Rock ckucks

[Imr1966]

Are Rock Chucks,Marmots in the Naches hts. area? One of the field men that works for the same company I work for says they are up there.They have told me to go up and hunt them,any one have any info? Are these the critters I would be hunting for?

[Imr1966]

Yes,I did steal the pic from a previous post.Trying to verify.

[bowhunterwa87]

Yup

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

To what purpose?


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[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Interesting...didn't know marmots were destructive.


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[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Interesting...didn't know marmots were destructive.


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me neither, cows just don't step in holes

I wasn't being obtuse on purpose. I've only seen them in the high country. Didn't know they caused the same problems as PDs.


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[Imr1966]

Well I got a yup,which either means they are there or I stole the pic.And I got a what for,they want them gone because of destruction.I guess I will get the small game license I have a go at it.I have also heard about the dog population up there.

[jackelope]

Interesting...didn't know marmots were destructive.


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me neither, cows just don't step in holes

I wasn't being obtuse on purpose. I've only seen them in the high country. Didn't know they caused the same problems as PDs.


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Different brand name in the mountains.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Yes, I've seen them climb trees and bushes to eat the buds before the vegetation comes up.  If they are causing damage to crops, I say shoot them.  Out in the wilds, I wait until late May, when the pups are weaned and on their own.  I just can't see shooting a female, and having her litter starve to death in the burrow, if they aren't causing damage to trees or crops.

[jackelope]

I wouldn't see a need to shoot the critters up high in the mountains.

[Skyvalhunter]

  Leave them alone in the high country

[runamuk]

basically woodchuck, rockchuck, yellow bellied marmot all same critter different names, in the lowlands the little buggers dig holes and damage crops, they are similar to sage rats, gophers, coyotes, etc plentiful and often considered vermin.  All depends on where you were raised I suppose, why kill moles they don't harm anything and they only eat worms.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

I wouldn't see a need to shoot the critters up high in the mountains.

Ok I'm glad you guys clarified. I was having a real hard time understanding why guys were wanting to shoot these guys up high. To me that's wanton killing with no purpose.

I had a little family I took quite a few pictures of last year that were pretty neat.

So what is the species up high called?


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[Heredoggydoggy]

There are 3 species of marmot here: Olympic, Hoary, and Yellow Bellied.  The first two are protected in WA, and the Yellow Bellied Marmot is the one we have here in Eastern Washington, and is not protected.  At higher elevations, there is a little guy called a Pica, that kind of resembles a short-eared rabbit, and inhabits rockslides, mostly.  They are also protected.  In short, only the Yellow Bellied version can be hunted any time, and they can be fun to hunt. 

[jackelope]

We had pikas all over where we were in the ALW last year and the hoary marmots were around too. Just a few here and there.

[jackelope]

basically woodchuck, rockchuck, yellow bellied marmot all same critter different names, in the lowlands the little buggers dig holes and damage crops, they are similar to sage rats, gophers, coyotes, etc plentiful and often considered vermin.  All depends on where you were raised I suppose, why kill moles they don't harm anything and they only eat worms.

What I know as a woodchuck from back east is not the same as the yellow bellied marmots in e-wa. Moles harm my lawn. I hate those things. Must Rasbo buys the skins off of me.

[Imr1966]

I wouldn't hunt up High,they are not bothering anything there.Low lands just because of damage.Jackalope,I used to have a lot of moles in my lawn.I found that they do not like Scotts fertilizer,turf builder.I am thinking that it is the nitrogen or phosphorus,it probably burns the piss out of them.

[Skyvalhunter]

I believe it's because the fertilizer chases away the worms which is their food. Less worms less moles.

[boneaddict]

Its all about common terms.   Groundhogs, which are the big fatties are around, though I don't tend to shoot them at the moment as mommas are making babies and I like to foster that crop.   Then you have Grey diggers, and sage rats to shoot.  Up high, the whistlers or hoary marmots are protected as are the golden mantle squirrels which look like giant chipmunks, I also think most of the other squirrels are protected here as well.

[boneaddict]

People just like to shoot and kill things I think.   I saw two guys this weekend out on the Lt shooting meadowlarks with their .22s.   Real brilliant. 

[bhawley76]

I think there kind of cool, I have seen them quite a few times on the republic football field in the evenings I have never seen anyone fall and break there legs there.

[outdoorsdad]

From my experiences several years ago, they are a nuisance pest around the orchards and farmlands.  Very similar to the damage caused by ground squirrels.  Damaged irrigation lines, burrow holes to run equipment into and the damage they do to the trees or crops.  The vineyards owners have their share of problems with them too.

[jasnt]

Careful about handling them after the shot. They carry alot of flees and can be carriers of plague. I personally shoot them anywhere I find them.  It can be an amazing challenge. Especially when there educated.  Full camo and stealth are a must. Great practice!  We used to have alot here on the farm till gramps started paying for my ammo to wipe them out. Now I hunt them in my special spots

[bugs n bones]

Man that sounds like fun