Iowa's cottontail rabbit and squirrel seasons open September 1st

Kernel · August 27, 2002, 11:06 PM

Seems kinda early, in southern Wisconsin these seasons open around the middle of October. Conventional wisdom says you don't hunt these rodents until after a good hard frost.

Dang, where's the summer gone?-- Kernel

pawcatch · August 27, 2002, 11:27 PM

Squirrel season in Georgia opened the 15th this month,but rabbit doesn't open till November.Stats say that there are more deer hunters than squirrel hunters in Georgia now,so the six months are needed.

ojibweindian · August 28, 2002, 08:35 AM

Alabama squirrel and rabbit seasons start in October and run through the end of February.

444 · August 28, 2002, 08:42 AM

I was visiting my parents in Ohio last week and I believe I read that their squirrel season opened on Aug. 15. I was thinking that was kind of early also, but I haven't live in Ohio for over 20 years and wasn't a real big squirrel hunter then. If I lived there today, I would be however.

Fuzzy · August 28, 2002, 11:23 PM

Out here in AZ rabbit is open all year. Most people are afraid to eat them in the summer and then that kinda extends all year. I don't generally hunt in the summer, it just too hot. I generally start hunting rabbit right after the first dove season and quit in March when it starts getting too hot.

We have a squirrel season but I'm not sure if we actually have squirrels. We have 'ground squirrels' but those things are barely 3 inches long. I have no idea what you'd do with one if you killed it.

MeekAndMild · August 28, 2002, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Conventional wisdom says you don't hunt these rodents until after a good hard frost.

Yes, they sometimes get a bot fly infestation and it is only after the first frost they are safe to eat. http://botfly.ifas.ufl.edu/index.htm

Southla1 · August 29, 2002, 12:08 PM

Squirrel and rabbits open here always on the first Saturday in October.

Deer with bow opens on October 1st.

At one time squirrel and rabbit used to open on October 1st too but the WLF had to change the opening because if it was during the week too many kids were missing school

.

Squirrels have no problem with the parasites frost or no frost, but some rabbits do. The bigger redfish and drum also have a type of parasite in the bigger ones that go away when the water cools. According to the WLF they are also safe to eat if cooked properly.

They are safe to eat if cooked properly but I pwrsonally will wait till cool weather.

Poodleshooter · August 29, 2002, 02:55 PM

Tularemia anyone?
I'd pass on the bunnies till October.
Besides, early goose season starts soon!

Southla1 · August 29, 2002, 03:05 PM

Hey Poodleshooter, how far is it from Charlottesville,VA to Blacksburg, VA?

Man oh man would I love to be in Blacksburg Sunday afternoon at 12:30PM EDT!

Ought to be one hellofa game.................GEAUX TIGERS

August 27, 2002, 11:06 PM	#1
Kernel Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 1999 Location: Madison, WI.... "78 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality" Posts: 923	Iowa's cottontail rabbit and squirrel seasons open September 1st Seems kinda early, in southern Wisconsin these seasons open around the middle of October. Conventional wisdom says you don't hunt these rodents until after a good hard frost. Dang, where's the summer gone?-- Kernel __________________ "You can shoot down every MiG the Soviets employ, but if you return to base and the lead Soviet tank commander is eating breakfast in your snack bar, Jack, you've lost the war." — Anonymous A-10 Pilot, USAF Last edited by Kernel; August 28, 2002 at 10:56 AM.

August 27, 2002, 11:27 PM	#2
pawcatch Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2000 Location: South East Posts: 332	Squirrel season in Georgia opened the 15th this month,but rabbit doesn't open till November.Stats say that there are more deer hunters than squirrel hunters in Georgia now,so the six months are needed. __________________ Claude Dallas was not a trapper.

August 28, 2002, 08:42 AM	#4
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	I was visiting my parents in Ohio last week and I believe I read that their squirrel season opened on Aug. 15. I was thinking that was kind of early also, but I haven't live in Ohio for over 20 years and wasn't a real big squirrel hunter then. If I lived there today, I would be however. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

August 28, 2002, 11:23 PM	#5
Fuzzy Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 126	Out here in AZ rabbit is open all year. Most people are afraid to eat them in the summer and then that kinda extends all year. I don't generally hunt in the summer, it just too hot. I generally start hunting rabbit right after the first dove season and quit in March when it starts getting too hot. We have a squirrel season but I'm not sure if we actually have squirrels. We have 'ground squirrels' but those things are barely 3 inches long. I have no idea what you'd do with one if you killed it. __________________ -Fuzzy

August 28, 2002, 08:35 AM	#3
ojibweindian Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2000 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 1,198	Alabama squirrel and rabbit seasons start in October and run through the end of February.

August 29, 2002, 12:08 PM	#7
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	Squirrel and rabbits open here always on the first Saturday in October. Deer with bow opens on October 1st. At one time squirrel and rabbit used to open on October 1st too but the WLF had to change the opening because if it was during the week too many kids were missing school . Squirrels have no problem with the parasites frost or no frost, but some rabbits do. The bigger redfish and drum also have a type of parasite in the bigger ones that go away when the water cools. According to the WLF they are also safe to eat if cooked properly. They are safe to eat if cooked properly but I pwrsonally will wait till cool weather.

August 29, 2002, 02:55 PM	#8
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Tularemia anyone? I'd pass on the bunnies till October. Besides, early goose season starts soon!

August 29, 2002, 03:05 PM	#9
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	Hey Poodleshooter, how far is it from Charlottesville,VA to Blacksburg, VA? Man oh man would I love to be in Blacksburg Sunday afternoon at 12:30PM EDT! Ought to be one hellofa game.................GEAUX TIGERS