me.
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Post by Dutch on Aug 2, 2015 16:52:14 GMT -5
Two years ago Commissioners voted down, out of spite towards another commissioner, an earlier squirrel opener. First week of September, I think. Would have been a great opportunity for dad and kids to get out, when it's still light, in the evenings, but NO.
When I hunted doves, with a September 1 opener, we didn't take coolers Freytown. Did you???
South Carolina opens it's deer season August 15.......
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Post by redarrow on Aug 2, 2015 16:53:42 GMT -5
Back before the last two weeks of archery season ware added, I spent just about every evening and Saturday after archery season hunting squirrel. I still believe it is the very best way to introduce young hunters to the sport.
I like the season as it is now.
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Post by Dutch on Aug 2, 2015 16:57:20 GMT -5
Back before the last two weeks of archery season ware added, I spent just about every evening and Saturday after archery season hunting squirrel. I still believe it is the very best way to introduce young hunters to the sport. I like the season as it is now. Red, you seem to like all seasons as they are now, right? You got 2 more weeks of archery, but don't want to expand seasons to others? How is that fair? It isn't. Move the squirrel season up so more dad's, that are archers, can get their kids out after a few squirrels. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 17:16:42 GMT -5
Never hunted dove's up here Dutch. We have a few but most folks I know that like to dove hunt, head down your way to the Ag area's. How long can a dove stay fresh in Sept heat???
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Post by Dutch on Aug 2, 2015 18:58:16 GMT -5
FT, we used to go out about 5:30 or so
Never had a problem.
Also, when this question came up before the PGC, biologists said there was no threat to the squirrel population. Seems almost no one hunts them, like they did 30-40 years ago.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2015 19:00:18 GMT -5
I'm not against an earlier season, but like I said, rarely hunt them anymore.
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Post by redarrow on Aug 2, 2015 20:15:31 GMT -5
I do like the season as they are now, but I wouldn't mind if they moved squirrel up to mid September or so. I would probably hunt them some while I was up at camp. As it is now, I usually don't hunt them 'till I fill my buck tag in archery season. I use a .22 and like it best when there aren't many leaves left. Taking my sons out in youth season was a lot of fun.
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Post by timberdoodle on Aug 2, 2015 20:57:11 GMT -5
squirrel rabbit pheasant got extended through the last day of February.
Squirrel—(Combined species) Oct. 17 Nov. 28
and
Dec. 14 Dec. 24
and
Dec. 26 Feb. 29, 2016
almost 4 months of hunting...
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Post by Muab Dib on Sept 19, 2015 15:42:54 GMT -5
"I still believe it is the very best way to introduce young hunters to the sport."
Gotta agree with you on that Red. Also, there's nothing better to help a young deer hunter then prepping by hunting squirrels with a 22 rifle. Heck if a kid learns to place his shots on a squirrel's head at 50 yds. he/she won't have any trouble with deer. Great sport. Great eat'n. Great for kids.
Muab
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Post by trapperrick on Sept 19, 2015 17:24:03 GMT -5
Although I don't hunt squirrels nearly as much as I used to I find myself getting pretty excited about it. Once bow season begins I may be more inclined to hunt deer once squirrel season opens but I plan on hunting them sometime during the season.
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