So I've been wondering about squirrel hunting in BC... I know there are a few schedule C squirrel species in BC (grey and fox). Are there other types found in BC woods that you aren't allowed to hunt? I'm assuming Douglas squirrels are a no-go? Are those the only 3 species one will find or are there more?
Squirrel hunting in BC
- Thread starter Suther
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That is the idea yes. Haven't tried it, some people really like em though.
As far as I know all the big black and grey ones running around are invasive Eastern Grey Squirrels and I don't believe there is a closed period or bag limit on them at all. I think the little native Douglas ones likely wouldn't have much meat on them to be worth it anyway but don't know if you can shoot them or not.
Yes the grey and black ones running around the city are eastern grey squirrels. They are schedule c with no closed season or bag limit.
The problem is they're not what I usually see out in the bush I don't think...
I agree. I'm familiar with them from camping at Rolley Lake and Golden Ears.
Honestly I'm not sure what I'm seeing in the bush, I find it difficult to judge size of an animal 20ft up a tree, and I'm not familiar enough with squirrels perhaps? When camping and they are running around my campsite I can easily tell they are Douglas, and when looking in my backyard I can easily tell they are eastern Grey's, but when out in the bush I'm not so sure...
Dude, you’re most likely seeing red squirrel.
That seems likely. I'm assuming they are the most common ones outside of the pacific coast(i was outside Tulameen and Lumby on my last two trips out when I really started thinking about this)? Are there many eastern or fox squirrels out in the bush? Or are they only common in the city?
Oh that's fine. I don't eat brains, period. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is plenty reason enough for me to stay away, regardless of which animals have been shown to be able to pass that onto humans. Besides, I would be going for head shots with a 22 so I wouldn't expect there to be much left to eat lol...
The ones you see in the Interior outside of town are certainly native red squirrels. FWIW the grey ones are in Kelowna and have now been seen in Vernon. I saw one of the bastards in a park this spring.
I have not as of yet seen a grey squirrel in the bush in the North Okanagan. Does not mean they are not there......
I have not as of yet seen a grey squirrel in the bush in the North Okanagan. Does not mean they are not there......
Yes. Red and/or Douglas. People call one the other and vice versa. Either way, they are both off limits in BC - and those are the only ones I have ever seen in the interior.
If you can find a place in the LML with greys (which are also black) and it is legal to hunt, then kill and eat as many as you want, whenever you want.
Interesting. Had no idea they had made it to the interior.
Do not kill and eat:
Im assuming that's a red squirrel?
No hunting season, but you can trap them? Is that how it works?
So long story short, squirrel hunting in BC isn't really a thing, because you can't hunt the native squirrels and the invasive species you CAN hunt aren't very present in the woods? (tones of Grey's around my house, but can't even shoot a bow there, nevermind a gun...)
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Pretty much that.
Same for me, I can't even use a slingshot in my town...... allowed to kill them here but not with anything but a stick it would seem
https://bcinvasives.ca/invasive-species/identify/invasive-animals/eastern-grey-squirrel
Nearly everyone calls it a red squirrel, but it is a Douglas. Red squirrels are red.
