Key takeaways
- West Virginia squirrel season has traditionally opened on the second Saturday in September, which puts opening day in the middle of the month.
- The season runs long, usually into late February, so you get close to six months of hunting.
- Gray, black, fox, and red squirrels are all covered under the same general squirrel season.
- You need a valid West Virginia hunting license unless you qualify for a resident exemption, and season dates shift by a day or two each year.
- Confirm the exact opening date and bag limit in the current WV DNR hunting regulations summary before you go. Updated August 24, 2026.
Squirrel season in West Virginia traditionally opens on the second Saturday in September and stays open into late February. That mid-September opener is the earliest general small game season in the state, which is why it draws so many people out of the house while it is still warm.
Because the calendar shifts, the exact date moves a day or two from year to year. Pull the current season dates from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources regulations summary, then plan around them.
On this page
- When does squirrel season open in West Virginia?
- When does squirrel season end?
- What license do you need to hunt squirrels?
- What is the daily bag limit for squirrels?
- Where should you hunt squirrels in West Virginia?
- What should you wear for an early September squirrel hunt?
- Can you hunt squirrels on Sunday?
- How is early season different from late season?
- Frequently asked questions
When does squirrel season open in West Virginia?
The general squirrel season has long opened on the second Saturday in September. In practice that means opening morning lands somewhere between September 8 and September 14, depending on how the weeks fall.
That single season covers gray squirrels, black phase grays, fox squirrels, and red squirrels. There is no separate opener for each one.
Some wildlife management areas and special-use lands carry their own restrictions on top of the statewide dates. Check the area listing in the regulations before you drive two hours to a gate.
When does squirrel season end?
Squirrel season typically runs through the end of February, which makes it one of the longest seasons on the West Virginia calendar. You can hunt the same woods in shirtsleeves in September and in snow in February.
Late season hunting is a different animal. Leaves are down, sight lines open up, and squirrels concentrate around whatever mast is left and around den trees.
Because the closing date is tied to the calendar the same way the opener is, verify it each fall rather than trusting last year’s number.
What license do you need to hunt squirrels?
You need a valid West Virginia hunting license, plus any stamp or permit required for the land you are hunting. Certain resident landowners, farm tenants, and their immediate families hunting on their own property are exempt, and residents in some age brackets have their own rules.
Public land adds a layer. Some wildlife management areas and national forest tracts require a separate stamp or a daily permit, so read the area rules and not just the season dates.
License structure and fees get revised, so buy through the WV DNR licensing system and read what is included rather than assuming the general license covers everything.
What is the daily bag limit for squirrels?
The daily limit has sat at six squirrels for many years, with a possession limit several times that. Those numbers appear in the annual regulations summary, and that is the version you should trust.
Six is more squirrels than most people realize once you start cleaning them. If you plan on filling a limit regularly, get set up for processing before opening day instead of after.
A pressure canner or a decent sealer earns its keep here, especially if you also put up deer later in the fall. Squirrel freezes fine, but it freezer-burns fast in a zip bag, which is why a lot of hunters go straight to vacuum sealing small game.
Where should you hunt squirrels in West Virginia?
Hunt mast. In September that usually means hickory before it means oak, because hickory nuts cut early and squirrels hammer them while acorns are still green and tight.
Look for cuttings on the ground under shagbark and pignut hickory, then sit within sight of those trees at first light. Fresh cut hulls, still pale and damp, tell you more than any amount of scouting on a map.
Public options are everywhere in this state. The Monongahela National Forest, the state’s wildlife management areas, and the big hardwood ridges in the central counties all hold squirrels, and September pressure is light compared to deer season.
If you want to know when the canopy will start opening up, our notes on when West Virginia colors peak by elevation line up almost exactly with when squirrel hunting gets easier.
What should you wear for an early September squirrel hunt?
Dress for humid summer woods, not for hunting season. Mid-September mornings in West Virginia can start in the fifties and hit the eighties by noon, and the hollows hold moisture long after the ridges dry out.
