The “Squirrel Day” Tradition in Evangeline Parish And the Pardoning of the Chicken!
By Paul Coreil
The coming of cooler fall weather and the anticipation of high school and college football always remind me of my childhood days growing up in Evangeline Parish—and, perhaps most of all, the excitement surrounding the opening of squirrel season.
For generations, squirrel season was much more than simply another hunting season in the Cajun Prairie. It was an annual family and community tradition. Preparations began weeks in advance for the much-anticipated opening weekend camping trip, traditionally held the first weekend of October when squirrel season opened.
Scouting, Camping and Preparing for the Hunt
The men in Ville Platte would begin planning early by “scouting” the woods where they intended to hunt. They looked for squirrels and, just as importantly, signs that squirrels were nearby. Acorn and pecan “cuttings”—the small pieces of shells and nuts left behind after squirrels had been feeding—were a sure sign that “bushytails” were in the area. Finding plenty of cuttings meant there was a good chance of having a successful hunt.
Planning the meals was almost as important as planning the hunt itself. Men from the families participating carefully prepared menus for all the meals, snacks, coffee and beverages that would be needed for the weekend. Sleeping arrangements also had to be worked out. The boys often slept in canvas tents, while the dads somehow managed to find their way into air-conditioned campers!
In most years, my family and several other families we knew would make the trip to West Bay Wildlife Management Area, a large public hunting area in Allen Parish managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Originally owned by Boise Cascade, the property later changed ownership several times.
Hunting on a public wildlife management area was always an adventure because, no matter how much scouting we had done, you never knew how many other hunters would show up on opening day. Public hunting areas have always been important to Louisiana sportsmen because they provide affordable opportunities for people to enjoy hunting and the outdoors. At the same time, crowding and hunter safety were always concerns, particularly on opening day.
Friday Was “Squirrel Day”
During my elementary and high school years, there was another unique Evangeline Parish tradition: all public and private schools across the parish closed on the Friday before the opening of squirrel season. Officially, the school board referred to the day as “Budget Day,” making it an official business day for school personnel. But everyone else knew what it really was “Squirrel Day.”
The name was appropriate because many students, teachers and parents were taking the day off anyway. The tradition had become so deeply embedded in the community that student absenteeism was significant enough that the schools eventually began closing on that Friday to accommodate the long-standing reality of non-attendance. The tradition began in the 1960s and, remarkably, continues in Evangeline Parish today.
Squirrel hunting was important to the Cajun culture of Evangeline Parish for reasons that went far beyond putting meat on the table. Of course, people loved a good squirrel sauce rice-and-gravy, but the tradition was also about family, friendships, camaraderie, outdoor skills and learning to appreciate Louisiana's wildlife and natural resources. For many of us, Squirrel Day was an important part of growing up.
The Chicken Had a Very Important Job
Most hunters went into opening weekend hoping to kill enough squirrels to provide the main course for a big squirrel rice-and-gravy supper on Saturday evening. But hunting success was never guaranteed. My dad, A. B. Coreil, Jr., always planned for that possibility.
He would bring a live chicken along on our camping trips—just in case the squirrel gravy came up short!
I can still picture the men gathered together, especially after a few cocktails, carrying on a serious conversation with this live chicken! Someone would say something like, “You better hope we kill some squirrels today!” The whole group would break out laughing as they carried on this rather unusual conversation with a very nervous-looking chicken.
Fortunately for the chicken, we never had to resort to Plan B.
In all the years we hunted, the chicken was never sacrificed for supper. After the weekend was over, it was returned safely to the chicken yard at home.
Needless to say, the pardoning of the chicken added much humor to the Squirrel Day tradition!
LSU Football Around the Campfire
Another memorable part of opening weekend was listening to the LSU football game on the radio after supper. This was long before smartphones, satellite television and streaming—and in those days, LSU football games were rarely televised. Even when they were, there certainly was no television reception available in the woods where we were camping. So, everyone gathered around the radio.
We listened intently to the announcer's enthusiastic play-by-play and cheered for the LSU Tigers as if we were sitting in Tiger Stadium. Looking back, I realize how special those evenings were. There was something wonderful about a group of family and friends gathered around a simple radio, sharing a meal, telling stories and listening to LSU football under the fall evening sky, I miss those days.
A Tradition That Helped Shape Us
It has been more than 40 years since I participated in a traditional Evangeline Parish Squirrel Day opening-weekend campout with my family. As my dad's health declined and he later passed away in the early 2000s, and as all of us grew older and moved away, our family's tradition eventually came to an end. But the larger Squirrel Day tradition has continued. Younger families across the parish still look forward to opening weekend, and Evangeline Parish schools continue to close on the Friday before squirrel season opens.
For those of us who grew up in Evangeline Parish, Squirrel Day was about much more than hunting squirrels. It was about spending time with our fathers, brothers, friends and neighbors. It taught us about wildlife, the outdoors, responsibility and preparation. Most importantly, it created memories and friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
Those early hunting trips also helped instill in me a deep appreciation for Louisiana's land, wildlife and outdoor heritage—an appreciation that has remained with me throughout my life.
Even though I have not participated in a traditional Evangeline Parish Squirrel Day in over 40 years, I have not missed an opening day squirrel hunt somewhere in Louisiana since those early Squirrel Days in Ville Platte, and I still look forward to that first squirrel rice and gravy every fall.
And whenever I think about those opening-day weekends, I can't help but remember my dad and his annual live chicken insurance policy and pardoning ceremony!
I wish you all a great squirrel hunting season... hopefully without any added chicken!
Until next time,
Paul Coreil
Comments ()