Nfld. to Alberta for gopher hunt, license/shipping

marlin60

marlin60

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Planning a trip to Alberta in June for a gopher hunt.

Any tips on what is required regarding a license, and transport of firearms via airplane, as part of checked luggage?

I may have to send the rifles back as freight, as I might extend my vacation to BC, I'm sure that part won't be easy/good.

I have an outfitter, and will be shooting on their land.
 
Just mail the rifles back to yourself....easier than sending them as frieght on an airline.

Flying there with them is not a problem...just check the policies on the website of the airline your using
 
100 per DAY?

Early in the season when the babies are out, I'd go through 100 rounds (with 100+ kills) in about 1/2 hour - 1 hour.

It's nuts if you find a good spot!
 
I've seen some official data on this, there are now more Newfies in Alberta than there are Ground Squirrels. Please shoot all the 'gophers' you want, but leave the RGS's to us. Its not our fault you're outta fish :D

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But to answer your question... no licence (other than PAL obviously) Just don't fly Air Canada, not only are their stewa__ (what do you call them these days?) attendants? all grouchy burnouts and they don't like guns. I'd fly Westjet... cheaper, happier, prettier, though I have no idea on their gun policy. I do know however that their beer policy is "As much as you can carry". (That may vary with different check in crews.)
 
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canucklehead said:
100 per DAY?

Early in the season when the babies are out, I'd go through 100 rounds (with 100+ kills) in about 1/2 hour - 1 hour.

It's nuts if you find a good spot!
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Is mid June a good time to go, or too late?

I am getting my ammo in Alberta, easier that way fore sure.
 
marlin60 said:
Is mid June a good time to go, or too late?

I am getting my ammo in Alberta, easier that way fore sure.
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Probably a little late for the 'wee ittle babbies' (I think they are the most fun)but they'll have plumped up good for the guys who cant see so good:p . With the warm winter it won't be MUCH longer before we see the first males out. I figure three more weeks. Pregnant Females are always good for a chuckle, but you'll have missed them for sure. I wouldn't go tooooo much later than mid June or the grass ends up being too high and they spend a lot less daylight hours outdoors. Grass hieght is the major factor later in summer, don't overlook its importance. Its not always the availability of squirrels that needs to be top priority in planning a good, fun hunt. Hopefully the skeeters aren't gonna be too bad this year, we are praying for a couple good frosts timed right or its not gonna be a fun year for any of us! Bring that bug juice if it was like it was last year. Full suit looks funny and your friends will laugh, but worth thinkin about. (You'll get the last laugh when they are covered in bites n can't sleep :D )

P.s. Contrary to popular belief RGS's are not like rats etc and only breed once a year.
 
Warning : Images

If you're a Liebral 'lurker' please go away, the following images will offend some viewers with 'sensitive' ---- awe f**k em. Here's some pics taken in Late May... closest I have for ya. Enjoy.
Oh yes, image 6 and 7 are the same guy, 6 is entry wound, 7 was after I pulled him out for a lookie loo. All were .17HMR with the exception of the last one, which I believe was a double hit of .22lr... And now, on with the show.

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**edited to add:
Number 4 is a baby from that year ... there is a bent nail in the dirt under him for size comparison... still a fairly little guy. I didn't actually put it in there for size comparison though, it was just there. I think they were building a new tunnel at the time...
 
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By the end of june your on a down hill slide. We start as soon as we can get in the fields with a truck. Last yr was a little later than the yr before. In 2005 we shot our first gopher the end of feb. As allready stated grass height is a major concern. You can't shoot what you can't see. Pastures that were grazed off last summer really short will be good first thing in the season. Typically we will shoot 1000 to 1500 rnds each( two of us) per day on really good days. Average days will be 500 rnds each per day. We start around 9:00 am and will shoot till dark. The biggest factor in my opinion on your hunt will be location and how much its been shot in the past. Your outfitter s/b able to say how fresh the shooting ground is. Make sure you sight your rifle in with the ammo you intend on buying here. No sense wasting time sighting in guns. Are you shooting 22 cal rimfire ? Some info on your hunt would certainly be interesting. PM me if I can help------Cowboy
 
We had a fairly late start out here, but we still managed to harvest several THOUSAND gophers in our area... (Viking) We had everything from .17HMR, all the way up to 12ga and .458 Win Mag. just look around for the Edmonton Gopher Outings thread.
 
canuckgunny said:
Here's some pics taken in Late May... closest I have for ya. Enjoy.
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Damn, canuckgunny, you sure you weren't using mortar rounds? Whatever ammo you were using sure enough did what you set out to do. What distances were you shooting from and can you give me a run down on your gear? I haven't gotten down there for a gopher shoot yet but it's on the STD list!
 
I'm taking my T3, SS lite in .223 as the main line.

I have a .22lr, but not taking it. Seriously considering buying a .22 WMR, or a .17 HMR (always wanted one of them), as the backup, second gun.

Wish I could go earlier, we'll see. It is south central AB, not to far from Calgary. There is not town name as it is fairly wildnerness.....I believe it is in the middle of ranch country. An outfitter put me on to them, but they are just a ranch.
 
I would reconsider taking the 22lr especially if it is a semi, lots of fun in a gopher field. 17hmr rocks as well, nothing like tipping them over at 150 + and watching it in the scope.
 
dorm said:
Damn, canuckgunny, you sure you weren't using mortar rounds? Whatever ammo you were using sure enough did what you set out to do. What distances were you shooting from and can you give me a run down on your gear? I haven't gotten down there for a gopher shoot yet but it's on the STD list!
Click to expand...

All Pics Were .17HMR out of a Ruger bolt action 17/77 stainless 24" bbl w/9round rotary mag...cept the one as noted above.. last pic was a 10/22 LR. I also run .223(only grudgingly) and a gorgeous Stainless Single Shot No1Ruger in 204... but with the .204 there's no sense in taking pictures. One: They're too far away to find, and Two, there's nothing left to take pictures of.
.17HMR is the finest round ever for gophers IMHO. In fact, I would argue it is the only recent cartridge that anyone put any real thought into or that offers something really 'new'. IIRC, all the above shots were taken from standing position... so probably 50-70 yards. (I don't wanna walk tooo far to talk pictures!) A few were further, few closer I'd imagine, those pics are from a few years ago. 17grain vmax for 17hmr works marvelously. Leave the 20's alone or go 22mag. People compare 22 mag with HMR and I don't see why. Parent cartridge the same, but 22 mag shoots a wad of mis-shapen lead. If want some science and technology behind your shot, shoot a real bullet. Thats why they cost more. Some people don't get that for some reason. Apples and Oranges. They are a little more money, but worth it for what you get. They fly faster and drift less. Yes I said it... Here comes the onslaught of those that disagree I'm sure. Time spent in the wind has more to do with drift than bullet wieght. But I don't want to start an argument. I've got a nice comparison photo somewhere but I can't find it for those .22lr nutz out there. I'll try find it for you.
I'll also not get into the 'suitability' for coyote debate either.

I think I forgot to note, the one pic with the face-on shot of the squirrel actually shows the entrance would of a .17 cal bullet... just above and between the eyes. See next pic for exit wound after I pulled him outta the hole..
 
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