Test your campfire cooking skills at the 2025 World Champion Squirrel Cook Off Sept. 13

SPRINGDALE — In just over a month, the best 40 cooking teams to crawl out of a tent and fire up a Coleman stove will be flexing their campfire cooking muscle as they prepare the most versatile wild-game meat available in Arkansas. The World Champion Squirrel Cook Off will take over the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 13, and there’s still space to join in the fun.

The family-friendly, free event has found a fantastic home at the nature center, and this year’s competition looks to be even better than last year’s.

Joe Wilson, who competes in and organizes a variety of cooking contests, is the brains behind this nationally known tribute to bushytails.

“Squirrel is about as organic and free-range as it gets,” Wilson said. “Anyone who’s cooked it knows it is nearly the perfect protein for just about any cooking style. We’ve had Mexican dishes, Southern-fried concoctions, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, and even some dishes cooked up by two Jewish ladies for the event. I don’t think it was technically kosher, but it was definitely good.”

This is the third year the AGFC has hosted the event at the Ozark Highlands Nature Center at 3400 North 40th Street in Springdale. The partnership is the perfect combination of conservation and community in northwest Arkansas and has introduced thousands of new visitors to the AGFC facility.

“People conserve what they love, and events like this show us one more way to love the outdoors,” AGFC Education Chief Mary Beth Hatch said. “The camaraderie and fun don’t have to end when the hunt or fishing trip is over. Sharing a meal and introducing someone new to the food provided through outdoor recreation like hunting and angling is a great way to engage new outdoorspeople.”

Up to 40 three-person cooking teams will fire up grills, smokers and other cooking implements beginning at 9 a.m. and will present their dishes to a panel of judges beginning at noon. Complete rules and instructions to nab one of the few remaining cooking team spots are available at www.facebook.com/squirrelcookoff.

Side dishes served alongside the competition this year will include the return of the World Champion Squirrel Skinning Contest as well as the World’s Hottest Squirrel Eating Competition.

The AGFC will host the World Squirrel Shootoff in the Marksmanship Center, where people can test their airgunning ability and get some helpful aiming tips heading into the peak of squirrel season, and there will be tons of squirrely activities throughout the nature center to entertain and educate anyone who wants to learn more about The Natural State’s native nutcrackers.

The food for the judges isn’t the only eats available at the event, either.

“Man, this is a celebration of food, and all of the teams are encouraged to whip up a little something extra for the crowd,” Wilson said. “On top of that, we work with chefs around the state to bring some extra flavor to the event with other great treats.”

Everything from silver carp tacos to alligator gumbo has been dished out at previous squirrel cook offs, and Wilson’s lining up a few more oddball offerings to try, plus a few tried and true favorites.

“We don’t have all the details yet on what we’ll be serving up, but no one will leave with an empty stomach, I can promise you that,” Wilson said. “And none of the foods we cook here are the kinds of things you can buy in any store.”

Visit www.facebook.com/squirrelcookoff for the latest developments on what’s sure to be something to chatter about for years to come.

Note for ingredient gatherers: Arkansas squirrel season runs May 15-Feb. 28, and hunters may take up to 12 squirrels per day. Focus on hickory trees as September gets closer — hickory nuts are some of the squirrel’s favorite foods this time of year.

Visit www.agfc.com for more information on the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center and squirrel hunting in The Natural State.

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CUTLINES:

FLYER
The World Champion Squirrel Cook Off will return to the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale, Sept. 13. AGFC photo. 

COOKING TEAM
Up to 40 slots are available to compete in the granddaddy of outdoor cooking competitions. AGFC photo.

SERVING UP TREATS
In addition to food prepared for the competition, teams and other participants will be serving up fantastic wild game dishes to the public, all free of charge. AGFC photo.

SQUIRREL ON TREE
Arkansas’s squirrel season is May 15-Feb. 28, and hunters can harvest up to 12 squirrels daily to ensure they have enough “ingredients” for the competition. AGFC photo.