ISO Gopher fields in Central Ab

[Prvallee]

I am 40 years old and was hoping to take my 8 year old son out to shoot some gophers. We would be using a .22 air rifle rugger 10/22 .22lr, or savage .17HMR depending on hills and distance to targets, pm me and we can chat. The old guy Don that i use to hunt gophers on his land sold the farm and moved to town, the new owners are not friendly. Just trying to help build my sons confidence and get him hooked on hunting vs video games. Thank you for your assistance, i dont like driving around bangging on random doors as these days it looks suspicious.

[MooseRiverTrapper]

You should try driving around and banging on doors.

[calgarychef]

Banging on doors is the only way you’ll find access.

[zabbo]

Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper

You should try driving around and banging on doors.

Hahaha! Yup, this!

[KGB]

Originally Posted by Prvallee

I am 40 years old and was hoping to take my 8 year old son out to shoot some gophers. We would be using a .22 air rifle rugger 10/22 .22lr, or savage .17HMR depending on hills and distance to targets, pm me and we can chat. The old guy Don that i use to hunt gophers on his land sold the farm and moved to town, the new owners are not friendly. Just trying to help build my sons confidence and get him hooked on hunting vs video games. Thank you for your assistance, i dont like driving around bangging on random doors as these days it looks suspicious.

Search for a grazing reserves and natural reserves in your area- most of them are loaded with gophers.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by KGB

Search for a grazing reserves and natural reserves in your area- most of them are loaded with gophers.

You still need permission.

[LKILR]

Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper

You should try driving around and banging on doors.

Times are different now.

Not everyone is friendly to strangers coming up to their door.

I know many land owners that do not like it when strangers come up asking for permission.

With the theft nowadays people often use it an an excuses to scope your property.

Nothing wrong with asking here.


My two cents

Flame away


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[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by LKILR

Times are different now.

Not everyone is friendly to strangers coming up to their door.

I know many land owners that do not like it when strangers come up asking for permission.

With the theft nowadays people often use it an an excuses to scope your property.

Nothing wrong with asking here.


My two cents

Flame away


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People still like to know who they're dealing with, on a personal level.

Grizz

[Dewey Cox]

Ask your old guy Don for some leads.

[LKILR]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

People still like to know who they're dealing with, on a personal level.

Grizz

I agree.

But showing up unannounced in my yard without some notice is not cool.

Couple scum bags come here on Easter Sunday claiming to be out of fuel.

I questioned his route/time of day/ how did you run out way out here ext.

Turned out they were scoping/ looking .


So I prefer if someone wants to visit or ask for permission that they do so via text / phone call or email before they show up .

Unless I know them personally.



Times are different now


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[MooseRiverTrapper]

Originally Posted by LKILR

I agree.

But showing up unannounced in my yard without some notice is not cool.

Couple scum bags come here on Easter Sunday claiming to be out of fuel.

I questioned his route/time of day/ how did you run out way out here ext.

Turned out they were scoping/ looking .


So I prefer if someone wants to visit or ask for permission that they do so via text / phone call or email before they show up .

Unless I know them personally.



Times are different now


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How do I find your cell phone number?

I do not like pulling into peoples yard either. But usually it goes well and we get permission.

[LKILR]

Originally Posted by MooseRiverTrapper

How do I find your cell phone number?

I do not like pulling into peoples yard either. But usually it goes well and we get permission.

Reach out on oa forum

Maybe someone knows me or I see the post and then I can make decisions as to meet you

Or ask around the community

Just like the op is doing

He specifically posted he don’t want to enter someone property without invitation.
I respect that.

No fault of his but so many sketchy individuals out there posing as nice guy but may be looking to steal from land owner.

So I don’t drive in peoples yard looking for permission or directions or fuel or looking for lost pet

Nowadays you do that via text / call/email/ social media


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[calgarychef]

One of the best gopher shooting spots we ever lined up was gained by stopping a feller driving his tractor down the road. He didn’t have gophers but his daughters fields were totally infested with them, almost total crop failure because of the furry little buggers.
From that one contact we gained a lot more.

I don’t think it’s always reasonable to email or call first. You see the gophers, look around for the nearest house and walk up nice and polite, have a decent conversation and let them know what you’ll be doing to keep things safe. It’s old school but it works.

