SAGE RATS ARE SHOWING

LOCK AND LOAD! The sage rats are starting to come up. This afternoon, as I was driving just East of Sisters, I spotted my first sage rat of the year. I focused on the one to make sure I was not seeing things so didn't stop to count, but it was a sage rat for sure.

That prompted me to call my friend Jim over by Burns. He has spotted a few and even got a kill on one.

Last friday, I got out to sight in my Remington 552 s ( I've got 4 so if one jams, I just pick up another. I have them all sighted in for the same range. Get Ready, it won't be long now.

More later as I gather info.

Won't be long now

Soon we will be through the first week of Feb and the weather forecast calls for next week to be warmer and sunny. Ever since xmas, the weather here in Central Oregon has been pretty mild. The rats will be up earlier farther East then in Xmas Valley area. I have observed this for several years now. I will be getting in touch with my Crane contacts over the weekend and will post any good news I have. Ammo seems to be readly available now, at least at the Bi-Mart stores for .22 and .17HMR. At any given time they may be out of a particilar brand but there has always been some kind in stock. I prefer the Federal Champion 36 gr jacketed HP and have only them to shoot this Spring. I now have several Pivoting Shooting Rests in stock for sale. Hope to sell some. ( Gas Money )

Shooter Rests Price Change

Hey all. Of course there is nothing to report on any rats showing up. Mainly I wanted to inform everone that I have had to raise the prices on the deluxe shooters on wheels, due to increase in material prices, mostly the wheels. I will only be building 2 more on the 14" wheels and I will have to have $175 for them. I will have a few available on 10" wheels that will sell for $155. Basic model will still be $65 and the ones I am mounting on shop stools are $85. Welcome to "Hope and Change"
Just seeing the sun today for the first time in 5 days due to freezing fog. Matbe 6 (?) weeks and rats might be showing. Keep in touch.

New Model Shooter Rest

Just finished a new model of my pivoting shooter rest. This is complete with a base and a padded seat. It will sell between $85 and $90 ( have to figure out my final cost yet ). Remember, I sell the basic rest for $65 without a base or padded seat. Seems like a good value for the extra money. I have some of all models available now.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr Its been cold here near Sisters. Down to -22 degrees last week. Warming up today with the warning of snow. I'll bet those rats are real deep in the ground.

Check your local Bi-Mart store for .22 ammo. They seem to have lots of HP Remington and some Peters and Winchester round nose lead. Have plenty of .17 HMR too.

Rats can show up by the middle of February at Burns. Thats only about 2 months away. Of course, shooting rats that early is not for the faint of heart. Most of our shooting is done from inside the cab with the heater on. I remember one day early last spring when Bill and I were shooting from my rig and we couldn't roll both windows down at the same time. The cold wind blowing thru would tear up your eyes before you could focus on the rats. So we took turns rolling down our windows. Still beats sitting in front of the TV.

Ice fishing around Burns is pretty good in Feb also. Makes for a nice break.

I will try to post more often . Merry Xmas to all and have a safe New Years.

SAGE RAT SHOOTING ONLY 3 MONTHS AWAY

Talked to my friend Jim, in Crane the other day and we agreed that sage rat shooting, most times, starts around the middle of February. That's only three months away. Made me realize that I had better start building some "shooter rests". Also I have had 2 calls in the last two weeks from interested shooters asking about them. So, I have rearranged my shop and am in the process of cutting, welding and assembly. If anyone is interested, I should have some ready after Thanksgiving. If you are new to this site, refer back to my first couple of blogs to view pictures.

Ammo has started to show up in limited quanities in our area. Prices are somewhat inflated. What few bricks that were at the Redmond gun show last weekend were priced $22-$25. ( for .22 LR ). Jim said that in the Burns area, one store had American Eagle bricks for near $50. Good luck with that one.

Got a different rig this year. If you recall last year, I was driving a white Yukon with a roof rack. This year I will be driving a Ford Excursion, light tan in color. Don't know yet if the roof rack will fit. It's a 7.3 Powerstroke and will pull my travel trailer better than the Yukon. Look for it around the Crane Supply if you are in the area. I'll try and keep on the blog with any news I have.

Last of the sage rats for this season

Sorry about not keeping up on the rat shooting. Just have been to busy and haven't been out shooting for some time. Yesterday I spotted what must have been the last sage rat of the season about 1/2 mile SW of Sisters on the Lazy Z ranch. Just sitting there in the morning sunshine. Of course, there is no shooting on the Lazy Z. Next spring we will all getting cabin fever and the shooting will begin sometime in late Feb. Check out my rotating shooter rests in the first post. They work. Later. Ratrouster

Sorry, Not much News

There are still a few rats out, but hard to spot. Need to catch them out around the edges on clear ground. I myself have been trying ti fish at least once a week. Winter, all of a sudden, turned into summer with mid to high 90s for temps. Fished Prineville Res a couple of weeks ago with poor results and then Three Creeks Lake last Thursday, from my pontoon boat. 3 of us managed to catch 6 fish. Sometime this week, we will go again but not hit the water till about 3 pm and fish till dark. Ammo is starting to show up in the stores again. And, at least at Bi-Mart, they have not jacked up the price. Don't pay up for ammo right now. I think the shortage is about over.