Gopher Hunting - Calgary Area

Chopperdoctor said:
What part of Cochrane are you in? I actually live just a couple of blocks from the rodeo grounds/pool/curling rink.
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me??? i live about 20k's north of cochrane near bottrel. and hope to secure some good areas for gophering soon... my family know quite a few land owners, and lease holders on the local crown land. so i should be good to go soon for my first gopher season in Canada!! lol... i moved from the UK in Oct (been here on and off since 2001 though) we live on an acreage, but my family who we are temp staying with have got rid of most of the gophers with an air gun, so i doubt there will be that many on our land this year. but im sure our neighbours will be glad if i get rid of them too....

im also thinking of having a look for some rabbit/hare's to shoot. im going to take a walk in the crown land woods near my house this week on a recce.
 
Chopperdoctor said:
Nothing that a few live-trapped transplants won't fix. ( insert evil genious, maniacal laughter here ). MMWAAHAHAHAHA!!!!
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yeh would be good fun, but we dont want any cos they ruin the horses fields!!

but our neighbours have loads. and there is lots of land around here.. most of our land is woodland..

if i get some good sized permission im sure it would be fine for you to tag along if you liked...
 
Now you boys got me going I just transferred to Calgary 2 weeks ago and have no Idea where to look for gopher huntin area's or permission to access lands. If you could get enough guys you could make it an annual thing. Have it in contest form like longest shot or most consecutive kills and so on.

For me nothing say's fun more than hitting a gopher with a 40 grain vmax coming out of the tube at about 4200 fps:dancingbanana:
 
My high school buddie and I used to do the "Ironman Challenge". Single shot with iron sights only. One box of ammo. Two hours time limit. Before my eyes started to get worse, I could nail one at 150 yrds, 9 out of 10 times, with the old Hungarian single shot I bought for $125, from the batch of the ones we used, when I used to instruct at the Fish & Game Hunter Ed. Camp, just north of Ponoka, AB. (Holy run-on sentence Batman!)
 
I gotta hook up with all of you when I drive out west for the "Hungry M14 Western Canada Road Trip" this Aug 2008. I'll be in Calgary for a few days with Savage, HeadDamage, and Beltfed. Then after the M14 clinics, I can come out to play. :evil:

Planning on bringing my .223 LTR and CZ452 Varmint yeeeeha ! :50cal:
 
rem338win said:
OK, now I have to meet you. We'll get the ball rolling come march for some carnage. What will you be bringing for hardware when we go? (You can answer that question too Gitrdun:rolleyes:)
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OOOpps, haven't checked this thread in a couple of days, glad I did. Of course, the CZ 22LR, Remmy 597, Stevens .223 (wait till you see the funky paint job this one's getting). Hey, why not see how the ol' Marlin original big bore and the .375H&H dusts 'em. It seems there's enough interest here to get of few guys together. Somebody should keep some names in mind for when the time comes so we can organize something. I nominate ChopperDoc since he started this. Somebody mention August? - too late for gophers :slap: but we can always play with guns.

Gotta love that Landcruiser ChopperDoc, sweet machine.
 
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August is still do-able, but in most good places, the grass is too tall by then. Anywhere the grass is short enough, is usually crawling with cattle or sheep, and good luck getting permission there. Spring time is best, and then about a month later also. That's when the litters of young ones start popping up, and they are duuuuuuumb. I'd volunteer to host something, but as of yet, I haven't found a suitable location close to where I am. My old stompin' grounds are too far away for a day trip. Anyone you introduce yourself too now, will probably give you permission reluctantly, if at all, and then if you show up with a bus load of guys with guns, and start blazing away with everything from .22's to .50BMG's, it will be the last time they let you on. It takes a very special land owner to let that sort of thing happen. This is why I started this post in the first place. I don't have a good spot close to home myself.
 
Chopperdoctor said:
August is still do-able, but in most good places, the grass is too tall by then. Anywhere the grass is short enough, is usually crawling with cattle or sheep, and good luck getting permission there. Spring time is best, and then about a month later also. That's when the litters of young ones start popping up, and they are duuuuuuumb. I'd volunteer to host something, but as of yet, I haven't found a suitable location close to where I am. My old stompin' grounds are too far away for a day trip. Anyone you introduce yourself too now, will probably give you permission reluctantly, if at all, and then if you show up with a bus load of guys with guns, and start blazing away with everything from .22's to .50BMG's, it will be the last time they let you on. It takes a very special land owner to let that sort of thing happen. This is why I started this post in the first place. I don't have a good spot close to home myself.
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Hey Cuz,

You really need to contact Jerry. I always arrive late summer, if spring is the best time, and there are quite a few guys in your ol'stompin grounds that welcome me to cull the gophers, so I am sure they will welcome you. Maybe they are shocked that a city-slicker like me from Ontario is into "guns" :D, but there is good huntin' to be had.
 
If any of you guys find a spot around the Cochrane area let me know. I'll gladly go out for an afternoon of eastern jokes and splattering of gophers.
 
Hi there... I'm getting itchy to go for a gopher safari as well. Have a silly question though: are we allowed to shoot from the back of a track or from a roof? (Would be much nicer and SAFER in the open areas if so...) Technically it's not a transportation of firearm by any means, but it doesnt look like AB Wildlife act allows it, unless it does not apply here...

http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Acts/W10.cfm?frm_isbn=0779727185&type=htm
Use of vehicles, boats and aircraft

33(1) A person shall not

(a) hunt wildlife from or with an aircraft,

(b) use a vehicle, aircraft or boat with intent to harass, injure or kill wildlife,

(c) discharge a weapon from a vehicle, aircraft or boat, other than a boat that is propelled by muscular power or anchored, or

(d) have a loaded firearm on or in a vehicle, aircraft or boat, other than a boat so propelled or anchored.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an activity that is specifically authorized by or under a licence authorizing the control of wildlife depredation or the collection of wildlife.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(d), the following firearms are loaded if

(a) in the case of a rifle, shotgun or similar firearm, there is a live shell or cartridge in

(i) the breech or chamber, or

(ii) a magazine that is attached to or inserted into the firearm,

(b) in the case of a muzzle‑loading firearm operated by a flintlock, the pan contains powder, or

(c) in the case of a muzzle‑loading firearm using percussion caps, a percussion cap is in place on the nipple.
 
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truck seat and window rolled down half way makes a great shooting rest :D

it feels redneck, but its warm when the wind is blowing :D
 
Anybody know where i can get a belt fed full auto 22 :D

Could use one :D

There were a few out yesterday, kinda cold and windy, guess they dont like wind??

Hope to go smack a few more today.
 
got a couple dozen :)

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