Big Squirrel Challenge returns to Arkansas Jan. 12-13

Annual hunting event being held at sites all across the Natural State

By Randy Zellers

AGFC Communications

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s statewide squirrel-hunting celebration is back for its third year. Get a buddy and get to the woods next Friday and Saturday to take your chance winning prizes and notoriety as the best bushytail hunter in your neck of the woods.

“AGFC Education Division staff started the Big Squirrel Challenge in May of 2021 at J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozarks Highland Nature Center,” Eric Maynard, interim chief of education for the AGFC, said. “It was so popular that we expanded it to a statewide event with 12 locations for people to weigh-in their squirrels and win a prize.”

The official rules are available at https://www.agfc.com/education/ 2024-big-squirrel-challenge, but here are the main details in a nutshell (or acorn, if you prefer). Teams hunt from noon, Jan. 12-noon, Jan.

13 during legal shooting hours to harvest the three largest squirrels they can find.

Hunters are welcome to use squirrel dogs or still hunt for their bushytails.

“They’re welcome to go ahead and harvest their legal limit of 12 per person, but we only weigh the top three at the end of the event, and each squirrel can only be weighed once,” Maynard said. “After the weigh-in, all squirrels will be returned to the hunters to enjoy for supper.”

Squirrels are weighed (skin on and field-dressed) and winning teams are announced at 1:30 p.m. for each region.

Each regional first- and second place team will receive medals and bragging rights for their effort. The top teams in the state will be announced in a press release Jan. 15 and will receive additional prizes, including an Umarex air rifle. “We have different categories for youth teams and adults,” Maynard said. “A youth team can consist of two youths or one youth and an adult mentor. We also have a category for fox squirrels (which typically weigh a little more) and a category for mixed bag and/or gray squirrels.”

If you can’t find a partner or a youth to take along, you can hunt as a single-person team, but everyone is encouraged to get out and hunt with a partner.

“We want everyone to get outdoors, and that’s always best enjoyed with friends and family,” Maynard said.

No registration or entry fees are required to participate in the contest. Participants just need to show up at one of the following weigh-in locations from noon-1 p.m., Jan. 13 to

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compete.

– Ozark Highlands Nature Center, 3400 N 40th St, Springdale, AR 72762

Pine Bluff – Delta Rivers Nature Center, 1400 Black Dog Dr, Pine Bluff, AR 71601

Mayflower – Camp Robinson Shooting range, 574 Clinton Rd, Conway, AR 72032

Jonesboro- Crowley’s ridge nature Center, 600 E Lawson Rd, Jonesboro, AR 72404

Ft. Smith – Arkansas River Valley Nature Center, 8300 Wells Lake Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72916 Yellville – Crooked Creek Nature Center, 851 Conservation Ln, Yellville, AR 72687

Columbus – Grandview Prairie Nature Center, 1685 Hempstead 35 Rd N, Columbus, AR

Hazen – Wattensaw WMA Shop, 1693 Hwy 11 North, Hazen AR 72064

Batesville – Paul H Willmuth Shooting Sports Complex, 3600 N St Louis, Batesville, AR 72501

Magnolia – SAU Laney Farm, 833 Old McNeil Rd Magnolia, AR 71753 Russellville – AGFC West Central Regional Office, 1266 Lock and Dam Road, Russellville, AR 72802

Monticello – AGFC Southeast Regional Office, 771 Jordan Dr, Monticello, AR 71655.

For more information abouth the Big Squirrel Challenge, visit agfc.com.