First day of my 2025 groundhog hunting season.

[ohlongarmisle]

Warm and humid, I'm shooting in alfalfa fields. This one is about 50 acres with a treeline. the whole farm encompasses 1000 acres, and alfalfa, corn, beans, and beans are only about 2 inches. I'm set up in the treeline overlooking this field, with a 17 Hornet, stock CZ 527, 6x24x50 Hawke scope featuring a floating dot reticle. Hornady 20-grain Superformance.The closest shot was 160 yards, out to 255 , Liberty titanium suppressor, so efficient that two deer show in the picture never left despite me shooting groundhogs within 10 yards of them. My trigger breaks at 8 ounces. I saw about 15 and took 6, pretty decent day back again next week.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Warm and humid, I'm shooting in alfalfa fields. This one is about 50 acres with a treeline. the whole farm encompasses 1000 acres, and alfalfa, corn, beans, and beans are only about 2 inches. I'm set up in the treeline overlooking this field, with a 17 Hornet, stock CZ 527, 6x24x50 Hawke scope featuring aView attachment 1667649View attachment 1667650View attachment 1667651View attachment 1667652View attachment 1667653View attachment 1667655 floating dot reticle. Hornady 20-grain Superformance.The closest shot was 160 yards, out to 255 , Liberty titanium suppressor, so efficient that two deer show in the picture never left despite me shooting groundhogs within 10 yards of them. My trigger breaks at 8 ounces. We saw about 15 and took 6, pretty decent day back again next week.

Addendum pictures

 

[Gabe22BR]

For a minute, thought you was out in Feb. like myself….

 

[Gabe22BR]

Went- didn’t see anything, mosquito & tick bout carried me off… lol

 

[WV Hitman]

I've about wiped out groundhogs in my part of WV. Only got 119 this year with multiple handguns. The last 8 years I've been going to Idaho for rockchucks. The farmers really hate them for the damage they do to grass, corn, potatoes. I've only used my handguns since I don't own any rifles. Last few years I've used my .22-250 XPR and suppressed Ruger MKIII .22. A friend goes with me, handguns only.
I set a new milestone for myself this year.
He and I did pretty good with our handguns for 6 days of hunting. Shots were from 30-88 yards with our suppressed .22s and 120 to 326 yds. with our XPs.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I've about wiped out groundhogs in my part of WV. Only got 119 this year with multiple handguns. The last 8 years I've been going to Idaho for rockchucks. The farmers really hate them for the damage they do to grass, corn, potatoes. I've only used my handguns since I don't own any rifles. Last few years I've used my .22-250 XPR and suppressed Ruger MKIII .22. A friend goes with me, handguns only.
I set a new milestone for myself this year.
He and I did pretty good with our handguns for 6 days of hunting. Shots were from 30-88 yards with our suppressed .22s and 120 to 326 yds. with our XPs.View attachment 1667772
View attachment 1667771

Great pictures, and trips, I don't believe you live near West Va University,as I went to visit my niece there and the gh's were everywhere.

 

[Big Mc]

Addendum picturesView attachment 1667656View attachment 1667657View attachment 1667658View attachment 1667659

Too green to be in Texas. That must have been fun. Tommy Mc

 

[WV Hitman]

No, not close to WVU. Live 100 miles away , but went to school 8 years there. Rockchucks actually have to hunted a little. Sneaky little suckers. Loads of fun.
We ran out of ammo at 3PM the last day. Went to thank all the farmers. They "demanded" we come back. It's nice to feel needed!!

 

[ohlongarmisle]

No, not close to WVU. Live 100 miles away , but went to school 8 years there. Rockchucks actually have to hunted a little. Sneaky little suckers. Loads of fun.
We ran out of ammo at 3PM the last day. Went to thank all the farmers. They "demanded" we come back. It's nice to feel needed!!

Hitman rumors have it that you're a doctor; you do look like one. My son-in-law is a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. Anyway great stories and pictures of you sharing a passion, are there any reputable guides out in Idaho for rock chucks? THX

 

[WV Hitman]

Yeah, I was Family Practice for 47 years. In the old days we did it all- delivered babies, worked ER (had no ER docs). I set up the CCU in our hospital, taught the nurses how to take care of MIs. Those days are gone. FPs send everything away.
I know of NO guides in ID for specifically guiding for rockchucks. I found one farmer on line 8 years ago. Went to his place. Killed several hundred in 5 days. He spread the word about this old guy that shot a handgun pretty well. Now I have 10 farms from last year & 1 new one this year. My friend & I are die hard handgunners & our success spread amoung the farmers. We actually ran out of ammo at 3PM the last day. Went back to thank all the farmers. They strongly insisted we come back. It was nice to be appreciated.
The only hunting I found more enjoyable than rockchucks is Africa.
Oh, I did find a guide in OR for rockchucks. He only allowed his hunters to kill a dozen a day!!! Get real!!

