The Squirrel Hunter Cooperator survey was developed in 1995. This is a voluntary survey where hunters are asked to record data including, date of hunt, county hunted, hours hunted, number of hunters, number of dogs, number of fox squirrels (seen, killed, wounded) and the number of gray squirrels (seen, killed, wounded) on a diary type hunting log. These logs are available through the hunting guide, from the KDFWR website (www.kdfwr.state.ky.us), KDFWR wildlife biologists, area managers and conservation officers. Hunters simply keep the log up to date as the hunting season progresses and send it in at the end of the season or when they are through hunting for the season. Data gathered include distribution of hunts by county across the state, distribution of hunts through the season, harvest rates, and % of fox squirrels and gray squirrels harvested.

Hunter cooperator's who participate in surveys are mailed a new hunting log, their old log from last year, the results of the survey and a small gift for their participation.

Participation in last year's survey was up 19% over the 2000-01 season. Squirrel hunting logs were received from 120 hunters who averaged 11.9 hunting trips during the season.

Seventeen percent (17.5%) of hunts involved the use of dogs. Hunts lasted an average of 2.8 hours. Data were provided from 1425 hunts. Hunts occurred in 91 counties across the state. The number of hunts recorded for each county is shown on Figure 1. The central region had the greatest number of hunts, 892, while the eastern region had 288 hunts and the western region had 245 hunts. Total squirrels seen by hunters averaged 6.1 per hunt or 2.7/hr. Hunters averaged seeing 4.7 gray squirrels per hunt (1.7/hr.) and 1.4 fox squirrels per hunt (0.5/hr.). Total squirrel harvest averaged 2.7 per hunt (1.0/hr.). Gray squirrel harvest averaged 2.0 per hunt (0.7/hr.). Fox squirrel harvest averaged 0.8 per hunt (0.3/hr.) The highest number of gray squirrels seen reported for any one hunt was 35. The highest number of fox squirrels seen reported for any one hunt was 40.

2001-02 Squirrel hunters made more hunts per hunter compared to 1999-2000. Squirrels seen per hunt was up over last year's numbers as was the harvest rate (Garland 2000). Hunters harvested 45.1% of squirrels seen and wounded 3.3%. Assuming wounded squirrels do not survive, we find a total hunting mortality rate of 48.4 % of squirrels seen. A lower overall hunting mortality was found compared to the last 2 years. Sightings and harvest rate increased for both gray and fox squirrels (Table 1). The average squirrel hunt in Kentucky last season consisted of hunting 2.7 hours, seeing 6.1 squirrels and harvesting 2.7 squirrels. Totals from the squirrel hunter cooperator survey over the last three seasons are presented below.

Hunting effort was, as expected, greater towards the beginning of squirrel season. Forty nine per cent (49.3%) of recorded hunts took place in August and September (Week 1-7) which only made up 26% of the squirrel season. Likewise, half of the total squirrel harvest for the season took place in these two months (49.6%). Just over 10 % of the total hunts took place in November. This is expected as deer gun season runs through most of the month and a lot of hunters are deer hunting during this time. This was an increase in hunts during November, which could mean squirrel hunters are starting to take advantage of the season being open after the first two days of modern gun deer season. Squirrel hunting is one of only a few seasons open in August and September. Season openings for other species such as deer, waterfowl, rabbit, grouse and quail occur October through December and may account for the greater hunting effort taking place towards the beginning of squirrel season. Accordingly, 70.5% of the squirrels harvested in 2001-02 were before modern gun deer season (November 10, 2001).

This was the fifth year of the January 31 closing date for squirrel season. The continued rise in number of hunts the last four weeks of season indicates hunters are increasingly taking advantage of the additional thirty-one days of season. One hundred and twenty-one hunts took place in January making up 8.5% of the hunts in this survey. 10.4% of the reported harvest was taken in January.

Figure 2. shows the percentage of hunts and harvest by month of the season.

