typical range for gopher

marlin60

marlin60

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Location
East Coast
In south west Alberta in early May, walking about for the most part, what would be the typical range to 'engage' a richardson ground squirrel.

I am getting ready to sight in my .22lr and .17hmr and would like to know what to expect.

First hunt.... looking forward to it big time.
 
When shooting gophers, you'll have shots ranging from 5 yards to whatever your comfortable shooting range is. With a .22 and some hyper velocity ammo you should be good out to 100 yards.
 
Having the .22 hit about a half inch high at 50m makes 'er a good gopher gun out to 100...

I can't speak to the 17...
 
My shortest shot was about 14 inches. Longest, maybe 300 yards. Mostly inside 100 yards, unless I was just playing, trying to see if I could make the hits at range.

The short shot. I was standing on the mound holding my rifle in one hand, muzzle down, and heard a squeak at my feet. I slowly lined the muzzle up, and popped him from directly above.

If you get a chance to do this, wear ear protection! :)

Cheers
Trev
 
If the gophers you are shooting have not be shot at in recent years you will find that most of your shots will be within 50 yards. Great practice for off hand shooting.

However if the land has been regularly shot on then they will learn to keep down when they see you. In that case get a bipod for your 17 HMR and you will be good for longer ranges, just lay down prone about 100 yards from some mounds and wait a bit and they will pop back up.
 
Dont carry a shorty 12ga loaded with 00 buck....

When you whack a gopher 3 feet away with one, it makes a big splat....
 
In the right territory you'll see lots of gophers, if you've got the eye to spot them.
From a few feet to many hundred's of yards.
The 22 will do well for most shot's under 100 yds, and real good training for off hand shooting. :D

Maybe that's why you western boys are such great shot's?...
Lots of practice.
 
looks in amazement at the ranges suggested. most of my shots are 10 yards or less. 100 yards shots are for the 222 and 223 and are for beer!
 
100 yards shots are for the 222 and 223 and are for beer!
Click to expand...

I shot a gopher last year with my 10-22 at what i would guestimate to be near 200 yards. I had about a 20" hold over, and walked the round into him. Took several shots, but I got him :)
Quik Shok hyper velocity ammo only has a 3" drop at 100 yards.
 
marlin60 said:
In south west Alberta in early May, walking about for the most part, what would be the typical range to 'engage' a richardson ground squirrel.

I am getting ready to sight in my .22lr and .17hmr and would like to know what to expect.

First hunt.... looking forward to it big time.
Click to expand...

"engage"?? you gonna marry the rodent or shoot it?? :) :)

Range depends on how wary the gopers are. Survivors get nervous the more times they are pounded. There are usually a fair number of shots possible from 25 - 50 yards and as long as you'd like after that.

I've shot them at less than 5 feet. They tend to be curious and if you sit in 1 spot for a while they will come out of their holes and try to get a look at you. In fact one of the most productive ways to shoot gophers is to sit in a slightly elevated spot and wait for them to start coming up. In a field with good gopher population its possible to keep shooting like this for extended periods of time before you need to move on and find another vantage point to shoot from.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom