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

[h20hunter]

So...was out for walk last weekend somewhere in the general Sultan/Monroe area and watched a big ol fat squirrel running around. Thought....hmm....wonder what he tasts like? Looking in the small game seasons/regs I don't find a listing for seasons for squirrel. I know this has been talked about in the past but does anyone have a link that shows season and species restrictions? I figure if I'm out walking, checking my cam, or scouting maybe a nice tasty squirrell or two would round out the morning.

I saw a couple of older threads....BEGINNER STARTED ONE AND I BELIEVE THE DISCUSSION WAS MAINLY REGARDING EASTERN WA....

[bobcat]

No season on squirrels.

They're 100% protected.

[Buckmark]

Page 77 there big guy.
9. Protected Wildlife:
It is illegal to hunt, kill, possess, or control
protected wildlife. Protected wildlife are: Cascade
golden-mantled ground, golden mantled ground,
Washington ground, red, Douglas, northern
flying and western gray squirrels; Mazama pocket
gopher, steller and California sea lions; seals;
dolphins; porpoises; whales, green sea, loggerhead
sea and painted turtles; Larch Mountain
salamanders; pygmy whitefish, margined sculpins;
Olympic mudminnows; cony or pika; North
American lynx; common loon; least, yellow-pine,
Townsend’s, and red-tailed chipmunks; hoary
and Olympic marmots; wolverines; California
mountain kingsnakes; all birds not classified as
game birds, except, starlings, house sparrows,
rock doves (pigeons) and magpies; all bats, except
when found in or immediately adjacent to a
dwelling or other occupied building.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Western Gray Squirrels are protected.  Eastern Gray Squirrels are an invasive species, like Starlings.  No closed season.

[Buckmark]

For your reading pleasure h20 while your slacking off today at work...
*
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01024/wdfw01024.pdf

[lokidog]

Western Gray Squirrels are protected.  Eastern Gray Squirrels are an invasive species, like Starlings.  No closed season.

Was going to post something similar.  The trick is finding the eastern grays in a place legal to hunt since they tend to hang out in parks and other populated places.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Eastern grey squirrels and fox squirrels are fair game, if you can find them in an area that you can otherwise legally hunt.  Most are within city limits though where hunting is severely restricted, laws vary by local jurisdiction.  If you are in an area where western greys may occur, though, they are not only protected but state-listed, so killing one of them brings additional penalties.

[h20hunter]

Bummer......the western gray is what I was eyeballing. To bad because it sure would be nice to take the boy out and bring along the .22. Thanks for the help guys.....and yes Frank....I'll be working hard today.

[bobcat]

You sure they're Western's? The WDFW says they aren't in that area:

The western gray squirrel was added to Washington's list of state-threatened species in 1993 when surveys indicated a decline in its geographical distribution. The species was once common at low to mid-elevations in dry forests where oak, pine, and Douglas-fir mix. It is now limited to 3 areas in Washington: the southern Puget Trough, primarily on Fort Lewis Military Reservation; the Methow Valley in Okanogan County and north shore of Lake Chelan in Chelan County; and in the river valleys of Klickitat and southern Yakima.

[h20hunter]

Nope.....Not sure at all. I saw a big fat squirrell and had the desire to shoot, skin, and fry. I think I'll do some research on species of squirrel in that specifc area then try and contact some reps for the game dept and double check legality.

[lokidog]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/gray_squirrel/

Here's the link with a map to their current range in WA.  Looks like Lake Stevens does not have Western Grays, plug away.  It looks like the most visible difference is that the Easterns have the brownish or buff under colors in the tail and on the face.

[h20hunter]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/tree_squirrels.html

I think I need to go back and figure out what I'm looking at......I don't think these are big enough to be Western Grays.....From looking at pictures online it looks like the best characteristics to look for is the belly color. The tail also....the Gray looks to have a white edged or fringe on the tail.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Only saw one gray squirrel in all my years here in Wenatchee.  A gray came running down the street, jumped the fence, and climbed up into my Oak Tree (which is no longer there).  He looked around, climbed back down, jumped back over the fence and ran back up the street.  Lots of Hawks in this area, so they probably turn into hawk-poop very quickly. 

Heard there's a lot of them in East Wenatchee, though.

[Heredoggydoggy]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/tree_squirrels.html

I think I need to go back and figure out what I'm looking at......I don't think these are big enough to be Western Grays.....From looking at pictures online it looks like the best characteristics to look for is the belly color.

Eastern Grays are bigger than Western Grays.  That's why they can take over a territory so easily!

[lokidog]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/tree_squirrels.html

I think I need to go back and figure out what I'm looking at......I don't think these are big enough to be Western Grays.....From looking at pictures online it looks like the best characteristics to look for is the belly color.

Eastern Grays are bigger than Western Grays.  That's why they can take over a territory so easily!

Actually from all the info, Weserns are about 10% bigger than Easterns.  I think Easterns do better because they are not as speciallized in their feeding as Westerns are and can therefore do better, especially around people.