Code Green - Recon Results

[K22]

Sunday here - eastern PA - nasty heat wave - man is it awful. No varmint hunting allowed on Sunday - haven't been out since July 9 - have no idea the hunting status of the fields. Time for a recon only trip - trigger finger is itchy - bad case of COVID-Ground Hog fever here.

I have a "Code Green" - green light on three fields - two freshly cut - one cut about a week ago. Weather is suppose to moderate mid week - time to go hogging - time to be great.

The Weatherby Supervarmint Master 223 Rem 26" (long ranger) and the Remington Model 7 223 Rem with a 20" Douglas match barrel (stalker) waiting on deck. Rx Pills of choice - 50 Nosler BT's

May the "Hog Force" be with you. Time to recycle some hogs. Vultures have to eat too. Don't show this to Miss PETA.

 

[sandwarrior]

Who tells you you can't hunt on Sunday? It's a farm chore that has to be done.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Who tells you you can't hunt on Sunday? It's a farm chore that has to be done.

I was going to ask the same thing. Who decides when you guys can hunt?

If a guy works like a normal person, when do "they" expect you to do all your hunting? Saturday? Here, we can hunt any damn time we choose, the way it should be for everyone.

 

[Kurz]

https://www.pgc.pa.gov/HuntTrap/Law/Pages/SeasonsandBagLimits.aspx

WOODCHUCKS (GROUNDHOGS): No closed season, except on Sundays and during the regular firearms deer seasons. No limit.

Go figure, no common sense just another rule.

 

[K22]

Who tells you you can't hunt on Sunday? It's a farm chore that has to be done.

The PA Game Commission tell us here in PA - no woodchuck hunting permitted on Sunday - I want to hunt them - the farmers want me to hunt them - they are a nuisance - go figure???

 

[K22]

An update for anyone interested on the results of my Code Green Hog Hunt.

Went out on Wednesday - hot as hell - brutal with full sun and high dew point - little shade - arrived at 4:30 PM - figured this was way too early should have waited until later but I'm here now so just suck it up.

I setup and within less than 10 minutes one comes rolling out the tree line in the full sun and heat. Couldn't believe it - he's dumper than me. Watch him move about 20 yards into the hay field - nice crawler profile - range it at 144 yards - send a 50 Nosler BT from the Weatherby 223 Rem Super Varmint Master - hog down. Good start.

Suffer for the next 3 hours in the heat seeing nothing - finally about 7:45 a large one rolls out of the tree line far up the hill from where the other hog came out. Range it at 247 yards - long shot for me off the sticks but certainly makeable. Crawler profile hog easing out of the tree line. Send another 50 Nosler BT - hog rolls over - hog down. Later inspection reveal a large male. Good day Back home for a couple of cold beers to celebrate.

Got the hog fever now - go out on Friday - different farm. Another hot humid day but I have hog fever. Check in with farmer who informs me that he hasn't seen many this year in this field but knows that they're there - i.e. lots of holes. I'm excited weeks growth in this field. This is a short field - maximum distance is about 200 yards.

By six I haven't seen anything as I ponder the farmer's remark about not seeing any in this field. I'm watching a tree line - I take notice that on the opposite side of the tree line what I thought was corn appears to be soybean. I walk down and investigate - it's soybeans alright - dump and dumper is me - no way in hell are those hog boys going to come out on my side when they got bean leaves to munch on on the other side - the evidence is every where. Can't hunt the opposite side of the treeline so I go back to the field I hunted on Wednesday feeling stupid.

Set up by 7:00 PM - About 20 minutes later one rolls out at 244 yards - crawler - good profile - send a 50 Nosler BT - hog rolls over - hog down. About 10 minutes later one rolls out - 208 yards - another crawler - sent another 50 BT - hog down. Great hunt - so far. I'm in the zone now. Applaud my decision to move to this farm.

Walk a short distance over the hill to check another field and see one standing surveying the area for threats - I stop remain motionless until he drops down and resumes feeding. Quickly set up but as I do I see two sets of ears in the high hay to the right. Damn - two fawns without mom. Hog is now out of view - I have to move forward to get a clear shot but if I do I might spook the deer which in turn will spook the hog. Hog is only about 160 yards away but has work down the slope and out of view. I wait but still he does not appear. What the hell sun is going down fast - I move slowly forward until I see the hog. The fawns just look at me and don't spook - give thanks for small miracles.

Finally setup for a shot - but he's in high hay now - slightly obscured but a makable in not ideal shot. I shoot - I miss. He runs up the slope to the edge of a corn field where his hole must be - he stops - stands - I reset and just as I squeeze the trigger he ducks and I miss again - he's had enough of me - into the hole he goes. Easiest shot of the week and I missed - not once but twice. Go figure. I'm out of the zone now Cold beer at home awaits will assuage the poor shooting. Plan to revisit this hog next week.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Yeah that's me some days all bullet and no thwack.

 

[sandwarrior]

The PA Game Commission tell us here in PA - no woodchuck hunting permitted on Sunday - I want to hunt them - the farmers want me to hunt them - they are a nuisance - go figure???

That just floors me that you can't hunt private property on a Sunday. I can see the deer season limits as it might be used by some hunters to scare up more deer. I can see public land as the DNR manages that. But, not a pest/varmint on private land?

 

[K22]

That just floors me that you can't hunt private property on a Sunday. I can see the deer season limits as it might be used by some hunters to scare up more deer. I can see public land as the DNR manages that. But, not a pest/varmint on private land?

I'm with you - but there seems to be no rationality when it comes to the Game Commission - we have so many seasons and so many rules that it takes a lawyer to unravel them.

 

[Dub]

just shot my second one of the season in my back yard. 40 yards with a CZ455 in 22lr. Shot in the ear. never moved....

 

[snert]

Pennsylvania LOVES rules almost as much as it loves exceptions! I swear we are all a little Amish. Why use a belt when black suspenders with buttons, no snaps, hold up your pants, black also,are mandatory?