Anyone decoy groundhogs?
- Thread starter AP2020
- Start date
Yes, check out Caddyshack.
If this is a serious question, I'll bite.
Groundhogs come out for two reasons, to eat and to mate. I've hunted them for over 50+ years and never thought of using a decoy. But I admit, it's an intriguing, if not practical idea.
Obviously, a decoy will not enhance the first reason that they emerge from the hole, i.e., to eat.
I guess it might be debatable whether, during mating season, the decoy might interest a male, but I doubt it. I believe it is the scent that the female gives off that attracts the male. In addition, at least here in the east, they mate early, February to March, so the decoy, if it did attract males, would be of limited time use as a mating lure.
Groundhogs are very wary critters and will spook easily, generally it's almost always movement that will spook them. So, a stationary decoy most likely will not spook them. It might have some limited value in attracting their attention once they are out of the hole, but it would not be the reason they would emerge for the burrow.
However, the decoy might create some curiosity and draw them out further to provide a better shot opportunity. That might be worth experimenting with. As for me, I personally do not want anything more to carry in the field than I have to, so I won't be testing this idea.
The Groundhog Doctor.
PS: The very best attractions for ground hogs are clover, alfalfa, soybeans, for males, a sexy female hog.
Groundhogs come out for two reasons, to eat and to mate. I've hunted them for over 50+ years and never thought of using a decoy. But I admit, it's an intriguing, if not practical idea.
Obviously, a decoy will not enhance the first reason that they emerge from the hole, i.e., to eat.
I guess it might be debatable whether, during mating season, the decoy might interest a male, but I doubt it. I believe it is the scent that the female gives off that attracts the male. In addition, at least here in the east, they mate early, February to March, so the decoy, if it did attract males, would be of limited time use as a mating lure.
Groundhogs are very wary critters and will spook easily, generally it's almost always movement that will spook them. So, a stationary decoy most likely will not spook them. It might have some limited value in attracting their attention once they are out of the hole, but it would not be the reason they would emerge for the burrow.
However, the decoy might create some curiosity and draw them out further to provide a better shot opportunity. That might be worth experimenting with. As for me, I personally do not want anything more to carry in the field than I have to, so I won't be testing this idea.
The Groundhog Doctor.
PS: The very best attractions for ground hogs are clover, alfalfa, soybeans, for males, a sexy female hog.
If this is a serious question, I'll bite.
Groundhogs come out for two reasons, to eat and to mate. I've hunted them for over 50+ years and never thought of using a decoy. But I admit, it's an intriguing, if not practical idea.
Obviously, a decoy will not enhance the first reason that they emerge from the hole, i.e., to eat.
I guess it might be debatable whether, during mating season, the decoy might interest a male, but I doubt it. I believe it is the scent that the female gives off that attracts the male. In addition, at least here in the east, they mate early, February to March, so the decoy, if it did attract males, would be of limited time use as a mating lure.
Groundhogs are very wary critters and will spook easily, generally it's almost always movement that will spook them. So, a stationary decoy most likely will not spook them. It might have some limited value in attracting their attention once they are out of the hole, but it would not be the reason they would emerge for the burrow.
However, the decoy might create some curiosity and draw them out further to provide a better shot opportunity. That might be worth experimenting with. As for me, I personally do not want anything more to carry in the field than I have to, so I won't be testing this idea.
The Groundhog Doctor.
PS: The very best attractions for ground hogs are clover, alfalfa, soybeans, for males, a sexy female hog.
I have hunted groundhogs in Ohio since the mid-70's. The coyotes have really hurt the population.
I have 6 more videos that I have yet to release. I have found that where the decoy is most effective is when the groundhog has seen you and goes down their hole. As you know, you can walk on by, sit down behind cover and wait, and wait and wait!
What I do is setup the decoy about 10 - 30 yards from the hole. What those groundhogs do is "periscope." That is, just barely "peek" above ground level and see if the coast is clear. That is where the decoy is KILLER. They see the decoy and cannot resist, curiosity killed the groundhog.
I am an electrical engineer by trade, so I have always adopted the mindset of why not!! Sure I have failed, but the successes are so sweet...lol.
Btw, the foam 3D decoy weighs 5#. Sometimes I use my E-Bike with saddle bags.
outasite`08
Gold $$ Contributor
Gopher cong. Great movie. Jeff
DRK
Silver $$ Contributor
Mechanical engineer by trade & you peeked my interests. We are over run with wood chucks here in N. IN. I had not given a decoy thoughts, we have been shooting them as they eat the soybeans sprouting.
Coyote population here seems to be on the decline. Of course, many, many coyote have been given high velocity lead poisoning around these parts.
Coyote population here seems to be on the decline. Of course, many, many coyote have been given high velocity lead poisoning around these parts.
Very interesting - learn something new all the time. Good job.
In Ohio they mate in February when there is snow on the ground.If this is a serious question, I'll bite.
Groundhogs come out for two reasons, to eat and to mate. I've hunted them for over 50+ years and never thought of using a decoy. But I admit, it's an intriguing, if not practical idea.
Obviously, a decoy will not enhance the first reason that they emerge from the hole, i.e., to eat.
I guess it might be debatable whether, during mating season, the decoy might interest a male, but I doubt it. I believe it is the scent that the female gives off that attracts the male. In addition, at least here in the east, they mate early, February to March, so the decoy, if it did attract males, would be of limited time use as a mating lure.
Groundhogs are very wary critters and will spook easily, generally it's almost always movement that will spook them. So, a stationary decoy most likely will not spook them. It might have some limited value in attracting their attention once they are out of the hole, but it would not be the reason they would emerge for the burrow.
However, the decoy might create some curiosity and draw them out further to provide a better shot opportunity. That might be worth experimenting with. As for me, I personally do not want anything more to carry in the field than I have to, so I won't be testing this idea.
The Groundhog Doctor.
PS: The very best attractions for ground hogs are clover, alfalfa, soybeans, for males, a sexy female hog.
chuckshooter
Silver $$ Contributor
we tried this on prairie dogs. badger on a rc car. works so so. they are curious but not like when a real badger walks across a field. then, every prairie dog in the state comes out of it's hole. we need a bigger stuff badger.
My dads terriers have killed 3 of em. I dont know what their using for decoys. Doug
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