Groundhog Hunting

[deeker]

I went out groundhog hunting last week. I didn't see too many - actually shot all 7 that stuck their heads up at the wrong time.

Using a Remington 700 in .223 with regular old Winchester White Box Super X ammo (45 grain varmint load), I was surprised at how much damage was done to a couple of the groundhogs. Longest shot was about 110 yards, closest was maybe 15 yards.

I just spent the afternoon wandering around some of our cousins' farms. Would have been nice to stay into the evening when they come out for their last feeding but it was still fun to get out.


The photographic evidence from a couple of them.

Close-up

Same shot as above, just a different angle.

This hole you could drop a 12g shell into. Strange how it performed.

This helped rid the farms of a few pesky rodents. Will get back in another few days to see how many more I can find.

 

[ben hunchak]

What I used to do with grounhogs and still do with gophers is walk past the close ones, if using a longer range gun, if the groundhog/gopher is still around when i get 300 yds. away or so, then take a shot at it. If 2 or more people are hunting, then 1 fellow uses something meant for close range, like maybe a .22 or shotgun, or older gun with iron sights, to make it more challenging.

 

[M12shooter]

What I used to do with grounhogs and still do with gophers is walk past the close ones, if using a longer range gun, if the groundhog/gopher is still around when i get 300 yds. away or so, then take a shot at it. If 2 or more people are hunting, then 1 fellow uses something meant for close range, like maybe a .22 or shotgun, or older gun with iron sights, to make it more challenging.

X2...we shoot gophers from one hill to the other opposing hillside in the morning with the sun at our backs. Then switch to the opposite hill in the late afternoon, again with the sun at the rear and shoot the daylights out of the critters. IMO any fool can kill a gopher at 60 yards will a varmint rifle.

 

[oopswasthatyourdog?]

What I used to do with grounhogs and still do with gophers is walk past the close ones, if using a longer range gun, if the groundhog/gopher is still around when i get 300 yds. away or so, then take a shot at it. If 2 or more people are hunting, then 1 fellow uses something meant for close range, like maybe a .22 or shotgun, or older gun with iron sights, to make it more challenging.

Yep I'll walk right past the close ones....though I have blasted a few from up close over the years. If you really want a challenge nail em with a bow out to 50-60 yards.

Good shooting and thanks for sharing!

 

[Kc.338Lp]

Ok , im sorry to ask as im just getting interested in hunting in the past couple of months , but what exactly is the point to hunting/konkin over groundhogs ?

Do they really cause so much damage to warrant exterminating fields of them at a time ?

 

[oopswasthatyourdog?]

Ok , im sorry to ask as im just getting interested in hunting in the past couple of months , but what exactly is the point to hunting/konkin over groundhogs ?

Do they really cause so much damage to warrant exterminating fields of them at a time ?

Groundhogs are a menace to society! Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

They are also a blast to shoot

 

[deeker]

Damage to crops, damage to machinery, possible hazard to livestock... Those are the few reasons that come to mind right away.

Gophers are the same out west - just lots more of them.

If there were any sticking their heads out at further distances I would have gladly taken the shots. With the nice undulating terrain of the farms I was on there might only be a couple of spots that you could see a groundhog and stretch a shot out to 250+ yards.

 

[Brutus]

Ok , im sorry to ask as im just getting interested in hunting in the past couple of months , but what exactly is the point to hunting/konkin over groundhogs ?

Do they really cause so much damage to warrant exterminating fields of them at a time ?

Just ask someone who raises papered/registered Arabian horses. A good breeder with a good reputation, if he or she is smart, will frequently cater to wealthy clients from Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. At horse shows, guess what, the well established horse breeders don't have to go to them, the well healed clients come to them, at thier own ranches, to carry out business.
It's not uncommon to sell these horses in prime shape for $20,000 to $25,000 dollars each.
Think how they feel about gopher holes on thier pasture land.

 

[varmintking]

ground hog shooting as its not very hard to find them. is a blast it lets you really get to know how where your rifle shoots at long ranges. some of the lil buggers the ones that have been shot at befor. are quick to know some things up . my buddy and i have been out about 9 times this year and i think every time we go out we get about 50 or so each . the farmers were we go will damn near pay you to shot the bloody things . if you ever get the chance go give it a try then ask if what exactly is the point to hunting ground hogs you will see after just one time out. just watch where you step some of them holes go a long way down .

 

[oopswasthatyourdog?]

ground hog shooting as its not very hard to find them. is a blast it lets you really get to know how where your rifle shoots at long ranges. some of the lil buggers the ones that have been shot at befor. are quick to know some things up . my buddy and i have been out about 9 times this year and i think every time we go out we get about 50 or so each . the farmers were we go will damn near pay you to shot the bloody things . if you ever get the chance go give it a try then ask if what exactly is the point to hunting ground hogs you will see after just one time out. just watch where you step some of them holes go a long way down .

100 groundhogs every time the two of you go out??????? I'm thinking you are shooting PDs not GH.
If you are shooting groundhogs in the EAST, you sir have the biggest honeyhole of earthpigs I have ever heard of in over twenty + years of hunting.

 

[bassman]

100 groundhogs every time the two of you go out??????? I'm thinking you are shooting PDs not GH.
If you are shooting groundhogs in the EAST, you sir have the biggest honeyhole of earthpigs I have ever heard of in over twenty + years of hunting.

my thoughts exactly, I don't remember there being that many back there growing up...

 

[varmintking]

im telling you right now there not pd's there ground hogs ! i dont really want to give away my sweet spot but its about 2 and half hours away from hamilton . and yes sir it is a honey hole thats just the one farm we shoot at . my buddy waas up there the other day and just gained access to one more . he said he stoped and asked the guy if we can shoot ther he said he would pay him. but then i guess the guys wife chimed in and said are you kidding we will be broke where abouts you hunt and maybe i can fill you in on a lil spot to go to to have a full day of shooting

 

[varmintking]

but the less you guys belive me the more ther are to shoot my self

 

[ontario]

I am also skeptical. The best I have ever done is cleaned 96 out of a single 150 acre alfalpha field in a summer. Shooting 900 before August even rolls around requires pictures and a handhshake.

 

[oopswasthatyourdog?]

im telling you right now there not pd's there ground hogs ! i dont really want to give away my sweet spot but its about 2 and half hours away from hamilton . and yes sir it is a honey hole thats just the one farm we shoot at . my buddy waas up there the other day and just gained access to one more . he said he stoped and asked the guy if we can shoot ther he said he would pay him. but then i guess the guys wife chimed in and said are you kidding we will be broke where abouts you hunt and maybe i can fill you in on a lil spot to go to to have a full day of shooting

Thanks for the offer but I wont drive 7-8 hours to shoot groundhogs when I can nail em in my own backyard

 

[varmintking]

we hunt over 200 acres of rolling hills its three farms side by side and if i had a camra i would take pics for you guys next time i will get one of them cheep disposables and take some pics for you none belivers out there as for the hand shakes we get them from the farmers

 

[ali68]

we hunt over 200 acres of rolling hills its three farms side by side and if i had a camra i would take pics for you guys next time i will get one of them cheep disposables and take some pics for you none belivers out there as for the hand shakes we get them from the farmers

I have heard in around a comunity south of me that there are still some large pockets of groundhogs and that 50+ is possible in a day. Most of us locals have speculated that the ever increasing coyote numbers have been the cause of the decline in groundhogs in my area. A buddy just last weekend said that he heard from an apparent "biologist" that a type of menengist has also taken a toll on them. I won't believe it till I hear or see a report on this.
Twenty years ago we could get over a hundred in a day, now I would be lucky to get twenty.

A.M.