Gopher Hunting

lostarrow · #1 03-07-2011, 09:08 PM

With all the snow and poor weather we've been having, how will this affect the gopher population? I don't know enough about the little critters but what about their food supply? Do they just tunnel further looking for roots and such, or do they stay asleep? Curious if the weather will impact hunting themas well. Anybody an expert on Richardson Ground Squirrels?

vinny · #2 03-07-2011, 09:24 PM

I can vouch that in the south they are definitely not staying asleep! They're everywhere.

lostarrow · #3 03-07-2011, 09:27 PM

What about in areas with heavy snowfall. Do they dig out?

3rivers · #4 03-07-2011, 10:51 PM

i dont know about where you are but here in the south there is still alot of snow on the ground and i have already shot somewhere in the 200 range they are having no problem down here.

lannie · #5 03-08-2011, 04:33 PM

Lots of gophers out today, got about 50 in 90 minutes just north of Cowley.

#6 03-09-2011, 09:33 AM

You guys down south get those chinooks way more than us up north. is that why you guys got all these gophers comin out?

lannie · #7 03-09-2011, 10:08 AM

2 days ago they were out and it was -18. Many gophers were out. Yesterday it got close to zero and there were lots out.(little wind). Some of the fields have them, some do not. I think it is more the wind that does the trick, No matter how much snow we get, once you are on the east side of hwy 22 the wind can blow any amount of snow off the fields. They don't pop out of the big drifts. I am just heading out again for a couple of hours to check it out. Again just north of Cowley.

HunterDave · #8 03-09-2011, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitetalehunter12

You guys down south get those chinooks way more than us up north. is that why you guys got all these gophers comin out?

I'm up in the Edmonton area and I know that there won't be any gophers around for awhile yet. I still have almost 3' of snow in the backyard. Who knows what kind of spring we'll have but last year we had a good amount of snow and I wasn't shooting the little critters until mid-April. We've got another month up here before there's any real gopher action..........unless we have some kind of incredibly fast spring melt.

Jamie Black R/T · #9 03-09-2011, 02:25 PM

I was painting the snow red last spring in early march according to stamp my camera left on the pictures just west of edmonton. I suspect ill be seeing a few around home in the next two weeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterDave

I'm up in the Edmonton area and I know that there won't be any gophers around for awhile yet. I still have almost 3' of snow in the backyard. Who knows what kind of spring we'll have but last year we had a good amount of snow and I wasn't shooting the little critters until mid-April. We've got another month up here before there's any real gopher action..........unless we have some kind of incredibly fast spring melt.

HunterDave · #10 03-09-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie Black R/T

I was painting the snow red last spring in early march according to stamp my camera left on the pictures just west of edmonton. I suspect ill be seeing a few around home in the next two weeks.

Yeah, it all depends on what kind of spring that we have and how soon it gets here. Ground could come poking through the snow on the sunny side of hills, etc pretty quick I guess.

marlin1 · #11 03-10-2011, 08:36 AM

supposed to be 8 today , may go for a drive this afternoon and see what's about east of Cowtown

trapshooter · #12 03-10-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marlin1

supposed to be 8 today , may go for a drive this afternoon and see what's about east of Cowtown

Did you find anything?

marlin1 · #13 03-10-2011, 09:57 PM

dropped a coyote , saw some gophers then the cold front came in , saw over 20 yotes actually all in one section

coyotekiller · #14 03-13-2011, 09:36 PM

saw a gopher today. he is dead

Git r Done · #15 03-14-2011, 06:46 PM

I have seen about six around the stony plain and wabmun area within the last two days.

scooter123 · #16 03-14-2011, 06:52 PM

I shot one while out coyote hunting on sunday just south of the stettler area!!!!

gitrdun · #17 03-14-2011, 06:56 PM

I nailed two of them today, with the SKS FMJ. While getting eggs from my Hut friends.

just_dave · #18 03-14-2011, 09:47 PM

Squished gophers all over the highways in the south here.

Icefisher2885 · #19 03-14-2011, 09:55 PM

Starting to come out in full force SW of that Hat! Had some fun with them while coyote hunting the other day.

decker · #20 03-14-2011, 10:03 PM

I shot a few yesterday, there is still 2 feet of snow in the pasture. Not too often you have to wear snowshoes to shoot gophers.

thepyrofish · #21 03-15-2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by just_dave

Squished gophers all over the highways in the south here.

Drove from Barons up to Cross Iron Mills and back yesterday. Squished gohpers everywhere and quite a few running around the edges of the highway.

Got Juice? · #22 03-15-2011, 09:52 AM

with our extended winter snow, the gophers are coming out hungry!

hassihand · #23 03-22-2011, 04:04 AM

Hi All...are they out around Calgary area yet? Any land owners looking for help cleaning em out? If so, PM me and i'll get back to you ASAP.

Cheers,
HH

Alberta Bigbore · #24 03-22-2011, 07:59 AM

Soooooooo sick of winter.

i want to mistify gophers

Jamie Black R/T · #25 03-22-2011, 09:19 AM

Im 45 mins west of Edmonton and they were all over the place last weekend....havent seen many in the past few days since this weather blew in though

Its kinda fun blasting them on top of 2 feet of snow LOL

densa44 · #26 03-22-2011, 10:00 AM

Look for the holes that are open, under certain weather conditions you'll see "steam" coming out of the hole. There will often be a coyote standing very still down sun of the "live" holes.

Shoot lots, this is the only time both males and females are on the surface at the same time.

Farmers can now buy the "good stuff" to poison the little bastards so shoot them as fast as you can!