NC BHA’s 3^rd Annual Hunt for Squirrels & Trash on North Carolina’s Public Lands

Saturday, February 6th thru Saturday, February 20th

Way back in 2019 the NC chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers instigated a movement that elevated environmental stewardship across North America. From what began as an excuse to get new hunters an opportunity to develop skills and broaden their outdoor network to what became the Southeast Chapter’s Gobblers for Garbage and ultimately BHA’s Public Land Pack Out, the Trashy Squirrel Hunt is as simple and grand as any pursuit in the woods.

We’ve updated the scoring system so take note when you READ THE RULES BELOW. Don’t be fooled by the length of the typed-out rules; it’s easy to both understand how TSH works and to participate. Just give ‘em a read and send us any questions you might have. Here’s the TL;DR version:

Go hunt squirrels and pick-up trash. Bring new hunters along and sign-up BHA members. Win respect, gratitude, and the Trashy Trophy just like District 1 did in 2019 and District 6 did in 2020. Behold!

Also, when you register points for your district via email at [email protected], be sure to offer a little description, some fun team photos or selfies, and any names or handles you want us to tag on social media.

ENTER HERE TO WIN SOME SWEET FIRST LITE GEAR

Official TSH Rules

• Rules and Regulations set for the 2020-21 season by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (NCWRC) must be adhered to at all times by everyone.
• Competing teams are defined by the NCWRC’s nine districts (shown here).
• Participants may hunt and clean on ANY public land (federally managed or state owned) and all points accrued and registered will contribute to the participant’s team regardless of where the points are obtained
• Points will be awarded via tail-count & pounds of trash with bonus points available for bringing out new hunters & signing up new/renewing members to BHA. The breakdown is as follows:
  • 1000 points per tail
  • 5 points per ounce of trash w/ a maximum point value of 500 per single item (i.e., anything above 6.25 lbs)
    • The 500-point max becomes pretty crucial when you find a big cache of big trash (real life examples include: a pile of old tires, rolls of carpet, broken coolers, steel drums, etc.). Just record an honest estimation of how many of these items you pull out and do the quick math.
    • District 1 won the first TSH in 2019 on trash alone and most of that poundage was from items that hit the 500-max limit. Rugs, appliances, tires, doors, paint cans half-full or more, etc., etc.
  • 1000 points for each New Hunter
    • An individual can only qualify for the new-hunter bonus for one hunt during the tournament.
    • A new hunter will be defined as an individual that either does not have a hunting license or received their first hunting license for the 2020-21 season.
      • Note: Those participants without a hunting license need only be present for the duration of a hunt and must follow all rules and regulations set by NCWRC.
  • 500 points for each new Registered Mentor
    • This year, we are partnering with Opportunity Outdoors, a NC-based outfit dedicated to R3: Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation of hunters and anglers.
    • To help Opportunity Outdoors grow their mentor network, all you have to do to get your 500 points is REGISTER ON THEIR WEBSITE.
      • If you are already registered, then just let us know and you’ll get the points.
      • If you are not yet registered, you can register anytime between now and the last day of the tournament (20FEB).
      • Registration does not mean a commitment to mentor, but rather the opportunity to learn more about it.
      • Opportunity Outdoors respects your privacy and will not sell or otherwise share your personal information with any individual or organization.
      • Again, register at https://opportunityoutdoors.com/trashy/
  • 500-5000 points per New/Renewed/Upgraded Membership
    • The person must become a member of BHA or renew a membership sometime during the dates of the tournament and show proof of membership via receipt (email or screenshot).
    • The new/renewing member does not have to participate in a hunt for a team to receive the bonus points. However, a single individual can qualify for both the new/renewing member bonus and the new hunter bonus if the respective requirements are met.
    • Point breakdown is as follows and gift memberships are welcome!

• • Scoring Example
    • Three days into the tournament a group of five participants get together for a morning hunt in the Uwharrie. One of the five in the hunting party is both a new hunter and became a new member of BHA the previous evening. Another of this group of five renewed and upgraded her membership from individual to 3-year via phone in the truck on the way to the woods. During the three-hour hunt, the party takes 7 squirrels and 33lbs 8oz of trash. For this hunt the team will receive the following points:
      • 7000 (tails) + 536 (trash) + 1000 (new hunter) + 500 (new member) + 1000 (renewing 3-yr member) = 10,036 points total for the hunt.
        • Note: If the person who is both a new hunter and a new member then goes on an evening hunt later that day, then the team will receive neither the 1000 nor the 500 bonus points again.
  • The Honor System will be the guiding principle, but teams will nonetheless have to submit photos proving (1) tail count, (2) a scale readout showing poundage (fish & bathroom scales work great!), (3) screenshot/receipt for new members, and/or (4) the new hunter with at least one licensed and experienced hunter in the photo frame
    • Don’t over-complicate this. Here’s an example photo
    • 
       
      • Point Total = 2,000 (two tails) + 1,000 (two max’d out single items (the tires)) + 1,728 (345.6oz of trash x 5pts/oz) = 4,728 points
• ONLY squirrels taken and trash removed from Public Lands (State or Federally-managed) will be counted (see Honor System comment above)
• Use of squirrel dogs is permitted where permitted.