Worth the drive?

[Steelie Ben]

Thinking about heading over to Christmas Vally to shoot some rats tomorrow. How long of a drive is it from Portland(eastside) and do you think it would be worth the drive over and back in a day? Wanted to leave tonight but the shotgunner in my truck flaked till the morning.
Ben

[RODACTION]

Not sure, but I think it's all of a 5-6 hour drive one way from PDX ?

[bmccain]

It is a four hour drive, it's up to you whether it is worth it.

[Steelie Ben]

Its worth it if there are rats applenty to shoot!! Any reports? Off to *%-mart to get some ammo
Ben

[fishinpoor]

weather forcast for xmas valley saturday.

60% chance of rain
thunderstorms
5-10 mph wind.

maybe a long drive for little action,not very active when the sun is hidden.
just my experiance and

[elklaker]

Aren't there any places around the Dalles or Arlington that have good rat shooting. Christmas Valley is a good area but from Bend its an hour and a half on a good day with light traffic on 97.

[Hawk]

It would be a LONG day of driving. Bend is 3 hours, and Christmas Valley is another hour or more past Bend. I've never done it, but it can be done, although you'd likely be a tired puppy by the time you got back to town.

[billc_sbio]

Depending on WHERE you are (start from) you might go different ways.

I've always found it fastest to go I-5 South to Hwy 58 then take the Crescent Cutoff before US 97. Hit 97 near Crescent and go north to La Pine. La Pine towards Silver Lake on Hwy 31, but often turn off towards Fort Rock and head to Christmas Valley that way.

I sure wouldn't go if it was windy and blustery cold. That's a LONG drive for relatively few Rats out.

I'd wait for a nice, warm day.

That day might be a day it's rainy and nasty over here, so you want to have weather check sources for over there.

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by elklaker

Aren't there any places around The Dalles or Arlington that have good rat shooting. Christmas Valley is a good area but from Bend its an hour and a half on a good day with light traffic on 97.

Good question...any body got a good answer? I'd be interested as well.

[baltz526]

it is raining right now in lapine and is not a rat type weekend

[billc_sbio]

Originally Posted by Hawk

Good question...any body got a good answer? I'd be interested as well.

There ARE opportunities for "Varmints" in those areas, but they're mostly for California Ground Squirrels, "Grey Diggers" that build burrows in and around the roots of Oak trees and others.

There are also some Rockchucks in totally different terrain, rocky canyons, not a lot, but some.

There's quite a bit more hunting and scouting involved in finding these and getting permission to hunt on private land.

In both cases there are not nearly the number of critters out there to harvest; nothing like a good area of "Rats".

It's more "Spot and Stalk", even for the long range shots. Nothing you're going to want to be lugging a heavy barrelled rifle around after.

Here's a picture of me, taken several years ago, over near the Deschutes with my .223 Sako Sporter and 3 Rockchucks I dusted at about 250 yards distance that were feeding in a small Alafalfa field on th edge of some land close to the Deschutes. I got these all in under 1 minute, picking off the big one (he was a real Hog) first, then catching the other two individually as they stopped at the edge of the field.

[Steelie Ben]

Decided to cancell due to weather!! Got up at 4 am and decided it wasn't worth the drive to get rained on and not get to shoot much! How long do we have till the alfalfa gets to tall? Gonna keep an eye on the weather and hopefully we get a break in the next couple weekends. Thanks for all the info, saved me a ton of money in gas!! $3/gal, what a rip off!!
Ben

[elklaker]

I lived in the Heppner area for a spell and we hunted the Arlington area for the Belding ground squirrels (sage rats) in the dry creek beds. We had our best luck asking ranchers who ran livestock as they don't like their animals stepping in the holes. Never really had too much trouble getting permission. With a little scouting and time you can meet some pretty good people in that area.

[billc_sbio]

Originally Posted by Steelie Ben

Decided to cancell due to weather!! Got up at 4 am and decided it wasn't worth the drive to get rained on and not get to shoot much! How long do we have till the alfalfa gets to tall? Gonna keep an eye on the weather and hopefully we get a break in the next couple weekends. Thanks for all the info, saved me a ton of money in gas!! $3/gal, what a rip off!!
Ben

Steelie Ben,

PM me offline if you like and I'll tell you about a fun hunt that's only ~2-1/2 hr.s drive IF the critters are out around there.

It's still a drive, but only about 1/2 the distance of Christmas Valley.

[RAGHORN!]

Originally Posted by billc_sbio

There ARE opportunities for "Varmints" in those areas, but they're mostly for California Ground Squirrels, "Grey Diggers" that build burrows in and around the roots of Oak trees and others.

There are also some Rockchucks in totally different terrain, rocky canyons, not a lot, but some.

There's quite a bit more hunting and scouting involved in finding these and getting permission to hunt on private land.

In both cases there are not nearly the number of critters out there to harvest; nothing like a good area of "Rats".

It's more "Spot and Stalk", even for the long range shots. Nothing you're going to want to be lugging a heavy barrelled rifle around after.

Here's a picture of me, taken several years ago, over near the Deschutes with my .223 Sako Sporter and 3 Rockchucks I dusted at about 250 yards distance that were feeding in a small Alafalfa field on th edge of some land close to the Deschutes. I got these all in under 1 minute, picking off the big one (he was a real Hog) first, then catching the other two individually as they stopped at the edge of the field.

Hey Bill, several years ago??? Looks like at least a couple life's ago? just kidding bud! I always enjoy looking at your pics, Happy Easter!

[billc_sbio]

Originally Posted by RAGHORN!

Hey Bill, several years ago??? Looks like at least a couple life's ago? just kidding bud! I always enjoy looking at your pics, Happy Easter!

Kevin,

It only SEEMS like a couple of life's!