Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
We just returned from a four day trip giving flying lessons to all the squirrels who would show up each morning for 'lessons'. We were set up in eastern Oregon on an alfalfa ranch infested with the grass munchers. The landowner is a very generous fellow who has us bring our travel trailers and park on ranch property. We even have water and electrical power, so in the evenings there is always good "guy movies" after barrels are cool and clean.
Our shooting positions were mostly set up at the base of a large prominent rock outcropping, so at the edge of the irrigated field we could gain a few feet of elevation in order to see the little buggers in the alfalfa, which was almost too long already to see them even when standing, especially at ground level:
Looking past my setup and rig is our good buddy "Hemiallen" shooting his 223AI and giving Skippy no quarter:
The rock bluff with all its nooks and crannies. We had hoped for some rock chuck action, but none have moved into this area just yet (the two-track we're set up on can be seen at the very base of the bluff):
Calibers on this trip by those in attendance ranged from 22LR (belt pistols), 17HMR, 17HH, 22 K-Hornet, 20VT, 221FB, 204R, and of course the 223 Rem. My Cooper M38 Phoenix in 221FB overlooking the rat patch with her Leupy VX3 6.5-20X LR 40mm aboard. Interestingly, out of six shooters, each with an average of five rifles with him, virtually ALL wore Leupold glass.
Dan at rat camp working on his LR skills with his Modified M700 in 7.62 on a rock outcropping "way out there":
Sundown over another great day at rat camp. The overall rat count was the feeling that most of our shooting was at juveniles, and only a few nice plump adults. That naturally made for some challenging shooting, as the young-un's are smaller than a soda can by about half. Challenging makes us better, right?
So until after first cut, the alfalfa is now too long to shoot, so it's time to head out into the junipers and cruise the rock piles in search of our elusive buddy, the rock chuck. Think I'll take my Cooper Furball out this time again, as she's only had her way with squirrels....time for the "big stuff".
Our shooting positions were mostly set up at the base of a large prominent rock outcropping, so at the edge of the irrigated field we could gain a few feet of elevation in order to see the little buggers in the alfalfa, which was almost too long already to see them even when standing, especially at ground level:
Looking past my setup and rig is our good buddy "Hemiallen" shooting his 223AI and giving Skippy no quarter:
The rock bluff with all its nooks and crannies. We had hoped for some rock chuck action, but none have moved into this area just yet (the two-track we're set up on can be seen at the very base of the bluff):
Calibers on this trip by those in attendance ranged from 22LR (belt pistols), 17HMR, 17HH, 22 K-Hornet, 20VT, 221FB, 204R, and of course the 223 Rem. My Cooper M38 Phoenix in 221FB overlooking the rat patch with her Leupy VX3 6.5-20X LR 40mm aboard. Interestingly, out of six shooters, each with an average of five rifles with him, virtually ALL wore Leupold glass.
Dan at rat camp working on his LR skills with his Modified M700 in 7.62 on a rock outcropping "way out there":
Sundown over another great day at rat camp. The overall rat count was the feeling that most of our shooting was at juveniles, and only a few nice plump adults. That naturally made for some challenging shooting, as the young-un's are smaller than a soda can by about half. Challenging makes us better, right?
So until after first cut, the alfalfa is now too long to shoot, so it's time to head out into the junipers and cruise the rock piles in search of our elusive buddy, the rock chuck. Think I'll take my Cooper Furball out this time again, as she's only had her way with squirrels....time for the "big stuff".
Working on that now. Took Furball out for a rock chuck walkabout yesterday.......with the expected results. 
