Eastern Gray Squirrels

[Bantams]

What license do I need for shooting Eastern Gray Squirrels? (There are no Western Grays where I live).
Would a big game license suffice? I don't understand why I need a license in the first place, since they're invasive and a pest - you don't need a license to shoot rats....
Thanks!

[CP]

No license needed, same as rats.

[GWP]

I hope you are planning to eat them! They also make great crab bait.

[Bantams]

I hope you are planning to eat them! They also make great crab bait.

I am! I think it's the only way we'll ever "eat" our English walnuts from the 7 trees they pillage. 

[Elk_Guapo]

A hunting license is still needed for Eastern gray squirrels, per the following excerpt from the WDFW site:  https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/tree-squirrels



The Eastern gray squirrel and Eastern fox squirrel are unclassified and may be trapped or killed year-round as long as you have a hunting license.

[Goshawk]

Regarding eating the Grays, just make sure there's nobody setting out mouse or rat poison if their area.  Several studies have been done showing city Grays having very high amounts of rat poison in them.

[Humptulips]

A hunting license is still needed for Eastern gray squirrels, per the following excerpt from the WDFW site:  https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/tree-squirrels



The Eastern gray squirrel and Eastern fox squirrel are unclassified and may be trapped or killed year-round as long as you have a hunting license.

I looked and looked, and I do not see where this is true. I wish they would have cited the rule like they did further on in that same piece where they cited the laws regarding traps when trapping Gray Squirrels. It seems odd that they would not cite the law in the quoted part and yet take the trouble to cite it with regard to traps.
Especially unusual that you would need a hunting license to trap unclassified wildlife as that is not the case with other unclassified wildlife.
WDFW, please show your work!