2014 Member Sakatchewan Gopher Shoot Invitational.

Hello to everyone. I'm interested in attending this event, but I've never been before and I don't know anyone. If there are spots available, perhaps some of you could give me some suggestions?

First of all, I am coming from Vancouver, and it looks like this place is near Swift Current. That is a bit of a drive. I don't think I'd be able to justify driving two days each way, in terms of my vacation schedule. Would it be possible and practical to fly in to Swift Current and then rent a car?

As for accommodations, I guess I would need to bring a tent and a small stove with pots? Or is motel accommodation available somewhere?

I recently acquired a Remington 700 Stainless .223 with a standard hunting contour barrel. I've managed to work up a load with 55-grain Nosler bullets and Varget that hovers around 1/2 to 3/4 minutes, and I assume that should be good enough -- or is it? (I'm an experienced competitive rifle shooter, but I've never been varmint hunting before. In fact, I was planning to go on a varmint shoot in Alberta in June, but my partner had to cancel.)

How much ammo should I realistically plan to bring for this weekend (and how much can I take on a plane, if I decide to go that route)?

I am assuming that a .22 LR is also necessary.

I look forward to hearing some suggestions. Like I say, I've never been on a varmint shoot before, but it is one of those "bucket list" things for me. Don't hesitate to PM me or respond here.
 
Since im the organizer, there is definitely a spot for you.

I dont think there are any commercial flights to swift current. I may be wrong. There are flights to medicine hat. Approximately two hours from the shoot which is in Tompkins. I recommend camping At the shoot. Tompkins doesnt have much for anything. Closest would be gull lake at 30 minutes or so away. Or swift current at 45-55 minutes away.

1/2" moa is plenty good. Most shots are 25-150 yards.
Realistically I would say 100 rounds of ammo should do....but nobody can say for sure. Id go 200 at least and 1000 of.. 22 lr.

Camping also gives the advantage of being near the campfire watching Jonesy eat novelty sized steaks. No replacement for that!!
 
If you do plan to camp, bring everything you may need for primitive camping. All there is for amenities is outhouses.

Also... Bring beer. You can work up a thirst red misting gophers!!!


My fingers are crossed for high number population this year. But I havent been there to check.
 
And since it is prairies in the summer bring sunscreen and lots and lots of the baddest bug spray you can find. I am packing for me & a 6 y/o and we have, 6 person tent + tarps for groundsheet. 2 .22's a .17 wsm and a .223 about 500rnds per rifle. About 100 pieces of firewood, cooler of water, juice and cooler of beer and pop. Frozen deer tenderloin and chicken, instant noodles , rice and bread for sandwich fixings. Some fresh fruit and veggies for snacks. 2 pairs of binoculars and a range finder, 5 changes of clothes, boots spare shoes and 2 coveralls treated in permethrin solution in case ticks are bad. Also a bog pod shooting sticks set and some ground mattress underlays to lay on if your prone shooting.

Some of this is just general camping stuff some is varminting specific. At least I would say .22 or shotgun for close range, something you can hit a 2x2 target with at 250yds for long range. groundsheet and tent with a sleeping bag, bug spray and a tick key. And as much beer and ammo as you can afford.

Btw you are looking at 16-20 hours to get to swift from van. Might want to plan a rest break in Alberta somewhere?
 
Andrewe, sorry to miss you this year, but I know what changing plans are like. I am currently trying to get a meltdown sorted. Not only dealing with the delinquent, my in-laws are moving in. MIL is currently in hospital in Calgary. Replacement knee dang near killed her.
Been sick for 10yrs, random system infections, bad infections, but nothing traceable. Her knee flared up this week and now they know what is going on. Something not sterilized properly originally. 4 surgeries and still can't say if they can save her leg.
Shannon already there (got fired over it, if you can believe that) and I am going down on the 20th to pack their place up, repair wear and tear, paint, load their stuff up and be back for a court date on the 25th for the kid. Unload, settle them, pack my own stuff up and then head to Tompkins. Man, I am not shooting, just sleeping!
see you all soon.
 
Well guys. Sometimes life gets in the way. Maybe next year we'll all have things sorted out. I'm pretty sore about not being able to go this time. I feel a little bit guilty too. I'm thinking about all the effort people have put in over the years just to show up and hopefully get home. Burning trailers, destroyed guns, blown transmissions, driving through balls of barbed wire, scaring quebekkers at gas stations, travelling in hurricane style winds across the prairies, blown brake lines and on and on. I don't think there's been a year yet that someone didn't go home with a scary story about the gopher trip.
 
itsneversafe said:
And since it is prairies in the summer bring sunscreen and lots and lots of the baddest bug spray you can find. I am packing for me & a 6 y/o and we have, 6 person tent + tarps for groundsheet. 2 .22's a .17 wsm and a .223 about 500rnds per rifle. About 100 pieces of firewood, cooler of water, juice and cooler of beer and pop. Frozen deer tenderloin and chicken, instant noodles , rice and bread for sandwich fixings. Some fresh fruit and veggies for snacks. 2 pairs of binoculars and a range finder, 5 changes of clothes, boots spare shoes and 2 coveralls treated in permethrin solution in case ticks are bad. Also a bog pod shooting sticks set and some ground mattress underlays to lay on if your prone shooting.

Some of this is just general camping stuff some is varminting specific. At least I would say .22 or shotgun for close range, something you can hit a 2x2 target with at 250yds for long range. groundsheet and tent with a sleeping bag, bug spray and a tick key. And as much beer and ammo as you can afford.

Btw you are looking at 16-20 hours to get to swift from van. Might want to plan a rest break in Alberta somewhere?
Click to expand...

Thanks for this excellent information. My plans would be to bring my single shot .22 with about 1,000 rounds of HP ammo that it likes. I would also bring my .223 with about 300 rounds. I'd also pack my shooting mat, my 9-13 inch Harris bipod (plus my 6-9 inch also, for good measure). I'd also pack my spotting scope and tripod, binocs plus laser rangefinder. Will we be shooting in pairs? I've found that it often helps to have a spotter.

I did not know about the bugs and tics, so I will see what I can do. I'm not familiar with a tick key or with permethrin coveralls.

I'll have somewhat limited space in my Toyota for firewood, but I'll certainly try to bring a couple of totes of wood if I can.

I'm assuming that there won't be any fresh water supply, so I'll have to pack in some jugs for the weekend?

I understand that the shoot goes from Friday through Monday, with everyone departing on the holiday Tuesday. My plan would be to drive all day Thursday and spend the night in Calgary, if possible. I would then leave Friday morning and hopefully arrive around lunch time... does that seem about right? On the way back, I would have two options. Either leave at mid-day on the Monday, and make my way into Revelstoke, BC or thereabouts, and then complete the journey home the next day (the holiday Tuesday); alternatively, leave super early on Tuesday morning and try to be home by midnight in one long drive.

Maybe some of you veterans can chime in. While I have hunted big game in B.C., I have no experience with the prairies or with varmint shooting in the summer.
 
P17. Formally its friday to monday. But if you show up a few days early and wanna stay a few days after its all good. Ernie likes the company. You can shoot solo, pairs, group, however. Ernie or Kelly are always happy to tag along too.
 
Hoping to leave friday morning. Head home Saturday afternoon. If I dont get off work until friday morning im either gonna do a day trip saturday or cancel my trip altogether.
 
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