Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Big Squirrel Challenge drew 139 teams across the state, big hauls
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Big Squirrel Challenge saw record-setting participation levels during it run last Friday and Saturday.
AGFC officials said 139 two-person teams participated at 12 different sites across the state for the event. Participants could harvest up to the legal limit of 12 squirrels and have the top three of their take weighed after being skinned to determine ranking.
Skunk-squirrel? What is this odd critter seen in Ohio?
Divisions included youth and adult, as well as for fox squirrels only or mixed squirrel breeds for entry.
The highest weight for the challenge in every division came out of Yellville. The largest overall take was by the team of Tate Milligun and Emet Moore, who brought in a 2,401 gram (5.3 pound) bag in the youth fox-only division.
The team of Taylor Biggs and Justin Cochran were the overall winners in the adult fox-only division with a 2,084 gram (4.6 pound) harvest. Like Milligun and Moore, the pair weighed in their entry at the AGFC Crooked Creek Nature Center in Yellville, where 21 of the teams participated.
The challenge began in 2021 at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale before becoming a statewide event in January 2022.
A full list of winners in each category, including regions and bag weights, may be found at AGFC.com.
The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism also has squirrel hunting information on its website, including recipes for preparing squirrel.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
