Groundhog hunters unite!

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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lol.. Yeah, I know the best way to get a no-reply thread going in the Hunting forum is to mention groundhogs. :) That said, it was March.17, 2012 when the first groundhog of the year ate a 55gr V-Max delivered from my Savage PC10 .223. So, if history repeats itself, I may be crawling around in sloppy..barely-thawed-out hay fields in a few weeks! :) Any of you guys excited about the upcoming haypig season? Anybody here use 22 Hornet for them? I've been toying with the idea of getting a Hornet, still on the fence. I know it won't do what the .223 does, but some of the farms I hunt are quite small.

A mid-summer specimen from last year..

photo.jpg
 
I wish we had a few of those in Alberta. As much as I appreciate having fields full of gophers to shoot, groundhogs would be a lot of fun to go after.
 
I've found the population numbers to be a lot lower than they were a few years ago. I can remember shooting 30+ groundhogs in a day. Now, it's more like 3 or 4. I'm not sure if coyotes are getting them or if it is just the nature of a cyclical population or what. I'd like to see lots more in the fields - although the farmers wouldn't!

Anyone else see that where they are?
 
Scott_N said:
I wish we had a few of those in Alberta. As much as I appreciate having fields full of gophers to shoot, groundhogs would be a lot of fun to go after.
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Take your "fields full of gophers" and be happy man... I can hike 6-8kms and not see a single groundhog, but a typical day is about 4-6 spotted, 2-3 down. As the season wears-on, they get fatter (=slower) but WAY more wary. They can drop into their holes and play hardball from more than 250 yards out!

667 said:
I like my groundhogs more explodey...
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Well...me too :) ....but I use some discretion when posting groundhog photos. Some you simply can't post at all. :) A friend I hunt with is planning on getting a 270 WSM for varmint hunting, so I suspect that'll rearrange things nicely.
 
deeker said:
I've found the population numbers to be a lot lower than they were a few years ago. I can remember shooting 30+ groundhogs in a day. Now, it's more like 3 or 4. I'm not sure if coyotes are getting them or if it is just the nature of a cyclical population or what. I'd like to see lots more in the fields - although the farmers wouldn't!

Anyone else see that where they are?
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Yes, I've heard the same thing but in the last few years I've been chasing them, it sort of seems like they're getting smart. Or lucky. I've been after a few specific groundhogs going on 3 years now that have learned how to avoid me, and they're in fields with only 1 great angle to line them up from. As rural as the spots are, no chances are ever taken. I even brought a shotgun out to deal with one late last year, think he realized my getting close to him presented a new danger that day. lol Anyhow, this is more anecdotal than anything...but by the end of last year they seemed to be taking-up residence closer to roads, buildings etc. and thus..finding some safety. I spotted a few on a new property (some new door knocking req.) and some additional property to explore this spring, I can't wait!
 
.22LRGUY said:
lol.. Yeah, I know the best way to get a no-reply thread going in the Hunting forum is to mention groundhogs. :) That said, it was March.17, 2012 when the first groundhog of the year ate a 55gr V-Max delivered from my Savage PC10 .223. So, if history repeats itself, I may be crawling around in sloppy..barely-thawed-out hay fields in a few weeks! :) Any of you guys excited about the upcoming haypig season? Anybody here use 22 Hornet for them? I've been toying with the idea of getting a Hornet, still on the fence. I know it won't do what the .223 does, but some of the farms I hunt are quite small.

A mid-summer specimen from last year..

photo.jpg
Click to expand...

How do you like your Savage? I am in the market for a varmint/'yote rifle, and I have been looking at what you have. Any pros / cons?
 
I always wondered if there was any out here in Sask. Always wanted to shoot one to see how big there really are.

I was even watching some guys on youtube last night shooting some GH with a 243 and 270. A couple nice shots out at 500 on these guys. Looks like fun
 
The hornet is a wonderful little cartridge, really fun! I started with 22LR, then Hornet, then 222rem, then 22/250. I don't have any more fun with the 22/250 but you don't need to be as close. I used to live in Benmiller near Goderich and hosted a Hog Derby annually, our best count in one day was 800. If you know any older guys in that area they can verify this. Guys came from miles around and we gave fantastic prizes, donated by farmers, insurance Companies etc. One year First price was 4 truck tires , mounted and balanced. DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE REMEMBER THESE DERBIES? Jim. THE BENMILLER KILLER. My partner and I won it several years running and yes you had to bring them home to count! Uugghh
 
Yes i remember those hunts quite well. Think they still had them at underwood just south of port elgin a few years ago. Just as an interesting side note, i saw the 1st hog this year on saturday beside the 400 by barrie georgian college. Even have a witness to verify my eyes are still good lol.
 
