Gopher shooting !!!!!!

[T.B.G.]

Just returned from S.W. Sask. in my canoe I might add--where did all the water come from-- I found the population to be way way down still enough to make it interesting but you had to search for pockets of them...Not like the past where they were running all over the place. Opinions varied on the cause of their demise but it is what it is and we shot only about 25% of what we have in the past and thats my update...........TBsniper:

 

[buffdog]

Missing Gophers

Have you ever heard of Rain? Or maybe read the local southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba newspapers?

In these areas, this year has had an exceptional rainfall combined with a large spring run off of water. In fact, in many cases it has broken 100 year records. Areas that are normally dry by now are wet, muddy, or under water. Creeks that normally crest ONCE during the spring have crested THREE times in our area of southern Manitoba.

And as I am writing this, another two days of rain is predicted.

Yes, there are some Gophers out, but due to conditions, many are not coming out onto the fields. However, when the sun starts to shine............it will be a target rich environment.

A typical case of "You should have been here NEXT week."
.

 

[2fat2fly]

I've heard the mule deer and antelope populations in southern Sask are way, way down. Same person said they are canceling antelope hunting in the region for several years to let the numbers rebound.

 

[Scott_N]

It truly was a long, cold winter with a long, cold spring.

 

[coyoteking]

I've heard the mule deer and antelope populations in southern Sask are way, way down. Same person said they are canceling antelope hunting in the region for several years to let the numbers rebound.

Antelope are way down but mule deer are still fairly plentiful. Lots of sheds are getting found in the hills which is a good sign.

 

[surfclod]

Gophers have all been drowned out here in SE Sask.

I moved home because in Calgary I had to drive 2 hours to get to land I had permission to shoot on. Here I can shoot gophers nearly anywhere.

However this exceptionally wet spring, (combined with a rather wet year last year) has brought the populations way down.

Am still hopeful that if it ever stops raining they will be out and plentiful but nearly every pasture and field has standing water in it.