Tree Squirrels Changes
Sometimes we get so excited about big game hunts designed for youth that we forget about the traditional entry-level positions and the fun these hunts generate. Rabbits and squirrels are an excellent chance to get young people in the field to hone their skills or to have a quiet day of conversation and fun with your teenager (out of text message range).

Small game species have high reproductive and mortality rates. This means they do not need as many restrictions and regulations to protect against over-harvest. Our tree squirrel season was relatively short for a species with such a high annual turnover rate. We realized that it could be extended to the end of the year to let families pursue the wily bushy-tail for about five more weeks and not impact the squirrel population at all.

The Abert’s squirrel is not native to portions of southern Arizona, including the Catalina and Pinaleno Mountains. The introduced Abert’s squirrel may be competing with the native squirrel species in the Catalina Mountains (Arizona gray squirrel) and the Pinaleno Mountains (endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel). Although it’s unclear whether any squirrels are truly arguing over pine cones in those mountains, protection of Abert’s squirrels in this situation is unnecessary. The seasons were changed in these units so that Abert’s squirrel may be pursued yearlong at Mt. Graham and during all but the summer months on the Catalinas; the daily bag limit of five still applies.