The same tactic can be applied in the evening after work or school. On more than one occasion, I have taken my limit of squirrels by sitting between two den trees and picking off squirrels as they made their way home for the evening. This tactic calls for no more than an hour of hunting time and good shooting to take home dinner. Things get real exciting at dusk!

Fox Squirrels
Finally, a consideration of squirrel hunting in Virginia would be lacking without a mention of the fox squirrel. Most of the squirrel hunting is done in pursuit of the gray squirrel. However, in the western counties of Virginia, ample fox squirrel hunting can be had as well. The same basic principles of gray squirrel hunting apply to fox squirrel hunting, with one major exception. Fox squirrels prefer to take to the ground in woods that are more open and especially near abandoned fields or field edges. If you have never seen a fox squirrel, be prepared, they are huge! These animals are much larger than a gray squirrel and will get your attention rapidly. When pressed, a fox squirrel will climb a tree, but they prefer to run along the ground.

RABBITS
The number two small-game animal in Virginia is undoubtedly the cottontail rabbit. In fact, many would argue that the cottontail rivals the gray squirrel for the top slot in small-game hunting. There truly is not much that can get the blood pumping on a cold Virginia day in January faster than a pack of beagles hot on the trail of a cottontail rabbit. The baying of hounds and the flash of this spry and nimble game animal as it dashes by will put a smile on your face every time.

Rabbit hunter numbers appear to be fairly constant, according to VDGIF figures, and rabbit populations appear to be fairly stable despite considerable development of land and habitat. Cook noted that rabbit populations face a threat when there are changes in the uses of land that reduce the quality or quantity of their habitat.

Southwest Virginia is particularly well known for great cottontail hunting, but cottontails are found statewide wherever there is open habitat consisting of short brush, weeds and grasses. Old home sites, berry brambles, cutovers, overgrown fields, field edges, apple orchards and pastures are excellent locations to turn a beagle out of the dog box and a hang a shotgun in the crook of your arm. By using the “Find Game” link mentioned in the previous section, hunters can locate public lands with good rabbit populations that are near their residence.

Late-Season Tips
There are two ways to hunt cottontails. The first and by far the most popular way is to use a few good rabbit dogs, mainly beagles, to roust rabbits out of the thickets and brambles. Rabbit hunting in such a manner is exciting for an entire group of people, whether they are hunting buddies or family members.