Banner Day

[snert]

Today it was in the 80's and light winds, blue skies. Last night I obtained permission on a farm I had not shot for about ten years. So today at 430 PM my son and I drove out with the K-Hornet, 220 Swift and 6BR.

We set up behind a 200 yard long tube of recently cut hay, and used it as a rest. There were groundhogs standing all over the field looking at us, but none seemed concerned. Getting right to the point, by 715PM we were done shooting and 23 woodchucks lay dead on the field, from 50 yards to one taken at just about 400 with the Swift. I went 12 straight with the K-hornet before I missed one. I have a T-10 weaver on it and shoot 12 grains Lilgun and a 40 grain Vmax. The longest shot with the K was just over 275 yards. Most were about 150 to 225 yards.
I managed to miss the same groundhog 5 times with the BR, a Hart actioned rifle that frankly gives me fits! I finally dragged out an old Arisaka based 220 Swift with an old Weaver T10 on it (a serious over-achiever) and thumped that chuck and two others at 375 and a bit over 400. It is my confidence gun. It simply defies all expectation and is a shooting machine.

We shot so many that we actually began to argue about where they were. We drove around to the ones we could get to and recovered a bunch. We did discover that we underestimated some distances (rather hilly with little valleys and the rangefinder gave us fits) and got low hits. we also over-estimated the K-Hornet energy, and had a bunch of crawlers. Several were found in the den, and a few BIG blood trails indicated solid, but not immediatly fatal hits. I will use more gun next time! A groundhog is NOT a PD!!!

This is one for the record books. Only twice before have I had more in a day, and those days were 8 hours long. I know there are many more on this place, but today there are 23 less! Photos of some of them to follow as soon as we download them from our cell phone.

Mr. Majestic...I am hot on your heels buddy!

 

[hogpatrol]

View attachment 983434 View attachment 983435 View attachment 983436 View attachment 983437 View attachment 983438 View attachment 983439 Today it was in the 80's and light winds, blue skies. Last night I obtained permission on a farm I had not shot for about ten years. So today at 430 PM my son and I drove out with the K-Hornet, 220 Swift and 6BR.

We set up behind a 200 yard long tube of recently cut hay, and used it as a rest. There were groundhogs standing all over the field looking at us, but none seemed concerned. Getting right to the point, by 715PM we were done shooting and 23 woodchucks lay dead on the field, from 50 yards to one taken at just about 400 with the Swift. I went 12 straight with the K-hornet before I missed one. I have a T-10 weaver on it and shoot 12 grains Lilgun and a 40 grain Vmax. The longest shot with the K was just over 275 yards. Most were about 150 to 225 yards.
I managed to miss the same groundhog 5 times with the BR, a Hart actioned rifle that frankly gives me fits! I finally dragged out an old Arisaka based 220 Swift with an old Weaver T10 on it (a serious over-achiever) and thumped that chuck and two others at 375 and a bit over 400. It is my confidence gun. It simply defies all expectation and is a shooting machine.

We shot so many that we actually began to argue about where they were. We drove around to the ones we could get to and recovered a bunch. We did discover that we underestimated some distances (rather hilly with little valleys and the rangefinder gave us fits) and got low hits. we also over-estimated the K-Hornet energy, and had a bunch of crawlers. Several were found in the den, and a few BIG blood trails indicated solid, but not immediatly fatal hits. I will use more gun next time! A groundhog is NOT a PD!!!

This is one for the record books. Only twice before have I had more in a day, and those days were 8 hours long. I know there are many more on this place, but today there are 23 less! Photos of some of them to follow as soon as we download them from our cell phone.

Mr. Majestic...I am hot on your heels buddy!

OUTSTANDING!

 

[potatoe]

Thats it Snert, I'm heading up there!

 

[thekriebles]

23 is a HUGE day...congrats!!

