2012 OH groundhogs - Final Tally

[MrMajestic]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

The heat wave is finally over - at least for a while. Went out last evening and shot 4, then again this morning and shot two. Four of the six were over 300 yards.

My season total now stands at 273.

Good shooting! And my family thinks I'm committing Groundhog Genocide with 55 confirmed kills so far! ;D

 

[lpreddick]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

i was checking a fencerow the other day and there was a shadow next to a post unlike the others...yep, ghog in the shade. put the dot of the np2dd nightforce on his chest and....bang AND A MISS! my 22 brx doesn't do this! anyway, back two days later and of course there he was in the shade of the post just glaring at me! i could hear him..."yah, yah, yah. you can't touch me!" well, out came the 22 brx and at 256 yds with no wind, the 69 gr barnes was sent. i was pretty sure i heard the whaaaccckkk. went to the fencepost and there was the hole. NO PIG, NO BLOOD, NO GUTS! i knew i hit him good, so i did as my gunsmith (a legend of a ghog hunter) told me to do..."look in the hole". the sun was bright and low so i got down with my face at ground level, shading the hole and lo and behold...two feet upside down WAY down in there! i had to use my entire arm's length to reach him and retrieve a dead varmint. this was obviously a bit brave as he could have been wounded but the paw up sign is usually always associated with death. when possible, i poke them before picking them up. the message here ...if you mock me you won't see the sunrise tomorrow!

 

[Nomad47]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Great story, LP. Yeah, I have also found several in their holes. But can't recall ever having to reach to arms length to get one.

Speaking of odd locations, I don't know how many I have shot off the top of round bales or perched on a log in a brush pile. You have to be careful with the ones on the hay bales - you don't want to bury a bullet in the hay. I don't know if there would be enough lead to kill a cow, but I don't want to find out either.

 

[Nomad47]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

MrM, you had better not tell the family how many I've killed. They might try to find me and lynch me.

 

[chino1969]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Something to keep in mind hunting groundhogs. Always leave some seed stock for next year.

Over the years I've done too good a job of cleaning up bean fields. It makes the farmer happy but the following year you'll see the results of your success.

The temp. in southeastern PA has dropped some and tonight will be a good night to go out.

 

[MrMajestic]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Heading out with my Son who is home on leave! I hope to video some kills.

 

[Nomad47]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

I know what you are saying, Chino. I was concerned after shooting 368 last summer in about a 20 square mile area of one county in Ohio. But so far this summer I have shot 278 in the same area and I'm ahead of last summer on this date.
But I see plenty in areas where I can't shoot them - mainly next to roads, but also places where there is no place to set up.
We may have to leave Ohio early to head to Arizona, so I may not reach my total of last summer.

 

[Nomad47]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

I finally remembered to take a couple photos of my setup with my cell phone (so not the best quality photos).
I like to setup in the bed of my pickup for two reasons. 1. I'm a little more elevated to see over those little rises that are in nearly every field. 2. No ticks in my pickup bed.
The far tree line above the scope in the first photo is 1130 yards.
The far tree line just right of where the rifle is pointed in the second photo is 680 yards.
Almost forgot, got my shortest shot of the season so far - 24 yards - the 'hog was just in front of the pickup in the third photo. I swung around and put the bipod on the roof and squeezed off the shot.

 

[MrMajestic]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Thanks for sharing Nomad!

 

[Nomad47]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Thanks, MrM. Which branch is your son in? I have a grandson in the Marines and stationed at Cherry Point, NC.

 

[MrMajestic]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Army, 1st Infantry out of Ft. Riley KS. Back from Afghanistan 12/11.

 

[Nomad47]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Tell him I said "Thank You" for his service. Did you make it out to the groundhog fields with him yet?

 

[model 12 toby]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

nice. I walk and shoot prone with a bi pod. shot 768 today at a target. wind was kicking.

 

[lpreddick]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

on the topic of woodpiles...here in ne tenn and sw va there are a lot of "sinkholes" and farmers tend to push and dump downed trees and brush into them. after awhile ghogs get into them and set up home. there can be several families in one and they make for a challenge. you usually can't see their hole, so you have to get them in the logs or on the ground. they will pick a specific log for sunning and snoozing. shot several while asleep...may not be sporting, but somebody has to do it. shot one off his perch and 10 min later #2 assumes the position and his fate was same as #1! saw one that had assumed the color of the logs, honest, and only saw him when he moved his head. have photo but haven't learned how to post, yet. shot a pup once and in 30 sec mama came out but hid behind some logs. noted a color difference between several logs and after looking awhile, i picked out her head and lasered a round thru the tiny opening and...you guessed it, drt (11# 5 oz). one problem is if you kill one in a large woodpile, they can drop into the black hole of the pile and you cannot retrieve your trophy. trying to walk on some woodpiles is dangerous...know of one that sits over a sinkhole that one can look into and not see bottom! the grass around this one is actually floating on old logs and gives a bit when walked on! once again, it's a tough job but somebody has to do it.

 

[chino1969]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Nomad47,
I use pretty much the same set up that you use. That's an impressive head count.

 

[Dogbone]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Nomad you're one long distance killing machine! Love the mobile rig. Although I don't use the open bed of my truck because of the cap, I do use the hood and roof of the cap in most of my shots at the farms I shoot.

 

[Nomad47]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Thanks, Guys.

LP, I did a similar thing but with a round bale. I shot one off the top of one and a few minutes later another was laying in the same place. If I hadn't seen the bullet knock the first one off the bale, I would have thought I missed.
Those woodpiles over sinkholes sound a bit dangerous.

 

[MrMajestic]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Tell him I said "Thank You" for his service. Did you make it out to the groundhog fields with him yet?

Will do, he wasn't feeling well last night (alcohol poisoning?) so tomorrow night it is. Took my 20" barreled Contender in .17 Ackley Hornet to the range tonight to confirm the scope settings after a couple of misses at close ranges last time out. It was spot on at 200 yds! That sucks cause that leaves the "Nut behind the bolt"! :-[

 

[MrMajestic]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

Finally made it out this afternoon with my Son prior to his return departure to Ft. Riley, KS. These were his first Chucks shot with a Centerfire or at any distance. They were shot with a Remington 700SA I had pieced together for him in a B&C Adj. Tactical stock and a Sightron 20X on top. The 26" 12tw .223 Remington chambered Varmint weight barrel was bought on EBay and headspaced perfectly. It shoots 3/4 MOA with the 60 gr. Sierra HP's and Benchmark. Both were shot prone from a bipod at 115 and 112 yards. The 112 was just peeking out of his burrow and fell back in but was obviously hit hard! He said he is hooked now and we are planning a Prairie Dog trip in West KS next year before he gets out in July! With his shooting I am sure glad I'm not the enemy!

 

[model 12 toby]

Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs

it is definitely a blast. Literally. ;D