Hunting Ground Squirrels in California

July 2, 2020

Question: I live in Modoc County where a species of ground squirrels (rodents) live and eat in the alfalfa fields. Are hunting licenses required to shoot them? And is nonlead ammo required? My feeling is that these are not game animals but would fall into the rodent family. I know that I don’t need a license to trap and or shoot rats and mice, so where do these pests stand? (Dean)

Answer: A valid California hunting license is required for the recreational taking of certain authorized nongame birds and mammals, which include species such as feral pigeons, coyotes and rodents like ground squirrels, as per California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 472.

California Fish and Game Code, section 4152 does allow an exemption for depredation purposes on private property. No hunting license is needed by property owners, tenants of the premises, employees and agents in immediate possession of written permission from the property owner to take certain nongame mammals such as ground squirrels and other rodents injuring crops and causing other property damage.

Nonlead ammunition is required when taking wildlife with a firearm anywhere in California for any purpose, whether for recreational hunting or depredation.

I bought a very powerful PCP air rifle.  Mine is a .22 caliber. It bowls squirrels over. 

I can shoot lead pellets.