Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

In a time when deer and turkey hunting rule the land, small-game hunting has not only taken a backseat to big game, it's almost been lost in its wake. When most of us so-called veteran hunters were coming up, we cut our teeth on squirrels with .22s and learned patience waiting on a pack of beagles to bring a rabbit back around.

Today's youth are caught up in the technology whirlwind and stuck behind video game controllers more than behind the stocks of guns. The fortunate truth is that small-game hunting still exists in the Volunteer State, and for those willing to help get a youngster in on the act, there are rabbits to run and squirrels to tree. Cottontails and bushytails are still here -- and they're still fun to hunt.

Let's take a look at where small-game seasons stand for rabbits and squirrels in the modern era and what biologists as well as hunters have to say about continuing the time-honored tradition of small-game hunting.

REGION I
In Region I, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Small-Game Coordinator Jim Hamlington said the status of the squirrel hunting is one where squirrels are abundant in places; however, hunters are not. But there are several squirrel hunters in traditional squirrel-hunting areas, such as the Hatchie Bottom WMA in Haywood and Tipton counties.

Region I rabbits are faring well where you'd expect them to -- anyplace where they have habitat. Hamlington said rabbits seem to be doing well where idle ground is allowed to grow blackberry thickets and weeds, as well as warm season grasses. Two WMAs with many rabbits (and rabbit hunters taking advantage of the hunting) are White Oak and Wolf River.

Hamlington said the prime time to squirrel hunt right now is anytime the season is open. The best times of the day for still-hunting squirrels are in the morning and evening. Hamlington added that, later in the season after the leaves fall, squirrel hunting with a dog is good any time of the day. That's been a longstanding West Tennessee tradition that's spreading to the rest of the state.

He also said rabbit hunting is obviously best with beagles, and most hunters prefer to hunt in the morning hours. That's when you find the best scent conditions. Hamlington said squirrel hunting and rabbit hunting have not seen their best days in Tennessee. There's still plenty of it to be done.

REGION II
TWRA's Doug Markham said that the squirrel situation in Region II is simple: There are plenty of squirrels! When it comes to cottontails, it's not quite as good as the squirrel-hunting situation -- but it isn't bad, either. Markham said they have good rabbit years and then down years.

"We have some counties that seem to provide better hunting than others, and some counties that are becoming so developed that we have lost a lot of land," Markham explained. "Our WMAs are always a good place to look for rabbits. Don't overlook Percy Priest WMA. Small-game management does help. Anything that adds to our habitat and doesn't take from it is helpful."

As far as when to go, Markham said squirrel hunting is good throughout the fall, but as the leaves fall away and squirrels begin to forage for winter, things get better -- it's an excellent time to hunt. He said rabbit hunting is good when the season first opens normally, but as most hunters already know, February is also an excellent month for hunting because of the rut.

As to whether squirrel hunting and rabbit hunting have seen their best days, Markham said squirrel hunting is probably an underutilized resource. "We have a state full of squirrels and a daily limit of 10 that most of the time goes unfilled," he added. "Rabbit hunting is likely to stay cyclical -- very common for the species -- and the biggest concern for hunters will be loss of habitat."

REGION III
Forest Stewardship biologist Billy Swafford, in Region III, said the squirrel population in that area is coming back pretty strong now. They've definitely rebounded, but there are just not enough hunters pursuing them. Biologists are also seeing more rabbits in Region III. Swafford said they're doing OK, and the last few years have seen increased production of cottontails.