Ground Hogs in my food plot

[markT]

Drove down to my food plot today and saw two ground hogs eating. Went home and grabbed my 22-250 and got in tripod. Ground hogs didn’t return but had 9 does show up. Here’s 6. Going back again tomorrow morning to hunt ground hogs.

 

[rebel]

Call Hillbillysniper WV. His mere prescience will cause them to leave.

 

[markT]

I would love to have these things gone!! They are kind new to our area. When do they feed and do they prefer full sun? Do they eat corn? ( deer corn)

 

[David Milisock]

I would love to have these things gone!! They are kind new to our area. When do they feed and do they prefer full sun? Do they eat corn? ( deer corn)

I doubt that they're new to your area, most likely they're responding to your invitation. If you're going to have to work in close they are world wise. I find morning and evening they fed on my garden. However they're on the move all the time.

 

[markT]

Just killed one at 111 yards. I put out corn and got to stand early and he walked out DRT! He’s straight over the “man hole” in the shadow of utility pole.

 

[markT]

Just killed a 2nd one.

 

[David Milisock]

Just killed a 2nd one.

I hope this saves what's left of the harvest.

 

[markT]

Recovery

 

[357Mag]

Recovery

MarkT -

Howdy !

Groundhogs I encountered in NE Indiana were most active ( during warm weather ) in the early morning; but seemingly more so in the last 1/2hr or so before sunset...... and then in the early dusk thereafter.

They like " full sun " when they want to sunbath atop a log or rock in the daytime. Have seen them lay their head on a rail road rail, with their body lying on the top of the railroad tie. This sunbathing practice strikes me as being rather risky, and the " Soybeanus Digestus " could become part of the Coyote " Hot lunch program ", or food for orbiting hawks, wandering dogs; etc.

As regards their noted prescence... " Embrace the Suck ". There are plenty of dedicated varminters that are lamenting the demise of large groundhog populations in their area, and are on the lookout for where they are.

Given a choice and the opportunity, groundhogs would most likely go for soybeans above all else.
They especially like them from the initial sprouting, and up through the " 2 leaf " stage; as being the ideal.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[rebel]

Late evening, sun low shadows long. Look in the shadows for likely feeding. Stay out about 200 yards with a rifle that is at least 1/2 MOA. Bust him. Deer, groundhogs, bear are easy to figure out once you have conquered entry terrain, distance and preferred food. Think you have 2 of the 3 right in front of you.

 

[markT]

Nosler: 85 gr. 243

 

[hogpatrol]

If there was plenty of food left in the plot, I would have left them. They would have been good confidence decoys.

 

[markT]

Just killed another one. Got to stand bery early and was just glassing around. Over in kudzu and saw it had been eaten down and maybe what could be a burrow or could have been the start or abandon one. Anyway, big fat one at 137 yds laying on top of rock. “Ineerrz” came out his spine. Gonna have to start taking a 223 with me instead of these 85 gr Nosler in .243. I’m running out. He’s across creek or I post a pic so he will just end up as yote food.