First Oregon Sagerats 2022 Season

[Kittitas George]

Heading back over for a two day shoot Thursday morning , the weathers going to be cooler so I’m sure its going to be slower shooting. I’ll post more pictures Friday night when I return and give a update.

I think Herter Lake is not only further north, it maybe a little higher also. I'm waiting for a friend to arrange some shooting for us, it's a new area to us. He knows lots of folks that want the sage rats gone. We're older guys that only shoot bolt actions, are very safe, kill a lot of sage rats and usually get invited back. We got crowded out by guides near Burns a number of years ago, but before that is was "get those guys back here". We'll be in Montana the end of April for a couple of weeks, which is always a good trip. Have a good trip, travel safely.

 

[B23]

We got crowded out by guides near Burns a number of years ago, but before that is was "get those guys back here".

With so many guide services doing sage rat shoots and the amount of shooters they all have on a daily basis for three months makes me wonder how good the shooting still is in the Burns/Crane area. I know the last time I was there and that's been a few years ago the shooting wasn't nearly as good as it was the previous years.

 

[old_heli_logger]

Last year the Crane area was on fire with sage rats!
Good luck!
Steve

 

[Kittitas George]

Last year the Crane area was on fire with sage rats!
Good luck!
Steve

We are finding more places are using poison, but the Crane area with the bird refuge near by doesn't seem to use it. I read in a Burns Chamber of Commerce ad that a 200 acre hay field can have up to 10k sage rats. Each one eats 14 pounds of hay in 3 months. Years ago a hay farmer said he lost 3 acres per cutting to rock chucks. That hay farm is now an orchard. The farmer's at Crane may make as much off the guides and shooters as the hay. That's good for the farmer. Harney county doesn't have much for work or wages, many, many people are 'up against it'. But, motels, food, travel and 'guides' which is really just an access fee, puts that area out of my budget.

 

[S&G Custom]

We are finding more places are using poison, but the Crane area with the bird refuge near by doesn't seem to use it. I read in a Burns Chamber of Commerce ad that a 200 acre hay field can have up to 10k sage rats. Each one eats 14 pounds of hay in 3 months. Years ago a hay farmer said he lost 3 acres per cutting to rock chucks. That hay farm is now an orchard. The farmer's at Crane may make as much off the guides and shooters as the hay. That's good for the farmer. Harney county doesn't have much for work or wages, many, many people are 'up against it'. But, motels, food, travel and 'guides' which is really just an access fee, puts that area out of my budget.

Yes they are , most are using poison cabbage and it’s allot of money , most of the guys I shoot for dont poison much thank goodness. I shoot between 25,000 to 35,000 rounds a year on the ground , this year will be allot different with the price of ammo unfortunately!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

But, motels, food, travel and 'guides' which is really just an access fee, puts that area out of my budget.

Lived here in sage rat and rock chuck country for 50 years and have seen the number of ranches available to shooters dwindle mainly due to land being locked up by "outfitters". It's nothing like it used to be, now one is fortunate to have one or two coveted places to shoot each spring. Once you find a friendly host, it's imperative to treat him and his land like a treasure, because that's exactly what it is.

The number of new shooters discovering just how much fun rat shooting is also helps to diminish the number of places, especially the ones who don't have years of experience using their good field manners, leaving empty brass, dirty cleaning patches and their trash behind. Now local rat shooters that have been doing it for decades are being pushed out by 'city boys' able and willing to pay these fees that did not exist some years ago.

I'm fearing that our sport will soon become a pastime of the wealthy, just like guided elk hunts. I'm also glad that I'm no younger than I am, having lived in what I now refer to as "The Golden Age of Shooting". It's not so 'golden' any more, sadly.

The Good News? Our annual "Rat Rodeo" is on as usual this year, coming up soon. Don't know how many years I've got left, or how long we'll be able to pull these shoots off, so really looking forward to this one coming up. All loading done, rifles ready. Now the weather issue.......

 

[S&G Custom]

Lived here in sage rat and rock chuck country for 50 years and have seen the number of ranches available to shooters dwindle mainly due to land being locked up by "outfitters". It's nothing like it used to be, now one is fortunate to have one or two coveted places to shoot each spring. Once you find a friendly host, it's imperative to treat him and his land like a treasure, because that's exactly what it is.

The number of new shooters discovering just how much fun rat shooting is also helps to diminish the number of places, especially the ones who don't have years of experience using their good field manners, leaving empty brass, dirty cleaning patches and their trash behind. Now local rat shooters that have been doing it for decades are being pushed out by 'city boys' able and willing to pay these fees that did not exist some years ago.

I'm fearing that our sport will soon become a pastime of the wealthy, just like guided elk hunts. I'm also glad that I'm no younger than I am, having lived in what I now refer to as "The Golden Age of Shooting". It's not so 'golden' any more, sadly.

