Author Topic: Closest prarie dog or sage rat shooting to NW Washington St? (Read 1210 times)

zthang43 · « **on:** June 26, 2004, 08:43:07 PM »

I'm in northwest Washington state (up above Seattle a ways) and would like to do a little PD or sage rat shooting. Actually I don't know the difference between the two; I know prarie dogs but what are sage rats? I've heard of them in Oregon. Is there anything close to the Bend, OR area? I'll be visiting there around Labor day and wouldn't mind shooting something.
If anyone can direct me to a general location at least, it would be greatly appreciated.

Loki_762 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 27, 2004, 09:38:27 PM »

I have seen sage rats (aka ground squirrels or gophers) in eastern Washington. I have seen them in some of the canyons around Ellensburg, and I have heard that there is supposed to be a bunch of them around Naches and Yakima, if you know the right spots. There are also rockchucks in Washington, once again on the east side of the state. If you are looking for something to shoot on the west side, you may be able to find some bunnies, but they are not in season until October. Other than that, the closest thing we have to varmints over on this side of the hill is starlings. :? Believe me, I feel your frustration. I am going camping outside Ellensburg in a couple of weeks, and I hope to thin the squirrel population a little then with my .17 HMR. Whereabouts are you located? I am in Edmonds.

zthang43 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2004, 03:32:57 PM »

So sage rats are just ground squirrels? Do you know if they have them in the Bend, OR area?
I'm in the Burlington/ Mount Vernon/ Sedro Woolley area (about 30 miles south of Bellingham.

Loki_762 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2004, 08:26:39 AM »

"Sage Rat" is just a general term for any type of burrowing rodent that lives in the desert near some green grass. The ones I have seen are gophers. I have also seen ground squirrels, but these tended to be at the bases of foothills in the rocks. From what I have heard, there are a bunch of them in Eastern Oregon, but I have not experienced this myself.
Good luck.

Mark C. Kimmell · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2004, 07:12:47 PM »

:grin: I have hunted them the first of May down at Fox,Oregon just South of Long Creek,Or. and North of Mount Vernon,Or. There was alot of them to shoot at. Went through 1500rds. of 22lr. in two days. The Rancher's love it when we come down and help them with their ground squirrels. Just go down there and start knocking on doors and ask them permission to hunt them. They will lead you in the right direction. Mark.

zthang43 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2004, 08:32:07 PM »

Thanks for the info. Are they still out at all around Labor Day?

Sidewinder · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2004, 06:51:49 AM »

Better check the hunting regulations. Ground and gray squirrels are protected in Washington. :evil: There are lots of ground squirrels in the Bend Oregon area, but it has been a few years since I hunted them there.

Loki_762 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2004, 12:11:57 PM »

I have checked the regulations, as well as the WDFW website, and I can find nothing about ground squirrels being protected. I know of several people that hunt ground squirrels in Washington. Now, I know that the Hoary Marmot is protected, but if ground squirrels are protected too, I have a lot of people to inform. Can you tell me where I can find information on ground squirrels being protected?
Thanks.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2004, 08:34:09 PM »

The california ground squirrel and belding's ground squirrels, the two most common, are not protected in the state of Washington, they are considered fare game. The state has signs in the areas near and in the Klickitat Wildlife area where the california ground and western gray squirrels share habitat. The signs show the difference between the two so varmint hunters don't shoot the western grays which are protected. Other protected squirrels are the golden-mantled, and cascade golden-mantled, washington ground, red, douglas, northern flying squirrels. Basically the difference between the california ground and western grays is the grays have a huge tail as long if not longer than its body. There is a list of protected species on page 19 of the 2004 Big Game Hunting pamphlet.

http://wildlifedamage.unl.edu/handbook/handbook/allPDF/ro_b159.pdf

Loki_762 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2004, 11:11:30 PM »

Thank you for clarifying that. I went out this last weekend and got a few with my.17 HMR, and I was feeling a little bit guilty. I will be sure to spread the word when people bring it up.