 

[jds holler]

Wow!! Nice day, and great shooting. If you're popping them at 2-3 hundred yards and more with the rest in the top pic, you're my hero. Your Hornet must be a shooter. Keep up the good work. jd

 

[snert]

Wow!! Nice day, and great shooting. If you're popping them at 2-3 hundred yards and more with the rest in the top pic, you're my hero. Your Hornet must be a shooter. Keep up the good work. jd

It is steadier than it appears. I just laid my binocs on the tube, layed the Swift on them and away we went. It was almost like shooting off table, but standing. I just smushed my fat stomocah against it and it sorta locked me in.

The Hornet has a barrel that is pathetic inside, but it shoots despite it. I do not know why. No physical reason it should shoot at all, but it does. It will hold an inch at 100, sometimes better.

 

[misfire]

Congratulations that's a heck of a day, that's one farmer that is going to welcome you for the rest of his life. love the pictures

 

[MrMajestic]

Very nice my friend! You are making me look bad! Lol

 

[ShootDots]

Woodchucks! I miss shooting them! I have shot innumerable Prairie Dogs, and they are fun. But 'chucks are my fav varmint hunting! I really miss hunting them!

 

[XBBR Shooter]

Woodchucks! I miss shooting them! I have shot innumerable Prairie Dogs, and they are fun. But 'chucks are my fav varmint hunting! I really miss hunting them!

I have shot 'chucks since forever. I went to South Dakota back in the late 70's and it was outrageous - we (three of us) camped along the Big White river in the Bad Lands, and shot 21,000 rounds in 3 weeks.

But my third trip burned me out - the land was barren and boring, and splating them got old.

I think New England and Rocky Mtn 'chuck shooting is as good as it gets, and you are shooting in some of the most beautiful country there is.

 

[ShootDots]

I have shot 'chucks since forever. I went to South Dakota back in the late 70's and it was outrageous - we (three of uss) shot 21,000 rounds in 3 weeks.

But my third trip burned me out - the land was barren and boring, and splating them got old.

I think New England and Rocky Mtn 'chuck shooting is as good as it gets, and you are shooting in some of the most beautiful country there is.

You are absolutely correct my friend! There is nothing like the entirety of the experience in hunting 'chucks!

 

[snert]

Got number 49 today....200 yard chip shot with the 220 Swift

 

[snert]

Congratulations that's a heck of a day, that's one farmer that is going to welcome you for the rest of his life. love the pictures

He saw the carnage yesterday while baling a field across the fence. Buzzards all over. He was all smiles. I am in, and he might invite me to thanksgiving!

 

[snert]

Got number 50 and 51 tonight with the Swift. Two days ago guided a young lady to her first and second woodchuck, with the duece.

 

[OKyote73]

Got number 50 and 51 tonight with the Swift. Two days ago guided a young lady to her first and second woodchuck, with the duece.

Looks like you guys are doing well! No more pd's but maybe will sneak off soon! Have fun

 

[CaptainMal]

Oh my. Those numbers read like a prairie dog hunt, not groundhog. You sure found a honey hole and made the best of it.

Thanks for the stimulation.

 

[snert]

Shot number 52, 53, 54, 55 tonight...but I kept Hornady in business doing it! 2 at 200 (and yes I managed to miss 2x!!!) and 2 at 300, but missed one of those 2x, the other 3x before finally settling in and busting them. Used the 22 PPC mostly. I also missed one (now nicknamed "the Jogger") 4 times at 465, 425, 400, 375... He was last seen at 200 yards heading for the beans at full tilt, about 300 yards from his hole in a hayfield. Never seen one go that far, that fast, with that amount of enthusiasm.

When I left there were about 8 farting about in places that I could not shoot due to angles and backstop, and I did not have my walkin gun.

I shall return!

 

[fredo]

WE shall return!

Fixed that for ya...

Locked & loaded, dude!

 

[greg8012]

this year My friend and I shot chucks in Oregon and stopped by a ranchers house and he said" come back next year with ATV's and drive along the rim rocks" he then said he gets off of his atv while out checking the stock and kills a few with a shovel.. What would be that caliber? next year.. G

 

[Phil]

this year My friend and I shot chucks in Oregon and stopped by a ranchers house and he kills a few with a shovel.. What would be that caliber? next year.. G

Depends............

Pointed or flat??????????