Gophers!!

[kjohn]

Wednesday, I was considering heading down to SW Sask to my favorite spots, but the weather forecast was not sounding good. I decided I would hook on to my little trailer and head east and north into Western MB. I loaded up some guns and ammo, just in case!

I was touring along in MB and, holee! a field full of gophers! There was a fellow cutting the highway shoulder with a haybine back a bit, so I turned around and stopped him. I asked if he owned the pasture with all the gophers. He did. I asked if I could shoot some gophers. He said it would be fine. I had introduced myself, and we chatted for a while.

Oh man, did I ever shoot gophers! I shot with the .22 all the rest of the afternoon and evening. I parked the trailer on an approach right at the field. In the morning I shot about 5 or 6 boxes of 12 ga. One spot, I fired about 40 rounds and never moved! The shells were all mixed, some heavy loads, some Imperial, some No.2, you name it. I used my old Winchester Model 50.

I am heading back there tomorrow morning. The owner said there were more places too. He thanked me, but I assured him I was just doing my civic duty! This time I'll take my Beretta auto 12 ga. I also have 2 old Model 58 Sportsman semis.

 

[blacksmithden]

Well, I'm sure you've seen how tall the grass is. We were all in SW Sask on the long weekend for the annual CGN gopher shoot. The grass was 2 feet in spots. Be thankful you found Mr. Farmer and his giant mower. Have fun !

 

[kjohn]

Whew! I went back, shot all Saturday afternoon until about 8:00 pm, the Sunday from 9:00 am until about 2:00 pm. I pretty much cleaned the field of gophers. There was a huge old badger, plus a smaller one, out in the field the whole time I was shooting. They would stick their heads up once in a while, for a look. I was careful to steer clear of them. The owner said to leave them alone.

 

[slick39]

 

[dead meat]

Sounds like fun, i prefere to shoot the badgers as well on my land as they make a bigger mess than the gophers do. Really gets your attention when you drop the front tire of the tractor into a badger hole. We have a calf with a broken front leg due to a gopher or badger hole, i`ve also stepped into one when walking in tall grass. I said fluffy a few times.

 

[mad_machinist]

Is a .243 rifle overkill for gophers?

 

[randas]

There is no such thing as overkill for gophers

 

[Survival Bill]

111

 

[pharaoh2]

a bunch of us are trying to get permission to go shoot on farm property's and bragging rights LOL....

I don't think your trying hard enough. I've never met a farmer yet who wouldn't let a few guns into his pastures to shoot gophers.

 

[kjohn]

Is a .243 rifle overkill for gophers?

I don't mean to start an argument over any caliber being too much, but under some circumstances, even a .22 can be "too much". Just straightforward common sense will tell us: too close to a yard, or people and machines working in a field nearby, or even just shooting in the wrong direction. A few years back, I was shooting gophers in the SW and a couple of shooters were blasting in the same area with larger caliber rifles. We were at right angles, and it made me think about ricochets.

Heck, I shoot gophers with a 12 ga., and plan to smoke a few with my .223, so I hardly think a .243 is "too big:.

 

[DFarmer]

I don't mean to start an argument over any caliber being too much, but under some circumstances, even a .22 can be "too much". Just straightforward common sense will tell us: too close to a yard, or people and machines working in a field nearby, or even just shooting in the wrong direction. A few years back, I was shooting gophers in the SW and a couple of shooters were blasting in the same area with larger caliber rifles. We were at right angles, and it made me think about ricochets.

Heck, I shoot gophers with a 12 ga., and plan to smoke a few with my .223, so I hardly think a .243 is "too big:.

Very good response kjohn. Safety is the main concern. If there are roads , people, or animals behind your target even a 22 is too much gun. If you have a safe background, shoot whatever floats your boat.