Prairie dogs
- Thread starter Ghubert
- Start date
If you're in Ontario, you have the option of hunting our own, native ones. I travel west to shoot gophers too (Richardson Ground Squirrels) but if you know where to look and put a little time in, you can do quite well here on groundhogs. I started hunting them about 10 years ago I guess, and was told by lots of people on web forums not to bother/numbers aren't what they once were/they've all be shot out/mange got them/coyotes got them, etc. etc. Well, they're out there...and still being a pain in the a** to farmers. Anyhow, I may have started "too late" and will never see big-number days...but I've never known that, so I can't exactly miss it...can I? lol When hunting hard, I can usually manage about 1 an hour, but I've also shot 3 in 90 seconds. (last spring) Depends on lots of factors, but generally speaking...if you know what to look for and what their preferred habitat is, you might be surprised.
These 2 fatties were shot within 5 minutes of each other, in the same hay field, one muggy...mosquito-y 2020 summer evening. Rifle is a 204R
These 2 fatties were shot within 5 minutes of each other, in the same hay field, one muggy...mosquito-y 2020 summer evening. Rifle is a 204R
If you're in Ontario, you have the option of hunting our own, native ones. I travel west to shoot gophers too (Richardson Ground Squirrels) but if you know where to look and put a little time in, you can do quite well here on groundhogs. I started hunting them about 10 years ago I guess, and was told by lots of people on web forums not to bother/numbers aren't what they once were/they've all be shot out/mange got them/coyotes got them, etc. etc. Well, they're out there...and still being a pain in the a** to farmers. Anyhow, I may have started "too late" and will never see big-number days...but I've never known that, so I can't exactly miss it...can I? lol When hunting hard, I can usually manage about 1 an hour, but I've also shot 3 in 90 seconds. (last spring) Depends on lots of factors, but generally speaking...if you know what to look for and what their preferred habitat is, you might be surprised.
These 2 fatties were shot within 5 minutes of each other, in the same hay field, one muggy...mosquito-y 2020 summer evening. Rifle is a 204R
When you went through the 40-50 a day era, it is hard to get excited about three in an afternoon... with so few in our area, I actually feel bad about popping any... maybe they will make a comeback and I will get back on them someday, but for now, I will give them a pass.
I can quite easily get excited about 3 in 90 seconds (super rare) and I bet 3 that fast would have gotten the blood pumping in the golden era of Ontario groundhogging too. Regardless, if you feel bad about shooting a few pest animals off a friend's hay field, perhaps you're better OFF leaving them alone. For me, a day of this hunting means 4-5 hours of driving if I cover-off all the primo spots, and my best day (hunting with my nephew) we sent 16 to the great beyond. Again, if you put the time in and have access to lots of property, the action can be pretty decent.
My relationships with these farmers used to hinge on my willingness to come and deal with these things, the pressure isn't really there as much these days. Most are happy if you just take 20 minutes to chat...or even blast as many barn pigeons as you can. I'm a full service guy though-so they get all 3 out of me. Farms that only offer shots under 200 yards, I'm more inclined to use my 17 Hornet but the 204 will cover them all.
Gophers (Richardson Ground Squirrels) were incredibly plentiful when I was growing up. Used to get a bounty for their tails from the RM. Paid for my bulk .22 ammo from Montana. Lived south of Killdeer on the eastern edge of what is now Grasslands National Park right on the Montana border. If you are looking for gophers, that area south of Moose Jaw (Killdeer, Rockglen, Coronach, Willow Bunch) had plenty. If you touch base with the farmers in the Big Muddy Valley area north of Coronach and Big Beaver they would be very happy to see you I am sure. Shot there quite a bit also.
Zortman in Montana as was mentioned is prime prairie dog country. Did a geology field camp there when the gold mine was running and unbelievable number of dogs. That was some years ago.
Prairie dogs were also plentiful around Devils Tower if you go further south.
Just go and talk to the locals. They will be glad to point you in the right direction I am sure.
Zortman in Montana as was mentioned is prime prairie dog country. Did a geology field camp there when the gold mine was running and unbelievable number of dogs. That was some years ago.
Prairie dogs were also plentiful around Devils Tower if you go further south.
Just go and talk to the locals. They will be glad to point you in the right direction I am sure.
I miss ground hogs. Sadly I shot most of them when I was in my teens with my .22mag or .17hmr. I can remember having a pile of 30+ or so and my grand father being so impressed haha
The last few I shot was with the .22 250. WAY more fun picking them off at 200+ yards and waiting for the aerial acrobatics. I'm like Hoyt, Feel bad about shooting them now, not many left around here.
The last few I shot was with the .22 250. WAY more fun picking them off at 200+ yards and waiting for the aerial acrobatics. I'm like Hoyt, Feel bad about shooting them now, not many left around here.
