2025 Big Squirrel Challenge

Calling all bushytail hunters!

Prove your hunting skills at the statewide Big Squirrel Challenge on January 10-11, 2025. Adult and youth teams hunt from noon-noon, Jan. 10-11 during legal shooting hours to harvest the three largest squirrels they can find. Hunters are welcome to use squirrel dogs or still hunt for their bushytails. Special prizes and draws are available for hunters who weigh in the largest squirrels!

Check Locations

Springdale 
J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center
3400 N. 40th St, Springdale, AR 72762

Pine Bluff
Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center
1400 Black Dog Dr, Pine Bluff, AR 71601

Mayflower
Camp Robinson Special Use Area (SUA)
331 Clinton Rd, Conway, AR 72032

Jonesboro
Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center
600 E. Lawson Rd, Jonesboro, AR 72404

Ft. Smith
Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
8300 Wells Lake Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72916

Yellville
Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center
851 Conservation Lane, P.O. Box 489, Yellville, AR 72687

Columbus
Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center
1685 CR35N, Columbus, AR 71831

Hazen
Wattensaw WMA Shop
1693 Hwy 11 North, Hazen AR 72064

Batesville
Paul H. Willmuth Shooting Sports Complex
3600 N. St. Louis, Batesville, AR 72501

Magnolia
SAU Laney Farm
833 Old McNeil Rd, Magnolia, AR 71753

Russellville
Russellville Regional Office
1266 Lock and Dam Road, Russellville, AR 72802

Monticello
Monticello Regional Office
771 Jordan Dr, Monticello, AR 71655

Rules

• No pre-registration required.
• Hunt period is from noon-noon, Jan. 10-11.
• Weigh-in is from noon-1:00 p.m. Jan. 11. Participants must be in line to weigh their squirrels by 1:00 p.m. 
• Weight will be recorded on squirrels that are field dressed with their skin on.
• Squirrels can be brought in dressed, or done on site.
• Teams can weigh in a 3-squirrel bag max.
• Scores will be measured by the total weight of the entire bag in grams.
• Regional winners will be announced at 1:30 p.m.
• Statewide winners will be contacted Jan. 15 and announced in a press release.
• Teams will have their squirrels returned after being weighed.

Categories

• Adult – Fox squirrels only
• Adult – Mixed bag or Gray Squirrels only
• *Youth – Fox Squirrels only
• *Youth – Mixed bag or Gray Squirrels only

*Youth teams can include:

• 2 persons under the age of 16.
• One adult (16 and older) and one youth (under 16).

Prizes

• Every hunter that weighs in a squirrel will have their name entered in a drawing for a room for 2 nights ($250 value) at the Great Oaks Cabins Lodge outside of Mt. View.
• Medals will be available for 1st and 2nd place teams at each weigh-in location.
• Umarex Air rifles will be available for statewide winners in each category.
• Door prizes will be available at weigh-in locations.