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Yeah, I was Family Practice for 47 years. In the old days we did it all- delivered babies, worked ER (had no ER docs). I set up the CCU in our hospital, taught the nurses how to take care of MIs. Those days are gone. FPs send everything away.
I know of NO guides in ID for specifically guiding for rockchucks. I found one farmer on line 8 years ago. Went to his place. Killed several hundred in 5 days. He spread the word about this old guy that shot a handgun pretty well. Now I have 10 farms from last year & 1 new one this year. My friend & I are die hard handgunners & our success spread amoung the farmers. We actually ran out of ammo at 3PM the last day. Went back to thank all the farmers. They strongly insisted we come back. It was nice to be appreciated.
The only hunting I found more enjoyable than rockchucks is Africa.
Oh, I did find a guide in OR for rockchucks. He only allowed his hunters to kill a dozen a day!!! Get real!!

THX, i've got a line on some guides, we'll see season is over now I understand do to warmer weather,i've heard.Keep the pictures coming i'm hitting a new spot on Friday.

 

[WV Hitman]

Yeah, the chucks come out in Mar./April & disappear Jun/Jul. I hear Twin Falls is a good place to check. My places are still good, but I'm afraid they might end up like my part of WV. 16,000+ groundhogs (handguns) put a severe hurt on them. Only got 119 this year. Here's a badger I got last year in ID- 160 yds., walking fast, .22-250 XPR, 40 gr. BT. He's at home now in my zoo.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Yeah, the chucks come out in Mar./April & disappear Jun/Jul. I hear Twin Falls is a good place to check. My places are still good, but I'm afraid they might end up like my part of WV. 16,000+ groundhogs (handguns) put a severe hurt on them. Only got 119 this year. Here's a badger I got last year in ID- 160 yds., walking fast, .22-250 XPR, 40 gr. BT. He's at home now in my zoo.View attachment 1668486

I firmly believe you can't get them all. in two decades, I've taken close to, just south of 1000 coyotes, pictures of at least 700 of them, and they still can be had on all my spots.That encompassed other states, besides Ohio, mind you, half of those were trapped, snared,the rest over bait and called.You won't run out of shooting.I have an MDT/computer in my police car with me at all times,hence the quick responses.Nice picture of you,quarry and country.

 

[Tumbleweed419]

Can't find a ground hog in NE Ohio anymore. I guess the song dogs got them. I used to shoot 100 plus every summer, but not now. I'm thinking about exploring southeast Ohio and see if there are any left there. Anyone have a reccomendation on what area may be productive?

Warm and humid, I'm shooting in alfalfa fields. This one is about 50 acres with a treeline. the whole farm encompasses 1000 acres, and alfalfa, corn, beans, and beans are only about 2 inches. I'm set up in the treeline overlooking this field, with a 17 Hornet, stock CZ 527, 6x24x50 Hawke scope featuring aView attachment 1667649View attachment 1667650View attachment 1667651View attachment 1667652View attachment 1667653View attachment 1667655 floating dot reticle. Hornady 20-grain Superformance.The closest shot was 160 yards, out to 255 , Liberty titanium suppressor, so efficient that two deer show in the picture never left despite me shooting groundhogs within 10 yards of them. My trigger breaks at 8 ounces. I saw about 15 and took 6, pretty decent day back again next week.

Can't find a ground hog in NE Ohio anymore. I guess the song dogs got them. I used to shoot 100 plus every summer, but not now. I'm thinking about exploring southeast/central Ohio and see if there are any left there. Anyone have a recommendation on what area may be productive?

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Can't find a ground hog in NE Ohio anymore. I guess the song dogs got them. I used to shoot 100 plus every summer, but not now. I'm thinking about exploring southeast Ohio and see if there are any left there. Anyone have a reccomendation on what area may be productive?

Can't find a ground hog in NE Ohio anymore. I guess the song dogs got them. I used to shoot 100 plus every summer, but not now. I'm thinking about exploring southeast/central Ohio and see if there are any left there. Anyone have a recommendation on what area may be productive?

Not true,most of my spots are northeast Ohio,Ashtabula,Trumbull, Geauga County are full of gh's, coyotes will never get all the GH's despite living in the same areas it hasn't affected my shooting at all.