With seven to eight straight years of drought here in Montana, ANY snow is welcome. Recently we had a few small storms that dumped close to a foot of snow in my area. Last week I noticed our little gophers were UP and exploring above ground on the snow.

Yesterday I finally had the time to go out with my old Kimber 82 with a 3.5-10X AO Leupold. I shot about 600 rds before it got too windy and cloudy, forcing them underground again. Had a great day.

FN in MT

Frank: Good for you and the early Gopher Hunt! I have had lots of friends tell me about this Ground Squirrel Hunting in the snow - some of them refer to it as "painting the snow" if you know what I mean! Its snowing here again in the Dillon area and we sure need it! I have not seen any Gophers though! Just some Coyotes, Elk and a Fox! I did bonk some flying Varmints recently and hope to get some more this week!
I just got home from an overnight Gun Show and visit over in the Bitterroot Vally. My Hunting friend that I stayed with over there has a beautiful Kimber in 22 LR it is a silhouette model and he has a Sightron 4X16 scope on it. He has had it two years now and really likes the Rifle scope combo! He shoots .40" five shot groups with it at 50 yards. It is sure an exceptionally nice looking and feeling Rifle. I have a set of Kimbers myself but do not shoot them they were an investment some time back. I do have a couple of Kimbers I shoot - one is in 218 Bee (deluxe wood model) and another in 221 Remington Fireball (in the ultra Varmint model with laminated stok. They both shoot well and have served me reliably for more than 10 years! I hope the latest move or sale or whatever has happened to Kimber leads to a long term production of their line of Rifles! I have never shot Gophers in the snow I will when the opportunity presents itself!
Again congrats on the early "snow painting"!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Yes indeed it seems like a good early ground squirrel year. I ran about 30 rounds thru my 22-250 last Wednesday. I had not really figured to be shooting any squirrels, or I would have had the Fireball with me. I have always shot a lot of squirrels starting in March, but consider any in Feb to be a real bonus.

Not only is "snowpainting" visually impressive, it often allows you to shoot farther than normal. Once the snow goes it is hard to see the little buggers beyond 150 - 200 yards.

DEDA

Hain't seen any yet here in the Bitterroot although I have noticed some freshly turned dirt. Hmm.

Hey VarmintGuy, did you go to the Stevensville show? I sold a couple things, bought some others and spent too much time blabbing. Perfect.
Got my Bushy flattop and another .22-250 sighted, moly-seasoned, rested tanned and ready too!

Cheers!

Redial

Redial: Yes I was at the Stevensville Show both Thursday and Friday! I could not attend Saturday. I really enjoyed the little show and would have bought that Remington 40X in 22 LR but I was next to broke! Get this - I pretended that I was interested in another Rifle on the guys table that owns the 40X LR and I got his number! I did not want to "show my hand" on the 40X! I would like to have that Rifle by Gopher season! I sold a couple of things out of my back pack and had some bites on a replica Sharps in 45/70 that I am peddling for a widow. Met the neatest guy there his name was "Hoot" Gibson and he is 78 and retired from the Border Patrol. He worked with Bill Jordan and the stories flew til late Thursday night! He had some neat Guns also! The Bitterroot Trading Post in Hamilton had tons of neat Guns also! Neat place with lots of cubby holes with hidden stuff in them! Love the Bitterroot just to much gray come winter and early spring. More sun in Dillon! Say by the way I had to go back to Missoula today (got the Wolf thing straight at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation!) and they are building a Sportsmans Warehouse out near the RMEF! They are fantastic stores for Hunters and shooters!
Sorry I missed ya at the Stevie Show!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy