ab_bentley
I fix stuff, sometimes....
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
Nomad where are you located in Ohio? I am in Zanesville. Adam
Nomad where are you located in Ohio? I am in Zanesville. Adam
2012 OH groundhogs - Final Tally
- Thread starter Nomad47
- Start date
ab_bentley
I fix stuff, sometimes....
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
No I haven't, I have out here in California for the last three years, once I get back I will though.
Adam
No I haven't, I have out here in California for the last three years, once I get back I will though.
Adam
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
It was a good morning until the wind then the rain came.
After waiting for a brief shower to pass I did a set up on multiple fields. Corn was immediately in front of me with a recently mowed bank 210 yards out. Slightly to my right was a soybean field from 500 to 800 yards away. And more to my right was alfalfa tall enough to hide a feeding g'hog. First to appear was a pup 210 yards out. DRT. Then I spied one in the beans 764 yards away. It was still calm and I nailed it on the first shot. Next came two pups out of the hole where I got the first one. I was setting up to shoot the one closest to the hole when it moved behind the other one. So I got my second double of the season. Then the wind started to blow. And another g'hog appears in the beans, 729 yards out. I dialed in 1.5" for the wind and missed. Should have dialed in 2.5" as the bullet hit where his tail should have been. After about a half hour of seeing nothing, the rains came and I retired to my reloading hootch to do a little brass prep.
Season total went over the century mark today. 101 so far.
It was a good morning until the wind then the rain came.
After waiting for a brief shower to pass I did a set up on multiple fields. Corn was immediately in front of me with a recently mowed bank 210 yards out. Slightly to my right was a soybean field from 500 to 800 yards away. And more to my right was alfalfa tall enough to hide a feeding g'hog. First to appear was a pup 210 yards out. DRT. Then I spied one in the beans 764 yards away. It was still calm and I nailed it on the first shot. Next came two pups out of the hole where I got the first one. I was setting up to shoot the one closest to the hole when it moved behind the other one. So I got my second double of the season. Then the wind started to blow. And another g'hog appears in the beans, 729 yards out. I dialed in 1.5" for the wind and missed. Should have dialed in 2.5" as the bullet hit where his tail should have been. After about a half hour of seeing nothing, the rains came and I retired to my reloading hootch to do a little brass prep.
Season total went over the century mark today. 101 so far.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
Congrats Nomad! 24 for me so far but work gets in the way!
Congrats Nomad! 24 for me so far but work gets in the way!
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
I miss those days of all day groundhog shooting. We used to do a lot of groundhog shooting in south-eastern WV, but the coyotes have pretty much decimated the groundhog population. I know... "the shoot the coyotes". But that's easier said than done.
I miss those days of all day groundhog shooting. We used to do a lot of groundhog shooting in south-eastern WV, but the coyotes have pretty much decimated the groundhog population. I know... "the shoot the coyotes". But that's easier said than done.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
Well done chino! You will love the Leica 1600! I ranged a Pole Building at 1734 yds. the other day and Vermin at 600 is no problem. Haven't tried it further so it may have more in it. My .243 AI is a 14tw and pushes the Berger 66 gr. High BC Flat base(relaced by the 69 gr.) to 3900 fps. No "Crawlers" when they are hit with it!
Well done chino! You will love the Leica 1600! I ranged a Pole Building at 1734 yds. the other day and Vermin at 600 is no problem. Haven't tried it further so it may have more in it. My .243 AI is a 14tw and pushes the Berger 66 gr. High BC Flat base(relaced by the 69 gr.) to 3900 fps. No "Crawlers" when they are hit with it!
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
I've had them get back to the hole and drug em out with their entire entrails dragging behind them with my 6.5x47 lapua. Total explosion. I've even read posts of them making it back to their holes 5 yards away with no heads.
