Gopher shooting

Not being one of the people to go on the official gun nutz safari I can't be completely sure but I seem to remember reading that they haven't done it for a few years.
With poisons becoming more popular a lot of peoples gopher locations have dried up making it not as simple as driving to sask and start blasting. If you want to kill a pile of the little grass rats there is many to be had in sask and Alberta but it takes some looking around to find a worthy killing field.
Good luck in your search!
 
Yotarunner said:
Not being one of the people to go on the official gun nutz safari I can't be completely sure but I seem to remember reading that they haven't done it for a few years.
With poisons becoming more popular a lot of peoples gopher locations have dried up making it not as simple as driving to sask and start blasting. If you want to kill a pile of the little grass rats there is many to be had in sask and Alberta but it takes some looking around to find a worthy killing field.
Good luck in your search!
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Thank you very much.
 
ReverendX said:
Many people do not like to give the location of their honey hole hunting spots away.
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Oh, I realize that but people organized gopher shoots here on CGN for several years. It was based on "First come first served" because it was so popular. I even signed up for a trip but unfortunately, couldn't make it due to change in my work schedule.
 
They like dry conditions. It's been very dry in Manitoba the last few years, and gopher populations are increasing again. Some farmers don't want to resort to poison.

The best spots I've been to are cow pastures. But you need a farmer that trusts you around their property and cattle.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
They like dry conditions. It's been very dry in Manitoba the last few years, and gopher populations are increasing again. Some farmers don't want to resort to poison.

The best spots I've been to are cow pastures. But you need a farmer that trusts you around their property and cattle.
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Thank you for the information.
 
I’ve never done a gopher safari but don’t think it would be hard to find lots of shooting. Lots of organically farmed ground in the south where poison is a no-no. Gophers like sandy ground and are usually thick in crop land next to pasture. The i-hunter app will tell you what rural municipality you’re in and whether a landowner map is available on line, usually cost about $30. Organic land is identified on rm maps.
I plan to spend a few days at it this spring.
 
I can’t see it being too hard to have some farmers grant permission to go on a weekend blitz. I’ve known a few over the years who have lost cattle due to broken legs stepping in the holes.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
They like dry conditions. It's been very dry in Manitoba the last few years, and gopher populations are increasing again. Some farmers don't want to resort to poison.

The best spots I've been to are cow pastures. But you need a farmer that trusts you around their property and cattle.
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Strychnine has finally ben nixed, the substitutes don't work nearly as well.

Grizz
 
I haven't been turned away yet. A few years back I stumbled on a little field literally crawling with gophers. The owner was cutting hay on the highway a couple miles down. I stopped and found that he did own that field. When I asked if he would consider letting me shoot there, he looked at me kind of funny, and said, "No!" He told me that he just didn't have the time to shoot and his son(s) were busy as well. In the end, I shot there for four days. Got most of the little buggers cleaned out. That was in Manitoba, east of Birtle, I think it was. He was overjoyed.

I don't work after seeding until harvest, and my top priority is to find some good shooting. I mostly use .22lr. Some land owners don't want to have too many people shooting at a given time. Back in 2006, I went out to the Mankota area to do my civic duty. The fellow took me to a field and pointed out some others. He made it clear to not start any fires. The gophers had basically eaten 90% of the crops in that area.
 
starvin said:
I’ve never done a gopher safari but don’t think it would be hard to find lots of shooting. Lots of organically farmed ground in the south where poison is a no-no. Gophers like sandy ground and are usually thick in crop land next to pasture. The i-hunter app will tell you what rural municipality you’re in and whether a landowner map is available on line, usually cost about $30. Organic land is identified on rm maps.
I plan to spend a few days at it this spring.
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Great information. Thank you.
 
kjohn said:
I haven't been turned away yet. A few years back I stumbled on a little field literally crawling with gophers. The owner was cutting hay on the highway a couple miles down. I stopped and found that he did own that field. When I asked if he would consider letting me shoot there, he looked at me kind of funny, and said, "No!" He told me that he just didn't have the time to shoot and his son(s) were busy as well. In the end, I shot there for four days. Got most of the little buggers cleaned out. That was in Manitoba, east of Birtle, I think it was. He was overjoyed.

I don't work after seeding until harvest, and my top priority is to find some good shooting. I mostly use .22lr. Some land owners don't want to have too many people shooting at a given time. Back in 2006, I went out to the Mankota area to do my civic duty. The fellow took me to a field and pointed out some others. He made it clear to not start any fires. The gophers had basically eaten 90% of the crops in that area.
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Interesting story. Thank you.
 
Grizzlypeg said:
They like dry conditions. It's been very dry in Manitoba the last few years, and gopher populations are increasing again. Some farmers don't want to resort to poison.

The best spots I've been to are cow pastures. But you need a farmer that trusts you around their property and cattle.
Click to expand...

Yeah there is still plenty of places to hunt just not quite as many in days past.
We go through 4 cases of gopher poison a summer and I still find enough to shoot over 8000 rounds a summer.
 
They seem to be especially bad, close to the dug outs. I think it's the slope and drainage that attracts them. And if course its especially dangerous for the cattle. Some spots you could sit there all day and shoot 300-500. Or even more if you move about. I'm most familiar with SW Manitoba, around Deloraine, Lauder area. I used to spend a lot of time there as a kid. I know its not legal, but 40 some years ago, my uncles just drove around the pasture, shooting them out the window.
 
I live in what was gopher central for about 5 years. Set up lots of nutters with gopher shoots around here for a few years. They are starting to come back in force in pockets around here again. If anyone wants to contact me I could probably get you some decent shooting spots.
 
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