Gopher time

I want to be happy for you MB...but you know.. :) Please post photos from the first shoot...for the less fortunate among us!

I actually saw my first groundhog this week, squashed on the off-ramp of the highway I use on my way home from work. lol Almost couldn't believe it, still lots of snow on the ground.
 
Still a foot or more of snow in most places here. Might be a while yet.

Last year I never got a chance to tackle our known gopher patch, so hopefully this year they are a little more abundant.
 
Haven't seen any here yet but getting excited for this season.

Tested some loads last weekend, hope to dial them in further this weekend by playing with seating depths. Tuning these loads (.223 Rem) for my bolt gun, and hopefully they will be "adequate" in my SL8. Don't have time to develop a special load for it.

Need to reload some 218 Bee as well, not so concerned about accuracy in this one, will likely just test some loaded at max. Will look for pressure signs and see what the chronograph tells me on the first one. If all is okay will see what a 5 shot group does.

If I wasn't buying a house in the next 2 months I would be adding an HMR to the bunch, but the 218 currently fills the intermediary role.

oeBsNli.jpg


A photo from last May, to keep us motivated.
 
surfclod said:
Haven't seen any here yet but getting excited for this season.

Tested some loads last weekend, hope to dial them in further this weekend by playing with seating depths. Tuning these loads (.223 Rem) for my bolt gun, and hopefully they will be "adequate" in my SL8. Don't have time to develop a special load for it.

Need to reload some 218 Bee as well, not so concerned about accuracy in this one, will likely just test some loaded at max. Will look for pressure signs and see what the chronograph tells me on the first one. If all is okay will see what a 5 shot group does.

If I wasn't buying a house in the next 2 months I would be adding an HMR to the bunch, but the 218 currently fills the intermediary role.

oeBsNli.jpg


A photo from last May, to keep us motivated.
Click to expand...

218 Bee is a caliber I'd love to try! Nice work on that gopher too!
 
I haven't had a good gopher shoot in probably a decade or so. I'll be heading down near Moose Jaw a few times this year so hopefully I can go for an afternoon or two to scratch the itch.
 
Mick316 said:
Do you guys do it for pest control or for the fun of it?
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6th post...interesting question. :)

The answer is both. Pest control for the land owner, fun for the shooter. Most land owners I've spoken to in the west (gophers) tell me they like to shoot them when time allows...which it mostly doesn't. On the farms I shoot groundhogs on here in Ontario, none of the landowners can be bothered. Many of them like to talk about how effectively their dogs are at killing them...though I've never seen that process unfold. lol

It can't be overstated how badly overrun some western ranches are with gophers. Sort of a "you have to see it to believe it" deal. I've even met one land owner who hates guns/hunting...but welcomes responsible shooters if they can thin-out the hoards.
 
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Mick316 said:
Do you guys do it for pest control or for the fun of it?
Click to expand...

I hunt ranch land, that boarders crops..
Need the pest controlled, badgers also,
but try to get those in winter for the nice coat..
I also like the challange of shooting those critters past 300 yards..
Last years we where hitting at 400 450, with reasonable winds.
On field got so infested I had to bring extra shooters..
 
Mick316 said:
Do you guys do it for pest control or for the fun of it?
Click to expand...

The farmers in the area I frequent definitely want us out there. In fact one landowner contacted my buddy yesterday just to give us an update on field conditions and ask us to come out as soon as he sees them emerge. One afternoon last season we shot 243 of them in an afternoon in one small part of the field, and there were still lots left when we packed up. The fields we shoot are pasture land and they get absolutely perforated with holes which can be dangerous for livestock, also the little buggers eat lots of grass. So we help out the farmers and ranchers and get a lot of enjoyment doing it so it's a win-win in my books.
 
There is no doubt in my mind that if the ranchers started to poison, infested fields.
Those Turkey vultures would definitely lose the battle ..

There are three in the area I shoot , by pine lake..
Big birds,,,,
They know when my truck leaves the field..the dinner bell is ringing...
I like to think I supplement there diet..
I'll try to post a pic ..
 
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