Hey guys, well, it's that time of the year again. After a successful, short stint of nice spring weather here in S. Ontario...we got nailed with a heavy dose of wet, hot, muggy weather. Groundhog hunting was pretty good before that for me, then all that moisture really seemed to accelerate the hay's growth. High heat and jungle-like hay kind of limited the possibilities but with hay getting cut this time of the year, things are looking up. If you're the hunter that is. 
Got out almost 2 weeks ago, and spotted 6 of them over the course of 3 different farms. 4/6 fell to my new groundhog rifle eating hand-rolled 55gr. V-Max loads. I didn't miss any though... One took off the moment I spotted it and the second gave me enough time to deploy the bipod and lay down before vanishing for the count. I have ways of dealing with that situation too, but none of my tricks paid off on that occasion.
Anyhow, here is one with it's pretty side showing, don't really know what everyone's appetite for graphic photos is like. 2/4 I got were younger than this one, the V-Max did a real number on them. The XCR is a rifle I always wanted to try, but I'm not a shooting range guy..so something non-restricted for hunting was a must. Trigger is a bit heavy, but it's shooting pretty straight. Took the advice of a friend who has one and got a compensator for it, amazing thing that is. Basically eliminates muzzle jump. .223 isn't a heavy-hitter in the recoil dept., but I found the rifle a bit jumpy compared to my heavy bolt action .223. The compensator makes this feel like a 22Mag! Groundhogs out to 150 yards aren't any issue so far, hope to test it on longer targets when more hay is cleared. Great way to spend a summer day...and the ONLY summer days I don't daydream about fall grouse hunting!
Got out almost 2 weeks ago, and spotted 6 of them over the course of 3 different farms. 4/6 fell to my new groundhog rifle eating hand-rolled 55gr. V-Max loads. I didn't miss any though... One took off the moment I spotted it and the second gave me enough time to deploy the bipod and lay down before vanishing for the count. I have ways of dealing with that situation too, but none of my tricks paid off on that occasion. Anyhow, here is one with it's pretty side showing, don't really know what everyone's appetite for graphic photos is like. 2/4 I got were younger than this one, the V-Max did a real number on them. The XCR is a rifle I always wanted to try, but I'm not a shooting range guy..so something non-restricted for hunting was a must. Trigger is a bit heavy, but it's shooting pretty straight. Took the advice of a friend who has one and got a compensator for it, amazing thing that is. Basically eliminates muzzle jump. .223 isn't a heavy-hitter in the recoil dept., but I found the rifle a bit jumpy compared to my heavy bolt action .223. The compensator makes this feel like a 22Mag! Groundhogs out to 150 yards aren't any issue so far, hope to test it on longer targets when more hay is cleared. Great way to spend a summer day...and the ONLY summer days I don't daydream about fall grouse hunting!
It is good that there are few left, for the condition is a testimony to my abilities in erradicating them, they cause, and have potential to be the cause of immense damage. But yes, success results in nothing left to shoot.
