Ontario groundhog hunters~anyone here?

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hey guys, rarely see the big Ontario hay pigs mentioned in this forum, so I thought I'd chime in and say hi! It's my second year hunting them and I'm getting better at it. Had my best day ever almost 2 weeks ago, using a .22 WMR mostly, but taking my CZ HMR out for it's last hunt. Selling it to make way for a .223 that will double as a coyote gun for me. Attached are a couple of photos from the last few weeks, and wondering just how late the groundhogs are around. I've heard from one hunter that they're really early hibernators, but I didnt' hunt them much into September last year.

Cheers,
Rob

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where abouts are you huntin' 'em...?

'Finding access/permission to hunt on private land a problem..?
 
I see em all around London area, never tried hunting them yet but I'm going coyote hunting soon and if one makes itself available I'll shoot one :)
 
667 said:
where abouts are you huntin' 'em...?

'Finding access/permission to hunt on private land a problem..?
Click to expand...

I hunt near Arthur Ontario, but anywhere NW of there is a good place to start. I only hunt on 3 farms so far, but that's 3 "yes" out of 3 requests for permission. My suggestion~don't go scouting...camo-clad, rifle in the truck, hoping to hunt on the same day. Be prepared to chat with the landowners/farmers if they want to~in some of these remote farms, you might be the first visitor they've had stop in for some time. Also, there is a good chance you'll find yourself in Mennonite country, so (in my opinion) it's not a great idea to be looking around on a Sunday.
 
i've seen a few while on the golf course, but never tried to hunt them. my .22-250 is calling my name though.
 
I have family that has farms up around the Collingwood area. I still get up there to hunt groundhogs a couple of times each summer. There aren't as many as there used to be, maybe coyotes are thinning them out a bit?

Asking permission is the easiest way to get access. Most farmers hate them and don't mind having someone get rid of them.

My best day was shooting 42 of them (round bales were still in the fields). My best summer as a kid was over 130 groundhogs. Lots of tails hanging on the driving shed wall!

Oh, .223 is a great groundhog calibre. Find some 40-45 grain hollowpoints and fire away.

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"...how late the groundhogs are..." Depends on the weather, but they've usually gone to bed by late September. Ground hogs don't like wet, cool or very hot weather. Mind you, they come out in early Spring if the weather isn't cold or wet. Shot a few off snow banks in early March. As daft as it sounds, the soil makes a difference too. Think in terms of digging a hole bare handed. That's when you look along the edges of fields. Acidic soil seems to shoo 'em away too.
"...What works well as bait?..." You don't bait 'em. You stalk 'em or sit and wait.
"...not a great idea to be looking around on a Sunday..." That applies to all farmers. Don't go during seeding or harvesting time either.
 
I shot the most stupid one yesterday evening. Took 9 shots but I got him. Before you all start laughing at me I close on the 8. And it was about 430 yards with my 25-06. I didn't know the range so I started hitting alil low then high then right infront of him. He jumped and rolled twice but stayed out on open dirt. 120 cxp2 bullet is hard on them
 
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