It is early spring here in the Great White North. I ran into a great amigo a few weeks ago in a coffee shop. We used to whack mule deer together years ago until we were tired of watching them roll down the coulees .. But it has probably been 10-15 years since we hunted together .. And he is very fine company. He told me that his son in law was being eaten out of house and home (actually, his alfalfa field) by gophers. (Richardson Ground Squirrels)And would I like to get in on a shoot.. Now that was a good idea so I showed up the other Saturday. It was sunny but very windy so I gave Tommy a 17HMR and told him to let at 'em with those funky 17 grain missiles. Myself, I was using my 30-06 Baikal Double Rifle ... Using factory 150 grain Federals ... I was bothered a bit less by the wind .. and at one stage I got a right and a left ... The furthest was 9 yards ... the closer one was perhaps 6 yards .. I suppose the rifle groups four or five inches at fifty yards .. which is great for bunnies ..but rather maddening for gophers ..It doesn't matter one little bit, of course .. I shot off most of a box .. had a lot of laughs with a good friend .. and helped out the farmer a bit .. although no where near as much as he wanted ... I still intend to shoot a warthog with that gun sometime ... I know that the gophers would appreciate it if I left them alone ..