Figures 3 and 4 show the average squirrels seen and killed per hour and hunt by month of the season. The relatively stable numbers show that the later months of the season can be almost as productive as early season.

Gray squirrels were harvested at a rate of well over 2 to 1 compared to fox squirrels. This is typical in Kentucky and suggests hunters prefer hunting in more extensive forests and woodlands with dense understory vegetation than small woodlots and fencerow type habitats. Hunters harvested 45.1% of gray squirrels seen and wounded 3.9%. Hunters harvested 57.7% of fox squirrels seen and wounded 3.2%. Figure 5. shows the % of the harvest between species across the regions and statewide.

Gray

A close correlation has been found between a given year’s mast production ratings and the following years squirrel population level. Mast is defined as the nuts and/or fruits of trees and shrubs produced each fall. Some hard mast species include hickories, red oaks, white oaks, and black walnut. Soft mast species include flowering dogwood, pawpaw, and mulberry. Figure 6, for example, shows the change in mast production for 1994-2001 in the front, lighter bars and the 1995-2001 season change in squirrel's seen/hour of hunting in the darker bars. The 2001 mast rating is almost identical to what the 2000 rating was; therefore we should see similar trends in squirrels seen/ hour this season (2002-03). Figure 7 shows the relationship on a regional basis comparing 2000-mast ratings and squirrels seen/hour across regions for the 2001-02 season. The Central and western regions followed the trend this past year while the Eastern region, even though it had the highest mast rating in 2000, had the lowest average of squirrels seen per hour (1.8). The East's increase in mast production correlated with increased squirrels seen and harvested per hour this past hunting season.

The 2002-03 season outlook is based on the results of the 2001 mast survey. The mast survey is conducted annually on the same three plant groups (Hickories, red oaks, and white oaks) and three individual species (Black walnut, American beech, and flowering dogwood) that previous studies have revealed to be of primary importance in Kentucky. Production was rated by visual estimates made primarily during September and October and recorded on standardized forms. Survey cards were sent out to 75 Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologists and wildlife management area staff across the state. Observations were turned in from 81 sites throughout the state.

That being said, this season should be very similar to last season on a statewide basis. The 2001 mast survey results revealed a 4% decrease in mast production compared to 2000. The overall average index for the entire state was 2.2, which indicated a moderate statewide mast crop (Below Left). The western region had a 56.3% increase in mast production. The central region increased slightly (4.3%), while the eastern region showed a 37% decrease in mast production. Increases in production were recorded for all species except American beech, which decreased 36.4% from last year’s index. The soft mast production in dogwoods for the state was rated at 2.3, a moderate rating (Below Right). Kentucky's forest wildlife populations should be stable to slightly decreasing on a statewide basis with the virtually unchanged mast production.

We can break these numbers out by region to try and give hunters in each area of the state a better picture of what to expect in their particular portion of the state.

Western Region: The overall 2001 mast production for the western Kentucky region was rated as (2.5) moderate to heavy. This represents an increase of 56.3% (0.9) from last year (below left). Production was moderate for the red oaks, white oaks, and American beech. Hickories, black walnut and flowering dogwood production was heavy (below right). The increase in overall production should cause squirrel populations to increase in the western region.

Central Region: The overall mast production index for central Kentucky (2.3) showed an increase of 4.3% (0.1) from last year (below left). The moderate rating for the hard and soft mast species should provide an adequate food supply for forest wildlife species in this region. Slight increases in production were recorded for hickory, white oak, black walnut and flowering dogwood while red oak and American beech showed slight decreases over 2000 production levels (below right). The slight increase in overall production will likely contribute to stable squirrel populations in the central region for 2002-03.

Eastern Region: The eastern region production (1.7) rating for 2001 is a 37% decrease from last year’s figure and is the lowest overall production rating in the state (below left). Decreases were recorded for every species surveyed except red oaks. The low to moderate production will likely cause forest wildlife populations to decrease in the eastern region. The chart (below right) shows production ratings by species for the year 2001.