jxb
Gold $$ Contributor
I thought I'd start off my first post with a subject that has always been near and dear to me. Sage rat season. I saw the post for '22 but none yet for 2023 so figured I'd start it off. If you don't mind please post the general area you shot/shoot as well since there are many on the dry side.
A few of us used to go to Crane area in the 90's and later, this was before fee shooting got a foothold. Mostly shot centerfire both reloads and bulk purchase to supplement (until one of the guys got a 650XL), but always took plenty of 22LR and 17HMR just in case we ran out. Usually we just packed it back and forth, high power was our thing. We only shot places with a hill behind so that limited our options some, but also meant we weren't competing with the mostly 22LR shooters back then. We mostly shot one place as they had so many rats we didn't even need to move our benches, same spot every day.
Between this and work getting in the way I haven't been back (to shoot) for over a decade now, I go to SE Oregon regularly just not for rats and until recently was only shooting for big game season. Our youngest got into shooting and peaked my interest again, oh boy did he but that's another story, lol. Anyhow as I get closer to retirement I'm getting back into shooting/reloading and of course poking around forums looking at what the opportunities might be. I think fee shooting is fine for those that are into it, just not for me. I don't pay to shoot varmints, it's costly enough without a fee added to the mix. I do like reading everyone's reports though. I shoot 22LR, 17HMR, 204 Ruger, 220 Swift, 22-250, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 7mag. Multiple of each which is almost mandatory if the rats are thick. Before my approaching 30yr career in IT, I spend my life working farms and ranches both Oregon and Idaho so I'm very cow and pipe aware, as well as don't drive except where told, leave no trace, etc.
I might make it over that way for a few days this spring and plan to visit some of the landowners I used to frequent. Not so much cause I think they have opportunities but cause they know everyone and hopefully can point me to someone still allowing non-fee shooting. I can always bring my gongs and work on my LD shooting, and of course do some fishing (anywhere the ice is off). Soon enough I'll have springtime free so I'm more in the prep for then mode while my contract work continues to keep me tied up.
-- Jeff
A few of us used to go to Crane area in the 90's and later, this was before fee shooting got a foothold. Mostly shot centerfire both reloads and bulk purchase to supplement (until one of the guys got a 650XL), but always took plenty of 22LR and 17HMR just in case we ran out. Usually we just packed it back and forth, high power was our thing. We only shot places with a hill behind so that limited our options some, but also meant we weren't competing with the mostly 22LR shooters back then. We mostly shot one place as they had so many rats we didn't even need to move our benches, same spot every day.
Between this and work getting in the way I haven't been back (to shoot) for over a decade now, I go to SE Oregon regularly just not for rats and until recently was only shooting for big game season. Our youngest got into shooting and peaked my interest again, oh boy did he but that's another story, lol. Anyhow as I get closer to retirement I'm getting back into shooting/reloading and of course poking around forums looking at what the opportunities might be. I think fee shooting is fine for those that are into it, just not for me. I don't pay to shoot varmints, it's costly enough without a fee added to the mix. I do like reading everyone's reports though. I shoot 22LR, 17HMR, 204 Ruger, 220 Swift, 22-250, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 7mag. Multiple of each which is almost mandatory if the rats are thick. Before my approaching 30yr career in IT, I spend my life working farms and ranches both Oregon and Idaho so I'm very cow and pipe aware, as well as don't drive except where told, leave no trace, etc.
I might make it over that way for a few days this spring and plan to visit some of the landowners I used to frequent. Not so much cause I think they have opportunities but cause they know everyone and hopefully can point me to someone still allowing non-fee shooting. I can always bring my gongs and work on my LD shooting, and of course do some fishing (anywhere the ice is off). Soon enough I'll have springtime free so I'm more in the prep for then mode while my contract work continues to keep me tied up.
-- Jeff