Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 02:31:08 PM
Post by: NW-GSP on February 16, 2014, 03:13:30 PM
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 03:43:39 PM
Post by: NW-GSP on February 16, 2014, 03:46:28 PM
Post by: fowl smacker on February 16, 2014, 04:21:51 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 04:28:51 PM
Post by: PolarBear on February 16, 2014, 04:42:57 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 04:57:31 PM
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 05:17:11 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 05:26:56 PM
Here at my place it is close quarters, I have had them pop up right behind me. I had on of the little turds on my front step earlier today. You can literally sit and shoot them within 30 feet of you all day here. No real long range with all the orchards and vineyards. Between my landlord and the rest of the property owners here there are hundreds of acres to shoot them in, and the owners are generally happy to let you do it!
Sounds like you have a good pellet gun area. I've heard the little buggers are making inroads into the Yakima area...
Post by: Chukar on February 16, 2014, 05:28:26 PM
These are not protected...yet. Townsend, Columbia and California Ground. These are found not so much in the middle of the "sage" part of the State but around Walla Walla (small pockets in the farmlands) and primarily 1500-2000 foot elevations outside Kittitas/Kilckitat). They are about a foot long. Not so much spotted. Flicky smaller tail.
The Cali Ground is a lover of rocks, boulders with some elevation and Oaks. Bigger. Fluffy tail. Oak Creek drainage is a common zone on down south.
The Columbia is outside Spokane in the pines and pastures nearby. Big. Orange to reddish on the sides. Disappear once summer comes.
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 05:32:17 PM
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 05:35:43 PM
Post by: Chukar on February 16, 2014, 05:36:21 PM
Every year the squirrel threads start and every year I see guys describing areas and even posting pics of areas that primarily hold WA State Ground Squirrels or dead ones. The other squirrels are being considered protective status currently...mistaking targets and posting dead pics of protected species can only accelerate the process.
Know your stuff friends.
Post by: Chukar on February 16, 2014, 05:42:44 PM
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 05:44:52 PM
Post by: Ole man fintucky on February 16, 2014, 05:48:42 PM
Post by: Chukar on February 16, 2014, 05:55:58 PM
One last try...don't post dead pics of em, don't brag about hundreds of rounds being tossed in areas that hold em...I like my legal shooting areas and Don't want them ruined because of ignorance or willful disobedience based upon myths like depredation.
Good shooting bros
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 06:02:48 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 06:05:50 PM
Post by: Chukar on February 16, 2014, 06:13:11 PM
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 06:15:07 PM
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 16, 2014, 07:17:04 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 08:46:47 PM
Btw, if anyone wants to come by and shoot some let me know. I'm sure the door is open!
You may get some visitors one of these days--where we go in Oregon is better than a 6 hour drive... And I have 3 pellet guns! :tup:
Post by: PolarBear on February 16, 2014, 08:59:28 PM
Can't believe how excited I can be over a little rat!That's what Richard Gere said! :chuckle:
Post by: BLR 243 on February 16, 2014, 09:05:51 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 09:42:29 PM
Love shootin rats in MT.
I know guys that go to MT to shoot rats and Prairie Dogs. Some places there the residents call the Ground Squirrels "Gophers". Never been there myself.
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 17, 2014, 08:29:15 AM
Post by: Birdguy on February 17, 2014, 03:07:47 PM
Chukar, that is one of the best educational posts I have seen on here in a long time....THANK YOU. I would suspect any additional info and pictures you could offer on this topic would go a long way in helping more people do the right thing and help keep them all inside the law :IBCOOL:. So many figure "if I can see them they are fair game" people like you sharing solid knowledge is a big help.
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 26, 2014, 11:20:56 AM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 26, 2014, 11:43:51 AM
Not a ton out yet at my place or my dads. Tipped over about 50 last weekend.
Great! You should start seeing more now that they are running out of winter food stores and are venturing out to forage for food! :tup:
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 26, 2014, 11:50:37 AM
Post by: bhawley76 on February 26, 2014, 12:26:19 PM
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 26, 2014, 02:08:20 PM
Quote
Now the hard part is bullets are so hard to come by I don't really want to burn up whats so hard to replace
That's why I use a pellet gun now.
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 26, 2014, 05:13:25 PM
I grew up in Montana my dad would take me out with him and you could not bring enough bullets, That was a great time I sure do miss it. Now the hard part is bullets are so hard to come by I don't really want to burn up whats so hard to replace
That is the main reason many of the target smallbore (22 rimfire) shooters have gone to pellet guns. .22 match grade ammo is unavailable now! And they were pleasantly surprised at the accuracy, too... :tup:
Post by: ICEMAN on February 26, 2014, 05:53:34 PM
Not without a study, visit, a permit and a whole lotta trouble. No way they can be taken legally unless expressed permission and good luck with that.
One last try...don't post dead pics of em, don't brag about hundreds of rounds being tossed in areas that hold em...I like my legal shooting areas and Don't want them ruined because of ignorance or willful disobedience based upon myths like depredation.
Good shooting bros
Chukar, great posts and pics. Good info for all of us, thanks.
Post by: Grizzly95 on February 26, 2014, 09:19:10 PM
Post by: Imr1966 on February 28, 2014, 08:05:29 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 28, 2014, 08:24:19 PM
I have seen no spots,no long tales,no orange.I looked at a web site from another poster,It looks like the Richardson ground squirrel to me,or close to it.I don't see how this species can be endangered or protected that I have opened fire on.I can go to the orchards I have been going to and just about kick them in the head by 3's and 4's,they are absolutely everywhere.Memorial Day last year,I killed over 700 in 2 days and I could not even tell I was there the following weekend.Just my .02.Some on here seem to want to have a p**ing match every time I post,Just saying.
