Post by: Carl on March 01, 2013, 11:47:40 AM
I’m thinking about a weekend trip, anywhere. I’ll go wherever they are; I’m just not sure where that is.
I’ve heard some farmers are willing to let you shoot them because they destroy banks of irrigation canals, and they’re also a problem in vineyards.
If anyone can point me in the right direction, I would be very grateful. I’m just starting my research on this, so I don’t know yet if there is a best time of year for this or not.
I do have some .22LR bullets saved up for this! :chuckle:
Thanks,
Carl
Post by: JohnVH on March 01, 2013, 11:52:33 AM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 01, 2013, 01:46:08 PM
Post by: Carl on March 01, 2013, 02:50:00 PM
Post by: buckfvr on March 01, 2013, 03:10:11 PM
Post by: Southpole on March 01, 2013, 03:13:34 PM
Post by: Carl on March 01, 2013, 03:44:19 PM
Other than that, its almost like askin where we hunt deer. :chuckle:
Oh NO!! :yike: I didn't know it rose to that level - please forgive me. :chuckle: :chuckle:
But seriously, I wouldn’t ask for any spots people put time and money into finding. :bdid:
I really didn’t think many people were after these critters. :dunno:
I’ll study up on what sort of terrain they like and approach it that way.
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 01, 2013, 06:25:00 PM
I guess you need an out-of-state license, right? :yike:
No, at least we never bother getting one... we are always on private property.
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on March 02, 2013, 07:39:31 AM
Post by: buckfvr on March 02, 2013, 07:53:16 AM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 02, 2013, 08:23:31 AM
How difficult is it to get access to shoot rats? My dad and I have been talking about going to central Oregon for this, but would only have about 4 days to spend. Don't know how much door knocking would be necessary. We'd probably use 17hmr and 22's mostly, and a few longer shots with the 223's and 22-250's. might be fun for my young son to cut his teeth behind the rimfires. :)
Just knock on doors and tell them you'd like permission to shoot squirrels. I doubt that you will ever get turned away unless the farmer has livestock in the field. But at the same time, you may get info on where you CAN shoot them!
Post by: WaltAlpine on March 02, 2013, 08:36:39 AM
Post by: Carl on March 02, 2013, 10:51:06 AM
Post by: Carl on March 02, 2013, 10:58:33 AM
I'll try and find such places. I would love to take some kids (1 at a time) to do this. It would be a great introduction to hunting and offer lots of opportunity to teach them safety.
When my son comes to visit from college, I know he would have a blast.
Thanks again to everyone,
Carl
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 03, 2013, 07:20:20 AM
Central Washington, alfalfa fields adjacent to rock buttes.
Your'e talking about Rockchucks. Different animal than Ground Squirrels.
Post by: Jburke on March 04, 2013, 09:50:59 AM
Different animal, still a pest though! You can also find them in orchards a lot of timesCentral Washington, alfalfa fields adjacent to rock buttes.
Your'e talking about Rockchucks. Different animal than Ground Squirrels.
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 04, 2013, 08:52:50 PM
Different animal, still a pest though! You can also find them in orchards a lot of timesCentral Washington, alfalfa fields adjacent to rock buttes.
Your'e talking about Rockchucks. Different animal than Ground Squirrels.
Yes, they can be fun to shoot too, but unless it's a Damage Control situation, I like to wait until June to give momma rockchuck time to wean the pups. :twocents:
Post by: Carl on March 04, 2013, 09:20:14 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 05, 2013, 07:13:21 AM
Post by: turkey slayer on March 07, 2013, 07:47:15 AM
Post by: wence5 on March 15, 2013, 04:18:10 PM
Post by: wence5 on March 15, 2013, 04:20:22 PM
Post by: CastleRocker on April 09, 2013, 03:31:52 PM
Didn't keep track of the rats. Only went through five boxes of HMR and I didn't pop a cap with the 22's as the wind was whipping both days we shot.
Post by: mountainman on April 12, 2013, 08:19:03 PM
Post by: CastleRocker on April 15, 2013, 03:35:26 PM
Wife's longest run offhand was 7 consecutive, distances from about 35yds to 77yds. Her farthest was a 206 yard sage rat. Took her two "warning shots" before connecting, but that's still a looonnnng shot in that wind with a 22lr. She said she held right at six mils of wind. It's amazing how long it takes between the sound of the shot and the SMACK of impact to get back to the shooter.
For those of you who have never done it, I would advise you never, ever go. If you like to shoot, this is a real addicting sport. The alfalfa and grass fields are getting tall enough that by the end of the week the shooting will be pretty much done until after the first cutting. At least where we were.
Got some good long range Rock Chuck shooting in with the big rifles as well.
Looking forward to the next time!!!
Post by: iusmc2002 on April 20, 2013, 09:30:34 AM
Danny only has his bear rifles, so he was nailing them with a .350 Rem Mag and a .375 Win. Distances were around 100 meters, +/-. We ended up with 10, Danny had 7 1/2 and I got 2 1/2 :chuckle: (He hit one, but I was quicker on the reload and finished it off, so we counted it as half for each of us. I think he was being nice to his host since he was outshooting me hahahaha) All in all, it was a good couple hours. We got some trigger time in, and helped out my older neighbor, who was very grateful!
Post by: hunting4sanity on April 20, 2013, 10:12:14 AM
Post by: havoc1300 on April 20, 2013, 11:47:41 AM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on April 20, 2013, 08:07:30 PM
They are fun little guys to hunt, but not everyone lets you shoot at them. I saw some the other day on a place that allows no shooting, I was messing around with a new spotting scope I bought so I was trying to take pics through the spotter, I looked farther over to the side and saw the 'Whistle Pig Inn.' I'd like to have gotten a look at them through a scope with crosshairs.
Those look like a bunch of juveniles. The older ones get more brown on them as they get older, like the ones in usmc2002's pictures. the young'uns are mostly gray. cool pictures!
Post by: Carl on April 21, 2013, 02:59:39 PM
I have yet to make it out :bash:
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on April 21, 2013, 03:11:40 PM
Post by: iusmc2002 on April 21, 2013, 04:09:57 PM
Great pictures, hunting4sanity. :tup:
I have yet to make it out :bash:
Danny and I drove around outside Hunters, on Hunters-Springdale Rd and some roads off there, found a field that was FULL of holes and ended up getting permission to shoot for 2.5 hours. Danny got 6 with a .22 and I got 4 with the .243 because I SERIOUSLY underestimated the range! I was thinking 150-175 meters, when I lazed it, one of the shots I took was just over 300 :bash: The wind was pretty crazy, but that was no excuse for firing 29 rounds and only having 4 confirmed kills. 3 others were wounded, but I never did find them. the 75gr VMax just seem to eviscerate those little things!