Long Weekend Gopher Shooting

[Scott_N]

Ah... got out for the first time this year finally! It was a nice day in the foothills, and hardly any wind. We didn't shoot too many gophers today, but my hunting buddy's youngest boy got his first kill today. He's come out hunting with us the last few years, and this year will be his first try at deer hunting. Shot with a BL-22 with a taped on bipod! Holy Bubba Batman!

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Head shot with a 22-250

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shot the only Columbian Ground Squirrel today with my .222

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Nice day to get out for sure.

 

[CanadianDad]

Where did you end up going? Looks pretty wide open. We went south and east of Calgary along the Bow River. Didn't see any gophers but thankfully we took some targets and had a great time. Got two Ruger 10/22's re-sighted that had been sitting in the safe all winter. Just minor adjustments. My open sights Marlin 39A was still dead accurate of course.

 

[fiddler]

Its a late year with all the snow. The males are coming out periodically, which is awesome shooting them running across the snow. The females are still weeks away from coming out. I'm waiting a but longer til the grass comes out and the little buggers have something to eat... lead

 

[pharaoh2]

Its a late year with all the snow. The males are coming out periodically, which is awesome shooting them running across the snow. The females are still weeks away from coming out. I'm waiting a but longer til the grass comes out and the little buggers have something to eat... lead

I saw a pretty fat one jump out from in front of me and ran right toward my truck today. I was guessing a pregnant female.

 

[bclinehand]

two words......lucky bastards.......lol

 

[ben hunchak]

There's lots of them out here in Sask. but the fields are too wet to drive or walk, so it's gonna be awhile yet.

 

[icedragonmx]

That looks like a great day

 

[Got Juice?]

I can't post pictures of my K's today. Way to graphic (and I did not bring the camera). That .204 really undresses them.

Maybe tomorrow I will bring a camera!

 

[Scott_N]

Where did you end up going? Looks pretty wide open. We went south and east of Calgary along the Bow River. Didn't see any gophers but thankfully we took some targets and had a great time. Got two Ruger 10/22's re-sighted that had been sitting in the safe all winter. Just minor adjustments. My open sights Marlin 39A was still dead accurate of course.

We were in the Porcupine Hills.

 

[rookie wildcat]

I saw a pretty fat one jump out from in front of me and ran right toward my truck today. I was guessing a pregnant female.

I have shot quite a few and not any of them were pregnant. Some were quite fat, but not pregnant. Not sure if they have already had the babies and are just waiting to bring them up.
I read that the babies should have been delivered now and they will be kept underground until mid-May.
Either way, I am not worried. However, this one was not pregnant...60yds, Stevens 300, 3-9x40 Rivertrail scope. Winchester 555. Facing directly toward me, took it just under the chin

 

[albertacoyotecaller]

It should be just the males out currently I believe for about a month and then they go back down to hibernate.

Greg

 

[rookie wildcat]

From a study from the University of Lethbridge:

Annual Activity Cycle

mean dates
In Southern Alberta, adult male Richardson's ground squirrels emerge from hibernation in mid- to late February. Male ground squirrels terminate torpor several days before emergence above ground, spending those days underground in a state of euthermy. During this time they eat cached seeds, permitting testicular recrudescence and accumulation of fat stores for the upcoming mating season. (see Reproductive Physiology)

The majority of adult female Richardson's ground squirrels emerge from hibernation in early to mid March, about two weeks after the emergence of males. Females mate within a few days of emergence from hibernation. In contrast to males, female ground squirrels emerge above ground almost immediately after termination of the final torpor bout. data

In southern Alberta, females give birth in an underground chamber in late March to early April, and litters first appear above ground from late April to early May. Young and adults spend the summer accumulating body fat in preparation for hibernation.

Adult male ground squirrels enter hibernation (immerge) from late May to early June, and adult females immerge from late June to early July. Juvenile females enter hibernation next from early to mid-August. Juvenile male ground squirrels remain active until mid-September to October.

