Groundhog season is now open

[hogpatrol]

Seventy five degrees and the whistlepigs were out. Got first blood in the first fifteen minutes on patrol. Followed up with two more in less than an hour. Used the Annie with VNTs. I know it's early but when I get a call from the owner of one of my prime deer hunting grounds, it's game over.

 

[david kieffer]

Seventy five degrees and the whistlepigs were out. Got first blood in the first fifteen minutes on patrol. Followed up with two more in less than an hour. Used the Annie with VNTs. I know it's early but when I get a call from the owner of one of my prime deer hunting grounds, it's game over.
View attachment 1098402

Nice , Bill murray would be proud of you . keep up the good work .dave

 

[K22]

Yea, when they call you have to respond. Nice shooting.

It was in the 70's here in eastern PA on Saturday so I went out too. I only intended to do a recon because I don't like to shoot them this early for the fear of taking a nursing female with pups in the den but I took my walking around rifle anyway. The farmer was irate at the ghogs boys, a few had dug out holes in one of his fields and he wanted them gone. I could not refuse his request after all I'm the "Ground Hog Man" according to his wife.

I took four; at 129, 144, 177, and 204 yards with my Rem Model 7, 20" Douglas Barrel, 12" twist, and 50 Noslers BT's. Fortunately three were males and one a young non-nursing female. Best results I ever had this early.

PS: I saw the holes that the farmer was concerned about, large mounds of soil and rocks dug out but I never saw the hogs in them. The four I took were all in tree lines. The 2019 Campaign is under way! I'll be back to meet the ghog boys who dug the holes. Justice is Coming!!

 

[hogpatrol]

The Mrs. at the farm puts puts little flags next to the holes around the house and driveway where she sees them. Makes for almost guaranteed action.

 

[hogpatrol]

Yea, when they call you have to respond. Nice shooting.

It was in the 70's here in eastern PA on Saturday so I went out too. I only intended to do a recon because I don't like to shoot them this early for the fear of taking a nursing female with pups in the den but I took my walking around rifle anyway. The farmer was irate at the ghogs boys, a few had dug out holes in one of his fields and he wanted them gone. I could not refuse his request after all I'm the "Ground Hog Man" according to his wife.

I took four; at 129, 144, 177, and 204 yards with my Rem Model 7, 20" Douglas Barrel, 12" twist, and 50 Noslers BT's. Fortunately three were males and one a young non-nursing female. Best results I ever had this early.

PS: I saw the holes that the farmer was concerned about, large mounds of soil and rocks dug out but I never saw the hogs in them. The four I took were all in tree lines. The 2019 Campaign is under way! I'll be back to meet the ghog boys who dug the holes. Justice is Coming!!

Those holes could have been red fox. In one of the fields, there's a den every year. The little pups sure are cute when they're out and about.

 

[sawcarver]

My son shot the first one that Ive heard about in MI this year on Friday. I havent seen one yet, it was 25 and snow on the ground this morning

 

[JEFFPPC]

Seventy five degrees and the whistlepigs were out. Got first blood in the first fifteen minutes on patrol. Followed up with two more in less than an hour. Used the Annie with VNTs. I know it's early but when I get a call from the owner of one of my prime deer hunting grounds, it's game over.
View attachment 1098402

Maybe let the, little ones out of nursing stage before mom bites the dust. That's what we do, ensures action into fall. We start on Memorial Day.

 

[K22]

Maybe let the, little ones out of nursing stage before mom bites the dust. That's what we do, ensures action into fall. We start on Memorial Day.

Yea, I agree however I don't make that point to the farmer who wants to get rid of them all. It's just I get so itchy in early spring to get going and being in my 70's I not sure how many ghogs season I have remaining. How's that for justifying hunting in early spring.

PS: I'm a ghog hunting addict - just can get enough of it.

 

[K22]

Those holes could have been red fox. In one of the fields, there's a den every year. The little pups sure are cute when they're out and about.

Interesting - I hunt predators but I'm not as versed in it like I am hunting ghogs but I've never seen a fox's den in an open field, the ones I've seen have always been in cover. Learn something new ever day.

 

[MrMajestic]

Interesting - I hunt predators but I'm not as versed in it like I am hunting ghogs but I've never seen a fox's den in an open field, the ones I've seen have always been in cover. Learn something new ever day.

Yes, many in open fields...

 

[fyrewall]

Attached are photos of a western yellow belly marmot (rockchuck) and wild chuck habitat. I have probably shot heavier rockchucks but never one as long & wide as this wild chuck. The heavier fat farm fed chucks continually nibble on alfalfa.

