It may be the lowest profile of all hunting seasons in Arkansas spring squirrel season. Yet, it is a tradition that no one seems inclined to change.
The spring squirrel hunt is underway now. It opened May 10 and continues through June 8. There are hunters out in the woods, certainly, but they are relatively few in number, just a fraction of those who eagerly look forward to squirrel season in the fall and in early winter when leaves are gone from hardwood trees.
So what's with this lack of participation in squirrel hunting in the spring?
Depending on who you ask, the conflicts are preferences for the prime fishing time, leaves on trees make it hard to find squirrels, too many mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and too much of a chance at getting snake bit.
Like many Arkansas outdoors pursuits, spring hunting of squirrels is deeply rooted in the past.
The early settlers of the state depended on squirrels for meat on the table to some extent. Coming out of winter, squirrels were available and were nearly everywhere there were trees. Success chances of getting squirrels were far greater than for turkeys, too.
Deer meat and the product of a hog butchering often carried these oldtimers through the winter, then they were ready for a change when spring was well underway. May's arrival, in general, was too early for most garden vegetables, so a couple of squirrels, a mess of greens and a skillet of corn bread was enticing for many families.
Today, there is no shortage of squirrels across the state. Numbers may fluctuate to some degree, and many hunters and wildlife biologists talk about the cyclic nature of squirrels, both fox and gray. The bottom line is they are plentiful, numerous, more than last year or less than last year but not declining or scarce by any means.
The rules for spring squirrel hunting are the same as for fall - eight a day is the bag limit, and dogs can be used. Firearms are limited to rimfire rifles or pistols and shotguns using shot no larger than T size. If someone wants to imitate the pioneers and use a muzzle-loading rifle or pistol, it must be .40 caliber or smaller. The latter is a difference from fall and winter squirrel hunting, when bigger muzzle-loaders can be used on squirrels during deer or bear seasons.
Spring squirrel hunters, though comparatively few in number, tell of some advantages.
The weather is better, excepting rain showers and thunderstorms. The woods tend to be damp, making for more silent moving around for hunters in contrast to fall hunts which can be over crunchy dry ground and brush.
Looking up into green tree tops sometimes lets a hunter see a squirrel more readily than in the fall when leaves are brown, and a reddish brown or gray squirrel blends in.
The woods are nearly empty of people. Turkey season has ended. For most of spring squirrel season, school is underway, making youngsters not likely to be roaming around on weekdays.
One drawback or difficulty in spring squirrel hunting is the squirrels are eating differently from in the fall. Nuts are a prime squirrel food from September through the winter. In spring, though, the nuts are gone so squirrels turn to a variety of other foods. Assorted buds are used. Some flowers are also used as food by squirrels.
A few Arkansas spring squirrel hunters look for mulberry trees in the woods, believing that these are a favorite for by fox squirrels and gray squirrels in the spring. Another tactic is to hunt fairly close to creeks, with hunters believing squirrels tend to hang out near water.
When a hunter bangs one or more squirrels this time of year, keeping the carcass cool is more of a factor than in cooler weather. A mesh bag like an onion sack is one choice over putting the squirrels into a game bag or pocket that doesn't allow air circulation.