Dates of annual events may vary by several weeks between years, and are usually several weeks later in more northerly and more easterly locations than in southern Alberta.

Richardson’s ground squirrels are strictly diurnal, coming above ground only during daylight hours. data Their eyes, which are adapted to make the transition from the total darkness of the burrow to the bright light above ground, have a cone-dominant retina and a pigmented lens. Consequently ground squirrels have poor vision in the dim light of dawn and dusk.

This would mean that I probably shot mostly females the first 3 days I started this year. So 75 less females 30-31 Mar, 01 Apr. Then, starting a week later I shot mostly adult males and have continued to do so. Not sure how many litters will actually be born this year, but I will keep going.

 

[Major Sights]

Question- No judgement here whatsoever, just pure curiosity. What is it you do with your kills? Other then pest control is there a point to this hunt? (deer=trophy+meat, Wolves=pelts etc. etc.) Or is it just plain old practice and fun? Cause I have seen a few videos from south of the border, and this sport looks like a blast! Pun DEFINITELY intended.

 

[AB.boy]

Question- No judgement here whatsoever, just pure curiosity. What is it you do with your kills? Other then pest control is there a point to this hunt? (deer=trophy+meat, Wolves=pelts etc. etc.) Or is it just plain old practice and fun? Cause I have seen a few videos from south of the border, and this sport looks like a blast! Pun DEFINITELY intended.

Not much meat or much hide on those little buggers so its pretty much comes down to pest control (not like I would even consider eating or skinning them) and it's a great way to spend an afternoon.

 

[Duncan71]

Hey all,

I have a new (younger) shooter that'd I'd love to take gopher shooting. We were going to go to target shooting but I think this would be a lot more fun. If anyone would mind sending me a PM with some rough directions (maybe the OP's area) it would be greatly appreciated. We will of course leave the land in the same state we found it - less a few gophers(no casings/garbage).

Cheers!

 

[rookie wildcat]

Hey all,

I have a new (younger) shooter that'd I'd love to take gopher shooting. We were going to go to target shooting but I think this would be a lot more fun. If anyone would mind sending me a PM with some rough directions (maybe the OP's area) it would be greatly appreciated. We will of course leave the land in the same state we found it - less a few gophers(no casings/garbage).

Cheers!

You should definitely get that shooter to a range of sorts for some solid target practice. That way they'll know what gophers will look like at different ranges when they hit the field. It will also be easier to instill proper shooting techniques. THEN, get 'em out to the fields and practice shooting from each standard position. This is great practice for big game hunting.

It is fun, and if you can manage to pick up all of your .22lr cases, my hat will be off to you. I have not met any farmer who is upset that you have left .22lr brass cases behind, however, larger stuff and shotgun hulls should not be left behind.

Enjoy...

 

[dead meat]

Consider them a pest just a fun one to shoot. They can also carry some nasty diseases as well. I`m real jealous of you guys, can`t get out shooting now as i just had shoulder surgery, can`t work but can`t play either.

 

[Huntin' Gun]

I was down south of Lethbridge all weekend. I went out about half-a-dozen times for one to two hours each time on my father-in-law's pasture. My total for the weekend was 119. All with a .22LR. Most were taken with my Remington Model Five [big fan of that gun] and less were taken with my 10/22. The Ruger was just not as accurate, so it didn't see as much action.

Oh, and I don't do anything with their little corpses. They're gross little flea infested disease-bags, and I just leave-em where they lie.

 

[Hillbilly_Deluxe]

Bought my first SKS last week...and had about a section that we never got around to poisoning last year-that barrel was cookin' hot come Sunday night! My fiance who never was into shooting, came out and used my .22 and by the end I had to pry it out of her hands she was having so much fun. All in all a great weekend. Kill count unknown.

 

[rookie wildcat]

And so ends my long weekend. 73 more today. Many of them were pregnant. Makes a total of 900 from that one field since 30 March. Pretty much cleaned up, but there should be some babies up soon. I believe that I will let that field rest for a while now and concentrate on other things for a few weeks.