Throughout most of Pennsylvania, you will tend to find that most hunters focus their time and attention on big game hunting – pursuing our whitetail deer, black bear and wild turkeys. It seems that fewer hunters these days spend time in the woods in pursuit of our small game, and they are missing some great opportunities to enjoy our hunting options.

Having grown up in Lycoming County in the 60’s, I certainly recall the productive pheasant hunting of wild birds that we had. The cackle of a cockbird as he took wing and the abundance of these wild birds are now but a memory. Stocked pheasants today dominate the landscape, but provide a great alternative for pheasant hunters. The Pennsylvania Game Commission does a nice job of stocking these birds throughout many of our State Game Lands, and there are three split seasons this year, running from October 26 – November 29, December 16 – 24 and December 26 to February 29. There is a daily limit of 2 birds and a possession limit of six birds. A pheasant permit is required, at the cost of $26.90. However, senior lifetime resident combination license holders who acquired their licenses prior to May 13, 2017 are exempt from needing a pheasant permit and Junior hunters pursuing pheasants now need a free permit.

I am pleased to note that in most of the areas where I hunt or hike, there seems to be a very viable and well-established population of cottontail rabbits. It is somewhat surprising when you consider the number of foxes, bobcats and coyotes that abound throughout the area, as well as the fact that aerial predators, including various hawks and owls, are protected and thus add to the list of threats to rabbits. Perhaps it is partially due to fewer hunters spending time in their pursuit of cottontails.

Rabbits, however, still provide a great hunting opportunity – especially for those who have a beagle that will add to the allure and success of the hunt. The daily limit for rabbits is 4, with a possession limit of 12. The three seasons are the same as for pheasants, as shown above, except the first opening day is October 19, instead of the 26th.

As for our grouse hunting, it remains a distant and pleasant memory for me, when years ago their numbers were more plentiful in the places I hunted. Today, if I am lucky enough to kick up a grouse, they get a “pass” since I just don’t come across them as in years past – and I enjoy hearing them drumming on those frosty mornings in the springtime when I am hunting turkeys. There are, no doubt, locations throughout the state where there are truly viable and huntable populations of this beautiful bird, but those locations are never revealed by avid grouse hunters! Currently, the limits are 2 daily and 6 in possession.

Of all of the small game species that are available for hunting, probably the least hunted is the squirrel. And yet, they are no doubt the most abundant species of all of the small game. Their daily limit is 6, with a possession limit of 18, and they have the same 3 seasons as detailed above for rabbits.

Squirrel hunting provides the greatest opportunity to mentor a youth or even to introduce a new adult hunter to our sport. It can be a bit awkward when hunting and a pheasant leaps skyward or a rabbit busts out of its cover, or when a grouse explodes from hiding behind you. But, in squirrel hunting, you are usually either walking very slowly through the woods, or sitting patiently in a patch of woods with a predominance of oak trees as you wait to spot a squirrel in search of a freshly dropped acorn. One of the best combinations of habitat for squirrel hunting is a standing corn field edged by woods that contain oak trees. Whenever squirrel hunting and mentoring at the same time, there is plenty of idle moments between shot opportunities to talk have quiet conversations about hunting ethics, firearm safety, conservation and all other things that you can share with someone new to the great outdoors.

This fall, consider expanding your hunting opportunities by engaging in more small game hunting – you’ll be glad you did.