I shoot gophers with my 10/22 as a passion I love killing the little pest. They multiply in herendus(sp?) numbers and 100% of the farmers pasture that we shoot on thank us for taking a chunk out of the population. I don't know if you have ever seen a pasture that is over run with gophers, they destroy it and make a huge mess of it. I also shoot coyotes for the fun of it I don't eat them and I don't skin them out I just shoot them and leave them. They are pest that eat small farm animals and if not kept in check the population will also get way out of control. and believe it or not when these animals have no fear af humans look out in surbuban areas where their are coyotes living among us our small children look like a tasty and easy catch. read the link and you will be suprised how many attacks there really are. http://www.varmintal.com/attac.htm