In most states, squirrel season opens sometime in early fall and closes in midwinter, with the bulk of the country running seasons between September and February. A handful of states open as early as late August, some wait until October, and closing dates range from late December through the end of February. A few states also offer a limited spring season. If you want to know when squirrel season is where you plan to hunt, the only reliable answer comes from your state wildlife agency’s current regulations, because no two states run identical calendars.
When Seasons Open and Close
State wildlife agencies set season dates based on population surveys, habitat conditions, and squirrel breeding cycles. The result is a patchwork across the country, and even within a single state you may find different dates for different zones. A northern zone might open later and close earlier than a southern zone because squirrels breed on slightly different schedules across latitudes.
Some states also split their seasons by weapon type, offering separate windows for firearms and archery. If you hunt near a state line or plan an out-of-state trip, confirm the dates for the specific county or zone you’ll be in, not just the state as a whole.
Licenses You Need Before You Go
Every state requires a valid hunting license before you can pursue squirrels. A basic small-game license is usually enough, though some states require additional stamps or permits for hunting on certain public lands or for using methods like trapping. You can typically buy a license online through the state wildlife agency’s portal, at sporting goods retailers, or through other authorized vendors.
Most states require first-time hunters to complete a hunter education course before they can buy a license. These courses cover firearm safety, wildlife identification, ethics, and conservation. Certification from one state is generally recognized by other states, so you won’t need to retake the course if you move or hunt out of state.
Nearly all states also offer an apprentice or mentor license that lets a newcomer hunt before completing a formal course. The typical setup requires the apprentice to be accompanied by a licensed adult mentor who stays close enough to take immediate control of the firearm. Most states cap how many seasons you can hunt under an apprentice license before you must complete the education requirement.
Bag Limits, Hours, and Legal Weapons
Every state sets a daily bag limit on how many squirrels you can harvest in a single day. Limits commonly fall in the range of five to eight squirrels per day, with possession limits often set at two or three times the daily bag. Exceeding your bag limit is one of the most commonly cited small-game violations, and conservation officers do check.
Legal hunting hours in virtually every state run from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, with a few states using slightly different margins. Shooting outside those hours is a straightforward citation.
The most common legal weapons are .22-caliber rifles, small-gauge shotguns, and archery equipment. Some states also allow air rifles, muzzleloaders, or slingshots. Restrictions vary, but common prohibitions include shooting into leaf nests (dreys), using electronic calls, or hunting from a vehicle. Check your state’s rules for any magazine capacity limits that apply during small-game seasons.
Blaze Orange and Safety Requirements
Roughly 40 or more states require hunters to wear blaze orange (sometimes called hunter orange) during firearm seasons, and many of those requirements apply to small-game hunting. The typical minimum is a solid blaze-orange hat plus an additional amount of visible orange on the upper body. A few states have added fluorescent pink as an alternative. Even where blaze orange isn’t legally required, wearing it is one of the cheapest forms of safety gear available.
Where You Can Hunt
On public land managed by a state wildlife agency, a valid hunting license is usually enough, though some areas require special permits or carry weapon restrictions. National forests and Bureau of Land Management land generally allow hunting under state regulations. National parks do not.
On private land, the rules tighten. Most states require you to get the landowner’s permission before hunting, and many require that permission to be in writing. Hunting on someone’s property without authorization is trespassing, which can result in misdemeanor charges and loss of hunting privileges on top of the trespass penalty. Ask first, and keep a record of the conversation.
One situation catches hunters off guard: a squirrel you’ve shot lands on someone else’s property. States handle this differently. Some let you enter private land on foot, unarmed, to retrieve lawfully harvested game as long as you leave immediately. Others require the landowner’s consent before you cross the property line for any reason. A few split the difference, allowing retrieval unless the landowner tells you to leave. Know your state’s rule before the situation comes up.
Which Squirrels You Can’t Shoot
The two most widely hunted species are the eastern gray squirrel and the fox squirrel. Both are abundant across much of the eastern and central United States and are classified as small game wherever they occur. Some western and southwestern states also allow hunting of other tree squirrel species, such as the Abert’s squirrel.
A few squirrel subspecies are off-limits entirely because they are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The Mount Graham red squirrel, found only in Arizona’s Pinaleño Mountains, has been listed as endangered since 1987, with a wild population estimated at roughly 230 animals.1U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Mount Graham Red Squirrel’s Fight for Survival The Carolina northern flying squirrel, found at high elevations in the southern Appalachians, has been listed as endangered since 1985.2U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel Under 16 U.S.C. § 1538, killing, capturing, or harming any endangered species is a federal crime.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 U.S. Code 1538 – Prohibited Acts
If you’re hunting in an area where a protected subspecies lives, know what it looks like before you shoot. The Mount Graham red squirrel is a small, russet-colored animal found exclusively in spruce-fir forests above 7,500 feet. Flying squirrels are nocturnal and unlikely to be encountered during legal hunting hours, but misidentification in low light is exactly the kind of mistake that turns a hunting trip into a federal wildlife violation.
Penalties and Crossing State Lines
State-level penalties for hunting violations vary, but the framework is consistent. Hunting without a license, hunting out of season, and exceeding bag limits are typically misdemeanors. Fines range from under a hundred dollars for minor infractions to several thousand dollars for repeat offenses or egregious violations. Many states also impose mandatory license revocation for at least one year following a conviction, which means losing access to all hunting and fishing privileges, not just squirrel season.
Courts in some states can order restitution for the wildlife destroyed on top of any fine. Because most states participate in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, a license suspension in one member state can trigger reciprocal suspensions in every other member state.
If you hunt in one state and drive home to another, federal law applies to what’s in your cooler. The Lacey Act makes it illegal to transport any wildlife taken in violation of state law.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 3372 – Prohibited Acts If you exceeded the bag limit, hunted out of season, or violated any other state rule, carrying those squirrels across a state line turns a state infraction into a potential federal offense. Civil fines under the Lacey Act can reach $10,000 per violation, and criminal penalties for knowing violations involving wildlife valued above $350 can reach $20,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 3373 – Penalties and Sanctions Those thresholds target commercial poaching, but the law applies to everyone. Follow the harvest state’s rules to the letter, and keep any required tags or documentation with your game during transport.
Checking Your State’s Current Rules
Every state wildlife agency publishes an annual hunting digest or regulation booklet, usually available as a free PDF on the agency’s website. These documents list season dates, bag limits, legal weapons, safety requirements, and land-access rules for every game species. Search for your state’s Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Commission, or Game and Fish Department to find the current version.
Regulations change from year to year. Season dates shift, bag limits adjust, and new safety rules get added. Pull the current document before every season, even if you’ve hunted the same spot for a decade.