we have ground squirrels around here that can be pretty skidish. If they know your coming the will run into thier hole. I have a Daisy .22 pellet rifle. The range isn't too great so I have to get pretty close. 15-20 yards. No one really kills the ones around here(So Cal) so they are not too afraid of people. i just have to be patient.

I hit this one right behind the front leg with 22 predator pellet (www.predatorpellets.com) from about 20 yards. When I get my Marlin 982vs in 22mag I will have way more range.