2009 CGN Saskatchewan Gopher Shoot pictures and stories.

pharaoh2

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That's right, and not what we were expecting in the middle of June!

Let me start by thanking all those who attended this year. We had a great turn out, and every single individual was a pleasure to meet, thank you. We exceeded 20 people and I'm happy to say every member who came last year returned with the exception of Davemachine. Dave couldn't be with us because he's in training to be shipped overseas. Let's all keep him and his comrades in our thoughts and prayers, and we hope to have him at next years shoot. Thanks to Dave and thanks to all the returning shooters.

We also had alot of new faces around the fire, from all over the place. From the North coast of BC to Ottawa and everywhere in between. As you could figure from the video above, it snowed, but not before rain soaked everything and everyone to the bone. Most people showed up Friday with the exception of Captain2K and BClinehand who arrived Thursday. Thankfully the weather broke for a few hours Friday Night, and just about everyone got out into the fields for a little shooting. After we all returned to camp, we had a long range shooting contest, (240 & 400+ yards) and beer can races. Both were fun and kept alot of us entertained. A swinging silhouette target was set up, and eventually the shotguns came out. I left mine at home, (and recieved plenty of ribbing about it. Thanks Dave) but many others brought theirs, including a really cool little Dlask which I had the pleasure of popping off a few rounds. I'm not ashamed to admit the muzzle flash was enough to make me giggle like a school girl.

The rain started again as the sun set, but we were all quite comfy under the tarps around the fire. There, we solved all the worlds problems, contributed towards Global Warming and put the BS in a BS session. Unfortunatly things went downhill fast after that. The rain socked us in, and the temperature dropped over night. In the Morning, once we got the fire going it was a little more tollerable being a balmy +1 degree, but soon we lost that little bit of positive when the rain turned to snow. One members tent started to come down after the ice built up on it. Most of us conceded defeat and started to pack up, and personally we left by Noon. There were still a few intrepid souls willing to stick it out for a few more days and I wish them the very best.

My favorite event of the trip was on Friday Night. I was walking in a field with Kelly, Andrew and his Son. We were being circled by a doe Pronghorn, and we were puzzled by her strange actions. It wasn't until a short time later when we practically stepped on her fawn that we realized what she was up to. That little bugger took off like a bullet, and there was no way we even came close to seeing it bedded not more than a couple dozen yards from us. That was the very first fawn antelope I've ever seen, and let me tell you, their every bit as graceful as their parents.

Well that's about all. Again I want to thank everyone who came, it was a real pleasure meeting you all, and I'm not even going to try to name names. That would take a small miracle. I would also like to thank my partner C2K for helping me get this together without pulling all my remaining hair out. And I would also like to thank Greentips for providing the bumper stickers and Tripalm and the CSSA for providing some of the prizes. Sorry I missed you on the way out Tripalm, in all the comotion I didn't even realize I didn't say goodbye until we were halfway out on the grease highway. I invite everyone who was there to post their stories and photo's and show everyone what they missed, besides the cold. :D I hope to see you all again next year, in a little warmer and dryer condition. Take care everyone, sorry about the weather, (I feel terrible) and stay safe.

The camp:
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A couple of those wonderful little noise makers:
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Some of the crew:
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:wave:
 
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Gotta admit that antelope (with fawn) was one of the coolest things I have seen, period! :)

I'm still not quite sure what to make of those feral Saskatchewan gophers....they're just a little too eager to charge the shooter!! That made for some very tense moments on the firing line! ;) Luckily Pharaoh2 was there to watch my back!!
 
Mucho Thanks to Pharaoh and C2K for putting this together for us, and the sponsors for the cool (not tacticool) prizes! Don't sweat the weather too much...it is Scratchnwin we're in, and anything can happen anytime, and usually does. It was great meeting up with all you other Nutz, and much was learned about and laughed at/with.

Almost had a new Toyota hood ornament for the Dodge on the drive out when someone went sideways on the greasy road. I won't mention any names, but his initials are Boomer454. I almost ditched it myself while frantically trying to get the camera out before he recovered, but sadly wasn't quick enough and didn't get any footage. :p

Already looking forward to next year, and will most likely have a .204 (thanks C2K!) to send the little critters to gopher heaven in a most impressive and satisfying manner. Definitely make a few changes to the other equipment loadout, with the addition of snowshoes, a bigger tarp and a quieter generator.

