Small Game

Furtaking season in Pennsylvania offers plenty of time to trap a variety of animals. Depending on what you plan to trap, the seasons may overlap, running from October through March for many types of furbearers.

When most people think of hunting, especially hunting on public land, the first thing that comes to mind is whitetail deer. However, hunters can also take advantage of small game public land options such as squirrels, pheasants, grouse, doves, raccoons, and rabbits—a particularly fun activity to share with family and friends.

It's no surprise that trapping remains such an essential practice in Missouri. The Show Me State has a long history of trapping and benefited greatly from the booming nineteenth-century fur trade. With a 3-4 month trapping season starting mid-November, you'll have plenty of time to bring home some nice pelts.

As the weather turns colder, hunters can find a wide range of chances to pursue animals for trophies or meat. If you've already tagged out early this season on a big mature whitetail (or you prefer to hunt small game), late fall and into the winter months can produce some fantastic hunting opportunities.

If you've seen a bobcat, it's likely it's already seen you first. And if you've ever raised chickens, you've likely experienced just how much damage bobcats can do. 

European starlings are responsible for ecological, economic, and severe agricultural damage. They compete with native species for hollows, contaminate environments with disease, and wreak absolute havoc on agriculture. By consuming crops and livestock feed, starlings can cost farmers thousands of dollars in losses every year. 

Squirrels, rabbits, and other small game offer unique opportunities to build hunting skills while managing animal populations and harvesting meat. With the proper equipment and guidance, you can improve your shots and minimize damage.

If you are interested in getting into hunting but don't know where to start, what to do, or what you need, this guide is for you. Or, if you've tagged out for deer season (but you're not ready to hang up the hunting gear yet), hunting small game is a great way to get back out in the field.

Pheasants travel with mind-blowing movement and speed, making hunting them a challenge in the best of circumstances. They're swift on the ground and in the air, and they can slip out of cover from different points. When the dogs are on and you're flushing deep coveys of roosters, you need to be able to bring down a pheasant without ruining the tender game meat. 

Choosing the right shotgun and ammo for quail is all about balance. Weight, shoulder feel, and reliability are all important considerations when choosing a firearm that gets the job done without going overboard.

Just as with any other type of hunt, pheasant hunting is composed of far more intricate details beyond just walking through a field hoping for a bird. 

Though Texas is known for whitetail deer, the Lone Star State also offers excellent pheasant hunting opportunities in the Panhandle and South Plains regions. Here, the pheasant habitat overlaps with dry prairies and a semi-arid climate, creating a unique and challenging environment for pheasant hunting.