The June squirrel season opens Saturday, June 4, 2005 and runs for 14 consecutive days until Friday, June 17. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Squirrels prefer different habitat in June than they do in the fall. The usual steamy weather of June moves squirrels into drainages, creek and river bottoms and spring fed hollows. These areas provide relief from the heat, but they won’t hold squirrels if they don’t possess the right food sources.

There isn’t much mast for squirrels to eat in early summer. In June, they feed on the seeds and fruit of mulberry, wild cherry, dogwood, sassafras, hornbeam, elm, pine, maple and ash trees. Find these trees in a creek bottom or hollow and you’ve found a likely spot for June squirrels. During this time of year, squirrels also eat mushrooms, flowers and even insects on occasion.

The thick foliage of June dictates firearm choice. A 20-gauge shotgun is the best all around choice, but 12- or .410 gauge also work. Shotguns are a better choice to shoot through leaves than the .22 rifles many use in fall for squirrels.

June is a great month to combine a float trip of fishing for smallmouth bass and squirrel hunting along one of Kentucky’s streams. Look for jiggling leaves in the tops of trees along the stream bank to locate squirrels while floating.

Gray squirrels dominate the wooded hills of eastern Kentucky, as dense, extensive woods are their preferred habitat. Fox (red) squirrels prefer isolated trees along fence rows in the more agricultural areas of the state.

If you plan to participate in June squirrel season, please record your day’s hunt information in the squirrel hunting log found in the back of the Fall 2004 & Spring 2005 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide. The logs are also available on the internet at fw.ky.gov or you may request one by calling 1-800-858-1549.

The information gleaned from the hunting logs provide wildlife biologists with priceless information to make informed management decisions that will improve hunting in the future for everyone.

The daily limit for the June squirrels per day is six. Remember to apply bug repellant this season for your own comfort and protection from disease.