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Night time groundhog?

snert

Silver $$ Contributor
First the disclaimers: I am not a drinker. I am not undergoing stress. I do confess I have not hunted groundhogs since early 2017...so i might be "seeing things"...But I don't think so

On two occasions in the last month, while driving home from work at 1015 PM I have seen a groundhog (two different ones, miles apart) beside the road, standing or walking. Not a possum or coon, a groundhog!!

I have NEVER seen a chuck at night.

But apparently they know I am now in PA and have gone nocturnal on me. Next time I see one I am going full blown VW golf on it!!!
 
You might not be drinking but what are you smoking? I haven't seen one at night but have heard of other folks that have. Is it possible that they are on to us?
 
Varmintshooter, that is my concern! I think my reputation preceeded me here. Either way, next time I am gonna turn around and flatten it, just to get proof! The first time i was really doubting myself. Tonight...no way. It was right there, i was (unusually) going slow and had time to look him over. he was standing at the shoulder, eating. It is getting cold too...by now in NY they are all in bed for the winter nap. It was 55 here today.
 
I whacked a beaver one night with a mustang a few years ago.about 11:30 pm ish, One big ole sumbitch. He died car got messed up.
If you are driving in beaver territory id say more than likely a beaver.
 
The latest or coldest that I have seen one is during rifle (deer) season when it was 30-32*. Late Nov early Dec on the Md/Pa line. It is kind of surprising that they would be out at night with the coyote population being what it is.
 
snert said:
First the disclaimers: I am not a drinker. I am not undergoing stress. I do confess I have not hunted groundhogs since early 2017...so i might be "seeing things"...But I don't think so

On two occasions in the last month, while driving home from work at 1015 PM I have seen a groundhog (two different ones, miles apart) beside the road, standing or walking. Not a possum or coon, a groundhog!!

I have NEVER seen a chuck at night.

But apparently they know I am now in PA and have gone nocturnal on me. Next time I see one I am going full blown VW golf on it!!!
Click to expand...

Full blown vw golf ?
What velocity you getting ?
And is it accurate ?
 
I don't know if this is "goin' ya' one better", but a couple of weeks ago I gave one of my tenants permission to hunt some of my other land. I called him to ask if he has gotten a shot yet or if he is seeing anything. He said, "while I was putting up my tree stand my buddy got attacked by a mad hedge hog!!...it's a good thing he had the tree stand to hold between him and the hedge hog, it woulda tore him up!!!"
I asked if he meant groundhog and he said, "no, I looked it up and it was a hedgehog!!"
I don't know....maybe someone turned loose a pet and it is making it in the wild. Seemed a little out there at first, but then I get attacked sometimes right here on this forum by "mad hedgehogs" every now and then!!!!

Edit: To the original question, I have never seen one out at night and between coon hunting with hounds and predator calling......the only thing I can think of is maybe a bear was digging one out of its den and ran out the back door {done that a few times myself, just sayin'}??? I mean, this time of year bears are trying to put on weight any way they can???
 
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I've heard of, but never seen any Ground hogs on very hot, humid summer nights..I figured it was just old hunting lore...This past Sunday evening I saw one at dusk..past 6PM here in Ct. It was very damp & cool mid fifties overcast..near dark that evening...Mike in Ct
 
I've never seen a groundhog at night in 40 years of hunting them. However, I'm seeing them where I live out feeding in 45 degree weather. This is something I have never seen before.
 
okie said:
rabies?...
Click to expand...

You know, there might be something to this...it seems like around here at least every time they test a woodchuck it ends up having rabies. More so than raccoons or skunks and foxes. I think our DNR said it's because being a "hole in the ground" living animal they often have visitors {other animals} that stay the night in the den with them and rabies infects more of them due to the proximity of the other carriers.

I have seen them out in the snow...here is a trail camera picture. If I remember right it was in the high 30's when this was taken.
WGI_0039.JPG
 
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The Golf is one of those KMart versions, no options, dirty, rusty, smokes, tires wobble but I drive it like a Porsche! Needs 100 more HP and another gear!

If I was even remotely technically capable I would have tried for a cell phone photo, but I KNOW I would have wrecked or taken a picture of my thumb. It takes me ten minutes to evenfigure out how to get the phone to be a camera.

I am CERTAIN they were both healthy real groundhogs, looking like any "normal" groundhog" going about business, but it was O'dark thirty...actually after 10PM EST. Both were right beside the roadway, one on the shoulder just standing there looking at me and the other was waddling along the berm, stood p as i approached, which is what made me about faint...cause till then it looked like a coon or possum in the headlights as I closed. Neither one looked like it was in a hurry, upset or even concerned. In fact, they looked totally natural, like your usual urban/suburban groundhog used to traffic, bikes, dog walkers etc. Both were fatties for sure.

So i am seeing a new option...urban night groundhog hunting....can you imagine selling that to a game cop???!!!
 
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