Well I have been shooting for many years in BC, but have never gone gopher shooting. Having lived in Edmonton for the last six years I have tried to find an opportunity to shoot some "squeaks" but the opportunity just never presented itself. Well today the opportunity arose in a big way, and I've got to say I'm hooked.
Taking the advice of many a CGN'er I drove off towards the western horizon in search of rolling terrain and signs of the not so illusive gopher. It was an overcast and drizzly day, so my chances seemed dim, but I had a large mug of coffee to keep me going. After meandering through distant farm roads and enduring the suspicious stares of many farmers, I worked up the courage to knock on some farm house doors. After an hour and a half, I received two "No's", one "I know a guy you can call, but he's away," and one, "What's a gopher?" Discouraged, I headed back towards my urban residence, sans my little trophies.
While making my way home east bound on Yellowhead Trail the clouds began to break and the sun emerged. Taking this as a sign, I immediately turned north bound on the first range road that presented itself. After several hundred meters of thick trees, the forest broke into a picturesque landscape of rolling green meadows. As my eyes adjusted to the vastness of the area, my heart began to pound at the sight of thousands of gopher holes. The farm land was literally crawling with gophers as far as the eye could see.
I turned into the first driveway and knocked on the house door. No answer. As I pulled out of the yard, disappointed, and old farmer emerged from a barn, "Can I help you?" I explained my situation, and without a moment of doubt he replied "Fill your boots. As you can see there's thousands of the little bastards." I felt like I was 12 again after my father gave me my first .22. I parked my truck and set up for a little fun with my .17 HMR (Thanks to Clay from Prophet River).
Well I shot, and shot and shot and shot and could not even make a dent in that farmers infestation. I shot this family of four at 156 yards. They were the first of 50 to 60 that today. I've got to say that my Anschutz .17 HMR HB is a fine gopher gun. First shot hits from the prone out to 150 yards are no problem, with the right adjustments. Anything past that and it might take you a few attempts.
Towards the end of the afternoon, I got a little surprise from the other residents of the field. I was laying in the prone and heard a rumbling from behind me. I looked around a saw a heard of cattle 30 yards away and they did not look happy with me. The big white and black bull stared at me real hard, with bulging red eyes that said "I'm gonna stick my horns in you where the sun don't shine." I was thinking that my .17 HMR wasn't gonna stop him. I took it as a que to end the day.
Well, I had a lot of fun and have been invited back for more shooting. Being ignorant to the whole gopher shooting sport, I was surprised just how many there are in some area's near Edmonton. I will definitely be back, and recommend to anyone else in Edmonton looking to work on their marksmanship at the expense of a few little fur balls, to head west and start knocking. It worked for me.
Taking the advice of many a CGN'er I drove off towards the western horizon in search of rolling terrain and signs of the not so illusive gopher. It was an overcast and drizzly day, so my chances seemed dim, but I had a large mug of coffee to keep me going. After meandering through distant farm roads and enduring the suspicious stares of many farmers, I worked up the courage to knock on some farm house doors. After an hour and a half, I received two "No's", one "I know a guy you can call, but he's away," and one, "What's a gopher?" Discouraged, I headed back towards my urban residence, sans my little trophies.
While making my way home east bound on Yellowhead Trail the clouds began to break and the sun emerged. Taking this as a sign, I immediately turned north bound on the first range road that presented itself. After several hundred meters of thick trees, the forest broke into a picturesque landscape of rolling green meadows. As my eyes adjusted to the vastness of the area, my heart began to pound at the sight of thousands of gopher holes. The farm land was literally crawling with gophers as far as the eye could see.
I turned into the first driveway and knocked on the house door. No answer. As I pulled out of the yard, disappointed, and old farmer emerged from a barn, "Can I help you?" I explained my situation, and without a moment of doubt he replied "Fill your boots. As you can see there's thousands of the little bastards." I felt like I was 12 again after my father gave me my first .22. I parked my truck and set up for a little fun with my .17 HMR (Thanks to Clay from Prophet River).
Well I shot, and shot and shot and shot and could not even make a dent in that farmers infestation. I shot this family of four at 156 yards. They were the first of 50 to 60 that today. I've got to say that my Anschutz .17 HMR HB is a fine gopher gun. First shot hits from the prone out to 150 yards are no problem, with the right adjustments. Anything past that and it might take you a few attempts.
Towards the end of the afternoon, I got a little surprise from the other residents of the field. I was laying in the prone and heard a rumbling from behind me. I looked around a saw a heard of cattle 30 yards away and they did not look happy with me. The big white and black bull stared at me real hard, with bulging red eyes that said "I'm gonna stick my horns in you where the sun don't shine." I was thinking that my .17 HMR wasn't gonna stop him. I took it as a que to end the day.
Well, I had a lot of fun and have been invited back for more shooting. Being ignorant to the whole gopher shooting sport, I was surprised just how many there are in some area's near Edmonton. I will definitely be back, and recommend to anyone else in Edmonton looking to work on their marksmanship at the expense of a few little fur balls, to head west and start knocking. It worked for me.
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