This one was shot back in May 2013 - 6mm AI, 105 Amax, H1000 - rifle has since been restocked

Montana rockchucks have suffered from sustained droughts . Many rockchuck populations have retreated to river bottoms having human activity with out-buildings and trash dumps. I once chatted with a nice lady member of the Crow Nation who told me that chucks were valued for their high fat content for some specific human dietary needs. When on a hunting trip in Utah for deers I learned that chucks were chopped up with a hatchet and the fat rendered out in big cast iron frying pans then used for treating saddles and harnesses.

There are indications the long drought is ending.



edit - 4/1 I bet that pond out there has a few rattle snakes

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Yea, when they call you have to respond. Nice shooting.

It was in the 70's here in eastern PA on Saturday so I went out too. I only intended to do a recon because I don't like to shoot them this early for the fear of taking a nursing female with pups in the den but I took my walking around rifle anyway. The farmer was irate at the ghogs boys, a few had dug out holes in one of his fields and he wanted them gone. I could not refuse his request after all I'm the "Ground Hog Man" according to his wife.

I took four; at 129, 144, 177, and 204 yards with my Rem Model 7, 20" Douglas Barrel, 12" twist, and 50 Noslers BT's. Fortunately three were males and one a young non-nursing female. Best results I ever had this early.

PS: I saw the holes that the farmer was concerned about, large mounds of soil and rocks dug out but I never saw the hogs in them. The four I took were all in tree lines. The 2019 Campaign is under way! I'll be back to meet the ghog boys who dug the holes. Justice is Coming!!

Wife comes home from work and husband is on couch again, she asked what he's done all day? He said he killed three male flies and two female flies ! She asked how does he know? He says the males were on the remote controler and the females were on the phone !

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Yea, when they call you have to respond. Nice shooting.

It was in the 70's here in eastern PA on Saturday so I went out too. I only intended to do a recon because I don't like to shoot them this early for the fear of taking a nursing female with pups in the den but I took my walking around rifle anyway. The farmer was irate at the ghogs boys, a few had dug out holes in one of his fields and he wanted them gone. I could not refuse his request after all I'm the "Ground Hog Man" according to his wife.

I took four; at 129, 144, 177, and 204 yards with my Rem Model 7, 20" Douglas Barrel, 12" twist, and 50 Noslers BT's. Fortunately three were males and one a young non-nursing female. Best results I ever had this early.

PS: I saw the holes that the farmer was concerned about, large mounds of soil and rocks dug out but I never saw the hogs in them. The four I took were all in tree lines. The 2019 Campaign is under way! I'll be back to meet the ghog boys who dug the holes. Justice is Coming!!

I'll tell them your coming and your bringing hell with you ! Ha

 

[Stormbringer]

We were out again this weekend for a quick 4 hours. Killed another 25. That takes me to over 100 for the year so far.

 

[WV Hitman]

The coyotes and me have rocked the ghog pop in eastern WV. I always left seed for the following year, but the coyotes are infringing on that.
The females this time of year come out very late usually. I check everyone I kill. Of the 68 I've done so far this year only 4 were females, and only 2 nursing.
Had to go to ID last year to do rockchucks for the first time. Really fun.
I keep very good records of guns used, distance of kills since 1976. My lifetime total now is 13,400+ and that's 100% with handguns!! I don't own a rifle. Don't see a need for one.

 

[hogpatrol]

The coyotes and me have rocked the ghog pop in eastern WV. I always left seed for the following year, but the coyotes are infringing on that.
The females this time of year come out very late usually. I check everyone I kill. Of the 68 I've done so far this year only 4 were females, and only 2 nursing.
Had to go to ID last year to do rockchucks for the first time. Really fun.
I keep very good records of guns used, distance of kills since 1976. My lifetime total now is 13,400+ and that's 100% with handguns!! I don't own a rifle. Don't see a need for one.

Yowza! You have fed a lot of predators.

 

[rkittine]

Dale, Do you know what the price is for an out of state PA hunting license? Would love to do some Wood-Chucking with you.

Bob

 

[OmegaRed]

Dale, Do you know what the price is for an out of state PA hunting license? Would love to do some Wood-Chucking with you.

Bob

$160 ish

 

[sawcarver]

Shot my first one Monday here in Michigan. 20BR XP-100 at 212 yds

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Well, my rock chuck shooting has been going on since moving here in 1975, but even at that, my total cannot be anywhere near hogpatrol's; amazing.

Here's a few from last season near the house during a morning walkabout with my Cooper M38 Phoenix in 221FB.



If this blasted rain and wind would subside, we'd all be able to get out and do our thing, but I see today that we're in for another full week of this crap. Can't complain too much though.....right at the end of February, we got a dump of three FEET of snow. It lasted a full month, and as a result, our chucks are taking their time coming out to play.....but sooooon.

You Eastern guys hold on, as there's two more dang Pacific storms lining up for us. We'll be sending them your way soon also. Get your chucking in while you can.