Sage Rats Still Up?

[dan97526]

Friends,

Due to COVID and other stuff I haven't made it out to shoot this year. I have a bit of a window this month. I've never shot into July in the past. Are the squirrels still up? Specifically, around Klamath?

Thanks,
Dan

[Rick in Oregon]

Dan, like you, covid has screwed up the entire season. But from past experience, by mid-July the rats are either down, or in the process of doing so. You may get a few morning shots, but once the heat sets in, they're down for the count. At least that's been my experience over five decades of teaching Skippy to fly.

Not sure about the KF area, haven't been down that way since we shot together a few years ago.

[dan97526]

Thanks, Rick. Pretty much what I expected. Oh well, I have load development to do.

Hope you're doing well, brother.

[brooksb]

This isn't timely or even apply to Oregon, but we shoot in Lassen and Modoc counties in NE Ca. squirrel numbers are down by early July but shooting is usually decent till about mid month. This year a friend went right at the height of a really hot spell in June and didn't fire a shot, I arrived June 26 three days after him with cooler WX and had good shooting in the same fields till about the 10th when numbers really went down as temps spiked.

[jsh]

Just curious, but do these critters stock pile food under ground? I mean they gotta eat some time.

[brooksb]

Yes, my basic web search stated they semi hibernate, and get from time to time to eat. I've noticed the squirrels are really getting plump in July, an organic farmer I do population control for said they put on water weight just prior to going down.