Speaking of safe. Last year we were given permission on a good spot but so was someone else, they were driving around p, shooting out of the back of the truck and towards us too. We mentioned it to the farm manager, showed him the video and those other yahoos were told to leave. Be safe, legal and respectful and you’ll always be welcomed back.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

One of the best gopher shooting spots we ever lined up was gained by stopping a feller driving his tractor down the road. He didn’t have gophers but his daughters fields were totally infested with them, almost total crop failure because of the furry little buggers.
From that one contact we gained a lot more.

I don’t think it’s always reasonable to email or call first. You see the gophers, look around for the nearest house and walk up nice and polite, have a decent conversation and let them know what you’ll be doing to keep things safe. It’s old school but it works.

Speaking of safe. Last year we were given permission on a good spot but so was someone else, they were driving around p, shooting out of the back of the truck and towards us too. We mentioned it to the farm manager, showed him the video and those other yahoos were told to leave. Be safe, legal and respectful and you’ll always be welcomed back.

Definitely a good method. Once you have a good connection, others will organically develop.

Having a coffee with a few of the guys at the Co-Op doesn't hurt either.

That reminds me, I have to get some fresh places to shoot too... IncrediGirl's gopher-shooting skills are legendary.

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by Prvallee

I am 40 years old and was hoping to take my 8 year old son out to shoot some gophers. We would be using a .22 air rifle rugger 10/22 .22lr, or savage .17HMR depending on hills and distance to targets, pm me and we can chat. The old guy Don that i use to hunt gophers on his land sold the farm and moved to town, the new owners are not friendly. Just trying to help build my sons confidence and get him hooked on hunting vs video games. Thank you for your assistance, i dont like driving around bangging on random doors as these days it looks suspicious.

What part of central Alberta are you in?

[Prvallee]

Thank you for all the positive responses. I just do not feel it is acceptable to go door knocking on random farm doors, Years ago sure but the times have changed to many randoms looking for no good these days. I was hoping to get a few numbers I could call and set a meet and greet type thing bring a box of timmies and some coffee. What should I all bring with me when if I were to go door knocking a copy of my police security clearance, my Commercial FAST pass to transport dangerous good and sensitive cargo across the CAN/USA border (had to pass FBI and CISIS screening for this one ). I never thought getting in touch with other fellow hunter would be such a hot topic. Maybe its time to give up the sport i grew up loving as a child. There comes a time when it is just to difficult and not worth the hassle. I use to knock on random farm doors years ago back when I was a young eager 25 year old, all i heard was no- no- no-no and more no. I get it its your land it is your live stock and all these things, not all of us were gifted with being born on the farm. I would go visit my extended family that has farm land but they live in Iron river AB which is a 7.5 hour drive. I hope you all have a wonderful summer, enjoy the outdoors with the kids as they grow up too fast.

[Double Shovel]

We have gophers, East Central AB by Provost.

[IL Bar]

If I may offer a suggestion. Print out a few papers stating just like you told us here that you would like to find a spot to shoot gophers with your son with your phone number on it and put it on the bulletin boards at local farm stores like UFA, at auction marts and grain elevators. You will reach some of the audience you are after that way without driving into their yard.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by Double Shovel

We have gophers, East Central AB by Provost.

Seem to be lots this year, I'm trying to up my road kill record .

Grizz

[calgarychef]

We were out yesterday, only got 50 or do between three of us. But to add to the information already provided. All we had to do was call one of the landowners who let us shoot last year and he was fine with our going out again.

Interesting side note, he had lots last year and we struggled to get what we got this time out. We really did help to clean up his pasture I guess. We’ll have to do some scouting again for an infestation and knock on that persons door to offer our “services.”

For those who don’t want to knock on doors, buy a county map and try to figure out who owns the land from that… not going to be easy like it used to be finding that information. Then possibly find the phone number and give them a ring.
If they say yes, you’ll still have to knock on their door and introduce yourself so they can give you their access conditions; don’t drive in the field, don’t shoot the bulls, land ownership, directions to various fields etc.

With the use of poison being reduced and eliminated I think “gophering” is going to become a valuable control method.

[FishOutOfWater]

Originally Posted by IL Bar

If I may offer a suggestion. Print out a few papers stating just like you told us here that you would like to find a spot to shoot gophers with your son with your phone number on it and put it on the bulletin boards at local farm stores like UFA, at auction marts and grain elevators. You will reach some of the audience you are after that way without driving into their yard.

I did exactly this for coyotes... Had 2 people call within a month.

Also, when door-knocking, have a sheet printed out with your basic personal info (name, phone #, vehicle model & plate) and a brief request for permission to hunt/shoot on their land.

