Hunters crack attendance record at 2026 Big Squirrel Challenge 

YELLVILLE — Arkansas squirrel hunters showed off their woodsmanship skills Saturday afternoon at the 2026 Umarex Big Squirrel Challenge at 13 weigh-in facilities scattered throughout the state. This year’s competition saw record participation, a trend that’s remained constant throughout the event’s five-year history.

“We had 419 people show up at the weigh-in stations this year,” Eric Maynard, AGFC education assistant chief, said. “They provided 266 total entries into the contest, 80 entries more than last year.”

Maynard says some of the added entries came from the opening of a new “gray squirrel only” division, and the ability of some very successful hunters to enter three squirrels in each of the three divisions, but the attendance at the event has steadily increased as well.

Once again, Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center had the most teams, with 56 entries from local bushytail fanatics. The next largest turnout was at the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro, which accounted for 34 entries.

The weights were impressive, but the day was all about fellowship with fellow outdoors enthusiasts. Many teams showed up with only a squirrel or two to weigh, and a few arrived at the weigh-ins with an empty game pouch just to touch base with other hunters, gain some tips and enjoy the show.

“Anyone who came to a weigh-in was eligible for the door prize drawing, which included squirrel calls and other outdoor gear. It was great to see everyone turn out,” Maynard said.

The Crooked Creek location didn’t have only the largest turnout; three of the statewide division winners weighed their squirrels at the nature center, including the team that had the heaviest weight overall. Austin Tate and Laine Hilliard turned in three fox squirrels for the adult fox squirrel division that weighed 2,494 grams; that’s three squirrels tipping the scale at 5½ pounds after field dressing. Ty and Bob Cason won the youth fox squirrel division with 2,370 grams (only 1.5 ounces short of the top weight overall), and Tate Milligan and Owen Pearson brought in the top weight for the youth mixed bag division with a weight of 2,122 grams of squirrels.

The J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale may have had a leg up on the competition, as it is the home of the annual World Champion Squirrel Cook Off. Maybe tasting some of the treats at that event inspired the team of Blade and Megan Elmore to get their bushytail on, as they brought in a mixed bag of fox and gray squirrels to take the top weight in the adult mixed bag division with a total of 2,148 grams of squirrely goodness.

Gray squirrels must run a little fatter in Fort Smith; both of the gray squirrel titles came from the weigh-in at Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center there. Hunter Moore weighed in three gray squirrels weighing 1,543 grams as a single hunter in the adult category, but he and his son also teamed up for the youth gray squirrel category with an additional three squirrels weighing 1,683 grams, both of which took top honors in the statewide competition’s bantamweight division.

Big Squirrel Challenge Results

Springdale — J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — Terry Cloud and Stick Dog, 2,117 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Blade and Megan Elmore, 2,148 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Michael and Nicole Henshaw, 1,377 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Nathan and Leonard Kelly, 2,150 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Mitchell and Sawyer Cobb, 1,849 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Harrison and Stone Pew, 1,575 grams

 

Pine Bluff — Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — River Goins and Tyler Carter, 1,957 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Austin and John Howard Jr., 1,677 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Wesley Sparks and David Joslin, 1,273 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Cooper Stroh and Wesley Owens, 1,860 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Josh and Harper Allen, 1,562 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Conner and Eli Carder, 1,319 grams

 

Mayflower — Camp Robinson Special Use Area (SUA)

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — Tine Paulette, 2,161 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Clifton Paulette, 1,795 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Taylor and Landon Cross, 1,495 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Elija Paulette, 2,312 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Jeremiah Paulette, 1,776 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — John Whitener, 1,470 grams

 

Jonesboro — Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — Jake and Scott Johnson, 2,152 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Colt Boyd and Maddie Logan, 1,599 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Jake Sitz and Skylar Broadway, 1,533 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Andy and Beckett Agee, 2,027 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Holt and Wiley L., 1,685 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Annie Agee and Mike Hughs, 1,429 grams

 

Fort Smith — Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — Lyle Smith and Jack Ishii, 2,425 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division —  Lyle Smith and Jack Ishii, 1,969 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Hunter Moore, 1,543 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Corbin Lujan and Jayden Ishii, 2,184 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Hunter and Matthew Moore, 1,782 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Hunter and Matthew Moore, 1,683 grams

 

Yellville — Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — Austin Tate and Laine Hilliard, 2,494 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Rick Deen and Paden Flippin, 1,985 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Austin Tate and Laine Hilliard, 1,605 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Ty and Bob Cason, 2,370 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Tate Milligan and Owen Pearson, 2,122 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division (tie) — Jadon and Jacob Graetz, 1,532 grams

Bradley and James Tilley, 1,532 grams

 

Columbus — Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Cameron Tatum and Chad Rada, 1,680 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Cameron Tatum and Chad Rada, 1,356 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Chase and Evie Friend, 1,501 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Braiden Friend and Jacob Hale, 1,198 grams

 

Hazen — Wattensaw WMA Shop

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — Trey Munger and Steve Stubblefield, 1,925 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Hunter Lawrence and Lacy Dalrymple, 1,840 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Justin and Clay Boyett, 1,453 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Harper and Bently Ellis, 2,048 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Brant and Buddy Bowlan, 1,506 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Harper and Bently Ellis, 1,472 grams

 

Batesville — Paul H. Willmuth Shooting Sports Complex

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Taylor Downs and Micahel Crabtrey, 1,440 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Connor McIntosh and Slade Vanson, 2,074 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Hudson and Reese McDonald, 1,317 grams

 

Magnolia — Southern Arkansas University Laney Farm

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Taylor Newton and Luke Whitlow, 1,245 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Tracy Clark and Lisa Cupples, 705 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Tracy Clark and Lisa Cupples, 1,165 grams

 

Russellville — AGFC Russellville Regional Office

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Joseph Sorrells, 1,009 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Brandon Mahan and Jeremy Froggatt, 732 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Robert and Brooklyn Possage, 1,757 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Gatlin and Chris Garner, 1,413 grams

 

Monticello — AGFC Monticello Regional Office

Fox Squirrel Adult Division — Tim Chapman and Nate Cooper, 1,959 grams

Mixed Bag Adult Division — Pasquale Palumbo, 1,185 grams

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Chance Young 1,311 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Flynn and Cord Ferguson, 1,322 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Slade McRae, 1,329 grams

 

Ponca — Ponca Nature Center

Gray Squirrel Adult Division — Andi and Kortney Carlton, 1,338 grams

Fox Squirrel Youth Division — Grayson and Rick Bohannon, 2,178 grams

Mixed Bag Youth Division — Grayson and Rick Bohannon, 1,829 grams

Gray Squirrel Youth Division — Nathan and Scott Watson, 1,275 grams

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CUTLINES: 

TWO KIDS WITH SQUIRRELS
Paisley and Jake Gideon show off the results of their day’s hunt at the Ponca Nature Center during the 2026 Big Squirrel Challenge. AGFC photo.

THREE BOYS WITH SQUIRRELS
The Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center had the most entries in this year’s Big Squirrel Challenge. AGFC photo. 

FAMILY PICTURE
The Watson family was one of the 14 entries into this year’s weigh-in at the Ponca Nature Center. This was the first year this nature center was included in the event. AGFC photo.