Spring Squirrel Season Opens May 15

Mississippi has a new spring squirrel hunting season that will be open statewide May 15 - June 1. Hunters should note that the bag limit is only four squirrels per day during the spring season.

In many ways, the spring season will be similar to the early part of the fall season in that it will be warm with many leaves on the trees. Hunters should watch for venomous snakes so they can avoid them if encountered. Mosquitoes and ticks will be very active by this time, so using a repellent is a good idea. One difference between spring and fall squirrel hunting is squirrels may not be as concentrated in hardwood forests as they are in fall when acorns and nut crops are usually abundant. Squirrels use a wide variety of foods in spring, such as fruits, berries, mushrooms, and insects. Hunters can still rely heavily on sight and hearing to find squirrels. In addition to sighting squirrels, hunters can locate squirrels by listening for barking and other vocalizations.

For those in search of a place to hunt, most of Mississippi's public lands will offer spring squirrel hunting opportunities, and most allow squirrel hunting with dogs. However, anyone planning to hunt public land should consult the regulations for those areas. Some may have season dates and rules that differ from general, statewide regulations.

On public lands especially, there may be more people participating in non-hunting recreational use during the spring season. Visibility can be reduced by spring vegetation growth, so all hunters on public and private land should be aware of what lies beyond their target when shooting.