Knock on the door, tell them you're story, hand your paper to landowners & say "THANKS", walk away and let them decide. If you don't hear from them in a week or two, go back.

This method has worked for me quite nicely in the last 5-10 years. Gained permission from 3-4 owners this way.

[spoiledsaskhunter]

sure glad i live way down south and can still drive into someone's yard and say 'hello' without being branded a thief..........good lord.

[huntinstuff]

Originally Posted by spoiledsaskhunter

sure glad i live way down south and can still drive into someone's yard and say 'hello' without being branded a thief..........good lord.

No doubt......

The art of first impression and conversation. Social media is turning people into turnips

Check internet for parts, food, friendship, acceptance, wife, news, hunting spots and toilet paper.......encouraging people to be IP addresses instead of humans.

Fuel up, go for a drive, ask permission.....If you are scared, take your mom with you

[270person]

This is amusing. Every bit of permission I've been given was driving up to a house, introducing myself, and asking. Not on opening day of course. I'd dare say I was in a lot more peril from the landowner or having my arse chewed by rural pooches than the landowner was by me getting out of my truck waving hello.

Its sad how paranoid the world has become.

[waldedw]

Originally Posted by 270person

This is amusing. Every bit of permission I've been given was driving up to a house, introducing myself, and asking. Not on opening day of course. I'd dare say I was in a lot more peril from the landowner or having my arse chewed by rural pooches than the landowner was by me getting out of my truck waving hello.

Its sad how paranoid the world has become.

Yup same here, the biggest fear is the farm dog sneaking up and nipping at the back of your legs, always wear thick gators

[Dewey Cox]

Rent a rural air b and b for the weekend, and ask them if they've got any gophers.

[Big Lou]

Originally Posted by waldedw

Yup same here, the biggest fear is the farm dog sneaking up and nipping at the back of your legs, always wear thick gators

First time for me. I somehow ended up in the middle of a fight between two farm dogs whilst asking for some shed permission earlier this spring - and got nipped in the process. Right on the inside of the thigh too. That smarted and I mean right now. Poor lady kept asking if I had been bitten. It was like the Family Guy episode where Peter smashes his shin. Skip to about the 47 second mark.

https://youtu.be/LAVUFKYdJNY

I did however receive permission.

[IL Bar]

Originally Posted by 270person

This is amusing. Every bit of permission I've been given was driving up to a house, introducing myself, and asking. Not on opening day of course. I'd dare say I was in a lot more peril from the landowner or having my arse chewed by rural pooches than the landowner was by me getting out of my truck waving hello.

Its sad how paranoid the world has become.

I’m glad you find it amusing. It hasn’t been fun having to become law enforcement at a moments notice when you or your neighbors are getting robbed in broad daylight or at night. A couple months ago we had a guy stop at my neighbors because he was low on gas. My neighbor helped him out. Turns out he was an armed robbery suspect on the run. He didn’t know that until an hour later when police informed us of this guy hiding in our area. What could’ve happened if he told that guy no?

Call us paranoid all you want. We never used to have to live like this. Gates are getting put up because some people can’t just stay out. Strange vehicles driving around or parked get photographed and reported to the neighborhood chat line so everyone can watch out for them. These catch and release crooks just keep coming at us and they range in age from 16-80 years old so you have to be wary of anyone that you don’t know.

[Curly Bill]

Originally Posted by LKILR

Times are different now.

Not everyone is friendly to strangers coming up to their door.

I know many land owners that do not like it when strangers come up asking for permission.

With the theft nowadays people often use it an an excuses to scope your property.

Nothing wrong with asking here.


My two cents

Flame away


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Nothing wrong with asking but avoiding it is not helping anything. There are still a LOT of fine people out there. I like to take every opportunity to knock on a landowners door. A lot of people nowadays do get put off by some random stranger driving up their driveway and knocking on their door. But you can turn all of those situations into positive ones, and maybe make it not such a strange thing for someone to knock on their door.

[LKILR]

Originally Posted by 270person

This is amusing. Every bit of permission I've been given was driving up to a house, introducing myself, and asking. Not on opening day of course. I'd dare say I was in a lot more peril from the landowner or having my arse chewed by rural pooches than the landowner was by me getting out of my truck waving hello.

Its sad how paranoid the world has become.

Bothering farmers by driving into their yard during the day when they are working is disrespectful.Especially now when they are super busy planting crops.

Many landowners around here prefer contact via email or phone call.

Imagine you city folk if people came to your door uninvited just to ask if it’s ok to smell your flowers or pet your dog or play in your back yard.


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