Can you shoot squirrels in British Columbia?
A. Eastern Grey Squirrels are under Schedule C of the Wildlife Act, which states that they can be captured or killed anywhere, at any time, in B.C. You do not need a permit or Provincial hunting license to kill Eastern Grey Squirrels.
Are red squirrels protected by law?

The red squirrel is included in Schedules 5 and 6 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (WCA) which means that it is a protected species.
Can I shoot squirrels?
On a sunny day grey squirrels will work in the outmost branches of a tree, chewing the new shoots and can present an easy target. A shotgun or powerful air rifle would be suitable for this form of control but remember, as with all shooting, assess your background before taking any shot. If in doubt, don’t shoot.
Can you shoot a squirrel in Canada?
The killing of wild animals, e.g., squirrels, is allowed when you see that they are causing extensive damage to your property. That’s the only time it is legal to kill them; otherwise, you can not kill them otherwise.

What do you need for squirrel hunting?
The preferred weapon for most experienced squirrel hunters is the . 22 caliber rifle. It is more accurate than a shotgun, allowing for precision kill shots that keep the meat intact. It also offers more of a challenge for hunters looking to keep their skills honed before deer season kicks off.
Can you eat squirrels in Canada?
Squirrel hunting is, moreover, legal in five provinces: Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Can I shoot squirrels with a pellet gun?
A quality pellet gun with a . 177 caliber pellet and a minimum pellet speed of 1000′ per second (FPS) is adequate enough to kill rabbit, squirrel, mongoose and other small game. Shot accuracy and distance help determine the lethality of the shot as well.
Is it illegal to eat squirrels in Canada?
It also points out the government already allows the hunting of such small game animals as rabbits, hares, coyotes, wolves, marmots, raccoons, foxes, partridges, pigeons and quails. Squirrel hunting is, moreover, legal in five provinces: Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
What gun is best for squirrel hunting?
The 10 Best Squirrel Gun Options for Hunting
- Ruger 10/22 Ruger.
- Savage Rascal FV-SR Savage Arms.
- Ruger American Rimfire Target Ruger.
- Marlin XT-22 Marlin.
- Volquartsen Superlite with OD Green Sleeve Volquartsen.
- Steyr Zephyr II Steyr Arms.
- Browning T-Bolt Composite Sporter .22 Browning.
- Anschutz 1712 Silhouette Sporter Anschutz.
What caliber is good for squirrel hunting?
.22
A small gauge shotgun or small caliber rifle like a . 22 are great choices for putting squirrels on the ground, however, it comes with a cost. Squirrels are small, and it doesn’t take much to ruin most of the meat even with a small shot pattern or small caliber bullet.
Can you eat red squirrel?
The actual red squirrel, sometimes known as a pine squirrel, is a very abundant tree squirrel in northerly latitudes that is typically ignored by hunters due to its small size, about a half-pound and the piney flavor of its flesh.
Can you eat squirrel from your backyard?
Yes, in general, squirrel meat is safe to eat and delicious. It’s said to taste a little like chicken or rabbit, with a distinctly nutty flavor. The meat is finely textured, lean, and light in color.
Is it illegal to shoot squirrels with an airsoft gun?
unless you have a “nuisance wildlife control license” (or something like that), you can’t kill them. only ground squirrels is considered as pest animal, you can kill them any time of the year.
Is a 12 gauge good for squirrel hunting?
Among adult hunters, the 12-gauge shotgun is the most popular for squirrels, but a . 410 would be a better choice for a child, a young teen, or a small adult. Choose the right shotgun loads for squirrel hunting.
Is 22LR good for squirrel hunting?
22LR is a little bit quieter than a shotgun, and, theoretically, will spook fewer nearby squirrels with each shot. Shoot subsonic, and it’s quieter still.
Is squirrel hunting worth it?
Squirrels provide a wonderful hunting opportunity for both new and seasoned hunters. They’re a great introductory animal. Hunting them teaches you skills that may be applied to all kinds of big and small game hunting. Squirrel hunting can be a more social activity than big game hunting.
Can you get sick from eating squirrel meat?
Eating squirrel brains, however, is potentially dangerous. In 2018, a man contracted Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, more commonly known as “mad cow disease,” after eating either squirrel brain or squirrel meat contaminated with parts of the brain.
What is the best gun for squirrel hunting?
What’s the best shot size for squirrel?
Shot size is always a topic of debate. Some hunters prefer to saturate a squirrel with 7 1/2s while others prefer to blow holes completely through them with #4s. While 7 1/2s will undoubtedly kill squirrels, the smaller shot loses a lot of thump at longer ranges.
Is it legal to hunt red squirrels in BC?
Red squirrels are classified as a fur bearing animal and require a trappers license to harvest. The grey squirrel which was imported from england are considered a pest/vermin in NA and may be hunted by any means possible in BC. They have killed off the red squirrel populations in the areas where the grey squirrel have moved into.
When do hunting and trapping regulations go into effect in BC?
The Regulations Synopsis: The 2018-2020 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Synopsis is effective from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020. The Regulations Synopsis is a guide to hunting and trapping in B.C. for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.
Can a non resident Hunt in BC with a hunting licence?
The Province of B.C. introduced restricted and unrestricted non-resident/non-resident alien hunting licences in hunting licence year 2018/19. You must complete hunter safety training to be eligible to apply for an unrestricted licence and hunt small game unaccompanied. This new policy is in effect on March 1, 2018, affecting pre-sales.
Where can I purchase a species license in BC?
Due to mail disruptions caused by flooding and mudslides, we are recommending hunters purchase their species licences in person to avoid delivery delays. These can be purchased at FrontCounter BC offices, Service BC offices and retail vendors.