You will get no grief from me. Anything that puts someone's livelihood at risk, In the words of Achmed The Dead Terrorist: "I keel you!" :chuckle:
Post by: ar_nick on March 05, 2014, 12:58:07 PM
Post by: 2labs on March 23, 2014, 02:23:52 AM
Btw, if anyone wants to come by and shoot some let me know. I'm sure the door is open!
Grizz. I live a little east of you. Would love too whack some rats! I ride the wine country bike path in the A.M and the rats are thick. Shoot me a P.M.
Post by: jdb on March 29, 2014, 06:11:41 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on March 29, 2014, 07:43:59 PM
Post by: jdb on March 29, 2014, 10:28:35 PM
Post by: Imr1966 on April 03, 2014, 06:52:09 AM
Post by: boneaddict on April 03, 2014, 07:15:20 AM
I whacked a few today
I never stop. I am finally getting them under control.
Post by: boneaddict on April 03, 2014, 07:17:00 AM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on April 03, 2014, 07:39:14 AM
Post by: Imr1966 on April 03, 2014, 06:21:26 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on April 03, 2014, 06:44:11 PM
Where I have been going in Outlook things look to be getting thinned out.Last year was very high numbers,started out this year high,now on the decline.I have been trying to get some new locations.I have another company orchard,Grandview is a long ways to go from Yakima,and shooting is tight with the .17.They want me to airgun them.Been shooting them in the 100 to 150 yd.range with the HMR.I may be going this weekend,depends on yard work and "HD'S" aka "honey dos".
I have 4 airguns--actually, 3 rifles, and an air pistol with a shoulder stock, all scoped, and real accurate PCP guns. also have a SCUBA tank to fill them. You are welcome to use one, if I can shoot one too! Sunday would be best, but I'm game for anything! I love shooting those little suckers... :tup: 3 of my air guns have shrouded barrels. All you hear is the thunk of the air valve! :chuckle:
Post by: dontgetcrabs on April 03, 2014, 07:18:42 PM
Where I have been going in Outlook things look to be getting thinned out.Last year was very high numbers,started out this year high,now on the decline.I have been trying to get some new locations.I have another company orchard,Grandview is a long ways to go from Yakima,and shooting is tight with the .17.They want me to airgun them.Been shooting them in the 100 to 150 yd.range with the HMR.I may be going this weekend,depends on yard work and "HD'S" aka "honey dos".
Females are underground birthing right now. Only the males are out and about. Try again in a couple weeks.
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on April 04, 2014, 07:11:48 AM
Where I have been going in Outlook things look to be getting thinned out.Last year was very high numbers,started out this year high,now on the decline.I have been trying to get some new locations.I have another company orchard,Grandview is a long ways to go from Yakima,and shooting is tight with the .17.They want me to airgun them.Been shooting them in the 100 to 150 yd.range with the HMR.I may be going this weekend,depends on yard work and "HD'S" aka "honey dos".
Females are underground birthing right now. Only the males are out and about. Try again in a couple weeks.
That's why I don't shoot rockchucks until June. Gives the female time to wean the pups. I think sage rats are like tribbles--the females are born pregnant! :chuckle:
Post by: boneaddict on April 04, 2014, 07:14:18 AM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on April 28, 2014, 07:48:55 PM
Post by: actionshooter on May 04, 2014, 06:30:43 PM
Big Squirrel shootin' weekend in Oregon coming up! Didn't go last year because my sister came to visit for a week, and everybody else had things to do. This year, everybody else canceled, but I'm going anyway. A buddy whose son and he went with me last time asked me to take his son with me this year. He's a squirrel-shooting little guy anyway, so it should be fun! Taking our pellet rifles this time, so it should be good inexpensive shooting. Besides, I have to try out my new 10-22 build, too! I'm really excited to go this year! :tup: :tup: :tup:
Just got back from a couple of days in Oregon..... we had decent shooting but got some bad news from one of the farmers. There is new poison that came out that's 98% effective. There are fields we have been shooting for years and have had several 1000+ round days, there wasn't a single rat in those fields :(
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on May 05, 2014, 07:30:11 AM
Post by: deereman on May 07, 2014, 08:20:05 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on May 07, 2014, 08:48:28 PM
I went to eastern Oregon also last weekend. Had a blast! Called it "carnage asada". The birds ate well last weekend. Got the same news from the ranch we hunted on that all his neighbors had poisoned their fields. Needless to say there was hunters everywhere camped out next to his fields which were loaded with squirrels.
Always a good time! The 12-year old kid who went with me had a blast with my pellet guns. One tidbit we found out was that if you are a "newbie" to Oregon Ground Squirrel shooting, if you go to the county courthouse (Wallowa County) when they are open, they have a list of ranchers who WANT you to shoot their Squirrels. So if you go, there's really no excuse for not finding a place to shoot if you are there for the first time! :tup: One place we go, the owner told us to shoot one narrow fenced-off pasture, and in the morning the cattle would be moved out and we could shoot the whole field the next day! :chuckle:
Post by: outdoorsdad on May 10, 2014, 11:49:38 AM
Post by: uber on May 18, 2014, 10:59:14 PM
Post by: actionshooter on May 19, 2014, 09:37:03 PM
so I've never been hunting before, but would love to get into it.. if I wanted to cut my teeth on a squirrel hunt in Oregon, do I need to get a small game permit from the state? I browsed their website, but didn't see anything about squirrels.Its like the military........don't ask, don't tell
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on May 22, 2014, 01:35:51 PM