BC landowners,...I'm looking for a place to hunt ground squirrel's with my kids.

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Hello all

I am looking for a spot to do a multi day ground squirrel hunting trip this year with my daughter. I am from the Lower mainland area but willing to travel several hours for the right location.

I am a mature, responsible and ethical hunter whom is licensed and insured in BC. I would be a respectful guest and bring camping gear to be able to stay out of the way. I would like to be able to find a spot with a population suitable for a two to three day hunt and use of center fire cartridges.

References available.

Please PM.

Thanks for your time.

Mark
 
Meh,

there aren't that many squirrels around and we are only allowed to shoot a particular sub-species (check Schedule B or C). Waaay more opportunity with grouse; check the regs and then just pick a FSR and start exploring (they are around mostly 45 mins after dawn and before dusk, close to roads with gravel and bushes on the side for them to hide).

Good for you for taking the girl out! Wish mine was willing to go...

Just my 0.02.
 
The OP is asking about "ground squirrels" aka gophers. They are only shootable on private land in B.C. I know of nowhere in the lower half of the province where there is a large enough population for a two or three day hunt . Or even a one day hunt for that matter. Alberta is the place to go for ground squirrels. They are a great way to get a lot of shooting in for your daughter. She would have a blast. I know my kids did.
 
DFarmer said:
The OP is asking about "ground squirrels" aka gophers. They are only shootable on private land in B.C. I know of nowhere in the lower half of the province where there is a large enough population for a two or three day hunt . Or even a one day hunt for that matter. Alberta is the place to go for ground squirrels. They are a great way to get a lot of shooting in for your daughter. She would have a blast. I know my kids did.
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Are you aware of anywhere in BC at all that has a population that is shoot able for a couple days?

Thanks
 
Predator said:
Are you aware of anywhere in BC at all that has a population that is shoot able for a couple days?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I've never seen one, and I am not aware of any areas that has a huge population, so I cannot help with that.

It sounds like you are interested in that species specifically. You have your reasons for that, I am sure, but as others have said, you do have other options. For example, find a good snowshoe hare area and you can hunt them for weeks or months on end, never mind days.
 
Okanagan, central interior up to 100 mile house, valleys of east & west Kootenays all have pockets of Columbian ground squirrels. When I was hunting turkeys a couple years back several small pasture areas I saw were crawling with ground squirrels. Most of these hobby farms are too small or too close to neighbours for shooting... the larger farms are a better bet. Some farmers don't like them... some farmers don't like hunters!

For Alberta.. as soon as you get into flat ground anywhere south of Edmonton, you'll be in Richardson's ground squirrel habitat... there are loads of them, and most farmers don't like them!

You might think about yellow-bellied marmots and groundhogs in BC... not nearly as abundant, but they're out there.. and you can eat what you shoot. The marmots are better table fare than rabbits!
 
You could hunt up around chillwack as soon as you leave the city limits. you have squamish and herrasion hot springs. You also have Pinetree park in Coquitlam but you have to leave city limits to hunt which is a hike. (Look up Port Coquitlam Hunting and Fishing Club) It would be better to hunt grouse.

You only need insurance when hunting in the Fraser Valley. Once you leave the map you don't need it so you can always just travel out of it. You have hunting areas around stave lake as well. It just depends on what you want to hunt.

Most people hunt grouse with a 22lr rifle. That seems to be the most common firearm used followed by a shotgun knocking the heads off.

This book will let you know were you can and can't hunt

h ttp://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/

You have a valid BC hunting license? you have to be a resident for at least 6 months ect to get it if you don't then you have to go with a guide as that's the law in BC. Your buddy doesn't count unless he has a license.

Lots of areas in BC that are still crown land just look up the maps to check. You can even hunt near some citys in certain areas it freaks people out every year which is funny. Theres a man dressed in Camo in a park hunting... It's legal in that park sir... really... That happens allot the 911 operators laugh about it they get at least 6 calls a year from Harrison Hotsprings alone.
 
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Here in the cariboo their are some. If you want numbers its a lot of walking. In a long day 15-20 I'm doing pretty good.

Your never going to find Alberta/Sask #s here in bc.
 
Guess we're fortunate here in SK to have an abundance of the critters. I shoot in small pastures in fairly populated farm areas, the shots aren't overly long so a 22 lr is all that's required. Usually a bolt gun, slow and steady, no spray and pray war zone noise from a semi-auto. The locals can relate to the old trusty 22 more so than a rather noisy centerfire. 2-300 is a good afternoon, the landowners appreciate the reduction in pests and it beats the crap out of punching paper. Areas in western Sk and AB have some vast, sparsely populated ranchland where a flat shooting cf would truly be a necessity.
 
regulate34 said:
Here in the cariboo their are some. If you want numbers its a lot of walking. In a long day 15-20 I'm doing pretty good.

Your never going to find Alberta/Sask #s here in bc.
Click to expand...

There are a couple places in the cariboo that are closely guarded secrets that have some pretty good numbers. Enough for a person or two to have a good day or two of blasting away ;)
 
Now this is a fair number of years ago (1981 I think ), we had a black powder gopher shoot north of Princeton. About 50 shooters , we had permission to camp and shoot. Lots of the little rascals around.
I believe it was 15-20 miles up the hwy from Princeton to Merritt. So there may still be quite a population of them. Nice semi open dry countryside.
 
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