Tree rats.....regs/season? Update: Can OG comment?

[Axle]

My post was in reply to the first post in this thread, and where he was talking about, there are not any eastern grey squirrels.

So my answer was correct. The question was not "are there huntable squirrels in the state."

Next time, read the thread from the beginning, instead of starting in the middle.

You said 'no season on squirrels - 100% protected'. I think I did read and respond correctly. I was also ribbing you for being incorrect in that statement.
I've heard others say the same thing over the years too; and for a while, I thought it was correct.

I think most hunters would also be shocked to know the full expansion of the Eastern Grays. They have moved a long ways out of towns these days.
It probably won't be long before they are in every corner of Washington's woods. - and I don't like them! 
I've only seen a couple Western Grays in the past 10 years.

[bobcat]

I have NEVER seen an eastern gray squirrel anywhere that I hunt.

[Axle]

I have NEVER seen an eastern gray squirrel anywhere that I hunt.

I know you've been all over Tiger Mt. Bobcat. They are here on most of Tiger. I'm sure you will see one here soon.
I was sitting one day (about mid-mountain) and watched one go up a tree. Then the Eastern saw something it didn't like. It froze and stayed there motionless for 30 minutes. I was surprised. After that, I tried to sneak up on it to shoot it but it quickly ran down and was gone as soon as It saw me.
I think some people from the towns have dumped them in the outlying areas. I know they do that with raccoons too. Makes keeping chickens a bit of a challenge.
I will say this though, as much as I don't like them, if we had a famine, some folks would not go hungry with all those Easterns running around.

[pianoman9701]

So, when you guys start a little kid hunting, what do you take him out to shoot on the wet side? Braxton is getting to an age where he thinks he wants to kill something other than starlings and sparrows.

[bobcat]

Grouse is what I would start a kid on. Crows are a lot of fun too!

And maybe some ducks, although that can be very cold and extremely boring when they're not flying.

[pianoman9701]

Grouse is what I would start a kid on. Crows are a lot of fun too!

And maybe some ducks, although that can be very cold and extremely boring when they're not flying.

Too bad. I was raised shooting red squirrels in NH and ME. It makes you a good shot and teaches you a lot about killing, skinning, and eating what you kill.

[Russ McDonald]

I started on gray squirells, rabbits and grouse.

[h20hunter]

Here is the response I got vial email:

"Unfortunately hunting squirrels in the state of Washington is not legal, which is why they are not listed anywhere.  Hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Region 4 Customer Service"

I would be curious to hear from OG on this.

[BOWHUNTER45]

When I was a kid squirrel rabbit and groundhogs were my all time favorite thing to hunt ....Spent zillions of .22 rounds on those little buggers... Fox squirrels in Pa are big as house cats  they look like our pine squirrels but double the size ... If you look at the head on the Western Grey Squirrel they will have a orangish brown coloring around the eyes and a eastern grey does not ....I have a good picture around here somewhere ...try to find it !

[Bob33]

If the specie is not protected it would be legal to hunt.

WAC 232-12-011: Wildlife classified as protected shall not be hunted or fished.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-12-011

[h20hunter]

It appears that the Douglas is listed as well as Western Gray. From what I can gather looking at photos online of these two and looking at species demographics I don't have any huntable squirrels in my normal hiking hunting area.

[lokidog]

If I had the Eastern Grays around, I would get a box of .22 CB longs (quiet rounds) and use those so as not raise too much attention, even though shooting eastern grays is legal.   

[Blacklab]

Hunted silver grays in macminville ore 40 years ago. It was such a blast, great memories.

[Bob33]

Local News | Dinner gets very local for squirrel-eating Seattleite | Seattle Times Newspaper

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2017113840_eatingsquirrels29m.html

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not much of a story there Bob ! Wonder why the wardens are not knocking on her door