Ground Hogs

[Dozernut]

My father had a lifelong war on them. It got a lot harder when the city limits were moved and he could no longer shoot them. Then he live trapped and relocated them for somebody else to deal with.
When he passed away in 2017 I told my mother not to worry about them, she didn't have a garden for them to bother.

Fast forward 7 years, they are everywhere. Last month she had somebody come in and try to remove the woodchucks living under her porch stairs but the animals won. I've got some nice 13/4 coilsprings I'll have to put out, although I'm not sure what to do with a POed chuck that I can't shoot.

Too bad they don't make a subsonic .22 round...

They make some fine PCP air rifles now. These are not your Red Rider BB guns. A .25 or .30 caliber at around 900 fps with a well-placed head or heart/lung shot, can take down coyotes. The past couple of years have seen the introduction of several different guns that are tack drivers and cost below $400.

The only problem with PCPs is the air to power them. There is the hand pump, but that gets old real fast. They have introduced several new electric pumps that work well for filling an air gun and cost below $300.

I have been an air gunner since the 60's. They are not a firearm so do not fall under the ATF rules and regulations. You can legally add suppressors and they can be really quiet. I own several but all of mine will not add up to what one of the top tier air guns will cost, yet when it comes to shot placement, mine will do everything the expensive ones will do.

The reason I used the .17 HMR instead of the air rifles was that I didn't have any charged up at the time and when it comes to ground hogs you must strike when the iron is hot.

 

[dodge man]

It sounds like I’m making a joke but my sons last shot on a ground hog went in one ear and out the other. It possible the groundhog just bled out the other ear. The was a 17 HMR round.

 

[MMC]

Most farmers hate groundhogs and perhaps coyotes have driven them in toward buildings. I kill 7-10 each year and they are always here in the spring (this year, so far, 5 are gone). If you enjoy a challenge, as I did in my youth, waiting and understanding their patterns will get you a good shot. And yes, a .22 well placed will put them down. But the faster or larger rounds are good insurance.
Now, if you just want them dead, you can use a Conibear body trap. It is a kill trap and can only be used responsibly and with caution. Put it over the hole(s) and you will get the animal. But, it will trap and kill cats, pets, and hurt a child. If those are in the vicinity, don't use it. If not, this will get the ground hog. And if you are not careful setting it, you'll find out how powerful it can be... Be careful. The Hav-A-Hart cage traps will work eventually...but it takes much more patience. I just want them gone.

 

[tradosaurus]

They make some fine PCP air rifles now. These are not your Red Rider BB guns. A .25 or .30 caliber at around 900 fps with a well-placed head or heart/lung shot, can take down coyotes. The past couple of years have seen the introduction of several different guns that are tack drivers and cost below $400.

The only problem with PCPs is the air to power them. There is the hand pump, but that gets old real fast. They have introduced several new electric pumps that work well for filling an air gun and cost below $300.

I have been an air gunner since the 60's. They are not a firearm so do not fall under the ATF rules and regulations. You can legally add suppressors and they can be really quiet. I own several but all of mine will not add up to what one of the top tier air guns will cost, yet when it comes to shot placement, mine will do everything the expensive ones will do.

The reason I used the .17 HMR instead of the air rifles was that I didn't have any charged up at the time and when it comes to ground hogs you must strike when the iron is hot.

The .17 HMR is great rifle that I can shoot without ear protection. I've got a Savage model with bull barrel.

 

[MossRoad]

We call them woodchucks here. Had a problem with them maybe 10-12 years ago, but once I got rid of them they haven't been back. (knock knock).
Yeah, moles. Got plenty of them here. Nothing seems to work on them, cats won't touch 'em. We do try to keep Japanese beetles under control as much as possible, from what I understand the JB grubs are what moles eat. That too is a constant battle.

Traps are about the most effective means to get rid of moles and keep them in check. While they do eat grubs, their main food is worms. The only way to eliminate grubs and worms is chemicals. Make your dirt a sterile growing medium for grass.

 

[rippershad]

Anybody else having trouble with ground hogs? The last two weeks I have sent 6 of the critters on a vacation to heck. They sure are making a comeback in my neck of the woods. Just curious if anyone else was having troubles with them.

They were thinned out in the 60's and 70's. The surrounding counties had bounties out on them and almost every high school boy had a .22 rifle behind the seat of his truck or car so they could shoot at the varmints. They would save up the tails or ears, each county demanded different types of proof. They would then turn them in on so they could have gas money to run around on Friday and Saturday with their girls.

A .17 HMR with a head shot does a fine job eliminating them. The wife is upset with them, they have trimmed up the garden very well and have eaten most of her flowers. The orders were passed down and she said she would buy all the ammo I needed to solve the problem. Recon I need slow this problem down. A happy wife makes a happy life.

We used to have too many ground hogs, rabbits, and raccoons 15 to 20 years ago. Coyotes moved into the woods around us around that time and the numbers of critters have been greatly reduced now.

 

[Topzide]

I've had good luck with li e traps and cantaloupe for bait. Have used a conabear trap when I saw them use drain pipe to go across the road. Found using the rope method to set them works well and helps to avoid getting caught in it myself!
X2 on the newer air rifles!
There are some sub sonic 22's. They're basically the primer with a 17 grain bullet. Have to use cleaning rod to get case out. Range is limited to about 40 yards.
Good luck and put everyone down you can!

 

[Yander]

I have them as well, and are really tearing things up. I only have one left and he has gone to ground. I know he is still around as the tunnels keep opening back up, but dog if I can find him. The others are pretty easy to take care of, but this one went to commando school or something.

My real issue is Voles and Moles, I never see those darn things, and they are turning everything into a moon scape. I have little mounds everywhere.

I've heard of you Hunt them hard and don't kill them they will turn nocturnal. Either set a trap or get a night vision scope. Sounds like an excuse to get one

 

[jfsawatzky]

I have a unique problem… at least I hope it’s unique. I’m 98 % certain a ground hog has eaten the wiring in my cars engine compartment even the sensors on top of the engine.

I took it to a local garage and they told me there were too many error codes and to take it to the dealer because it would be faster… and maybe cheaper since they know the car.

I stopped at the dealer to get a rough worst case idea of cost … could be upwards of 6 to 8 k cdn.

So needless to say I want to kill this mother fn animal… haven’t had luck with traps but have not made a concerted effort yet.

 

[Yander]

Most farmers hate groundhogs and perhaps coyotes have driven them in toward buildings. I kill 7-10 each year and they are always here in the spring (this year, so far, 5 are gone). If you enjoy a challenge, as I did in my youth, waiting and understanding their patterns will get you a good shot. And yes, a .22 well placed will put them down. But the faster or larger rounds are good insurance.
Now, if you just want them dead, you can use a Conibear body trap. It is a kill trap and can only be used responsibly and with caution. Put it over the hole(s) and you will get the animal. But, it will trap and kill cats, pets, and hurt a child. If those are in the vicinity, don't use it. If not, this will get the ground hog. And if you are not careful setting it, you'll find out how powerful it can be... Be careful. The Hav-A-Hart cage traps will work eventually...but it takes much more patience. I just want them gone.

I believe this to be true also regarding coyotes driving them to buildings.

I believe 220 conibear traps are illegal above ground for the reasons you stated. Made for underwater for beavers. But as you mentioned they will do the trick better than anything.

If you don't have pets or neighbor pets running around and you're doing it inside of a barn, I think that's the way to go.

We do not have the groundhogs we used to and I believe it is because of coyotes.

When I was about 16 I would trap them for farmer just for something to do. I set traps inside of barns and along bean fields and checked them on my dirt bike.