Oregon Sage Rats In September?

[jaytortorelli]

I have previously been to Enterprise, OR to shoot sage rats and red diggers. Now we are planning another trip for the last weekend of September. Geographically Enterprise is a decent meeting place for us. I am just wondering if sage rats will be out at that time of year in abundance or not. Or if we'd be better off in Montana for p-dogs...Zortman perhaps, or some place else. Any advice and ideas are appreciated. Thank you.

[Silverfox]

I don't know for sure, but I think I remember Rick in Oregon saying something about those sage rats disappearing sometime in July or early August. Prairie dogs should be out though.

[bullfrog]

You might find a few if the weather is right (not to hot or cold) but you won't find very many. I saw a few ( 5 or 6) yesterday in a field that when I drove by a couple of months ago I saw literally hundreds. Like silverfox said, they usually disappear again in July when the weather gets consistantly hot.

[Rick in Oregon]

Jay: You don't list your location, so can only say that Silverfox and Bullfrog are right, not much in the way of rodents to shoot at in September here. It would not be worth the gas money to go to Enterprise at that time of year. Even our rock chucks go down around the second week of August, leaving only Ole Wiley or badgers as primary varmint targets.

You'd be well advised to concentrate on prairie dogs in Montana. Haven't been to Zortman or Havre in three years, so can't offer any up to date info; sorry. For sage rats here, late Feb through May is prime. The PD's will be up in Montana though; let us know how you make out.

[jaytortorelli]

Thanks everyone! Thats along the lines of what I was thinking.

Happy Huntin,
Jay