Mark Mags said:
How do you like your Savage? I am in the market for a varmint/'yote rifle, and I have been looking at what you have. Any pros / cons?
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Well, the rifle is exceedingly accurate and I'm starting to maximize it's potential by reloading now. Hornady 55gr. V-Max factory ammo through this gun is sub MOA though, so I'm just trying to close-up even those groups. :) Still in load testing. It's a robust rifle, very heavy for it's size, but I like the compact size~owing to the 20" barrel. All varmint guns feel heavier than they should to me, so it's a moot point. I've read criticisms of the camo finish getting dirty easily, being tough to clean, etc. It's a hunting gun! If you look close, you can see the color darkened slightly from the spots that get handled (sweaty hands, dirt from fields, etc.) but it isn't unsightly and I've never bothered to clean it. Cons~the price. I think I saw it on Savage's site today with a MSRP of $925. More than what I paid a couple of years ago, not sure what dealers sell them for. I think if i was paying (or looking at paying) $925 for one, I'd urge you to look at a CZ 527 Varmint at the same time. I love mine, have no regrets buying it though, and ZERO plans of ever selling it. It just shoots too well. I also don't mind really hunting with it, like I might with a beautifully stocked CZ. That walnut is SOOO nice! :)



titch-- said:
I always wondered if there was any out here in Sask. Always wanted to shoot one to see how big there really are.

I was even watching some guys on youtube last night shooting some GH with a 243 and 270. A couple nice shots out at 500 on these guys. Looks like fun
Click to expand...

Dug-up a photo that might interest you. This GH I shot a few years ago with my Savage 92FV, 22WMR. Took a 30gr. V-Max to the right side of his noodle. That rifle (according to Savage's site) is 39.75" long. This is a big groundhog, but not unusually large. http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/93FV

IMG-20110813-00114.jpg
 
Our luck in Sask, they would be deemed as fur bearing and you would need a license. I wish they would make open season on beaver and especially muskrats!!!
 
Deerdr said:
The hornet is a wonderful little cartridge, really fun! I started with 22LR, then Hornet, then 222rem, then 22/250. I don't have any more fun with the 22/250 but you don't need to be as close. I used to live in Benmiller near Goderich and hosted a Hog Derby annually, our best count in one day was 800. If you know any older guys in that area they can verify this. Guys came from miles around and we gave fantastic prizes, donated by farmers, insurance Companies etc. One year First price was 4 truck tires , mounted and balanced. DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE REMEMBER THESE DERBIES? Jim. THE BENMILLER KILLER. My partner and I won it several years running and yes you had to bring them home to count! Uugghh
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Hey guys~thought you'd enjoy this! Deerdr sent me a couple of photos from one of his Hog Derbies back in the day and with his permission, here they are! Makes my "one groundhog with a rifle" photos pretty underwhelming! :) I bet the farmers were VERY appreciative, I've seen what just a handful can do to hay or soybean field. Thanks for sharing Deerdr!

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titch-- said:
I always wondered if there was any out here in Sask. Always wanted to shoot one to see how big there really are.

I was even watching some guys on youtube last night shooting some GH with a 243 and 270. A couple nice shots out at 500 on these guys. Looks like fun
Click to expand...

There is the odd one in SK, but not at all common. I remember that a couple showed up at my Dad's farm in 1961, and my neighbour at Crooked Lake had one under his cabin.
 
.22LRGUY said:
Hey guys~thought you'd enjoy this! Deerdr sent me a couple of photos from one of his Hog Derbies back in the day and with his permission, here they are! Makes my "one groundhog with a rifle" photos pretty underwhelming! :) I bet the farmers were VERY appreciative, I've seen what just a handful can do to hay or soybean field. Thanks for sharing Deerdr!

Unknown2_zpsec44805b.jpg


Unknown1_zps4af78176.jpg
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Holy crap! I bet we"ll never see that many in one place again.
 
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