Sorry to leave you all hanging... Got him!

Gave up on the stakeout method and just checked the area several times a day. I walked back there yesterday morning without the pellet rifle and there he was by his hole checking me out. I stood there for a minute and even moved a little to see his reaction. He watched me a little more and calmly walked into his hole. I knew then I was gonna get that bastard!

I checked back a few minutes later with rifle in hand and he was out again, but ran in his hole immediately. Dammit! How'd he know?

Maybe a half hour later checked again... No gopher. I was about to head back and thought "Well I'll just sight the scope at his hole and see if he's there." Sure enough he was poking his head out sniffing around. I didn't hesitate. A second went by and I put one into the side of his head right under his ear. He was done for immediately. I put another round thru the top of his head just to be sure he was dispatched humanely.