And more Jim Beam, eh Kevin? And maybe an Ikea trailer.

On to the pics, and the obligatory snow video...

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Oh where are my manners?? Yes, a HUGE thanks and well done to Pharaoh and C2K for arranging all of this. It was a blast!

When I got home I finally found my camera. Sitting in the console. D'oh!!

Not 1 freakin pic!! LOL!:eek:
 
My buddy AlbertaCoyoteCaller , hi son (from northern Alberta) and fatherinlaw(flew in from Ontario) were there. HE told me before he left this will be an annual trip...

Looks like fun had by ALL
..Maybe next year
 
Sorry to hear the weather was so....Saskatchewan like for you guys down there.:( Looking forward to all the stories and mis/adventures of the outing. By the way, who owns the cool little custom in FarmerHarv's last photo? Tell me about it if you don't mind.:)
 
I'm glad I got to meet some of you, even though I didn't see all of you, or even get to shoot with ya (fri day was for the wife time).. (btw I was the one there with the Toyota FJ)

I will be there next year as long as it is first or third week of june (or later)

Oh, and Farmerharv, it was great to meet you at BP's with my fam...

Later all..
 
Almost had a new Toyota hood ornament for the Dodge on the drive out when someone went sideways on the greasy road. I won't mention any names, but his initials are Boomer454. I almost ditched it myself while frantically trying to get the camera out before he recovered, but sadly wasn't quick enough and didn't get any footage. :p

Already looking forward to next year, and will most likely have a .204 (thanks C2K!) to send the little critters to gopher heaven in a most impressive and satisfying manner. Definitely make a few changes to the other equipment loadout, with the addition of snowshoes, a bigger tarp and a quieter generator.

And more Jim Beam, eh Kevin? And maybe an Ikea trailer.

That would have been an old (it's an '88) Toyota hood ornament! I was pretty glad I locked the hubs in before I left. That was one slippery little goat trail on the way out. I have new tires on the list of kit for next year now though.:redface:
Next year I think we should go out a week or two early, sacrifice one of those goats to the sun gods, and leave the snowshoes at home. Did we ever decide if can eat it or not?

As for gopher tools I think a .204 is a good bet for next year as well (thanks C2K, and Andrewe) although the wife doesn't see it that way. Yet...;)

It was great to meet every one there, and finally have a face ( and a real name) to go with the screen names here.
It was only a 23 hour trip from the time I left the house until I got back, but was still a hell of a good time, even if I did only get to shoot 6 gophers and pop can.
I can't wait for the trip next year! I know I can shoot gophers about five minutes from my house all summer, but it is the people that make a trip like this fun.

Thanks pharaoh2 and captain2k_ca for organizing it all. See you all again next year.
 
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I know I can shoot gophers about five minutes from my house all summer, but it is the people that make a trip like this fun.

That about sums it up for all those people who consantly send me PM's asking why I waste my time going to Sask when we have gophers here for me to shoot. (We have gophers in Alberta? :confused:) It's the experiance, making new friends and the memories of the trip. Not so different from other hunting camps, eh? ;)

As for that road, yuk. I had a time trying to keep the back wheels in line with the front. There was a strech coming down a hill where we started sliding towards the ditch not far from the farm. The ABS kicked in, but I couldn't steer. Even after we got onto the main gravel road, the loose rocks and mud kept sucking us into the ruts, I've got a real mess to clean up this morning.
 
Had the weather actually been good, it would have been almost orgasmic!! LOL

But seriously folks, it says an awful lot about the quality of the people present when the weather can be that s**tty and we still manage to have a great time! :)
 
Alas the weather wasnt what we had all hoped!! I still had a great time, and met alot of new friends!! A bit sad that there were a few people there I didnt get to spend much time telling lies to, but hopefully they will come next year!! :D

I didnt get to take as many pictures as I wanted to...but I did get a few!! So I guess people might wanna see them :D :D


Kelly(my cousin) DrewCareyAB, my daughter Kayla, and BCLinehand shooting squeaks Thursday afternoon.
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My Kayla and BCLinehand doing damage control.
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BCLinehand and DrewCareyAB.
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Pharoah2 and SVT777.
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BCLinehand, Tripalm, DrewCareyAB, and Randas.
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