Ontario Groundhogs 2014!

pcap said:
I consider my self to be a conservationist when it comes to ground hogs, I let them breed then shoot a couple, always leavening a target for another day. SW Ontario is around and about where I hunt. My gun of choice is a 223 with a 60 gr vmax.
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I went after them in the same manner. Sometimes I would even be laughed at for doing so. But, I always wanted to be be able to go back again, later, and bag a couple more.
 
Seems to be more around my area this year. Got one with the shotgun while turkey hunting already. It was on a horse farm and I know the farmer despises them so it was more a community service.
 
pcap said:
I consider my self to be a conservationist when it comes to ground hogs, I let them breed then shoot a couple, always leavening a target for another day. SW Ontario is around and about where I hunt. My gun of choice is a 223 with a 60 gr vmax.
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The same thought has crossed my mind, as there is little I enjoy more than a nice walk with a varmint rifle..BUT...I'm granted permission to hunt farms simply because farmers want them gone. For me, it would be a bit disingenuous to let their numbers increase for the sole purpose of having more to shoot. I'd sure like to, but say the words "I wish there were more groundhogs to shoot" to any farmer where I hunt and they'd look at you like you have sh*t for brains.
 
I hunt also for farmers that want them gone. But I would not go as fare to tell them I have left a couple for repopulation lol. Usually those few are in a spot where a shot can not be taken due to safety reasons anyways. so those ones are safe until they decide to move to a new hole.
Cheers
 
pcap said:
I hunt also for farmers that want them gone. But I would not go as fare to tell them I have left a couple for repopulation lol. Usually those few are in a spot where a shot can not be taken due to safety reasons anyways. so those ones are safe until they decide to move to a new hole.
Cheers
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I hear you. There is one farm I don't hunt until after the first cut of hay, and a couple others where (for the same reasons) I'm OK with leaving a couple. I'll also follow my gut..if I get a couple and I'm happy with that, I'll pack it in~even if I spot another one. (Seems to always happen :) ) Sometimes, I'll take the rifle back out, but most times...I'll hear a voice in my head that says; "see you next time :) )
 
Well, yeah, it's not a case of saying to the landowner that you left some to ensure the continuity of the population. Just a case where you are able to say you got a few, and will be back to take care of others. Thereby giving yourself several opportunities to get out whilst thinning the population.
 
^ too true!! Just massacred about 90 with my SR22 and t97 this morning. Then came the blasted wind! But 90 grass rats in a 20 acre area ain't bad. And I definitely missed a few! Last year my brother in law and I culled about 6-700 in two days in one of his fields - about 1/4 section. Then nailed a few of those pesky badgers followed by a nice course of dimwit coyotes :)
Only thing I would trade is the size of yours for mine lol!!
 
MadMarty said:
^ too true!! Just massacred about 90 with my SR22 and t97 this morning. Then came the blasted wind! But 90 grass rats in a 20 acre area ain't bad. And I definitely missed a few! Last year my brother in law and I culled about 6-700 in two days in one of his fields - about 1/4 section. Then nailed a few of those pesky badgers followed by a nice course of dimwit coyotes :)
Only thing I would trade is the size of yours for mine lol!!
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Marty~I'd give my left one to have that many targets, and that much fun with a rimfire! :) Damn I'd love to shoot some gophers. An absolute banner day here is about 10-12, my nephew and I shot 16 one day a few years ago, and we saw 2 more when we were packing up! lol An average here (where I hunt) is about 1 for every hour of hunting, maybe a little less.
 
From what I've seen a lot of them have moved back into bush edges only coming out in the fields to feed. Saw plenty of holes in the bush while turkey hunting. Got one on the weekend while I was target shooting with my 17HMR, he come out 50yds behind the target to see what all the noise was about.
 
Man, average of one per hour.... Crazy talk to this Alberta boy! Well, open invite to anyone heading to South East Alberta. Grass rats, coyotes and magpies galore!
 
.22LRGUY said:
Hey guys~I've yet to get a sense of how many groundhog shooters are on CGN, but perhaps this thread will pull some out of the woodwork! :) Never the kind of prolific numbers you (lucky S.O.B.) western guys get..even on an off year...but it's fun anyway and can present some interesting challenges. This spring, I took delivery of a new .204 Ruger for the job, and so far (2 hunts) it's doing well. 4 groundhogs down each time, with a chance for at least 2 more on the second outing. Took a pass on those, since my apprentice-hunter daughter is eager to get out for her first hunt of 2014..and these 2 didn't seem overly spooky/wary. Anyhow, I like threads with photos, so here is one from the first outing...and one of the most photogenic ones. :) I shoot hand-loads, the rifle seems to like 39gr. Sierra BlitzKings in front of Reloader 10-X

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If there is any interest, I'll continue adding as the season progresses! :) Please feel free to chime in if you shoot these things, photos, stories..whatever!

Cheers,
204RGUY
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Never been, but would love to go sometime!

Dave.
 
Was out for a little scouting a couple of weeks ago...
I spotted 23 of them in and around the area I hunt in.
Just need a day off when it isn't raining
 
.22LRGUY said:
Hey guys~I've yet to get a sense of how many groundhog shooters are on CGN, but perhaps this thread will pull some out of the woodwork! :)
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Would if I had a place to shoot them. Haven't shot any since I was a kid.

Willy Tincup said:
A lot of people in my area of Ontario say they have a disease that has trashed the population.
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I think it was lead poisoning. ;) Many decades of hunting has certainly reduced the numbers, along with other factors.
 
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I hunted for an hour yesterday. It was mostly sunny but really windy.
Shot at 2 g-hogs, missed the first one and got the second one.

Later when I drove home, going passed the field I saw another one.
Still nothing like 5 or 10 years ago.
 
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