First gophers EVER!!! **56kwarning graphic pics**

knockturnal

knockturnal

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Right behind you!
Just got the pictures uploaded tonight. Was out turkey hunting with my newly acquired 93R17. Came upon a bunch of the little buggers hiding out in a pile of dirt/stumps. Couldnt help myself since i dont ever see them out around where i usually hunt. Shots ranged from 20yards out to 80ish. Those little vmax bullets do some damage. And here are some pics!!

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Kinda looks more like something dead that isn't a gopher. Good shooting though.
 
Doc M said:
?

Those are definitely gophers; I don't think I catch your intended meaning? :confused:

-M
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There are many different types of "gophers" or prairie dogs/ground squirrels. The ones in the above pics are most certainly Columbian Ground Squirrels. Columbian Ground Squirrels can be distinguished from all others by the reddish colored feet and legs and gray upper parts.
 
Nice

crazy_davey said:
There are many different types of "gophers" or prairie dogs/ground squirrels. The ones in the above pics are most certainly Columbian Ground Squirrels. Columbian Ground Squirrels can be distinguished from all others by the reddish colored feet and legs and gray upper parts.
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Yeah, the ranch where I shoot has both Columbian Ground Squirrels and Richardson Ground Squirrels (as well as the odd 13 Stripe Ground Squirrel) The Columbians can get to be a bit larger like this fella

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Larger size makes the +300 yard shots easier plus the mess from a high velocity centerfire striking center mass brings a smile to my face. More often found in the foothills and higher altitudes than the Richardson Ground Squirrels. Larger size, thicker fur, and darker color.

The Richardson Ground Squirrels are more common (larger range), usually what people mean when they speak of "gophers". They are smaller but more prolific, lighter color, thinner fur. Here are a few.

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Just wishing that I could get a rainless weekend soon:(

Been 3 weeks since my last outing
 
crazy_davey said:
There are many different types of "gophers" or prairie dogs/ground squirrels. The ones in the above pics are most certainly Columbian Ground Squirrels. Columbian Ground Squirrels can be distinguished from all others by the reddish colored feet and legs and gray upper parts.
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Fair enough - we have all Richardson Ground Squirrels out my way, so technically the "real" gopher (per definition)... this guy, as a Columbian, is a pretty close relative though! :) I thought he looked different in colour, but I didn't want to discriminate lest the thought police come get me! :D

-M
 
Doc M said:
Fair enough - we have all Richardson Ground Squirrels out my way, so technically the "real" gopher (per definition)... this guy, as a Columbian, is a pretty close relative though! :) I thought he looked different in colour, but I didn't want to discriminate lest the thought police come get me! :D

-M
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No worries, I just thought that was what KDX was getting at, maybe not though...
 
Nice!
Got to love a little rat with blue eyes...Blue one this way and the other one that way. :D
 
Doc M said:
Yup, I think that's what he meant too.

Those are definitely coarser-furred and redder than the ones in my neck of the woods... mine are as re-posted below:

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-M
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Yup. Those look like the ones we have around here. There are also some smaller ones with stripes down their backs but I don't usually shoot them. You see them generally along the grid roads. Sometimes they even tunnel right into the road surface. Looks like a Cooper. What caliber? Hard to tell if it's a .22 with a mag in this pic.
 
I was out today for 4 hours and along with my son, we reduced the "gopher" population by over 300. the term "gopher" typically covers many different breeds of rodents and they usually cannot be distinguished by the look in their eye when they show just their heads in the entrance holes. At 75-100 yards, I do not look to see the color of their feet nor which breed I see. The old Mossberg 144lsb and Lakefield Mark II performed excellent all day, even when it snowed. What a great life.......
 
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