Ground Hogs

[wmfamily]

Funny, my first thought was a new nickname for a tiller...

It's a Bush Hog Ground Hog. They should copyright that name.

 

[lman]

It's a Bush Hop Ground Hog. They should copyright that name.

It's original alright. I've never heard of a Bush Hop.

 

[Jstpssng]

I used to trap groundhogs for fun as a kid along my farming neighbors fields. Used a leg hold trap. When using a leg hold you have to stake it far enough from the hole that they don't take your trap into the hold. Made that mistake once. I would ride my motorcycle around the area and look for where they were eating beans on the edge of a bean field. I would set a trap or two and come back the next day. Also trapped them in a neighbors barn. Something to do.

They were thick back then. Coyotes keep them controlled around here now. Almost never see them. Though I did shoot a young one this summer, in my yard. He was looking for a new home I suspect. I gave him a new home

Years ago there was a den right next to the house my sister was living in. I set a #2 longspring but first thing the next morning the neighbor's cat got into it. My father put a burlap bag over the feline's head and released it, apparently unhurt; although the cat didn't stick around long enough for him to check. The house is long gone, the foundation is filled in and the fir tree that my father planted there is 35 feet tall; yet there are still woodchucks living there.

 

[Eagle223usa]

I shot 19 this year, most from the porches with either 22/250 or .223. My wife scored 11 with her 5.56 or .243. 30 total. They will reinforce for next year, good marksmanship practice and load development. The fight never ends!

 

[lman]

I shot 19 this year, most from the porches with either 22/250 or .223. My wife scored 11 with her 5.56 or .243. 30 total. They will reinforce for next year, good marksmanship practice and load development. The fight never ends!

Where are you at? We have a lot of soybean fields around here, but it would take more time than I have to find that many groundhogs.

 

[Eagle223usa]

North Western PA, I have to be honest, that is not hard hunting them, just having a rifle handy during daylight hours. We only shoot the ones near the fields and garden, if they are out in the woods we don't waste the ammo.