If I felt any amount of hope that I could get down to that part of the world in the next few years...I'd be sending you a PM for more details!
Sounds like an amazing area.Last time I was in Alberta, we saw (if memory serves) 3 varieties of ground squirrels. Richardson's are what you see 99.9% of the time, but we also saw Columbian and "13 stripe" ground squirrels. We weren't hunting the spot we saw the Columbians, and we saw so few of the 13 Stripe that we made no real effort to pop one. They were far more skittish than the Richardsons, and a bit smaller. At least, in the spot we saw them.
Gophers are such abundant, willing targets...and perfect rimfire fare. Ontario groundhogs will get a break from me the moment I move west...so...that means they're still in trouble for at least a few more years.
A bit of a story on gophers in southern Saskatchewan . My dad was a customs officer, one of two that worked on the West Poplar border crossing. We lived right there. The other fellow was an avid gun owner. When asked how many guns he had he would reply 3 - rifles, shotguns and handguns. This was before customs officers were allowed to carry sidearms but because of the remote location we had guns in our home and they had a few hidden in the office should things go south. That and the Americans were packing. Two families on the other side.
Anyways, this other fellow liked to plink gophers from the office and would be looking for them and shoot them with a 22 or whatever was handy. One day he was trying to rest in the office (slow day) but one gopher had set up a hole right under his office window. Chirping away as gophers are ought to do. Well this did not go down well. Out comes a handgun and he stood over the hole for about 20 minutes not moving waiting for it to show itself. After 20 minutes, it stuck its head out and boom. No more chirping, and back he went for his nap on a warm Saskatchewan afternoon. Shades of Who has seen the wind for those who have read it.
Anyways, while at school in Rockglen, the biology lab was getting rid of some old stuffed animals. Just tossing them as they were looking the worst for wear. One of those was a Richardson in an upright position. I asked if I could have it and they said yes. Brought it home and my dad and I hatched a plan. I was usually up early heading to the river to fish or catch frogs for my trapline in the fall. So before the office opened up I stuck a metal rod out about 50 yards in front of the border office and baling wired this stuffed gopher to the rod. The office looked west over Hwy 2 with a big window. The other officer came into the office at 7am, did his weather station check and all the normal things then took out his binoculars to look for something to shoot. Sure enough he sees this gopher out there. He comes out of the office, pulls the hand gun and proceeds to shoot at this gopher, hitting it a couple times. The sucker does not fall down. Undaunted, but a bit confused he goes back into the office and grabs his 22. 5 rounds later, all on target that gopher is still eyeballing him. Now, my dad and I are off on the side watching this and trying not to laugh out loud. The other officer goes back into the office, grabs his shotgun, walks across the highway closer to the still standing gopher and lets loose. Tufts of fur and stuffing go everywhere. He turns around and heads back to the office quite satisfied with himself. Once inside my dad and I could not hold it in any longer and just busted a gut. Too funny.
Anyways, this other fellow liked to plink gophers from the office and would be looking for them and shoot them with a 22 or whatever was handy. One day he was trying to rest in the office (slow day) but one gopher had set up a hole right under his office window. Chirping away as gophers are ought to do. Well this did not go down well. Out comes a handgun and he stood over the hole for about 20 minutes not moving waiting for it to show itself. After 20 minutes, it stuck its head out and boom. No more chirping, and back he went for his nap on a warm Saskatchewan afternoon. Shades of Who has seen the wind for those who have read it.
Anyways, while at school in Rockglen, the biology lab was getting rid of some old stuffed animals. Just tossing them as they were looking the worst for wear. One of those was a Richardson in an upright position. I asked if I could have it and they said yes. Brought it home and my dad and I hatched a plan. I was usually up early heading to the river to fish or catch frogs for my trapline in the fall. So before the office opened up I stuck a metal rod out about 50 yards in front of the border office and baling wired this stuffed gopher to the rod. The office looked west over Hwy 2 with a big window. The other officer came into the office at 7am, did his weather station check and all the normal things then took out his binoculars to look for something to shoot. Sure enough he sees this gopher out there. He comes out of the office, pulls the hand gun and proceeds to shoot at this gopher, hitting it a couple times. The sucker does not fall down. Undaunted, but a bit confused he goes back into the office and grabs his 22. 5 rounds later, all on target that gopher is still eyeballing him. Now, my dad and I are off on the side watching this and trying not to laugh out loud. The other officer goes back into the office, grabs his shotgun, walks across the highway closer to the still standing gopher and lets loose. Tufts of fur and stuffing go everywhere. He turns around and heads back to the office quite satisfied with himself. Once inside my dad and I could not hold it in any longer and just busted a gut. Too funny.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
thanks for that! Too funny!
