Gopher Hunting

[Sr. Mints]

I understand the need to keep them under control, but count me as another one who hates killing animals. We had to shoot them at my uncle's farm when we were kids. I always missed.

In the middle of winter about a decade ago, I was driving down a side street and drove over what I thought was a clump of snow that had fallen off the underside of a car. At the last second I saw it was a pigeon, but it was too late. Poor little thing was just trying to get warm or something, and I feel bad all this time later.

We had a mouse about four years ago, and the mousetrap didn't kill it--it would bounce around every few seconds. So I filled a bucket of water and dropped the mouse and trap in in and held it down with a shovel for about five minutes just to make sure. Murder-Death-Kill. Murder-Death-Kill. Still feel bad about that one too.

[BlackArcher101]

One came out in the snow this week, and was probably the fattest one I have ever seen. How is that possible?

[ranchlandsselling]

nm

[Delthefunky]

yyyyyyyyeah about to dust off the 'ol .45

[Northendzone]

I thought this was about

http://www.google.ca/search?um=1&hl=...11l392l2.2l4l0

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

IMO the best way to take care of these pests on your property is to pour a smidgen of kerosene or gasoline down every hole you can find, let the fumes settle for a bit and then drop a match. Flash fried gopher for everyone.

There are two kinds . . . . .

The ones that run around on top of the ground and the nocturnal ones you never see that leave big mounds.

Richardson ground squirrels and Northern Pocket Gophers.

Dogs take care of the first ones and I trap the other ones, with light being the bait.

Interestingly, when I first moved to the country 14 or so years ago and was confronted with the first, very cute Richardson Ground Squirrel digging in my yard, I called the Humane Society and asked them how to move it.

The nice lady on the phone laughed and suggested flames, concussion grenades or traps . . . . which shows you where Richardson Ground Squirrels rank on the endangered species list.

I don't kill 'em unless I have to. Then I kill them.

Cowperson

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Russic

I guess I'll be the first one to speak up and say that I hate killing gophers. I have to phrase it that way because I do shoot them. My parents have land outside the city that the gophers will just decimate if you don't keep the population down. There are many animals around that scavenge so we don't like using poison and relocation ... well ... you tell a farmer that you'd like to release 200 gophers on or near his land and see how long it takes you before he's hunting you.

I always feel bad for them. It's not as if they are doing anything to bother me on purpose, they're just being gophers. Still, I'll be out there in a few weeks with the old gun and a whole lot of guilt! I've tried like hell, but I just can't get enjoyment out of ending the life of an animal. I personally don't see the big difference between a gopher, house cat or a dog when it comes to the value of life.

I'm far from a PETA activist ... If I could find a way to eliminate my need for vegetables and replace it with a larger serving a meat I absolutely would. Yes I have guilt over this too, just not enough to stop eating it.

Perhaps if you were to skin, gut and quarter the little buggers and take 'em home for the wife to cook there'd be less guilt tripping?

[Traditional_Ale]

I've never been shooting gophers before. Where/how do I sign up?

[ken0042]

A couple of tricks I tried:

- Carbon Monoxide down the hole. Easiest way I found was to close the escape holes, then light a couple of bottle rockets aimed inward. Close the hole as soon as you light them.

- Juicy Fruit gum. Must be the sticks; twist the stick by holding only the wrapper. The gopher eats it but cannot pass it. Cruel way to go; but with neighbours having small kids, cats and dogs playing in my yard I didn't want to risk poison.

However, the single most effective thing to do is have the Province tear up the field beside your house to build a Ring Road. My neighbours referred to that day as "Gophergeddon." Apparently the coyotes weren't bothered by the heavy machinery for the chance at the gopher buffet.

[Kybosh]

You haven't lived until you've driven a combine and looked down in the field to see various vermin running for their dear lives in front of the thresher.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by ken0042

A couple of tricks I tried:

- Carbon Monoxide down the hole. Easiest way I found was to close the escape holes, then light a couple of bottle rockets aimed inward. Close the hole as soon as you light them.

- Juicy Fruit gum. Must be the sticks; twist the stick by holding only the wrapper. The gopher eats it but cannot pass it. Cruel way to go; but with neightbers having small kids, cats and dogs playing in my yard I didn't want to risk poison.

However, the single most effective thing to do is have the Province tear up the field beside your house to build a Ring Road. My neighbours referred to that day as "Gophergeddon." Apparently the coyotes weren't bothered by the heavy machinery for the chance at the gopher buffet.

Nazi!

Nazi!

Hilarity!

[MelBridgeman]

Guns? the ol snare works just fine thank you

[LGA]

I miss gopher hunting, I feel like I should drag some friends along this year. My most spectacular gopher kill was when I accidentally beheaded one while digging a trench...

[Vulcan]

A couple of years ago while erecting the roller coaster at Callaway Park, during a break I casually threw a spud wrench at a gopher about 20' away. Surprised myself by spearing him cleanly and felt badly after as I don't believe in taking any life without a good reason.



I guess gophers can be a problem in some cases but killing them for sport isn't my idea of a good time.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by ken0042

However, the single most effective thing to do is have the Province tear up the field beside your house to build a Ring Road. My neighbours referred to that day as "Gophergeddon." Apparently the coyotes weren't bothered by the heavy machinery for the chance at the gopher buffet.

Same thing when they started excavating for the new runway. There were dead gophers about every 10 feet along 36th street.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Russic

I guess I'll be the first one to speak up and say that I hate killing gophers. I have to phrase it that way because I do shoot them. My parents have land outside the city that the gophers will just decimate if you don't keep the population down. There are many animals around that scavenge so we don't like using poison and relocation ... well ... you tell a farmer that you'd like to release 200 gophers on or near his land and see how long it takes you before he's hunting you.

I always feel bad for them. It's not as if they are doing anything to bother me on purpose, they're just being gophers. Still, I'll be out there in a few weeks with the old gun and a whole lot of guilt! I've tried like hell, but I just can't get enjoyment out of ending the life of an animal. I personally don't see the big difference between a gopher, house cat or a dog when it comes to the value of life.

I'm far from a PETA activist ... If I could find a way to eliminate my need for vegetables and replace it with a larger serving a meat I absolutely would. Yes I have guilt over this too, just not enough to stop eating it.

I would imagine a case of beer and an invitation here to the first annual CP/Mr and Mrs Russic gopher hunt would probably see all of your problems disappear without you having to kill a thing

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

You haven't lived until you've driven a combine and looked down in the field to see various vermin running for their dear lives in front of the thresher.

Do you cut the field into a smaller and smaller square in the middle and then send the dogs in when its down to a few dozen yards or is that just a British thing?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

One came out in the snow this week, and was probably the fattest one I have ever seen. How is that possible?

Santa Gopher,

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by Tyler

The rouge on your neck is overwhelmingly bright

I remember 1969, 22s bristling outside my dads 1967 ford custom, bullets flying every which way (safely if you can imagine), as we explored any road allowance we thought was productive.
Grouse or anything that had meat on its bones, yup we killed animals.
Hmmm...politically correct?
We were poor and nature was our source of food. Fishing and hunting.
Safeway was for rich kids.
Ok that was a bit over the top, but i stand by most of it.
Some of it? Forget it, I take it all back.
Good Night.

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Santa Gopher,

How big was he really?

I'm hungry!