Most common range and shooting positions for blacktail

[Fred@Exterra]

Just some clarification for everyone reading along… when we talk about shooting squirrels, we aren’t talking about killing tree squirrels. We are talking about ground squirrels. Also known as gophers, whistle pigs, diggers, prairie dogs (incorrectly in Oregon & Idaho), and a dozen different names. These are a destructive, cannibalistic, plague carrying varmints that tears up ag land & are shot and poisoned by the millions every year. Not some cute little tree dweller that chirps & eats nuts.


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[Taudisio]

Just some clarification for everyone reading along… when we talk about shooting squirrels, we aren’t talking about killing tree squirrels. We are talking about ground squirrels. Also known as gophers, whistle pigs, diggers, prairie dogs (incorrectly in Oregon & Idaho), and a dozen different names. These are a destructive, cannibalistic, plague carrying varmints that tears up ag land & are shot and poisoned by the millions every year. Not some cute little tree dweller that chirps & eats nuts.


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Yes, gray squirrels are tree squirrels and there is a season and bag limit for them. Ground squirrels aka California ground squirrels around here (beldings ground squirrel aka sage rats out east) are open to all with a hunting license around here in OR. I believe the same goes for CA, but you have to use non-lead.

Small game hunting in Oregon | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Small game species provide a variety of hunting experiences throughout the state and are an excellent way to introduce new hunters to hunting. Only the appropriate hunting license is necessary to hunt small game (no tags or permits). There are three major categories of small game in Oregon...

myodfw.com

 

[SaltyAquaholic]

Just some clarification for everyone reading along… when we talk about shooting squirrels, we aren’t talking about killing tree squirrels. We are talking about ground squirrels. Also known as gophers, whistle pigs, diggers, prairie dogs (incorrectly in Oregon & Idaho), and a dozen different names. These are a destructive, cannibalistic, plague carrying varmints that tears up ag land & are shot and poisoned by the millions every year. Not some cute little tree dweller that chirps & eats nuts.


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Yeah I didn’t hear them called squirrels at all in South Dakota. And Florida has gophers but they’re pretty few and far between. So when you guys were talking about squirrel hunting I’d figured you were talking about tree squirrels.

 

[SaltyAquaholic]

Just some clarification for everyone reading along… when we talk about shooting squirrels, we aren’t talking about killing tree squirrels. We are talking about ground squirrels. Also known as gophers, whistle pigs, diggers, prairie dogs (incorrectly in Oregon & Idaho), and a dozen different names. These are a destructive, cannibalistic, plague carrying varmints that tears up ag land & are shot and poisoned by the millions every year. Not some cute little tree dweller that chirps & eats nuts.


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You guys have both gophers and ground squirrels. South Dakota called their prairie dogs whistle pigs but you guys don’t have any prairie dogs. What’s the species name, not common name of the squirrels you’re talking about?

 

[Taudisio]

Read my post above and go to the second link. It shows you the info you are seeking

 

[SaltyAquaholic]

Yes, gray squirrels are tree squirrels and there is a season and bag limit for them. Ground squirrels aka California ground squirrels around here (beldings ground squirrel aka sage rats out east) are open to all with a hunting license around here in OR. I believe the same goes for CA, but you have to use non-lead.

Small game hunting in Oregon | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

Small game species provide a variety of hunting experiences throughout the state and are an excellent way to introduce new hunters to hunting. Only the appropriate hunting license is necessary to hunt small game (no tags or permits). There are three major categories of small game in Oregon...

myodfw.com

Read my post above and go to the second link. It shows you the info you are seeking

I don’t live in Oregon, there’s an Oregon ground squirrel and a Washington ground squirrel as well as several sub species of gopher of Washington. The dates and bag limits for squirrel don’t apply to Washington.

https://www.eregulations.com/washington/hunting/tagging-transporting-game - according to this basically all native ground squirrels are illegal to kill as well as the western gray squirrel. As far as I’m able to understand the regulation. It’s basically only the California ground squirrel that’s legal, but its range in Washington seems pretty limited. At least from what I can google.

But we’re getting further off topic then I’d like to be so we’re going to move on and get back on track with black tail.

 

[BlacktailTracker]

Walking around and off-hand shooting ground squirrels is how I grew up. Less targets in the mountains, but I makes spotting them just as difficult.

Sweet vapor trail. I'm gonna film some .22lr squirrel blasting through my spotter this year.