A Different Kind of Rat Patrol

Outdoor reporter Gerrit Roelof shows us how hunters sharpen their skills while reducing rat populations; stimulating the eco system in the process.

Salem-News.com's Gerrit Roelof sharpens his hunting skills by eraticating sage rats. He says each morning after a day's shooting, the carcasses of the rats have all been carried off for food by other animals. Photos provided by Gerrit Roelof for Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - As many of you outdoors enthusiasts can relate to, I get excited when the seasons start to change. I know this means that a whole slew of new activities are coming up. Springtime is especially busy, for many reasons.

The snows start to recede, and I can start planning my fishing and hiking trips up in the mountains. The springers will soon return, and floats down the Santiam are on the horizon.

I wake up to songbirds every morning, reminding me to get outside and enjoy the sun.

Another critter that is now outside and enjoying that sun is the sage rat. These are actually 'Belding’s Ground Squirrels', but they have many nicknames... Sage rat, squeek, whistle pig; you name it and they’ve probably been called it.

These “rats” live in especially enormous numbers in eastern Oregon. They are experts at re-producing (there’s a phrase about bunnies that comes to mind) and they love to eat alfalfa.

These qualities make them very un-popular with the area ranchers. Although poisoning them is an option, this is a challenge at best due to the sheer numbers of critters involved, and that associated regulations.

Another solution is to allow people to come and shoot them. That’s where we come in.

I have a connection with a rancher in Crane (about 30 miles southeast of Burns). With a select group of buddies, we go out and spend a few days there every year. We are expert rat eradicators.

The weapon of choice for this domestic safari depends on your budget and the area you will shoot.

Rimfire is the name of the game in most parts, due to the cost of ammunition (a very important factor these days) and more importantly the distance that the round can travel.

Belding’s Ground Squirrels or sage rats or squeeks. Photo: UC Davis

This is very flat land, and there are few areas with backstops to stop a bullet from a high-powered rifle. My favorite rimfire is a .17 hmr.

This gun fires a 17 or 20 grain round on a relatively fast and flat trajectory. It’s very accurate at 100 yds, and even out toward 200 if there’s no wind. The .22 is also a very good choice here.

The ammo is considerably less expensive, however the effective range is also less (usually 100 yds and in).

For the hardcore shooter, when the conditions are right, a good center fire gun can really reach out there and touch them.

This category is primarily defined by your own budget. Weapons approaching $6,000 (rifle and scope) are not un-heard of here.

I use a heavy barrel .223, which is probably the most affordable in this group. Other popular calibers include the .22-250 and the Ruger .204. These are very flat shooting rounds, but unless you do your own re-loads, the ammo can put a serious crimp in your budget.

The rats invade the alfalfa fields by the tens of thousands. They build large mounds and multiple tunnels. They can eat huge amounts of alfalfa on a daily basis, and the holes will damage farm equipment.

Their sheer numbers can be astounding. I have had many trips where we have easily killed 500 in a day, and each morning after a day's shooting, the carcasses of the rats have all been carried off for food by other animals.

Also, each new morning it seems like we didn’t even put a dent in the population. This can make for some great shooting days, but this is also a privilege that we must take care of.

Many ranchers I have spoken with either severely restrict who they allow to shoot on their fields, or have closed their property to shooting entirely.

It appears that there is a specific portion of the shooting public who have abused this privilege to the detriment of the rest.

Shooting on land without permission, leaving your trash behind, and most importantly unsafe shooting practices (stray bullets striking buildings, irrigation pipes and even livestock) has left a sour taste in many a ranchers mouth, and understandably so.

The reports this year are of better than average shooting. I just came back from a 3 day trip, and personally burned through at least 1,000 rounds.

When the sun is out and the wind is down, these critters can put on quite a show.

Pack your sunscreen, a good hat and plenty of ammo. Make your plans now, and be sure to patronize the local businesses and ask about places to shoot.

Once you make that connection with a rancher, ensure that you give their land the respect that this privilege deserves. Send them a thank you note, or bring a gift next year.

Show that you appreciate the opportunity, and you may develop a long term relationship. Perhaps if we all do this we can maintain this shooting opportunity to share with our friends and family.