North Carolina Gray Squirrel Hunting
Regulations 2026

Eastern gray squirrels are the quintessential tree squirrel and most common small game animal in eastern forests. They display grizzled gray fur above, white below, with a long bushy tail edged in white. An all-black (melanistic) color phase is common in some populations — this is the same species. They cache thousands of nuts each fall, helping regenerate oak forests. Adults weigh 14-25 oz. The traditional .22 and small-bore shotgun pursuit is a gateway hunting experience for millions of hunters.