Swift rabbits and high flying squirrels keep hunters on their toes
Shane McCullough and sons Jake and Hunter entered the woods at the Copiah County Wildlife Management Area in search of some fast-paced bushytail action last year and they weren’t disappointed.
They were hunting in a group with a fine treeing dog and the action was pretty good. When they’re moving and the game is active it’s easier for youngsters to keep their attention on the task at hand and keep focused.
They hadn’t been hunting long before the dog struck a hot trail and ran a squirrel up a tree. With the dog barking, howling and trying to climb that tree to get the squirrel, they quickly surrounded the tree and tried to spot the squirrel.
Hunter was the first to get a shot and he quickly aimed his 20-gauge shotgun and squeezed the trigger.
Boom! Ka-thump! The squirrel was dispatched with a well-placed shot from the young hunter and the bushytail was dead before it hit the ground.
As they kept working the woods the dog treed again pretty quickly and they encircled the tree again and the squirrel started his escape by flying from limb to limb like a tiny trapeze artist. This time Jake swung on the squirrel and touched off the trigger just as the gray squirrel was about to sail across to another tree.
Ka-Whump! Jake’s first squirrel of the day was history and their hunt had started off with a bang.
“They’ve got big hardwood bottoms at Copiah County and that makes for a great place to hunt,” said Shane McCullough. “When I take the boys it’s all about them having success at harvesting squirrels and learning the ways of the woods and how to read the sign. I want them to learn to be successful hunters and the only way to do that is get out into the woods and hunt.”
Small game hunting for squirrels and rabbits is usually fast paced and the kids can move around and not have to be still all day long. There’s no sitting in a deer house for hours on end and not getting to shoot a deer or anything as some modern-day deer hunting is done.
No sir, squirrel hunting is all about action. Whether you are stalk hunting for squirrels, or hunting with dogs, the action can be anywhere from steady to hot as a firecracker! And so is hunting swift moving rabbits from briar patch to briar patch. Squirrel and rabbit hunting is a family sport, and all ages can participate and enjoy.
If you are looking for some fantastic small game hunting, then read along and check out some of the hot spots in each region of the state. There are plenty.
South Delta WMA Region
The South Delta Region has some of the best hunting in the country bar none. Small game hunting for squirrel, rabbit and even hogs is some of the best our state has to offer and the WMAs in this region consistently produce quality hunting year after year. The only exception would be during extreme times when the areas stay flooded for long periods of time. Otherwise, it’s gear up, head to the Delta and lock and load.
Though hogs might not be considered small game by most folks, they are open season almost everywhere you hunt. Since they are considered a nuisance, hunters are encouraged to take advantage and harvest one or two when the opportunity arises.
Phil Bryant WMA – Although floods have impacted the new area at Phil Bryant WMA, the opportunity to harvest squirrels and rabbits is good.
“We have a backwoods unit where a limited number of hunters can apply for a group permit and spend their time hunting whatever is in season,” said Roger Tankesly, Region Biologist. “If you want to hunt ducks or squirrels in the morning, deer hunt during the day, you can take your pick and do it.”
Many people go to Phil Bryant to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and to experience a quality hunt with family or friends. The opportunity to do that is there if you get drawn. Since this is a draw unit, they are keeping the hunts to a minimum at present to make the hunting experience a quality experience that you might not otherwise have anywhere else in the state.
Mahannah, Twin Oaks and Sunflower WMAs are simply some of the best small game hunting areas anywhere. I have spent many hunts on these areas, and they are prolific producers. Whether you’re looking for gray squirrels or want to target red and black fox squirrels, you can hunt and harvest them all on these units. Although Twin Oaks is relatively small compared to the others, there’s plenty of room to spread out and not be bothered by other hunters on Mahannah and Sunflower.
North Delta WMA Region
“O’Keefe is probably the best place to hunt squirrels in the North Delta,” said Weston Thompson, Region Biologist. “There is a lot of older timber there and that makes some excellent habitat. I see more squirrels now on Sky Lake when I’m on that WMA than I have before. The majority of the timber is 20 to 25 year-old hardwood plantation, and the squirrels are coming on.”
East Central WMA Region
“Trim Cane has excellent rabbit hunting, and the opportunity is there to harvest rabbits, but it’s a draw hunt,” said Chad Masley, WMA Region Biologist. “Yockanookany would be my first choice for squirrels and Nanih Waiya would be my second choice, but Choctaw also has great squirrel habitat and opportunities to hunt with about 20,000 acres.”
Black Prairie is also open for rabbit hunting and has excellent rabbit habitat and the WMA is managed year-round. Last year Masley counted 11 rabbits feeding at one time on one 20-acre green field.
Northeast WMA Region
“Chickasaw has upland pines with hardwood draws and they have some fox squirrels in there too,” said regional biologist Justin Hughes. “There’s lots of small game hunting on Canal Section and it is No. 1 in man-days for hunting squirrels. It’s real popular with squirrel hunters and the south end of Canal has an abundance of squirrels.”
Both Canal and John Bel Williams have good rabbit hunting opportunities too. Hell Creek has excellent small game opportunities for squirrels and rabbits.
Divide Section led the state in quail harvests last year and they had another good hatch this year.
Southeast WMA
“Most of the WMAs in this region have good squirrel hunting,” Kyle Watkins, Region Biologist said. “Pascagoula WMA is the largest state-owned WMA and it’s probably the best squirrel hunting in the region.”
Leaf River, Old River, Little Biloxi and Wolf River also have some excellent squirrel hunting opportunities.
Northwest WMA Region
“Charles Ray Nix has very good rabbit habitat,” said Brad Holder Region biologist.
“Upper Sardis is probably a good bet to harvest squirrels also,” Holder said. “Malmaison is right up there with Upper Sardis in terms of the best squirrel hunting in my region.”
Southwest WMA Region
“Most of the WMAs in my region have squirrel hunting opportunities,” said Josh Moree, Region Biologist. “Canemount has a lot of squirrels but it’s only open to squirrel hunting during February.” If you can traverse the steep hills and ravines your opportunity to harvest a limit of squirrels is excellent, but dog hunting may be tough due to a lot of the terrain.
Youth squirrel hunts on Copiah and Caney Creek WMAs
Youth squirrel hunts will be held on Copiah and Caney Creek WMAs during the opening week of youth season, and both are located within easy driving distance of most people in central Mississippi.
Sandy Creek also has a lot of old growth trees and plenty of squirrels and may be your best opportunity to squirrel hunt.
Rabbit hunting
“There are few rabbit hunters in this region but there are some opportunities,” Moree said. “There is some on Copiah County with timber harvesting leaving some excellent rabbit habitat.”
There is also a good population of quail on Copiah County.
Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge has 48,000 acres and it is located south of Starkville. It provides excellent squirrel hunting with plenty of bottomland hardwood swamps with a variety of pine trees, oak trees and other wild fruit and nut bearing trees that attract and sustain squirrels.
Noxubee Refuge has long been a deer hunting destination and that is still true, but the sheer size and makeup of the landscape makes it a valued squirrel hunting destination also. Whether you want to slip, stalk or hunt with a squirrel dog, the opportunity to spend a great day outdoors and harvest a limit of squirrels is there.
As always, read the rules and regulations of each WMA or National Wildlife Refuge prior to hunting because rules, regulations and hunting dates are subject to change from year to year. After you are sure of the regulations on the area you plan to hunt, study your maps, practice hunting and shooting safety and make plans to enjoy a quality hunt. There are not many states that have such an abundance of public land small game hunting opportunities as Mississippi.
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