I've had them get back to the hole and drug em out with their entire entrails dragging behind them with my 6.5x47 lapua. Total explosion. I've even read posts of them making it back to their holes 5 yards away with no heads.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
I'm sure I've posted this before, but in the early days when I shot just to shoot instead of going for head shots, I hit one in the gut and it dragged all of its entrail 20 yards back to its hole. There have been many, many examples/posts of just how tough these guys are.
model 12 toby said:
I'm sure I've posted this before, but in the early days when I shot just to shoot instead of going for head shots, I hit one in the gut and it dragged all of its entrail 20 yards back to its hole. There have been many, many examples/posts of just how tough these guys are.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
Got 5 this evening - nothing noteworthy.
Back on June 4, I had a really good day. Got 6 in the morning with 8 shots - two over 340 yards, one over 400, two over 500, and one at 611. Then I got 11 in the evening with the longest at 335 yards. Quite a contrast. Sorry about no photos. The morning shoot would have been too much walking for pics and it was getting dark when I packed up after the evening shoot.
Season total now stands at 138.
Got 5 this evening - nothing noteworthy.
Back on June 4, I had a really good day. Got 6 in the morning with 8 shots - two over 340 yards, one over 400, two over 500, and one at 611. Then I got 11 in the evening with the longest at 335 yards. Quite a contrast. Sorry about no photos. The morning shoot would have been too much walking for pics and it was getting dark when I packed up after the evening shoot.
Season total now stands at 138.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
Mr. Majestic,
The Berger did not expand like an A-Max. I use 80 grn. A-Maxes in my .22-250 A.I. with RL 22 and they are both accurate and deadly.
I'll probably stick with the 95 grn. Bergers this season as the hogs are out and I don't have much more time for load development. I found this bullet shoots best .012 off the lands. That is in a Bartlein 1 in 8" twist 5R barrel. The load chrono's at 3000 ft/sec. I could probably push it more but I'm happy with the accuracy and Ackleys are hard enough on a barrel. I hope to get out this week as young soybean is up and will be drawing them out.
MrMajestic said:
Mr. Majestic,
The Berger did not expand like an A-Max. I use 80 grn. A-Maxes in my .22-250 A.I. with RL 22 and they are both accurate and deadly.
I'll probably stick with the 95 grn. Bergers this season as the hogs are out and I don't have much more time for load development. I found this bullet shoots best .012 off the lands. That is in a Bartlein 1 in 8" twist 5R barrel. The load chrono's at 3000 ft/sec. I could probably push it more but I'm happy with the accuracy and Ackleys are hard enough on a barrel. I hope to get out this week as young soybean is up and will be drawing them out.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
A new personal best.
I was out this evening sitting at the end of strips of soybeans & corn. It was a great evening with the temp about 80 with a very light breeze. I had my portable bench set up in the bed of my pickup so I could see over some round bales. To my left and right were the ends of strips where groundhogs usually appeared with shots out to about 250 yards. Straight ahead the field rolled off at about the 180 yard point and re-appeared at about 700 yards. No activity nearby, so I started watching the far end. The last 50 yards of the field rolls off and is not visible, then woods after that. A mom and her pup soon appeared at the far end. Ranging was difficult and my best guess was 920 to 925 yards, so I set my scope to 21 MOA. My first shot did not kick up any dirt, mom was not spooked but moved to my right. She appeared to move a little further away so I kept my scope settings and fired another shot. Again no dirt kicked up, so I dialed down to 20.5 MOA. The third shot kicked up dirt behind her which get her a little nervous. I dialed in 1 MOA right windage and the fourth shot JUST missed. Now her and Junior are headed to a grassy water course which makes them moving toward me at an angle. I hurried up and dialed down to 19 MOA. She stopped just short of the water course and the fifth shot nailed her. The pup disappeared in the grass. 19 MOA for my 6XC with 105 AMax bullets is 875 yards.
Season total is now 188.
A new personal best.
