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AugustlO, 2022
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
Squirrel season a great way to start
T here was a time
in the not too
distant past when
the opening of the
squirrel hunting season
was greeted locally with
much fanfare. Such
is not the case
anymore. This is be
cause, although the
squirrel is Georgias
second most popular
small game ani
mal, most Monroe
County hunters just
don’t hunt squirrels.
However, for
those hunters that
do hunt squirrels,
both the 2022-23
General and Falconry Squir
rel Hunting seasons open
Monday, August 15 and
extends through February
15,2023.
The daily bag limit for
squirrels this year is once
again 12.
The list of legal weapons
that can be used to hunt
squirrels includes any .22-
cal. or smaller rimfire rifles
and pistols and air rifles,
muzzleloading firearms, any
shotguns having shot shell
size 3.5 inches or smaller in
length loaded with No. 2 or
smaller shot, as well as cross
bows, longbows, recurve
bows and compound bows.
Modern squirrel hunting
is a far cry from what it was
back in the late 18th and
early 19th century. One of
the most celebrated frontier
hunters during that era was
Daniel Boone. Boones
hunting ability is legend
ary. However, it is difficult
to find accounts of his skill
with a rifle.
Nonetheless, one account
that has survived comes
from the famous painter and
naturalist John James Audu
bon. In 1870, his journals
were edited and published
by his widow, Lucy. In one
work, Audubon tells the
TERRY W. JOHNSON
story of how Daniel Boone
was able to “bark” squirrels.
Audubon’s narration
recounts a squirrel hunt that
took placed near Frankfort,
Kentucky. The famous
frontier hunter
was hunting
in a hardwood
forest blan
keted in mature
oaks, walnuts
and hicko
ries. Audubon
described how
every tree was
teeming
with bushy-
tails. Boone
is purported
to have pointed to one of
these squirrels perched
atop a horizontal limb some
50 paces away. He then
aimed his flintlock Kentucky
Long Rifle at a spot slightly
below the squirrel. He
then squeezed the trigger
and sent a round lead ball
hurtling toward his target.
According to Audubon, the
projectile struck the limb
just below the squirrel. Im
mediately the limb exploded
into a multitude of splinters.
The concussion caused by
the shot sent the squirrel
spinning into the air before
falling to the ground.
Here is a list of some of the
nearby state wildlife man
agement areas and national
wildlife refuges where you
can get away for a quiet
morning of squirrel hunting.
Unless otherwise noted, all
state wildlife management
areas (WMAs) are open for
squirrel hunting throughout
the entire statewide squirrel
season with the exception
of during quota hunts. A
partial list of areas located
within an hour’s drive of
Forsyth includes the Rum
Creek WMA, Cedar Creek
WMA.B.F. Grant WMA,
Cedar Creek- River Area,
and Clybel WMA.
Squirrels can be challenging, elusive targets.The daily bag
limit this year is 12. (Photo/Terry Johnson)
The Rum Creek WMA -
Archery Only Area is also
open to squirrel hunting
throughout the statewide
squirrel hunting season. As
its name suggests it is, how
ever, only open to archery
hunting.
The Piedmont National
Wildlife Refuge (includ
ing Hitchiti Experimental
Forest) is open for squirrel
hunting during the follow
ing dates: August 15-Sept.
9, Oct. 3-13,16-26, Oct. 30-
Nov. 3,6-9, Nov. 13- Jan. 31.
The Bond Swamp Na
tional Wildlife Refuge has
scheduled squirrel hunting
August 15-Sept. 9 and Dec.
4-Jan. 31. In addition, all
hunters must possess a valid
hunting permit. Call the
Piedmont NWR (478-986-
5441) for details.
Keep in mind that the
daily bag limit for fox squir
rels is only one on both
federal refuges. In addition,
all hunters must possess a
hunting permit. Please call
478-986-5441 for more
information on fox squirrels.
Squirrel hunters can also
hunt the Oconee National
Forest throughout the state
wide squirrel season. For
information, call 706-485-
1776.
Very few squirrel hunt
ers hunt with flintlock
muzzleloaders anymore. In
addition, I have never met a
squirrel hunter that claimed
they were skilled at “bark
ing” squirrels. By the same
token, any modern day
squirrel hunter can honestly
say they have hunted a forest
where squirrels could be
seen in any tree.
Yes, squirrel hunting
methods, squirrel abun
dance and habitats have
changed mightily since
the days of Audubon and
Boone. In spite of this, we
can still enjoy squirrel hunt
ing here in the 21st century.
I hope you will take the
time to go squirrel hunting
this year. Better yet, take a
youngster with you. This
is a great way to introduce
them to the sport of hunt
ing.
For more information
concerning squirrel hunting
regulations and opportuni
ties across the Peach State,
take a gander at the 2022-23
edition of the Georgia Hunt
ing Regulations Guide. You
can pick up a copy at any
business that sells hunting
and fishing licenses.
Terry Johnson is retired
Program Manager of the
Georgia Nongame-Endan
gered Wildlife Program. He
has written the informative
column Monroe Outdoors
for the Reporter for many
years.
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Mary Persons High School
Committed to Excellence
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
Trippe Moore leads
Sunbelt league
Former Mary Persons Bulldog and current UGA Bulldog
player Trippe Moore helped the summer league Gainesville
Gol’Diggers win the Sunbelt Baseball league championship
last week. Moore was one of the leagues top batters with
a .333 batting average over the summer over 63 at bats in
20 games. He had 21 hits, 14 RBIs and stole 13 bases. Also,
Moore was named to the SEC All-Academic Honor Roll in
the spring for having two straight semesters of a 3.0 gpa
or greater. He is now back in Athens to train with the UGA
baseball team.
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