• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

January 2nd -- Sage Rats Arise!!!

jds holler

jds holler

Gold $$ Contributor
Southern Oregon Report - 1-2-25

Wah Hooo!
I was driving home to my little town which is about twenty miles from our bigger small town, and my sharp varmint killer eyes spotted two separate squeaks. It's fairly mild today, 47 degrees and calm with intermittent rain. These were in some indicator fields that I always keep an eye on when driving back and forth. The fields I shoot from are usually a little behind by comparison, but a little dry and warm weather and -- I'll be shooting.
scan0005.jpg
 
Now quit that!. Just making me itch for gophers in the ditches and possibly a new P-Dog spot I have lined up this year. I've got months though still here in ND.
 
Last year the earliest I saw them was Jan. 12. I'm thinking this must be a case of "Man Caused Climate Change". Around here, folks burn a lot of tires, ties, and tarps -- so I wouldn't be a bit surprised. :p jd
 
You're killin' me jds!
Although we see the occasional early-riser sage rat or rockchuck, we don't get serious until about late March when they start to come up. But you've got my blood pumping now with your early report!

I'm a bit hesitant to get worked up too early, as two years ago in early April, we were all set for a ten day rat shoot out east and this is what we were 'rewarded' with:



Thanks for the early report.....I think.....;)
 
In years past, I've had some pretty great shooting in the snow. Seems like these days though I may be getting a little whimpey about going out in that crap. I've got some ideas about backing the old camper up and shooting out the back door, while staying out of the wind. ;) jd
 
there was one year, about ten years ago where the squirrels never went down. we called our rancher in January just to schedule a shoot in march and he said come on up now. and we did. that was a crazy year.
 
It's kinda crazy. The field where I saw those in the original post, had nothing when we passed that spot today.

I'll go by there on our way home from church sometimes, and the squeaks are running around like crazy. -- so I'll grab my rifle and go over to where I've got permission, and -- nothing.. :rolleyes:

Eventually though, they'll be out everywhere. Then, when it gets really hot about the middle of July, they disappear like a teenager when the lawn needs mowed. jd
 
jds holler said:
In years past, I've had some pretty great shooting in the snow. Seems like these days though I may be getting a little whimpey about going out in that crap. I've got some ideas about backing the old camper up and shooting out the back door, while staying out of the wind. ;) jd
Click to expand...
Just the other day I looked at the set of chains in the corner of the bed and said to my brother..
Who am I kiddin? I ain't laying in the mud to put em on just to back outta something I should've never drove into...
 
Early season rat shooting can be snow, rain, sleet or all of the above. A nice sunny day for rats in March is as rare as snow in August.

We've used about every method known to man to get up off the snow and mud, even using (with permission) a rangeland fire truck:



And as has already been mentioned, a day of "snow painting" has it's own rewards:



Bc'z, a few years ago I sold my much-loved 75 Chevy K-10 4WD that I owned for 40 years, ordered and purchased new. I mounted a Warne 8,000 lb. winch, set back into the front end with 1/4" steel bracing. My 'new' truck is a '04 GMC 2500 HD that does all of what I want/need. BUT I did not carry the winch over to the 'new' truck. So far, so good, as now that I'm into 'geezerhood', I'm not as adventurous as I was in my youth.

So after reading your comments about the chains in your truck bed, it now makes me wonder just how long it will be until that winch is sorely missed, and I'm unable to get out of what I've managed to get myself into. I suppose caution is now the word-o-the-day, and tread lightly in the outback to avoid laying in that mud to correct something that was unintended. I'm sincerely hoping I don't miss that winch, as we all know, chit happens!
 
BC,z said,
Just the other day I looked at the set of chains in the corner of the bed and said to my brother..
Who am I kiddin? I ain't laying in the mud to put em on just to back outta something I should've never drove into...

I've been driving these rigs, or more primitive versions of them for the last 25 years. It's turned me into a big grandma about where I go -- or DON"T. Wintertime conditions around here suck, and I haven't been stuck for at least 20 of those years. I didn't get better, I got smarter.
I've done a lot of this job over where BC'z lives and it sucks even worse. You oughta see some of the pissing matches I've had when I tell a contractor the closest I can get is a quarter mile away from the job site.

My attitude carries over into my own rig, and recreation. I used to think that getting stuck and un-stuck was all good fun -- but no more. I did enough of it back in the day, and I've got the scars, pictures, and the T-shirt to prove it.. No squirrel needs killing so bad that I've gotta chain up to do it. ;)

IMG_4621.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
165,273
Messages
2,192,449
Members
78,785
Latest member
Vyrinn

Share This Page

Back
Top