Groundhogs/woodchucks

3rdbase · May 31, 2001

Guys,
Anyone got any ideas on how to shoot g'hogs? I've got four in my 14 acre meadow. They have never been exposed to humans, but I'm not sure when they normally come out. I have a rifle thats quite adequate to send them to their eternal reward, but I don't have that much time to sit and watch. Is there a way to bait them to come out so I can whack 'em, or do I have to just wait them out? How far away should I set up my "post." I've watched at sunset +/- 1 hour because I thought that's when they come out. Any suggestions?

skent · May 31, 2001

I had one living under my garage at the other house. I really believe he KNEW when I was snipin' from my front porch cause he wouldn't come out. If he did, it was only his nose and as soon as I'd make a move he'd go in. If I put the .222 away and sit on the porch, he'd come on out and party! Go back and get the rifle and in he'd go.

I had my day when I put some sweet corn cobs left over from dinner one night about 10 feet from his hole, loaded up the .222 and waited. In less than 5 minutes his stomach over-ruled his common sense and he came out of his hole for the last time. I've used sweet corn many times since then (cooked of course) and it seems to be the best way to bait them.

Steve

3rdbase · May 31, 2001

Thnaks Skent. I'll load up my 270 as soon as I finish my breakfast--corn on the cob.

RPM · May 31, 2001

Just be patient ...

I've found that if you watch them come out of their holes you will see that they always come out and look in one direction first. If you position yourself behind them when they come out you can nail them in the back of the head very easily.

I have several times just sat down 10 feet behind a hole with my .22 and been successful after a 15 minute wait. Just stay quiet and you will get them.

The other trick if you can't do this is to click your tongue or whistle when you see them in the field. They'll stand up for you and present a nice shot.

I also have a friend who likes to rush them. He claims it's fun anyway. What he does is sneak up and run to cut off the path to their hole. They get confused and will stop and growl at you at that point - at which time they can easily be finished off - he does it with a compound bow.

Groundhog hunting is way too much fun!!!

RPM · May 31, 2001

Forgot to mention - early morning and late afternoon are best for groundhogs. If they haven't been exposed to humans they may be out all day though.

3rdbase · May 31, 2001

Steve & RPM
I had the corn on the cob for breakfast. Got out to the property at 11:15. Baited the area with cobs and some loose kernels. About 40 mins later, out comes the momma. The 270 hollow point was a fews seconds later. I really don't like doing this, but they are starting to breed on the property and I'm starting a vinyard next year, so I can't have that. Thanks for the suggestions.

RPM · May 31, 2001

Nice going 3rdbase! Best of luck with the rest of them.

Only other piece of advice that I thought of this afternoon was for folks to be careful if hunting groundhogs on publically accessible land. If you're laying down in the grass with a scoped rifle waiting for the old woodchuck, guess what the back of your head looks like to a distant hunter ... doesn't hurt to invest in an orange cap!!

In the meantime, I'm going to try the sweetcorn trick next weekend at my friend's place to finish out the remaining 5 big guys there ... took 10 out with two other guys last weekend.

rmorgan · Jun 2, 2001

We twice had woodchucks sleeping in a big mulberry tree after a huge berry meal . . . a good substitute for "fish in a barrel" with the 12 gauge; all you have to do is aim it up in the air and get out of the way of falling woodchux. Otherwise, they are skittish enough that a .222 or equivalent is a lot better than a .22, at least for a mediocre shot. Woodchucks are really destructive; my father-in-law had a barn entirely undermined to the point that the concrete floor collapsed. Get 'em.

jinman · Jun 2, 2001

...and speaking of destructive. Anyone ever have their favorite fishing shade-tree cut down by a beaver? /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif
Maw, Paw, and little-uns all had to go!

JimI

StoneHeartFarm · Jun 2, 2001

JimI,

My property has an old creek bed that runs down the side of it. The creek is no longer there because of a beaver dam on the neighbors property. The neighbor has expressed that he would like to lower the water level on his back 40 a little bit, and I'm thinking I might need to dig a pond, or have a stream front house. (Bet they raise my taxes for that one).

Anyway (my usual long winded self). My VERY blood thirsty (and pond loving) wife claims to have a good recipe for beaver tail. Say's she's cooked it before at a resort club she worked for. Want me to get it for you?

SHF