Disposing of dead chucks

[Triple Deuce]

I have always dumped a dead chuck down its hole. I figured it was the best way to get rid of the carcass. But now , after reading some of the replies from hunters more experienced than me, I'm questioning that method of disposal. Would that practice cause other chucks to not use the den and possibly dig another den ? That's not good for the farmer that I'm trying to help. I just didn't want to throw the carcass into the hedgerow and stink up the place, but if that keeps the burrows down, it would be a better option.
Maybe by tossing the dead chucks in the hedgerow would attract more coyotes and improve another hunting opportunity. The woman in the farm wouldn't mind if I just let t them lay because the other day an eagle was feeding on the chuck. I just can't bring myself to do that to all but I do leave a couple for her eagle.

 

[mikecr]

I always throw them into the nearest hedgerow, and by next morning they're always gone.
Something eats them, and it was that way before coyotes showed up.

 

[chino1969]

I leave them lay where they die. It only takes two days for buzzards to make short work of the carcass or a fox to take the carcass away. I shot a hog one summer and remained in position to watch a fox amble on by. Within minutes, the fox was feeding on the hog. Nature will take care of them, don't worry.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

As my farmer friend says:

"Buzzards gotta eat too"

..just leave them...

I shot a hog last week in the morning...when I came back after dinner (to try to get the other one)...it was gone!

 

[djporter]

If I shoot them in a hay field I throw them in the woods or fence line. The hide gets bailed and where I hunt the owner does not care for that. Other places they just are just left to lay.

 

[K22]

I never stuff them down the hole - don't want to draw predators / scavengers to the area; also there may be another hog in there or one looking for a new home - don't want to discourage him from taking up residence.

I move the dead hog away from the immediate area especially if I plan to hunt that field the next day. I don't want a bunch of vultures milling around the area - learned that a long time ago.

 

[WyleWD]

I have always dumped a dead chuck down its hole. I figured it was the best way to get rid of the carcass. But now , after reading some of the replies from hunters more experienced than me, I'm questioning that method of disposal. Would that practice cause other chucks to not use the den and possibly dig another den ? That's not good for the farmer that I'm trying to help. I just didn't want to throw the carcass into the hedgerow and stink up the place, but if that keeps the burrows down, it would be a better option.
Maybe by tossing the dead chucks in the hedgerow would attract more coyotes and improve another hunting opportunity. The woman in the farm wouldn't mind if I just let t them lay because the other day an eagle was feeding on the chuck. I just can't bring myself to do that to all but I do leave a couple for her eagle.

You are best off to either leave em where they are shot, or kick them down into the hole. Ask the land owner what he would prefer and do it the way he wants. (Within reason of course) WD

 

[MrMajestic]

As was stated previously the Buzzards have them gone in no time. I shot seven Saturday night and a Buzzard was soaring overhead before I was done. I made my presence known so I could get photographic confirmation prior to its dinnertime! I hurled them over the embankment to the freight line below. Figured they could eat in peace and wouldn't bother me on my next hunt!

 

[Nomad47]

I always ask the farmers lots of questions starting with "Where can I drive and not drive?" Also, What do you want shot besides groundhogs? (within reason). Is it OK to leave the dead ones lay? They almost always say "Sure, the buzzards and coyotes will get them." A couple farmers have also said "I know you were here recently because I saw lots of buzzards."

 

[Steve3]

I ask the farmer who generally does not care. I like the comment above regarding hay fields, makes sense. But I am hunting in soybean fields and lately I just leave they lay and they are gone the next day. I used to toss them in the hedgerow.

 

[tenring]

I stopped stuffing them in holes years ago, because that plugs it up for most of the summer. Now, I lay them belly up nearby where the buzzards know they are dead.

 

[Nomad47]

I should add that the only time I don't leave them lay is when I shoot one in alfalfa or hay and the farmer is between mowing and baling.

 

[Triple Deuce]

Thanks for all the input. The fields I typically hunt are hay and I don't want to cause any problem for the bailing process or forcing additional chucks looking for a home to start digging a new den. I think I will leave a couple for the eagle and toss the remainder in the hedgerow. No more hole plugging.

 

[Joe O]

OR Gather them up in a big trash bag and sell them to KFC for 25ct a pound! That's what I tell all that ask about prarrie dogs

 

[Steve3]

I just re-read this thread and I am glad I did as I plan to start hunting a high dollar alfalfa field. The farmer would have kicked my tail out of there after his first bail with one of my dead chucks found it's way onto the high dollar horse farm with the little rich girl feeding her little pony.

 

[K22]

I just re-read this thread and I am glad I did as I plan to start hunting a high dollar alfalfa field. The farmer would have kicked my tail out of there after his first bail with one of my dead chucks found it's way onto the high dollar horse farm with the little rich girl feeding her little pony.

I can just see it! - Just love it - had a very good laugh at this one!

Here's one for you - Many years ago I was hunting a new place; it was a horse ranch. The owner was not a farmer per se but raised racing horses. Late in the day I moved to another field which involved crossing a road which went pass the owner's house. The wife was getting into her Mercedes and saw me heading her way. I had a rifle over my shoulder, portable chair hooked to my belt, shooting stick in a ring attached to my belt, large orange hat, and binoculars on my chest. She looked at me like I was from outer space. But what really got to her was the four hind legs I had cut off the two hogs I had shot and were hanging from my belt on a string. (I used eat them - after cooking of course ) Anyway I guess I scared the s*** out of her. She ran into the house and the owner can out. It seems he failed to mention to her that he had given me permission to hunt ground hogs. Fortunately he had a sense of humor and we had a good laugh and more importantly he let me continue to hunt there. I shot a ton of hogs off his high quality alfapha fields over the years. The wife never did warm up to my presence however.

 

[Dave T]

If we can't put them back in the holes, we'll throw them into the weeds along fence line. I've never seen a problem with putting chucks back in the holes, as stated before they all seem to just disappear anyway. Just last year I shot a chuck, I noticed a grey fox along the fence line smelling the air, even with me and my friend out in the open the fox just couldn't resist heading straight to the dead chuck. We watched that skinny fox try to pick up that chuck and just didn't have the strength to get it up and run away with it, so I just shot the fox. When we went to pick up the chuck and fox, they were laying right beside each other, all spread out and the chuck was just soo much bigger then the fox, it was so funny. So don't worry something will eat them, even if they have to dig them out of those holes, even before the yotes took over.
Dave T

 

[Steve3]

K22 - now you have me busting a gut laughing, thanks!. I can just see it.

 

[lpreddick]

i once let them lay but when returning to a site where i left one a few days earlier, there was a fox camped out waiting for another meal! he was 5 feet from the hole and was there for the duration. well, he would be there for a long time as i dispatched his a--. when getting permission from our farmers we tell them we take the ghogs with us and they all react positively. many have had a bad experience with the family dog rolling in a several day old dead pig or a family picnic ruined by the aroma. we usu have a designated dump site...a kudzu forrest on a country road.

 

[onelastshot]

You have obviously never been divorced. Whenever you have something special like 3-4 groundhog carcasses, the exes front porch is ideal. That is only is you find her car locked!