Groundhogs 2019, but (western) gopher content welcome. :)

Had my first gopher outing of the year. Windy and cool, plus the gophers were surprisingly "gun shy" (couldn't get within 75 yards of them).
Still has a fun afternoon, will have to wait until I get on my home computer before I can post some photos.

I think it was about a dozen bodies I gathered up, (with an equal number that I couldn't find).. Began with my 218 Bee but had to step up to my 223 when I realized that 100 and beyond was the norm.

Not perfect but it made me happy, any gophers knocked out this early will have a huge effect on the pasture for the rest of the year
 
I was out on Monday with a local farmer friend. It was cool and windy but we still managed to shoot around 40. He had been out the day before, nice and sunny. 125 succumbed to his 223. Waiting for a warmer day and no Gail force winds and I’ll head out again.
 
xBa3BS7.jpg


For my first day of the year, I'm satisfied.

Awaiting the leather cheek riser for this gun, which should help with more consistent eye relief.
 
I had about 45 mins Sat AM to get out and use the Ruger 77/17HMR. Not a lot of gophers around at my spot close to home as it was a bit cool out. I did manage to shoot every gopher I attempted too, although it did take two rounds for two different gophers. I shot under one at 120yds and just over top at 150yds on my first shots but with a slight adjustment on the second shots I managed to hit them as well. I shot ten gophers with 12 rounds at a range of anywhere from 40-150yds.
I hope to get out this weekend to the pastures where I can break out the CF rifles. I have been reloading a lot this winter for 4 different rifles and can't wait to see a few gophers flying through the air.
 
i live there and i havent seen any groundhogs of late
used to be plenty
now they have all been taken by coyotes and such
need a 223 to get into coyote hunting i guess
 
**graphic content**

Saturday was cool but partly sunny here. Spent an hour and a half on just the south side of a quarter section of pasture.

Wanted to see how 45gr worked in the 22-250. 120 rounds fired, 102 confirmed kills. Leaves me 15% for improvement.

Here's an example: (1 gopher)

R1xdwRC.jpg

YmZ4vHw.jpg

2ueffYS.jpg
 
Hunt&Hook said:
Saturday was cool but partly sunny here. Spent an hour and a half on just the south side of a quarter section of pasture.

Wanted to see how 45gr worked in the 22-250. 120 rounds fired, 102 confirmed kills. Leaves me 15% for improvement.

Here's an example: (1 gopher)

R1xdwRC.jpg

YmZ4vHw.jpg

2ueffYS.jpg
Click to expand...

lol... Looks like that gun is equal to the task. :)

A buddy of mine was out Saturday with his new 6.5 Creedmoor. Got 3 groundhogs, I saw the pics. Looks like they got hit by the hammer of Thor. :) All good~I'll be creeping around soon with my 17 Hornet. :)
 
shores said:
i live there and i havent seen any groundhogs of late
used to be plenty
now they have all been taken by coyotes and such
need a 223 to get into coyote hunting i guess
Click to expand...

Me too....25 years of launching groundhogs with a 223 and 22-250, now no more earth pigs...must adapt and light up some coyotes!

In the meanwhile, I’m homesick for Alberta and gophers! Hahahahaha

Cheers, Barney
 
TacticalTeacher said:
Me too....25 years of launching groundhogs with a 223 and 22-250, now no more earth pigs...must adapt and light up some coyotes!

In the meanwhile, I’m homesick for Alberta and gophers! Hahahahaha

Cheers, Barney
Click to expand...

Hey Barney~I'm giving the groundhogs the Easter weekend..then it's game on for me. (or turkey first...haven't decided. :) ) Unless this year is NOT like the 7-8 that preceded it, I expect I won't get skunked even once...but..there is likely to be the odd 1 groundhog day too. On "average", if I'm hunting hard...it's about a groundhog an hour. However, I've now shot enough gophers out west that I don't care to work as hard varmint hunting here. lol Just being honest. So, if I'm averaging 3-4 groundhogs in a 5-6 hour hunt...I won't give hunting them a second thought. The drive to get to where they are is just long enough that if I have back-to-back singles one week to the next, I may go fishing instead. lol
 
Soooooo.... When are one of you more western CGNers going to invite us gopherless more eastern slobs out your way for some shootin'...?
 
i have eaten them, and they're very good on a BBQ. I'd only hesitate if they came from land that had been sprayed. They eat the same as a rabbit, no problem eating them.
 
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