The first of Pennsylvania's statewide small-game seasons opens Saturday with squirrels and grouse becoming legal game.

Gray squirrel populations are very high and fox squirrel populations are continuing to expand in Centre, Huntingdon and Blair counties. Grouse populations are not at the peak of their cycle, but appear to be higher than last fall.

"As our forests and woodlots continue to age, they are becoming more and more attractive to squirrels because the larger trees provide more mast production and more tree cavities," said Bill Palmer, a biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and an area resident.

Mast includes beechnuts, acorns, hickory nuts and other foods favored by squirrels, and tree cavities are particularly important for winter survival of squirrels.

"When you consider that half of our state is covered with trees, it's not hard to understand why squirrels are thriving," Palmer said.

Most of Centre County has a large acorn crop again this year but some of the foods favored by ruffed grouse, such as wild grapes, appear to have been hurt by the hard freezes that our area experienced during the second half of May.

"What's unfortunate about the squirrel hunting picture is that squirrel hunter numbers have dropped by more than 50 percent during the last 15 years," Palmer said. "Squirrels still top the list of harvested game animals according to the most recent game-take survey conducted by the agency, but the resource is being underutilized."

Along with his other duties, Palmer manages the ongoing grouse research that is taking place on Centre County's State Game Lands 176, locally known as the "Barrens." Nearly 3,000 acres of this tract are still closed to grouse hunting but are open to squirrel hunting.

Hunters are reminded that only squirrels and grouse may be hunted. Rabbits and pheasants don't become legal game until Nov. 2.

Small game hunters are required to wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange visible on the head, chest and back at all times.

Six hunters are the maximum that can hunt together as a group.

Shotgun hunters must have their magazines plugged to hold a maximum of three rounds, and rifle hunters are restricted to a maximum of .22 caliber rimfire during the overlap of small game season with the special October antlerless deer seasons.