Hey guys coming out from CO in Oct. Is there a GS season there? Maybe hibernation? Probably (if I can go) hunting around Hanford area.
California Ground Squirrel Season
- Thread starter sscoyote
- Start date
They're out pretty much all year in the warmer central valley where it doesn't snow, but their activity does get slower in the cooler winter months.
There will still be plenty to shoot in Hanford in October if you can find a good area. Lots of orchards and farms in that area that are prime squirrel habitat.
There will still be plenty to shoot in Hanford in October if you can find a good area. Lots of orchards and farms in that area that are prime squirrel habitat.
Upvote 0
There is no ground squirrel season and there is no limit. It depends on the weather. If it's raining, been raining or cold, don't expect to see many, if at all. If there's been no rain, which is probable because of the drought conditions, you should see some. Don't forget to bring some extra change for a CA non resident hunting license. It's $183.60.
Upvote 0
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they're year round with no limit. Just hard to find them.
Upvote 0
G
Guest
Guest
Wow, you need a hunting license to get rid of those? I thought they might be classified as pests!
Upvote 0
They're classified as non game animals, but you are supposed to have a hunting license to take any animal in this state, varmint or not. And as mentioned out of state hunting licenses aren't cheap.
Correct, no season or limit on ground squirrels. They're everywhere in the central valley, but finding a spot on public land to shoot them might be difficult. Everywhere I shoot them is private property, most of them in walnut, almond, or cherry orchards but some in and around alfalfa fields-- lots of food for large populations. At one relatively small 25 acre walnut orchard near my house I've eliminated about 650 of them in the last 5 Saturdays of shooting. To say that place is overrun is an understatement, probably more eaten walnuts on the ground than left on the trees...
Upvote 0
Find private property and get a note from land owner your doing his pesting ... no license required
Upvote 0
Yep... forgot about that little loophole. If you get written permission from the landowner for removing nongame mammals that are damaging agriculture you don't need a hunting license, unless you are trapping the destructive nongame mammals for a fee... see section 4152. That will save you from spending $184 for a non-resident hunting license just to plink a few ground squirrels.
Upvote 0
and remember, Don't shoot them in front of the "Nutty People" they'll have the cops on you Quick, there are plenty of them here.....
Upvote 0
Should be fairly safe from that mentality in the Hanford area... but there's always a few. LOL!
Around where I shoot ground squirrels, usually if another property owner sees me taking care of ground squirrels for someone they ask if I can come take care of theirs too. Always happy to have more property to shoot on!
Having the air rifle really opens many more opportunities for situations like that, many property owners are very hesitant about letting you shoot any kind of powder burner on their property, even if it's just a .17 HMR, due to surroundings, proximity of houses/barns/equipment, or neighbors that don't like the noise. But if you say you're using an air rifle they usually don't hesitate to give permission. I feel extremely fortunate to know a few property owners that not only have the property size and surroundings that let me safely shoot ground squirrels with my .17HMR, .223AI, and 6 Dasher (for the really long shots)-- but those owners and properties are scarce.
Upvote 0
Another thing to remember. If you shoot any, be very careful how you handle them, don’t touch them if possible. California ground squirrels have been found to carry the fleas that cause bubonic plague
Upvote 0
Per California law the unvaccinated squirrels have to wear masks, so it's easy to tell which ones are infected and should be avoided and which ones are clean and safe to handle.
Upvote 0
Per California law the unvaccinated squirrels have to wear masks, so it's easy to tell which ones are infected and should be avoided and which ones are clean and safe to handle.
I’d heard the JSB18,1 vaccination was 90% effective after one dose, but the FDA was dragging their feet on full approval because of lead poisoning concerns.
Upvote 0
No season and no limit in California for ground squirrels. My family owns a farm in Paso Robles and they are always a problem for all the properties in the area.
Upvote 0