The Good News? Our annual "Rat Rodeo" is on as usual this year, coming up soon. Don't know how many years I've got left, or how long we'll be able to pull these shoots off, so really looking forward to this one coming up. All loading done, rifles ready. Now the weather issue.......

Morning Rick,
One more thing to add is that all of the guys down in the Klamath basin are taking out their Alfalfa fields and switching to grain fields and other crops that pay more so when they do that it kills most of the squirrel. Not sure about your area ?

 

[moorepower]

Yes they are , most are using poison cabbage and it’s allot of money , most of the guys I shoot for dont poison much thank goodness. I shoot between 25,000 to 35,000 rounds a year on the ground , this year will be allot different with the price of ammo unfortunately!

You need to look into PCP airguns, shooting slugs.

 

[Mike Montgomery]

Wow, this is about the earliest ever for the rats. It usually comes on about the end of February or early March. You guys are fortunate to be able to get out this early in the season.

Rick,
I saw the first Rock Chuck this year on January 15th. Last year it was February 5th and the year before February 7th. All near Pendleton, Oregon.

Mike

 

[snert]

The worst plague for us Klamathites is the Kali transplants building houses on all the spots where we used to shoot squirrels.

Forgive me Lord, I don't mean to offend anyone who might be sensitive about plagues, California, trans-anything, house building, spots of any kind, or squirrel killing. jd

Sounds like your new neighbors are liberals (you apologizing an all)

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Rick,
I saw the first Rock Chuck this year on January 15th. Last year it was February 5th and the year before February 7th. All near Pendleton, Oregon.

Mike

Mike, that's the earliest I've ever heard of them coming up. But considering the "winter" we've had so far, guess it makes sense. Mid-Feb is the usual time in these parts, but only if the weather has been sunny for a few days above freezing.

 

[Mike Montgomery]

Prior to this year's January 15th sighting February 5th was the earliest I had ever seen them.
Mike

 

[Fern]

Man I would love to do a road trip visiting different areas with Rick chucks safe rats p dogs
My bests friends mom is doing pretty bad health wise and has accepted the fact she will be gone this year sometime.
his dad who is like a father figure to me (took me to African safari and gone hunting together) will need lots of distractions if he loses his wife. Been helping my friend stock up on ammo (lots of 22) as both his girls love going to the range with grandpa.
might have to go explore areas and pack some toys and reloading gear

 

[Liven The Dream]

The worst plague for us Klamathites is the Kali transplants building houses on all the spots where we used to shoot squirrels.

Forgive me Lord, I don't mean to offend anyone who might be sensitive about plagues, California, trans-anything, house building, spots of any kind, or squirrel killing. jd

JDS,
Tumalo Area is for Sh--.
Buying up everything ,then fence it up like a Compound .
More Dear with Broken Legs...........
You Know the Dogs need room ????

 

[TheCZKid]

JDS,
Tumalo Area is for Sh--.
Buying up everything ,then fence it up like a Compound .
More Dear with Broken Legs...........
You Know the Dogs need room ????

I'm in Bend, and it's ludicrous how much housing has gone up, and everything around here... I thought about Tumalo years ago, but no $$$ now. Lots of deer with broken legs, yup. At least the bucks know to stay in town during hunting season!

 

[Rick in Oregon]

I'm in Bend, and it's ludicrous how much housing has gone up, and everything around here... I thought about Tumalo years ago, but no $$$ now. Lots of deer with broken legs, yup. At least the bucks know to stay in town during hunting season!

Yup, in the past two years, the biggest 4x4 mulies I've seen were both spotted in residential neighborhoods, right in town! These boys figure it out right quick.

Here in the Bend area, during the late 70's to the early 90's, we'd take our rifles to work, then spend a couple of hours shooting squirrels on the edges of town. Now those same places are all built up with yuppie condo's or spendy houses purchased by CA refugees that none of us here can afford. Progress......right.

 

[Ray123]

I lived in Bend in 1972 & 73 it was a small town, about 10,000 people...before it was developed, marketed, sold, redeveloped, sold again, and finally destroyed, ...160 000 people later.
You could shoot varmints most anywhere on the outskirts of town. A new FHA house with 2.5 acres of high desert land were selling for $14,000.

 

[TheCZKid]

I lived in Bend in 1972 & 73 it was a small town, about 10,000 people...before it was developed, marketed, sold, redeveloped, sold again, and finally destroyed, ...160 000 people later.
You could shoot varmints most anywhere on the outskirts of town. A new FHA house with 2.5 acres of high desert land were selling for $14,000.

I'm in Bend too, that sums it up pretty well! "Poverty with a view" I believe the phrase is.

 

[ebb]

That looks to be what a 17 was designed for.

 

[Tesoro]

I live on the south oregon coast and looking forward to my annual rat shooting excursion. I knew we were all screwed when they start calling it rat 'hunting'. This year I will head over to Fields to look for some new ground.