I was out this evening sitting at the end of strips of soybeans & corn. It was a great evening with the temp about 80 with a very light breeze. I had my portable bench set up in the bed of my pickup so I could see over some round bales. To my left and right were the ends of strips where groundhogs usually appeared with shots out to about 250 yards. Straight ahead the field rolled off at about the 180 yard point and re-appeared at about 700 yards. No activity nearby, so I started watching the far end. The last 50 yards of the field rolls off and is not visible, then woods after that. A mom and her pup soon appeared at the far end. Ranging was difficult and my best guess was 920 to 925 yards, so I set my scope to 21 MOA. My first shot did not kick up any dirt, mom was not spooked but moved to my right. She appeared to move a little further away so I kept my scope settings and fired another shot. Again no dirt kicked up, so I dialed down to 20.5 MOA. The third shot kicked up dirt behind her which get her a little nervous. I dialed in 1 MOA right windage and the fourth shot JUST missed. Now her and Junior are headed to a grassy water course which makes them moving toward me at an angle. I hurried up and dialed down to 19 MOA. She stopped just short of the water course and the fifth shot nailed her. The pup disappeared in the grass. 19 MOA for my 6XC with 105 AMax bullets is 875 yards.
Season total is now 188.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
Well done Nomad! I got 20 the last 3 nights but not at those ranges! 2 were tailless Boars, probably lost in battle! Most were shot with my .17M2 and .17AH. Longest was 225 yards with my .223AI. Got 5 all in all but the same pile, Momma and 4 Pups. Shot standing resting on a High Tension Tower leg brace with the .17 Ackley Hornet. 48 confirmed for me so far and it seems to be a banner year. Keep up the great shootin'!
Well done Nomad! I got 20 the last 3 nights but not at those ranges! 2 were tailless Boars, probably lost in battle! Most were shot with my .17M2 and .17AH. Longest was 225 yards with my .223AI. Got 5 all in all but the same pile, Momma and 4 Pups. Shot standing resting on a High Tension Tower leg brace with the .17 Ackley Hornet. 48 confirmed for me so far and it seems to be a banner year. Keep up the great shootin'!
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
got my first one over 500 yards. 3rd summer hunting. watched a while. he was on dam of a pond. didn't like where he was at cause of little back stop. watched him a while. went into tall weeds. time was running out. then came back out in nearly the perfect spot.. had bout 16 minutes left till I had to head home so wife could go to work. up 8.3 minutes from 235 yard zero. 1 shot one kill 505 yards. he flopped and I watched him in scope his tail wagged for bout a minute and slowly stopped. doa. the dam is safe for another day. 1 shot. I'm pretty sure there's quite a few more in that general area. now I gotta break the 600 yard mark. this gun is twice as good as i could ever hoped. I was able to watch the bullet impact him. it's bout 16 and a half or so with muzzle break. course I'm shooting a real light load too. old timers are starting to work on me about the speed not making a difference and the accuracy meaning everything. who cares how fast it's going. still has 600 ft lbs at 800 yards. that's more than I'll ever need. all I shoot is targets and ground hogs. coyote if I ever see one.
got my first one over 500 yards. 3rd summer hunting. watched a while. he was on dam of a pond. didn't like where he was at cause of little back stop. watched him a while. went into tall weeds. time was running out. then came back out in nearly the perfect spot.. had bout 16 minutes left till I had to head home so wife could go to work. up 8.3 minutes from 235 yard zero. 1 shot one kill 505 yards. he flopped and I watched him in scope his tail wagged for bout a minute and slowly stopped. doa. the dam is safe for another day. 1 shot. I'm pretty sure there's quite a few more in that general area. now I gotta break the 600 yard mark. this gun is twice as good as i could ever hoped. I was able to watch the bullet impact him. it's bout 16 and a half or so with muzzle break. course I'm shooting a real light load too. old timers are starting to work on me about the speed not making a difference and the accuracy meaning everything. who cares how fast it's going. still has 600 ft lbs at 800 yards. that's more than I'll ever need. all I shoot is targets and ground hogs. coyote if I ever see one.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
i really envy you guys...how many? wow! ne tenn/sw va doesn't have the numbers, so i'm happy with two or three in an afternoon. however, did get 4 on friday. all 3-4 pounders...the adults seem to know better than to appear in my new sightron. was answering "the call of nature" and in the true sense of a varmint hunter i was looking over the field and sure enough one was running into the field, put nature on hold, swung the 22-250 around and bang/splatt. saw an old, smart one just sticking his head out, so i centered the dot and waited for more body but he was really cautious. held on for at least 25 min and he was just out, just in. took an eye break and there near the dead one was another field runner! who to shoot? took the sure shot and he dropped. back to the hole hugger and same game for another 20 min! i'm a bag squeezer and my hand was getting crampy, so i took the shot...the WIND was left to right and brisk and i did not hold into it enough and dirt kicked up one inch to the right of his head. AAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHH! i'll be back.