Lightweight long sleeves beat short sleeves in September, because the bugs are still working. Chiggers, ticks, and yellowjackets are all active, and a squirrel hunter sitting still on the ground is an easy target. Treat your boots and pant cuffs, and read up on keeping chiggers off you before you sit down in the leaf litter.
Watch your feet and hands around rock and downed timber. Snakes stay active well into fall in the warmer counties, and it is worth knowing how common copperheads are in West Virginia before you reach blind into a brush pile for a downed squirrel.
Boots matter more than camo in September. You will cover ground, cross creeks, and stand in wet leaves, and a soaked foot at 8 a.m. ends the morning early.
A quiet, breathable top layer is the other half of it. Squirrel hunting is a stalking game as much as a sitting game, and stiff fabric announces you two ridges away, which is why a soft-shell or brushed-face camo hoodie makes sense this time of year.
Danner Logger Moc 917 Waterproof Boots
A waterproof leather boot with a moc-toe build is a sensible early season choice for wet leaves and creek crossings without the weight of a full insulated hunting boot. Danner has been making boots for decades and the construction shows it in the stitching and the outsole.
Good pick if you want one boot that works for September squirrel woods, firewood cutting, and fall chores around the place.
- Waterproof leather upper
- Moc toe construction
- Works for hunting and chores
Can you hunt squirrels on Sunday?
Sunday hunting is legal in West Virginia on private land with written permission from the landowner, and on public land where the county allows it. The rules changed over the past decade and they still confuse people, including people who have hunted here their whole lives.
The short version is that permission and location decide it, not the species. We walked through the details in our post on Sunday hunting rules in West Virginia.
How is early season different from late season?
Early season is a hickory game and late season is a den tree game. In September squirrels are feeding hard in the tops, they are noisy, and you find them with your ears.
By December the leaves are gone, the food has shifted to buried acorns and whatever is left in the tops, and squirrels move later in the morning when the sun warms things up. Sleeping in during late season is not laziness, it is strategy.
Blaze orange requirements kick in during firearms deer season, and the two overlap for weeks. Keep an orange vest in the truck from mid-November on so you are never guessing.
If you like scouting before you sit, a camera on a hickory flat in late August tells you which trees are getting worked. Some hunters run one for deer anyway, and our comparison of cellular trail cameras covers what actually holds up in mountain cell coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What time of day is best for squirrel hunting in September?
First light through about three hours after sunrise is the strongest window in early season. Squirrels feed hard at dawn, then go quiet as the day heats up. Late afternoon picks back up, but the morning bite is more reliable in warm weather.
Do you need a hunting license to shoot squirrels on your own land in West Virginia?
Resident landowners and their immediate family hunting on their own property generally do not need a license, and farm tenants have a similar exemption. The definition of who qualifies is specific, so read the current WV DNR regulations summary rather than assuming. Rules differ for nonresidents who own land here.
Can you use a rifle for squirrels in West Virginia?
Yes, rimfire rifles are legal and a .22 is the traditional choice. Shotguns work better in leafy early season woods where you get quick, moving shots. Some public areas restrict firearm types, so check the area listing.
Does squirrel season close during deer season in West Virginia?
Squirrel season stays open through the fall and winter, but it overlaps with firearms deer season, which brings blaze orange requirements. Wear the required orange during those dates. Some public lands also close or restrict access during managed deer hunts.
Are black squirrels legal to hunt in West Virginia?
Yes. Black squirrels are a color phase of the eastern gray squirrel, not a separate species, and they fall under the same season and bag limit. They are more common in some counties than others.
Mid-September is a good excuse to get in the woods before anything else opens. The mornings are cool enough to be pleasant, the ridges are still green, and you can be back home by ten with something for the skillet.
Check the current dates on the WV DNR site, buy your license early, and put an eye on the hickories in your area over the next couple weeks. If you are pulling gear together for fall, our deals page gets updated as the season stuff starts moving.
