GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: Rico14 on December 23, 2020, 12:07:14 PM

Title: ground squirrels --
Post by: Rico14 on December 23, 2020, 12:07:14 PM
Is anyone else seeing ground squirrels this time of the year? Normally they're down for the year but I've been seeing a few on my property. It's 37 degrees in the mornings with frost and the bird bath is frozen. It's weird to see them around. The upside is I have targets now.
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: ranchibi on December 27, 2020, 02:19:19 PM
Rico, still seeing a few on the golf courses I play in SoCal but not as many as usual from this cold weather we’re having....but, good for you!
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: JohnnyPDX on January 01, 2021, 09:20:30 AM
None here in NW Oregon and I check twice weekly but maybe at the wrong times of day. One burrow entrance, covered by roofing material, MAY be showing evidence of nut shells at the entrance.

My permission landowner chuckled when I asked if I could also take tree squirrel at the filbert orchard, Duh. The chuckle meant "yes".

I read in an OldPro thread about GS coming up in Dec and Jan to I guess 'take a peak'. Waiting for that shotunity.
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: Rico14 on January 01, 2021, 12:50:30 PM
None here in NW Oregon and I check twice weekly but maybe at the wrong times of day. One burrow entrance, covered by roofing material, MAY be showing evidence of nut shells at the entrance.

My permission landowner chuckled when I asked if I could also take tree squirrel at the filbert orchard, Duh. The chuckle meant "yes".

I read in an OldPro thread about GS coming up in Dec and Jan to I guess 'take a peak'. Waiting for that shotunity.

From years of shooting them, once the ground squirrels hibernate, they don't show themselves until the spring, when it starts to warm up. That's the time to clean house, as they are not very skittish at all when they first appear.
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: JohnnyPDX on January 01, 2021, 12:58:51 PM
None here in NW Oregon and I check twice weekly but maybe at the wrong times of day. One burrow entrance, covered by roofing material, MAY be showing evidence of nut shells at the entrance.

My permission landowner chuckled when I asked if I could also take tree squirrel at the filbert orchard, Duh. The chuckle meant "yes".

I read in an OldPro thread about GS coming up in Dec and Jan to I guess 'take a peak'. Waiting for that shotunity.

From years of shooting them, once the ground squirrels hibernate, they don't show themselves until the spring, when it starts to warm up. That's the time to clean house, as they are not very skittish at all when they first appear.

Thanks. I'll stop hoping for a January popup
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: Frank in Fairfield on January 01, 2021, 03:45:34 PM
Yep...
On the base by the hospital
In Vacaville across from the Jeep dealer...
Only in the sunshine, though..
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: JohnnyPDX on January 01, 2021, 04:05:42 PM
Yep...
On the base by the hospital
In Vacaville across from the Jeep dealer...
Only in the sunshine, though..

...calculating drive time, not really
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: Rick67 on January 09, 2021, 07:46:59 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/j4aWd7q.gif)


We have some here in Abq.  ;D
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: only1harry on January 10, 2021, 06:36:20 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/j4aWd7q.gif)


We have some here in Abq.  ;D

And you give them a pass when they dance for you?  ;D
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: AKM on January 11, 2021, 02:03:59 PM
They seem to be going in and out of Hibernation this year.
There is a large borrow on the hillside beside my house. Some days the entrance is closed up tight, others it's open with a few squirrels running around for a short period of time then it's closed again.
We have only had 1" of rain so far this year and the weather is also warmer the usual. Probably a factor.
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: Rico14 on January 11, 2021, 03:59:33 PM
They seem to be going in and out of Hibernation this year.
There is a large borrow on the hillside beside my house. Some days the entrance is closed up tight, others it's open with a few squirrels running around for a short period of time then it's closed again.
We have only had 1" of rain so far this year and the weather is also warmer the usual. Probably a factor.


Same thing here. It's rained a couple of times and it's cold, but every few days, there's one that's going in/out of the burrow. I'm surprised they are still above ground this time of year.  I talked to a couple of neighbors and they've trapped a couple too. The way its going, they're going to be a year round pest
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: screwwork on January 11, 2021, 06:45:30 PM
I was out on a ranch in Coalinga, Ca on Sunday, there were some unlucky g-squirrels running around. Now there are a few less of them..
Wait until the weather warms up a bit, then we'll get some untrained youngins running around.
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: JohnnyPDX on January 12, 2021, 07:51:43 AM
That's great you guys down South have some activity and targets. In Northern Oregon I've seen a few GS holes with a bunch of nutshells in front of the entrance like they cleaned house but haven't actually seen one.

It's a nut-producing orchard and the owner would like ALL rodents eliminated. Poor tree squirrels ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: woogie_man on January 12, 2021, 10:32:02 AM
Ground squirrels .... nope.

Not with below freezing temps and wind around the 50 mph...     lol
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: Rick67 on January 12, 2021, 02:08:31 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/j4aWd7q.gif)


We have some here in Abq.  ;D

And you give them a pass when they dance for you?  ;D

I don’t shoot them, Mr. Harry 🤓

There was one who would raid my tomatoes but I just let him be.

Have not seen that one for a long time 😝
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: kbstingwing on January 13, 2021, 03:38:46 PM
They're in Semi-Hibernation down here in the San Diego area, they come out on the warm days but hide out on the cooler days, My Friend has killed several GS's up at the shooting range but mostly Chippers, I haven't seen any running across the road like usual, Suicide Squirrels are just not active right now, but the weathers going to warm up this week, so we'll see if they decide to come out and play.... ;)
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: Weimer20 on January 14, 2021, 01:18:19 PM
I’m seeing them on Catalina Island.  Started popping up in late December.  Not crawling all over yet, but it’s warming up.  Found an active den recently.  Plugged the first one I saw that came out in the open.  Dead right there.  About 5 minutes later, the second one comes into view, does the “low crawl tail flick” right on up to his dead buddy (hey, what’s wrong with Joe?), dirt nap for two.  Kept on like that for a couple hours.   ;D
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: JohnnyPDX on January 14, 2021, 01:38:10 PM
I’m seeing them on Catalina Island.  Started popping up in late December.  Not crawling all over yet, but it’s warming up.  Found an active den recently.  Plugged the first one I saw that came out in the open.  Dead right there.  About 5 minutes later, the second one comes into view, does the “low crawl tail flick” right on up to his dead buddy (hey, what’s wrong with Joe?), dirt nap for two.  Kept on like that for a couple hours.   ;D

LOL, Thanks
Title: Re: ground squirrels --
Post by: diyj98 on January 14, 2021, 05:50:11 PM
Too cold in my area, but I can't wait till spring!