Oregon › Species › California Ground Squirrel
Unprotected mammal
California Ground Squirrel in Oregon, No Closed Season
No season and no limit for California ground squirrels; this page covers the rules that do apply in Oregon.
Photo: Matt Lavin (CC BY-SA 2.0)
California Ground Squirrel hunting by the numbers
For California ground squirrels, the Oregon calendar is simple: every day is open and nothing caps how many a hunter takes. Licenses, trespass law and the method rules still govern a hunt for California ground squirrels, even with no season. All have 2026 seasons except moose (no season). ORS 496.004 also lists gray wolf as a special status game mammal (no season).
From 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
California Ground Squirrel general season dates
The ground squirrel rows carry no dates because there is no closed season.
| Season line | Covers | Kind | Dates | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No closed season | Statewide | License | Year-round | No limit | Year-round |
From 2026 Oregon Big Game Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Oregon wildlife groups and California ground squirrels
California ground squirrels are not game mammals or furbearers with seasons; this table shows the group ODFW puts them in.
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Furbearers |
| Need a Furtaker’s License or Hunting License for Furbearers; fisher (and ringtail, wolverine, kit fox, Canada lynx, sea otter) closed all year. |
| Predatory animals (ORS 610.002) |
| No closed season, bag limit or weapon restriction for predatory animals destructive to crops; landowners need no license on their land. |
| Unprotected mammals and birds |
| No closed season or bag limit, but a hunting license and all hunting regulations apply. |
From ODFW definitions (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Legal weapons for California ground squirrels
Check the season type on your ground squirrel tag or row first, then read the matching line below.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Electronics |
|
Summed up for California ground squirrels: any lawful method; hunting license required and all hunting regulations apply (electronic calls legal for coyote).
From species table and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Rules on the ground for California ground squirrels
What ODFW expects of ground squirrel hunters in the field, from tagging to transport.
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| Landowners | A resident does not need a license to hunt on land they reside on that is owned by them or immediate family, unless hunting a species that needs a tag or applying for big game tags; landowners/agents need no license to take predatory animals on their land. |
| Sunday | No statewide Sunday restriction appears in the 2026 big game or 2026-27 game bird regulations; seasons run every day. Some wildlife areas limit hunting to set days (for example certain units open only Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). |
From tagging and reporting and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
What it costs to hunt California ground squirrels
Prices are the 2026 ODFW fees for what a ground squirrel hunter may buy; hunting licenses run on the calendar year.
| License | For | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Resident | $39.00 |
| Hunting | Nonresident | $193.00 |
| Combination (hunt and angle) | Resident | $86.00 |
| Youth combination (12-17) | Either | $10.00 |
Youth 12-17 need a Combination License ($10) or Youth Sports Pac ($75) to hunt big game, enter the draw or buy preference points; 11 and under need no license for game birds, small game or unprotected wildlife (free Youth Game Bird Hunting License available) and may not hunt big game except in the Mentored Youth Hunter Program.
From 2026 license and tag fees and license requirements (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Open land for ground squirrel hunters
8 places below are listed for California ground squirrels by the agency source named on each card; the rest are large public lands of the usual kind.
Willamette Private Timberlands Law Enforcement Project lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Santiam Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
North Coast TMA-Law Enforcement Project lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Saddle Mtn Unit and Scappoose Unit.
Lincoln County Forest Patrol Project lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Stott Mtn Unit and Alsea Unit.
Linn County Forest Patrol Project lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Santiam Unit and McKenzie Unit.
Mid Coast Access Area lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Trask Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
Jackson Access & Cooperative Travel Management Area lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Dixon Unit and Evans Creek Unit.
Thomas Creek Access Area lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Santiam Unit.
East Lane TMA-Law Enforcement Project lists predators (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); McKenzie Unit and Indigo Unit.
From land records and agency page (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Shooting light for California ground squirrels
Times are Pacific clock times for the ground squirrel season dates shown.
The mammal window applies to California ground squirrels, thirty minutes either side of sunrise and sunset.
| Date | Linn County centre | Lake County centre | Wallowa County centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 6:02 a.m. to 8:19 p.m. | 5:55 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 5:39 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. |
| Oct 15, 2026 | 6:54 a.m. to 6:58 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 7:13 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | 7:13 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Mar 20, 2027 | 6:45 a.m. to 7:51 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
Hours rule from the ODFW general hunting regulations; times worked out with the NOAA solar formula on Pacific Time for each county centre; checked November 8, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Photo: Bonnie Moreland (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Photo: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Photo: Oregon Department of Transportation (CC BY 2.0)
Common questions on California ground squirrels
What weapons are legal for California ground squirrels in Oregon?
Any lawful method; hunting license required and all hunting regulations apply (electronic calls legal for coyote).
Which permits apply to ground squirrel hunting in Oregon?
A hunting license ($39.00 resident, $193.00 nonresident); no tag or validation is listed for California ground squirrels.
What are legal hours for California ground squirrels in Oregon?
Legal light for California ground squirrels opens thirty minutes before sunrise and closes thirty minutes after sunset (NOAA solar formula times above).
Which parts of Oregon allow ground squirrel hunting?
California ground squirrels are not tied to Wildlife Management Units; check the zone column and stay off tribal and national park land.
Are traps legal for California ground squirrels?
Furtaker's License, furbearer rules and trap checks apply to California ground squirrels.
Is permission needed to hunt California ground squirrels on a farm?
Only with landowner permission. Posted reservation boundaries count as enclosed land too.
Is there a season for California ground squirrels in Oregon?
ODFW gives California ground squirrels no closed season and no daily limit.
Can I hunt California ground squirrels on Sundays?
Sundays are open for California ground squirrels; only some wildlife areas restrict the days.
What is the daily limit on California ground squirrels in Oregon?
No limit.
Other photos on this page: Bonnie Moreland (Public Domain Mark 1.0); USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Oregon Department of Transportation (CC BY 2.0).