Squirrel opens earlier and runs longer than almost anything else on this site — in several states from late spring straight through the following winter. The earliest opener we track is Florida on January 1, 2026. Every state below links to its own page with the full segment table, bag limits and legal light.
01 — Opening dates, earliest first
| State | Opens | First segment | Through | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida squirrel season | Jan 1, 2026 | Gray squirrel | Dec 31, 2026 | Opened Jan 1, 2026 |
| Arkansas squirrel season | May 15, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened May 15, 2026 |
| Oklahoma squirrel season | May 15, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened May 15, 2026 |
| Missouri squirrel season | May 23, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 15, 2027 | Opened May 23, 2026 |
| Kansas squirrel season | Jun 1, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Jun 1, 2026 |
| California squirrel season | Aug 1, 2026 | Tree squirrel — archery & falconry only | Jan 31, 2027 | Opened Aug 1, 2026 |
| Illinois squirrel season | Aug 1, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 15, 2027 | Opened Aug 1, 2026 |
| Nebraska squirrel season | Aug 1, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Aug 1, 2026 |
| Georgia squirrel season | Aug 15, 2026 | Squirrel season (gray and fox) | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Aug 15, 2026 |
| Indiana squirrel season | Aug 15, 2026 | Squirrel season | Jan 31, 2027 | Opened Aug 15, 2026 |
| Kentucky squirrel season | Aug 15, 2026 | Fall segment 1 | Jun 14, 2027 | Opened Aug 15, 2026 |
| Tennessee squirrel season | Aug 22, 2026 | Fall/winter season | Jun 13, 2027 | Opened Aug 22, 2026 |
| Colorado squirrel season | Sep 1, 2026 | Fox & pine squirrel — extended falconry season | Mar 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| New Mexico squirrel season | Sep 1, 2026 | Squirrel (Abert's, Red, Gray & Fox) — general season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| New York squirrel season | Sep 1, 2026 | Gray, black & fox squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Ohio squirrel season | Sep 1, 2026 | Squirrel season | Jan 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Oregon squirrel season | Sep 1, 2026 | Western gray squirrel — no closed season | Nov 15, 2026 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| South Dakota squirrel season | Sep 1, 2026 | Tree squirrel season | Mar 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Iowa squirrel season | Sep 5, 2026 | Squirrel season | Jan 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Maryland squirrel season | Sep 5, 2026 | Squirrel season (gray, fox & red squirrel) | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Virginia squirrel season | Sep 5, 2026 | Gray and red squirrel — fall season | Jun 19, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| West Virginia squirrel season | Sep 5, 2026 | Youth squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Massachusetts squirrel season | Sep 8, 2026 | Gray squirrel season | Feb 27, 2027 | Opened Sep 8, 2026 |
| Alabama squirrel season | Sep 12, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 12, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania squirrel season | Sep 12, 2026 | Junior Hunter Special Season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 12, 2026 |
| Wisconsin squirrel season | Sep 12, 2026 | Squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 12, 2026 |
| Delaware squirrel season | Sep 15, 2026 | Gray squirrel season | Feb 28, 2027 | Opened Sep 15, 2026 |
| Michigan squirrel season | Sep 15, 2026 | Red squirrel season | Mar 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 15, 2026 |
| Minnesota squirrel season | Sep 19, 2026 | Squirrel season (gray & fox) | Feb 28, 2027 | Opens in 3 days |
| Mississippi squirrel season | Sep 24, 2026 | Youth season | Jun 1, 2027 | Opens in 8 days |
| Texas squirrel season | Sep 25, 2026 | Squirrel season | May 31, 2027 | Opens in 9 days |
| Louisiana squirrel season | Sep 26, 2026 | Youth season | May 23, 2027 | Opens in 10 days |
| Maine squirrel season | Sep 26, 2026 | Gray squirrel season | Feb 27, 2027 | Opens in 10 days |
| New Jersey squirrel season | Sep 26, 2026 | Gray squirrel, hare, jackrabbit & rabbit season (air gun, bow, or shotgun) | Feb 20, 2027 | Opens in 10 days |
| South Carolina squirrel season | Oct 1, 2026 | Squirrel season (weapons and dogs) | Mar 1, 2027 | Opens in 15 days |
| North Carolina squirrel season | Oct 12, 2026 | Gray & red squirrel | May 31, 2027 | Opens in 26 days |
“Opens” is the earliest date anywhere in that state, and “First segment” names what that date belongs to — a season opening in August can carry a separate spring segment the following May. States split seasons into segments with closed weeks between them, so read the state page before you plan a date.
02 — What changes from state to state
Seasons pause for the deer opener. Kentucky closes squirrel for two days in mid-November so the modern gun deer season can start, which means a state that reads open for the month is shut on those dates.
A possession limit is not always a take-home total. Ohio caps possession at the daily bag while in the field or returning from hunting, rather than setting a larger cumulative figure like most states.
Fox and gray are not always one bucket. North Carolina holds fox squirrel to a far tighter limit than gray, with its own shorter season, while most states run one combined limit across the species present.
03 — FAQ
When does squirrel season start?
Openers range from mid-May in the south to early September further north. The table above lists the earliest date we track for each state.
When does squirrel season end?
Most squirrel seasons close at the end of February. Several states then run a separate spring season in May and June, which the state page lists as its own segment.
Do I need a license as well as a tag?
Yes — every state requires a hunting license, and most add a species tag, permit or stamp on top of it. Costs and age rules sit on each state's license page, linked from its squirrel season page.
04 — Elsewhere in the almanac
Each state page is read from that state's own wildlife agency and carries the date it was checked. The most recent verification across these 36 states was 2026-08-27. Season dates carry legal weight — confirm against the agency's own regulations before you hunt.