i really envy you guys...how many? wow! ne tenn/sw va doesn't have the numbers, so i'm happy with two or three in an afternoon. however, did get 4 on friday. all 3-4 pounders...the adults seem to know better than to appear in my new sightron. was answering "the call of nature" and in the true sense of a varmint hunter i was looking over the field and sure enough one was running into the field, put nature on hold, swung the 22-250 around and bang/splatt. saw an old, smart one just sticking his head out, so i centered the dot and waited for more body but he was really cautious. held on for at least 25 min and he was just out, just in. took an eye break and there near the dead one was another field runner! who to shoot? took the sure shot and he dropped. back to the hole hugger and same game for another 20 min! i'm a bag squeezer and my hand was getting crampy, so i took the shot...the WIND was left to right and brisk and i did not hold into it enough and dirt kicked up one inch to the right of his head. AAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHH! i'll be back.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
i missed one this morning. I suspect that because of the lay of the land i was picking up the ground just in front of him and adjusting short. o well he'll be there next time.
i missed one this morning. I suspect that because of the lay of the land i was picking up the ground just in front of him and adjusting short. o well he'll be there next time.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
rangefinders don't always read from their aimpoint/crosshairs. i didn't know this and kept missing until i was told of this problem. i was told the way to test it was to range the sky over a power line, then gradually lower the aimpoint toward the power line until it reads. that unit read halfway between the center and the bottom of the screen! my leica 1600 reads exactly in the center square. a flat field with grass bending in the breeze will really be hard. i have mounted my leica on a small tripod and can usually get it rock steady. tricks of the trade.
rangefinders don't always read from their aimpoint/crosshairs. i didn't know this and kept missing until i was told of this problem. i was told the way to test it was to range the sky over a power line, then gradually lower the aimpoint toward the power line until it reads. that unit read halfway between the center and the bottom of the screen! my leica 1600 reads exactly in the center square. a flat field with grass bending in the breeze will really be hard. i have mounted my leica on a small tripod and can usually get it rock steady. tricks of the trade.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
I have the Fusion 1600 10x binoculars with built in rangefinder. Mine doesn't always read in the center circle. But it will give maximum and minimum distance in two of its modes. Handy for the groundhogs that have a little rise in the field some distance in front of them.
I've learned to range them two or three times, and also range something in front of behind or beside them.
I like it best when they come out of a fence row or woods as those places are easy to range.
Got five this morning, 4 in mowed alfalfa, 1 in beans. No hunting tonight - getting a muzzle brake put on my new 6XC barrel.
I have the Fusion 1600 10x binoculars with built in rangefinder. Mine doesn't always read in the center circle. But it will give maximum and minimum distance in two of its modes. Handy for the groundhogs that have a little rise in the field some distance in front of them.
I've learned to range them two or three times, and also range something in front of behind or beside them.
I like it best when they come out of a fence row or woods as those places are easy to range.
Got five this morning, 4 in mowed alfalfa, 1 in beans. No hunting tonight - getting a muzzle brake put on my new 6XC barrel.
Re: The pups are out - 2012 OH groundhogs
the thing is it was right below where i shot the one at 500 and i told myself there's no way that's 130 yards from where i shot before but didn't listen to my instinct. shot one that hit right in front of him. enough to make him leave and go back to his hole. if I'd of been up 1/2 moa or so itd of been perfect
the thing is it was right below where i shot the one at 500 and i told myself there's no way that's 130 yards from where i shot before but didn't listen to my instinct. shot one that hit right in front of him. enough to make him leave and go back to his hole. if I'd of been up 1/2 moa or so itd of been perfect
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.