SAGE RATS ARE BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Maverick Maxcat · 02-29-2004, 09:02 PM

Hot dang---the rats are back!!!!!!! Today was fairly sunny over east of Bend, and not too cold, and the rats came out. We don't have many on our place, but I probably saw 20-30, and killed 9. The old 10/22 is still dead on!

Thought everyone would like to know it's time to dig out their varmint contacts and start planning for the this year's e-rat-ication celebration!

MM

PS--please remember to get permission, and BE SAFE!!!

Crayfin · 03-01-2004, 12:33 PM

Was lurking over in Spray and saw a ton of them myself--I couldnt stand it and HAD to whack one myself :grin:

CRayfin

Best Fishes · 03-01-2004, 01:02 PM

Hello Sage Rat Killers!

My dad got me into shooting sage rats when I was about 8 or 9. Well my son is 8 and I would love to find a place to teach him the ropes. Does anyone know how I find a decent spot to teach my son how to handle a 22? I live near Portland and a closer spot would be great.

Best Fishes

24 on/ 48 off · 03-01-2004, 01:31 PM

You're gonna have to take a minimum three hour drive to find any. Closer in, there a a few around Madras and along the road going towards Prineville. If you have the time, take the drive to K. Falls or nny Alfalfa field east of Bend. You'll find 'em.

Mkae sure you knock and talk before you step onto any field.

--spud-- :smile:

Skilz · 03-08-2004, 12:08 PM

Anyone have an update on the rats! I'm going over to Christmas Valley next week and wanted to see if there out. Thanks!

FishOrDie · 03-08-2004, 02:36 PM

I am going to be headed for Christmas Valley the first weekend of spring break, gonna do some riding on the dunes and possibly some rat shooting if I can find a place to stop. I would like to know if anyone has any contacts that a guy could get ahold of somewhere in the area that we could get some good rat shooting in?
Other wise I guess I will start knocking on doors.

Hey Skilz, when are you headed out there?

Thanks,

FOD

Skilz · 03-08-2004, 03:12 PM

FOD, I'll be over there on the 18th & 19th tracking down some varmits. I just purchased a 17 rimfire so I should do some damage as long as we can find some rats. Let me know how you do if you go over before I do, and I'll do the same.

Skilz

blackdog · 03-09-2004, 06:09 AM

skilz - yesterday afternoon the rats were out everywhere over here!! I work in Redmond and live in Bend and as I drove home, every good field I drove past had the little guys scurryin' around.

Warm weather, no breeze = bring lots of ammo!!! :grin:

Fish Hawg · 03-09-2004, 09:23 AM

Stop It :tongue: I cant wait till next week

OregonSportsman · 03-09-2004, 06:56 PM

Hell Yeah, thats what I like to hear. I'm going over to Prineville in acouple weeks and we are going on a massive killing spree. I hope the weather is as nice as it has been the last few days.

P.S. How do I insert my avatar?

[ 03-09-2004, 08:03 PM: Message edited by: OregonSportsman ]

Fish Hawg · 03-09-2004, 08:34 PM

you have to have like 16 posts then click profile then edit profile scroll down to add avatar

OregonSportsman · 03-09-2004, 08:52 PM

Oh OK, thanks a lot Fish Hawg, I'll have 16 post soon enough.

Frazier · 03-10-2004, 12:09 PM

My buddies just got back from Christmas Valley-Summer Lake area and just knocked them down the last few days. He said that he didn't see alot of the youngsters out yet but i am sure in 2 weeks when i head down there it will be hot. On another not there where a few yotes chasing the jacks...can't stop thinking about it all day.. wish it was time to go

Bendman · 03-11-2004, 07:55 PM

Yesterday in christmas valley there were TONS of them out.

Skilz · 03-11-2004, 08:29 PM

Thanks for all of the reports.

Keep them coming! I'm not going until next week, but it sounds like the rats are there. :smile:

Eric W. · 03-12-2004, 12:26 AM

When I was a kid Sage rats were after school entertainment. We blast so many rats. The baby were funny, cuz you could take a couple shots @ them before they knew what was going on.
But...now out where I live they are extinct - I know that great for the cattle, but makes me kinda sad......and I miss the target practice.
No rats in North Central Oregon! sorry guys

I used to also go to a sage rat hunt out near Enterprise that was for Bow hunters. The farmers used to open up their property and gates, and it was a rat kill fest. I won the kid event one year with my bow with a single rat tail to prove that I got my rat. What fun!!!

Joe · 03-12-2004, 07:57 PM

My two oldest boys where in K Falls killing rats today. They called a bit ago and said one got 91 and the other 125. Over 500 rounds between them

. Seems like kinda poor shooting to me.

[ 03-12-2004, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: Joe ]

Chukrchaser · 03-13-2004, 05:55 AM

Was at Crane Sat. & Sun. -- cold and wind Sat. Sun was a sun burn day. The rats were up -- even on the snow drifts. Fair shooting -- but need a little more warm to get them to stay up.

Just a reminder -- driven home because one ranch we used to hunt has sold the hunting rights to a guide. This ranch had some very productive pivots until two things happened last year. First, they had to spend a pile of money on Vet bills because of a 22 bullet in one of their bulls. Didn't kill it -- but the resulting infection was not pretty.

Then some real class act camped at one of their stack yards and left 2 5 gallon buckets of "holding tank contents". :shocked: They said they just could not afford nor put up with that kind of behaviour. Don't blame them a bit.

PLEASE respect the ranchers and their property and for goodness sake be aware of where your bullet might go -- bullets don't just disappear when you miss.

ellusivebull · 03-13-2004, 03:54 PM

I am headed for Christmas valley next weekend to fine some rats. Wondering if anyone has any good directions on where to find some. Thanks

24 on/ 48 off · 03-13-2004, 05:29 PM

Christmas Valley has some good shootin'!

Just stop by the store in town and ask- Most all the farmers in the area `pass along to the folks there that they want shooters on their fields :smile:

--spud-- :smile:

ellusivebull · 03-15-2004, 11:22 PM

24 on, what dept. do you work for? I work for Longview. Thanks for the info.