Woods & Water: Squirrel season set to open Saturday
Tennessee’s hunting season for gray, fox and red squirrels will open on Saturday, Aug. 23. and continue through Feb. 29, with a daily bag limit of 10.
The hunting season for squirrels is one of the longest fall seasons and one of the most underutilized. Squirrel populations tend to rise and fall with the availability of mast (food). Mast production the past few years has been fair to good and has resulted in good populations.
Two of the most productive ways to hunt squirrels are still-hunting (slowly walking through the woods watching for squirrels) and stand-hunting (sitting near food trees). Squirrel hunting with dogs has been gaining popularity in recent years. The best hunting with dogs generally occurs from November through February after the trees shed their years.
Squirrels are abundant in most areas where patches of woods are available. Excellent squirrel hunting can be found on many of TWRA’s wildlife management areas and public hunting lands.
Squirrel hunting is one of the best ways to introduce a young hunter to the outdoors and squirrels are known for their excellent table fare. Most recipe books have a variety of recipes for squirrel, with fried squirrel and squirrel and dumplings being two traditional southern favorites.
For more information on Tennessee hunting seasons pick up a 2003 Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Guide, available at all TWRA Regional Offices and at all hunting license agents or go online at www.tnwildlife.org.
Public Dove Fields Will Be Easy To Locate On net
Tennessee’s 2003 dove season beginning at noon on Monday, Sept. 1, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has made looking for a dove field in Tennessee a little easier.
Starting around the middle of August, hunters can just click on www.tnwildlife.org and find a list of public fields on TWRA’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA’s), plus dove fields that TWRA has leased.
The web page will include maps of each region with the dove fields identified, along with additional information about each field.
“Several changes have been made in TWRA’s dove field program that should strengthen it,” said Tim White, TWRA small game biologist. “In an effort to increase the number of fields that we can make available to hunters, the Agency will lease three types of dove fields.” spring will be managed for doves, improved silage fields will be leased as the season nears, and the typical fall harvested fields will be leased as well.
The TWRA Web Site will be updated as new information becomes available. Hunters who do not have access to TWRA’s website, contact the TWRA Regional Office in your area for dove field information. In Region 3 call 1-800-262-6704.
CANADA GOOSE HUNTING AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER
Waterfowl hunters will soon have opportunities for hunting Canada geese in September. Canada goose hunting is allowed Sept. 1-15, with a daily bag limit of five geese. Hunters should remember that all waterfowl hunting requires the use of nontoxic shot and all shotguns must be plugged to hold no more than three shells.
When hunting on public land or water, hunters should remember that it is illegal to hunt within 100 yards of a visible dwelling without the owner’s permission.
Waterfowl hunters age 16 and over should possess, in addition to other required licenses, a Federal Duck Stamp which is available from U.S. Post Offices and many sporting good stores. A free Migratory Bird Permit is also required for hunters between 13-64 years of age. This permit is available from all license agents.
If you have questions about hunting, fishing or boating e-mail me at [email protected] or visit the agency’s website at www.tnwildlife.org.