GT Accuracy
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I have never hunted them, so I'm curious - which states are the go to locals for rock chucks?
Best states for rock chucks?
- Thread starter GT Accuracy
- Start date
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
Central Oregon is not bad .
Had a Ranch with Piles of rock rows .
Some Mornings 37 in Two Hours .
CZ 453 .22 Rim very sporty .
Some BLM land out on the High Desert lots of rocks .
Lost my Ranch when the Lady moved .
Had a Ranch with Piles of rock rows .
Some Mornings 37 in Two Hours .
CZ 453 .22 Rim very sporty .
Some BLM land out on the High Desert lots of rocks .
Lost my Ranch when the Lady moved .
Last edited:
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
Sad but certainly true. Even when things are just basic simple fun recreational shooting, as soon as someone figures out a way to make a $$ from it it doesn't take long and the exploitation begins turning what was once fun inexpensive recreational shooting we did as kids with our dads into guided hunting trips costing $500-$500++ per day. And there's people nearly standing in line to pay it. Seems crazy when I think of what people are willing to pay, for things I grew up doing on the weekends with my dad for nothing more than a few bucks for gas and 22LR ammo. They've just about priced the average blue collar dad right out of it and the shooting isn't even nearly as good as it used to be. Makes me really appreciate the "good" years.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
For high quantity shooting, you need lots of rocky hills interspersed with cultivated fields. (especially alfalfa)
For natural, "free roaming" chucks, plenty of lava rock burps and berms, with at least a little natural grass around.
We've got it pretty good in my area of Oregon. jd
For natural, "free roaming" chucks, plenty of lava rock burps and berms, with at least a little natural grass around.
We've got it pretty good in my area of Oregon. jd
Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
jds nailed it above.
For those 'free roaming' chucks, areas that offer high elevation near timberline that has alpine meadows are prime for Rocky and his buddies too. It involves a hike, a bit of work, but very well worth the effort for areas that offer our beloved mountains. Of course those irrigated alfalfa fields bordered by rocky hills are the chit. But of course that usually requires landowner permission, and I'm finding that some ranchers wives seem to think they're "cute" (usually a recent city arrival) so off limits at those places now.
If you're willing to work the high country with a good rifle/bipod, the reward is well worth it.
And the work involved is good for us into geezerhood now, stay active, shoot much.
For those 'free roaming' chucks, areas that offer high elevation near timberline that has alpine meadows are prime for Rocky and his buddies too. It involves a hike, a bit of work, but very well worth the effort for areas that offer our beloved mountains. Of course those irrigated alfalfa fields bordered by rocky hills are the chit. But of course that usually requires landowner permission, and I'm finding that some ranchers wives seem to think they're "cute" (usually a recent city arrival) so off limits at those places now.
If you're willing to work the high country with a good rifle/bipod, the reward is well worth it.
And the work involved is good for us into geezerhood now, stay active, shoot much.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
A little story for ya about my own personal childhood rock chucks.
I grew up in a neighborhood that butted up into juniper and sage hills starting at our back yard. Part of at the area back there consisted of eight or ten small hills or lave burps surrounded by sage and goose berry brush. Every one of these lava burps was a den for chucks, and long tailed digger squirrels.
I got my first 22 rifle when I was twelve, and started my passion for stalking and shooting these critters. I wasn't the only kid after these chucks, but I was for damned sure the most dedicated. As you might imagine, the first few came pretty easy at ranges of fifty to a hundred yards. After that, the survivors were smart, and it was pretty much gonna be a head shot at over a hundred yards. They got good and lounging in places where they were safe from being seen, and there was no surrounding high ground to provide me with an elevated view-point.
Even still, over the next few years, I killed EVERY rock chuck in those hills. There was still some long tail diggers up there, but the chucks were extinct for several years. I felt kinda bad about it, and it was a lesson I've never forgot. By the time I was sixteen, I was damned happy to expand my hunting area with my own vehicle. I also became the owner of my beloved 218 Bee, and my varmint shooting really took off. jd
I grew up in a neighborhood that butted up into juniper and sage hills starting at our back yard. Part of at the area back there consisted of eight or ten small hills or lave burps surrounded by sage and goose berry brush. Every one of these lava burps was a den for chucks, and long tailed digger squirrels.
I got my first 22 rifle when I was twelve, and started my passion for stalking and shooting these critters. I wasn't the only kid after these chucks, but I was for damned sure the most dedicated. As you might imagine, the first few came pretty easy at ranges of fifty to a hundred yards. After that, the survivors were smart, and it was pretty much gonna be a head shot at over a hundred yards. They got good and lounging in places where they were safe from being seen, and there was no surrounding high ground to provide me with an elevated view-point.
Even still, over the next few years, I killed EVERY rock chuck in those hills. There was still some long tail diggers up there, but the chucks were extinct for several years. I felt kinda bad about it, and it was a lesson I've never forgot. By the time I was sixteen, I was damned happy to expand my hunting area with my own vehicle. I also became the owner of my beloved 218 Bee, and my varmint shooting really took off. jd
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