2012 OH groundhogs - Final Tally

[Nomad47]

Totally agree, MrM. I always ask my farmers if they need any help. I usually get an odd look the first time I ask. But then I tell them I don't want wages - just offering a hand if they need it.
If any of you guys make it to AZ during the winter months, be sure and look me up. We'll go out on BLM land and bang some steel.

 

[wvuredneck09]

It has been a joy to follow your season with you Nomad. If only we had hog hunting like that a few miles east of you, quite a few really but you get my point.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

First time poster here.

quick summary. I used to shoot as a teenager...pretty good back then, I used to shoot competitively for a while in the late 70's. (Match 22LR) But the place where I shot burned to the ground and my dad couldn't take me to Camp Perry up on Lake Erie. So I gave it up. (I also discovered girls and such at the same time.)

I haven't really shot for about 30 years. And I wanted to get back into it. I live in the central Ohio area, and have clients and friends that are farmers. So I figured I'll start groundhog hunting. I had been raised with 'game' hunting..and figured if you weren't going to eat it, you shouldn't be shooting it. But varmint hunting is a different story. I can save these friends/clients money by shooting groundhogs.

About two months ago, I purchased a Savage Model 10 .223 (left handed!!) and got a 8x25 Mueller Scope on it. I'm currently trying out several bullet weights and brands to find out what works best in the rifle. (currently it's either 40grain V-max or 55 grain V-max.) Barrel is not a heavy varmint, so I have to wait at least 5 min in between each shot because of the heat. If I don't, I can see the patter of each bullet striking lower and lower. But as of right now, I'm shooting about 3/4" groups at 100yards.

But anyway..I've been enjoying shooting so much I went out and got a Savage Mark II (again, left handed) because my 1972 semi-auto (Winchester 190..not a very good rifle) would spit a little bit of burning powder in my face every few shots.

I've been working on contacting my farmer friends in the area, getting permission to hunt, getting to know the rifle.

But Heck, I've been reading posts from Nomad47. Are there any hogs left in central Ohio???? If you would, would you tell me what general area of central Ohio are you hunting? I'm on the far north end.

Sounds like next year he'll be asked: "How many ground hogs did you shoot this year?"...his response: "All of them!"

 

[chino1969]

Be careful you don't overshoot some of these fields. I cleaned up a couple of fields too well and shot myself out of targets. One of the fields is beginning to re-populate but I'll wait until next season. It's hard not to take a shot but you have to leave some 'starter seed' for next year.

Great numbers, Nomad.

 

[Webster]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Knox County, Adam, south of Mt Vernon. I'll be passing thru Zanesville on Saturday on my way to Rayner's Range for their monthly long range steel competition. Do you shoot there?

I hunted for many years around Millersburg 1970-2018. I thought 50 GH was a good year. Had back surgery have not been out for 3 years. The last five years I have seen very few GH around Millersburg. Too many expensive houses being built on what were hayfields.