Huntin them at night after a hot summer day in the middle of a ground squirrel area can be very productive. Getting permission from landowners, sheriffs and Fish and Game to shoot at night is a huge PITA and as meant to be a deterrent from doing so. After one night shoot here in Idaho me and two of our sons shot 7 in about a one square mile. Cycles come and go with some of their food sources so it depends.
Farmers and rancher are usually accommodating as these critters can mess up irrigation plans and animal legs.
They can be tough to kill and I have got them with 22-250, 223, 22lr and archery gear. As a kid I remember using some of our Wyoming trips to buy some cherry bombs for putting down what looked like occupied badger holes and then waiting around like dumb idiots to see if anything came out. Many times it didwork.