Oregon Sage rat report...Is February too early

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

My shooting buddies and I have put together several 17HM2 rifles specifically for Sage Rats aka Belding Ground Squirrels.

Mid February would normally be too soon but weather hasn't been normal lately.

Any critter sightings in Burns/Crane area or Klamath Falls?

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Any critter sightings in Burns/Crane area or Klamath Falls?

Short answer: No, still a bit early. You might see one or two mid afternoon if it's sunny though.
It's been in the teens nightly, and our favorite rodent likes it just a tad warmer.
Won't be too much longer though.

If you're a 17M2 fan, I suppose you don't shoot much past 100 yards?

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

Thanks Rick. I just chatted with a rancher in Klamath Falls who said snow and snowy weather are there now.
Definitely time to get gear ready though. Like you said won't be too much longer.

I shoot the mach2 out to 75+ yards then reach for a 17HMR for shots to 150+
One farm I shoot at doesn't allow 22Mag or Centerfire.
The 17rimfires get all the work when we can't reach for the Fireballs and Vartargs.

22LR still gets action though.
Never fails, there's always a squeaker close to where you are sitting that needs attention.
22LR 45gr subsonic zeroed at 25 yards handles those shots.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

22LR still gets action though.
Never fails, there's always a squeaker close to where you are sitting that needs attention.
22LR 45gr subsonic zeroed at 25 yards handles those shots.

HA! "Needs attention"....love it!

When out for Skippy and his pals, I always have a 22LR pistol close at hand too. Usually one of my Kimber's with the 22LR conversion aboard. Can't let the sneaky little buggers get too close!



Tick-tock.....getting closer by the week.

 

[L.Sherm]

If you luck out you might get to shoot them on top of the snow.
Red mist and its harder for them to find there hole.

 

[Whisky Tahoe Foxtrot]

The Kimber appears to be in the ready position

 

[jxb]

It's been pretty warm in Burns/Crane area, warmer than the usual March weather when they are up. Once they come up even if it freezes or snows some will be out daily but might go down early or easily.

Back to your question. Call over to the Crane cafe and ask (assuming they are still there), they will definitely know if the rats have been out and volume. Same is true for other areas, ask someone who's there with them daily, they will know when they first come up.

 

[Varmint Shooter]

This is what LSherm"s post was saying.

 

[dbingen]

When shooting them in the snow, the field looks like it has measles!

…D

 

[Rick300]

Once they come out they have to stay out no matter the weather. Makes it easy to see the hits!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Yup, early rat shooting can result in "snow painting".



With snow on the ground, the rats stand out like a turd in a punch bowl!
We've had some interesting ways to git 'er done too.....



But loading rifles with frozen fingers is not the hot setup. Clear skies and warm temps makes it all so much more enjoyable. For us.....not so much for the rats.

We woke up this morning with snow on the ground. Sunny and warm all winter so far, and when it gets close to the rats coming up....it snows! It's a commie plot I tell ya!

 

[centerlineseal]

Nice repurpose on the Firetruck, ... to the "Fire!" truck!

 

[jds holler]

I'm in Klamath County, and January 15 is when I start seeing them. This year is no different.
Now, a lot of the fields won't be traversable because of mud, but the squirrels are out there.

It's almost like the same thing (daylight hours?) that makes the coyotes rub, also make the squirrels wake up. I think it may be sexually motivated, but I'm rather inexperienced in those matters.
jd

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I'm in Klamath County, and January 15 is when I start seeing them. This year is no different.
Now, a lot of the fields won't be traversable because of mud, but the squirrels are out there.

Yup, the best way to piss off a landowner around this time of year is to drive out onto his fields.
No bueno! And forget getting invited back......ever.

 

[L.Sherm]

Yup, the best way to piss off a landowner around this time of year is to drive out onto his fields.
No bueno! And forget getting invited back......ever.

100% quickest way to piss off a farmer just put ruts in his field.
The wheat farmers were I live now want you to stay on a 2 track and not mash down the Stubble so it acts as a catch for the snow to get more moisture.

 

[tominboise]

If you walk out into the fields, pretty soon your boot soles will be 6" thicker this time of year.

We've had a very mild winter here in SW Idaho, so the squirrels should be out on any nice day. I need to get out and check - trying to stay out of the mud and ruining the two tracks.

 

[searcher]

If you luck out you might get to shoot them on top of the snow.
Red mist and its harder for them to find there hole.

Easy to spot and difficult to range with most laser rangers. Hard to hold off on follow-up shots when the first impact can't be seen. Can be very frustrating when shooting them way out there. But no problem seeing the squirrels, that's for sure!

 

[searcher]

I have made my trips around the first week of April. some years, they have already been out for several weeks, but most of the ones we are shooting are babes not long out of the den be a week or two. I've been there where we shot in the snow in early April the entire trip. I kind of liked that (even shooting while it was snowing) but tough on long shots as my laser just bounded off the snow and couldn't get distance readings worth a darn.

 

[Ackman]

Easy to spot and difficult to range with most laser rangers. Hard to hold off on follow-up shots when the first impact can't be seen. Can be very frustrating when shooting them way out there. But no problem seeing the squirrels, that's for sure!

Yes. It's not like in the movies where bullets make a splash in the snow. They just go right in with no clue about where. I've been real frustrated zeroing a new-to-me rifle / scope against a snowy bank.

 

[Ackman]

HA! "Needs attention"....love it!

When out for Skippy and his pals, I always have a 22LR pistol close at hand too. Usually one of my Kimber's with the 22LR conversion aboard. Can't let the sneaky little buggers get too close!



Tick-tock.....getting closer by the week.

Groundsquirrels aren't real smart. One ranch I shot, had a 22-250AI one the hood shooting chucks on a hillside. All around the place was lousy with groundsquirrels, the 22Mag was for those. Some almost close enough to whack with the rifle barrel. So, a different field I shot was thick with squirrels, more than you could imagine. That trip I took a golf club, just to see. In that field I actually walked up to one and whacked it with a 10deg driver.....thunk, it went maybe 30'. No others were that obliging. This was the stupidest, or most trusting rat in the field, it surprised me ge that close. I hit it around for a little while. On a par 3 it might have taken 40? strokes with that squirrel.....they don't putt well.