just aheads up if you go ground squirrel hunting/sage rats

[demontang]

There is a speices of ground squirrel that is protected and they look like townsends which the state has a state consurn on. be carefull what you shoot at

state regs
Gopher None Year Round Except mazama pocket gophers
Gray and fox squirrels None Year Round Except western gray squirrels
Ground squirrels None Year Round Except golden-mantled and Washington ground squirrels Moles None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Nutria None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Virginia opossum None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Porcupine None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Shrews None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Spotted skunk None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Striped skunk None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Voles None Year Round Hunting license required. 
Yellow-bellied marmot None Year Round Hunting license required.
Note: Olympic and Hoary marmots are protected. 

 

[BIGINNER]

IF IT MOVES.....  IT DIES!!!  LOL     JK.

[grundy53]

How can a guy tell the difference between them?

[BIGINNER]

I CAN        BUT I DON'T GIVE OUT SECRETS LIKE THAT   

[grundy53]

I CAN        BUT I DON'T GIVE OUT SECRETS LIKE THAT   

OK 

[BIGINNER]

I CAN        BUT I DON'T GIVE OUT SECRETS LIKE THAT   

OK 

LOL,  SORRY,  JUST MESSIN WITH YOU.. 

[Sumpnneedskillin]

There's two types of Golden-mantled and both look similar to a chipmunk.  As for the Washington ground it lives in the Basin,  mostly Douglas, Grant, and Adams counties.  Looking at the few pictures I found it appears to have light spots instead of all one color like CA ground squirrels.

Washington Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus washingtoni)
Order Rodentia, Family Sciuridae
General range: Southeastern Washington and small area of Oregon in Gilliam, Morrow, and Umatilla Counties.
Range in Washington: East of Columbia River from center of state southward.
habitat: Sagebrush and grassland.
diet: Herbivore.
habits: Hiberntes.
identification: Gray; white spots; short tail with blackish tip. Total length: 18-25 cm; tail: 3-7 cm; mass: 150-280 g.
conservation: State Candidate; Federal Candidate.

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis)
Order Rodentia, Family Sciuridae
Range in Washington: Extreme northeastern and southeastern corners of the state.
habitat: Wooded and open rocky areas.
diet: Herbivore, also fungus.
habits: Hibernates.
identification: Body stripes like chipmunks, but no head stripes. Head and shoulders coppery-red. Total length: 25-30 cm; tail: 6-12 cm; mass: 175-275 g.

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus saturatus)
Order Rodentia, Family Sciuridae
General range: Cascades of Washington and extreme southern British Columbia.
Range in Washington: Cascades.
habitat: Wooded and open rocky areas.
diet: Herbivore, also fungus.
habits: Hibernates.
identification: Body stripes like chipmunks, but no head stripes. Upper pair of dark lines faint. Head and shoulders coppery-red. Total length: 25-30 cm; tail: 6-12 cm; mass: 175-275 g.

[turkeyfeather]

I think the real question here is why on earth would you waste ammo on a squirrel.

[steeleywhopper]

I think the real question here is why on earth would you waste ammo on a squirrel.

My thoughts exactly.

[jdb]

you guys wondering about wasting ammo are totally missing out. its a blast amd great practice.

[CAMPMEAT]

These "sage rats" have been shot for years around here. We have hundreds and hundreds of these things where I live. They are rodents and need to be controlled. I don't know what the big debate is. Oh, I know, most of you don't know what they are. They are a huge, huge problem.

[DBZona]

So...kind of a side topic, but what tree squirrel is ruining my treestand hunting in spokane and stevens counties, cause if I can thin a few of them out I will.  Damn boogers will not shut up!    

[goosegetter79]

These "sage rats" have been shot for years around here. We have hundreds and hundreds of these things where I live. They are rodents and need to be controlled. I don't know what the big debate is. Oh, I know, must of you don't know what they are. They are a huge, huge problem.

Ain't that the truth. My grandpa's property in stevens county has quite a few of them there. They've had horses break there legs in the holes. It's a blast too shoot em with the .22lr and .22mag. and cheap.

[demontang]

Well if its a eastern gray or fox you can hammer down  


From what Ive see on washington ground squirrels is they look like the townsend and they say there only east of the Columbia and south down into Oregon. and I see this state is looking at the townsend as threatend too I see these every where and don't know why they would think they are threatend.

[Kain]