ground hog hunting in north central ohio

[Mr rodent]

I am from the ashland ohio area and love to hunt ground hogs. How many ground hog hunters from ohio out there?

 

[Bangs OH]

Here's one; there are several others on this site. I'm in Knox Co., but lived several years in Mansfield and spent a few evenings Ashland sampling the night life there in my younger days (a few decades ago). Sent a friend to the Fin a couple weeks ago to look at their 5R Remington rifles.

 

[WyleWD]

And here's another. Also from Knox county. You'd think Bangs, Oh and I ran around together, but we've never met. Also frequent the Fin, and a few other places like that. WD

 

[Webster]

I live just South of Cleveland. I have been hunting around Millersburg since the 70s. I didn't see a single GH this summer. I used to get about 50 every year. Some guys hunting in nearby counties are still getting 50-100 a year. I don't understand the differences in nearby locations.

 

[Nomad47]

I'm not an official Ohio resident YET. We have a contingent offer on a home in..... Knox County. Contingent on our motor home selling.

Over 600 of the "farmers' pals" killed over the past two summers.

BTW, I know both Bangs and Wyle - great guys that I have not had the pleasure of shooting groundhogs with.

 

[Bigcountry8530]

I live in Toledo now but was raised in Crawford county. That is where I do most of my groundhog hunting. Northeast Crawford and Southeast Seneca.

 

[Mr rodent]

Was just wondering what calibers you guys are using? I use 3, A 6br, 6ppc and a 6 dasher

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

Delaware county here. I use a 223. But groundhogs seem few and far between around here.

 

[hogpatrol]

Delaware county here. I use a 223. But groundhogs seem few and far between around here.

If shooters would just wait a month instead of killing off the brood stock the first time they poke their heads out of the hole after a winter's nap, there might be more of them. Not saying that's your problem but we've got that here. Shooters kill as many as can be gotten early when they're all groggy and then nothing the rest of the summer.

 

[WyleWD]

Was just wondering what calibers you guys are using? I use 3, A 6br, 6ppc and a 6 dasher

6xc, 17 Rem, and 220 Swift depending upon where I'm hunting and conditions. WD

 

[WyleWD]

If shooters would just wait a month instead of killing off the brood stock the first time they poke their heads out of the hole after a winter's nap, there might be more of them. Not saying that's your problem but we've got that here. Shooters kill as many as can be gotten early when they're all groggy and then nothing the rest of the summer.

Around here you are DONE hunting chucks as soon as the farmer finds out that you are waiting till there is more of em. And if you aren't there often enough to suit the farmer when the chucks ARE out.... you'll hear about that too. It is also a real eye opener to know that the farmers know if you are hunting someone else's fields and ignoring theirs. Word gets around. Trust me. WD

 

[Mr rodent]

What type of optics are you using? I have been doing well with nightforce and valdada.

 

[Nomad47]

6XC, 6SLR, & 243AI. Sightron SIII 10-60x50 scopes. Savage actions.

 

[Nomad47]

If shooters would just wait a month instead of killing off the brood stock the first time they poke their heads out of the hole after a winter's nap, there might be more of them. Not saying that's your problem but we've got that here. Shooters kill as many as can be gotten early when they're all groggy and then nothing the rest of the summer.

Around here you are DONE hunting chucks as soon as the farmer finds out that you are waiting till there is more of em. And if you aren't there often enough to suit the farmer when the chucks ARE out.... you'll hear about that too. It is also a real eye opener to know that the farmers know if you are hunting someone else's fields and ignoring theirs. Word gets around. Trust me. WD

Totally agree with everything you said, Wayne.

 

[James EPS]

Im not sure what your coyote population is like there in ohio but here in western Pa the yotes are hard on them for sure, aint like it used to be.

 

[CatShooter]

I'm not sure what your coyote population is like there in Ohio but here in western Pa the yotes are hard on them for sure, ain't like it used to be.

It's bad here in Connecticut too - they are gonna put the Woodchuck on the endangered spices list any day - I have not seen one here in over a year.

 

[waterfwlr]

Bad in Delaware County NY too. They used to be everywhere. The past 10-15 years they are very very few. Everyone blames the coyotes. I have my doubts the coyotes are the main reason.

 

[22turborimfire]

When you hold off it is money out of their pockets the farmers . My neighbor estimated we save him on an average $7,000.00 + a year if he is in beans . When he calls me, if he has cut a field or hay normally i'm there the next day if possible. I also tried holding off 1 time someone else came in and cleaned house .

 

[Nomad47]

Im not sure what your coyote population is like there in ohio but here in western Pa the yotes are hard on them for sure, aint like it used to be.

What part of western PA? I grew up NW of Pittsburgh.

 

[Bangs OH]

I'd say urban sprawl - human overpopulation - is the no. 1 destroyer of groundhogs and their favored habitat. Ethanol/corn demand also is causing what was idle CRP acreage to be plowed under, but it's not being rotated to beans every other year, from what I've seen. No doubt coyotes are taking some 'hogs in some areas and I've seen their scat around some holes (might be a territorial thing), but they are mostly nocturnal and dusk hunters; I've only ever witnessed one coyote eating one of my previously-shot groundhogs.
North Central OH's Mike Groff seems to have the balance between shooting/preserving 'hog stock and appeasing farmers figured out; also, his numbers don't seem to vary much year-to-year. www.ncovarmintexpress.com and click on the 'hog.