Rabbits/Squirrels/Gophers

[The Huntin fool]

Hey all:

Here in AB, what permit/licenses are required to shoot rabbits, gophers and squirrels with a bow?

Cheers!

[MSD]

None.

[The Huntin fool]

MSD-

Thanks. Is there an official season or are these three species year-round?

[scooter]

MSD-

Thanks. Is there an official season or are these three species year-round?
Year round...Have at er'!

However...I don't know if you can shoot squirrels or not. I remember something about that a while back that you couldn't.

Anyone?

[acearchery]

Believe it or not tree squirrells are considered fur bearers.

On private land they can be considered pests so open season.

There isusually no problem on public land for squirrels until someone complains.


A good friend of mine got fined for shooting a squirrel when camping (not in a campground) - fined for shooting a fur-bearer!!!!! -someone complained..... officer had to write some kind of ticket. - my friend paid it rather than arguing.

[MSD]

Believe it or not tree squirrells are considered fur bearers.

On private land they can be considered pests so open season.

There isusually no problem on public land for squirrels until someone complains.

Squirrels were the only ones I was a little on the fence on. I figured they were fine as long as you were on private land like was said above. I know I have never read anything on any kind of official season for them, and I dont believe there is anything in the regs about them, at least not that I noticed.

[HOYTarcher]

I think you guys are wrong in regards to squirrels. They are fur-bearers under the act and require a trapping licence to harvest them. A quick call to F&W would confirm or refute this.

They are not even listed as problem wildlife in the trapping act and therefor cannot be taken even on private land. Go to furbearer management and down to problem wildlife.

http://www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca/trappingregs/index.htm

I pulled out the wildlife act and couldn't find them listed as prob wildlife either.

Over 30,000 squirrel pelts were sold in ALberta last year.

[acearchery]

Kevin you are correct and squirrels are a fur bearer and you need a trapping permit on crown land.

On private land if the squirrel is beeing a pest (chewing through granaries etc.) You should have the right to remove them - same as coyotes, ravens, magpies, crows, ravens, etc.

If not then I would follow the 3S rule if they were being a pest!!

[HOYTarcher]

Well aca I'd argue that one with you but we'd go nowhere.

Niether the wildlife act, nor trapping regulations list the req squirrel as problem wildlife the other species you mention are listed as either problem wildlife or are lsited as other wildlife for the porpose of hunting.

For grins I just phoned Calgary F&W and spoke to their information officer. Red Squirrels may not be hunted for recreational purposes on any lands within the provincve of Alberta. They may be trapped under the authority of a trapping licence or removed if they are found to be destroying property. His example was that they were found in your residence. Your grain bin analogy would then hold up.

Magpies, crows and ravens can be shot under the guise of problem wildlife by resident with permission of the landowner. A squirrel could not.

I think the original intent of this thread was to find out if the poster could just go out plinking at squirrels. This would not be legal.

[acearchery]

True....Thanks MA

Shooting squirrels ---- bad! ---- :ph34r:

I guess that my buddy deserved the ticket he got..... he should have posted here first to get the right answer which MA has provided.

Thanks Buddy!

[HOYTarcher]

Shooting squirrels bad ..................But Fun................Shot lots as a kid just never got caught :ph34r:

Cant beleive you wouldn't get a warning ticket. They are just hairy rats aren't they.

BTW the eastern grey squirrel can be shot or trapped, if you can find them out of the city limits.

[Mikey]

ya ok ...what about that black squirill that sits on my back yard target yipping up a storm when i am out side ....

he is a cocky sum***** I am waiting for him to stand onto my 3D goose so I can skewer him to some rigid foam insulation with an ACC

[acearchery]

The fox squirrel and Grey squirrell are on Schedule C - introduced pest species!