All is well in the world (at least in SW Montana) as I spotted my first Ground Squirrels of the year this late morning (March 7th).
I was on my way home from ice fishing and saw 4 Gophers in two different fields - they weren't feeding or chasing just standing in the sun (41 degrees) at the mouths of their dens.
Traveled the same road yesterday and saw none.
It's been a LONG winter hereabouts.
Come on spring.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Mud season coming soon.

Saw my first one a week ago...

Living here in Vermont I totally understand! That’s a great sign of things to come!

Don't shoot them all before I get there the end of April.

Pleeeeeze?

Kenlguy: Okay - I'll try to hold off til you get some trigger time.
Snow squall blew through here this afternoon - I was revved up to go whack a few "snow Gophers" (we call this "painting the snow" hereabouts) - but alas the ground was to warm and the snow melted right away.
Maybe tomorrow.
Drive careful.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I think ours got some decease, They were thick as flees for awhile and now we barely see any.

Just a Hunter: Dang that is a shame.
What quadrant of Montana are you in where this disease may have struck?
Much cooler hereabouts today (high of 40) and a bit windy - so in my travels today I did not see any more.
Come on spring.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

We've been shooting the tar outa Columbian ground squirrels here for weeks now.
Need to knock off as many as we can around the barns, before they have kits.

I talked to a friend today about it and we came to the conclusion it might be our cats. He had a place near Great Falls that was over run with gophers until he got some barn cats. Soon there were none in the yard and then there were none in the pasture, The neighbor has plowed up his field across the road from us the past 2 years in a row too. There used to be a lot in that field. All combined it is probably what did them in.

Blacktail53: Good for you guys!
I am at 5,300' elevation and some of my Hunting haunts are at 6,000' plus so I imagine the emergence of our Gophers is delayed by the cold factor here at this elevation?
What elevation are you at?
Keep after'em.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I saw two gophers yesterday. First of the year.

There have been a few 40+ degree days here in central Idaho and I have seen a couple of heads sticking up, thinking maybe tomorrow I may have to go out for a while.

drover

It reached high 40's and sunny today so I went out for a couple of hours. There were only a few up but lots of fresh digging so they are becoming active, another couple of weeks and they should be busy. Got a total of nine - 5 between100 - 125 yds with the 17 HMR and 4 closer ones with the 22 LR.

drover

Drover: Good report - getting my juices flowing.
Keep after'em!
This weekend I have an out of state friend in and hoping the weather will be conducive to our Varmint Safari.
Will be fun to visit with him no matter what.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

We went out to Elko Nevada last weekend and shot quite a few of them. Well worth the 4 hour drive to get there.

Crittrgittr: Good for you and your crew.
Ground is still a bit mushy here in the places it has thawed out - so I am holding off a bit.
Keep after'em.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I got my first ground squirrel of the season a few days ago....

not with a 223 or 22.250..... actually got it with the right front tire on my 4 Runner....

the tire made it go "Splatt" just as well as the 223 or 22.250.

got one I'm tracking right now, in the yard digging new holes on the creek bank...

its just a matter of time, before he meets Mr. 17 HMR.....

Yep Mushy here too, but I got a report from a rancher friend last night" I'm gonna send you to that big pasture you were shooting in last year, I was just in there, bring more bullets!"

I saw the third gopher of the season on our place. I may have to shoot cats to get them to come back, but actually I don't want them (even though I enjoy shooting them) since I already almost had to put down a horse that stepped into a gopher hole and tore up the ligaments and tendons in his leg.

Cats/gophers. All the same, all need killin!!

Update at 3 PM Oregon Time.... Sammy Sage Rat met Mr 17 HMR.....

Sammy Sage Rat is no longer with us....

Mr. 17 HMR did what Mr 17 HMR was designed to do....

Is that the extent of your rat hunting for the year?

The 17 HMR and sage rats are a perfect match I love it when the two meet. If I didn't have sage rats to shoot I would not even own a 17 HMR.

drover

I have a Henry varmint express in 17hmr I picked up last winter that needs to get it's first kill yet. Time to get after some gophers and badgers. I hate the mess badgers make