Groundhogs PA !!!!!!!!

[mikeinct]

Somebody hit the like button on this thread a few days ago. I saw I had written. I would post some pics of the hunt. Well Those October pics of the day are gone. So I popped in a few from May about 14 years ago [same place/6months later]. So Cap. I still look pretty good for an old dude/still driving that '05 P/U. I'm 64 now. That is the farmers son. The dairy herd is gone. few head of beef cattle up there now. Life goes on. mikeinct

 

[Mark W]

I have noticed that the western rock-chucks like to hang around farm buildings and especially places where old farm machinery and vehicles are dumped. I remember one morning when I shot several that were under an abandoned and wrecked school bus. Another time I shot a bunch that were under, beside, and on-top of a pile of wood boards. I have seen chucks (eastern groundhogs) and western rock-chucks climbing trees.

I once watched a groundhog waddle up the steps and scale a wall in order to enter an abandoned cabin through a broken window. Not sure what he was doing inside.

 

[Webster]

I got to spend 4 days potting groundhogs with the little 6MMBR gun in southwestern pa last week...The new laser range finder really helped..I used the Lieca 1200..very nice..I need to really sit down at the range & coordinate the sight settings to various ranges & use a note book...The winging it method cost me a few important shots..I had the sights on a white GH at 425 & it should have been a chip shot on my last day down there..I fell just short of the target & really spooked him so no second chance...I got fifthteen In 4 days my hunting buddies LUKE & John did about half as well..The longest shot was 568 yds with the new 80 gr berger HP varmint bullet..Seems very stable & hits with real authority at extended ranges...Most shots with the BR gun were 295 to about 470 yds..& I was pleased with that kind of shooting.The 87 gr V-max bullet was used the first day & a half,then I switched to the berger bullet,It was a short learning curve to get it on target to about 400 yds but the trajectory values were different from the V-max ...The grass is growing fast so If u havent got out yet this year do it !!! Always great hunting in pa..u guys are so lucky..I had asked the farmers to keep the ears open for coyotes..They are down there for sure not infested like here in Ct but if they get going they will wipe out the groundhogs so give them no quarter..Keep a sharp eye out on every field & use a varmint call before leaving each spot..We had one pop out just as we were leaving one spot at dusk..he got lucky & a free meal there..Good shooting & good luck to you all..mike in ct

I have just about given up hunting GH in Ohio. Coyotes every where. There are just about as many in the citiy as farmland. I saw one in a cemetery 3 miles from down town Cleveland. I live in the city. When there is snow on the ground I see the tracks in my yard several times a week. Also have a red fox walking down the sidewalk in front of my house. It looks like it has mange. It's probably dead by now.

 

[snert]

I took part in drilling and producing hundreds of wells in Washington and Greene Counties and I promise you it’s not the wells that have hurt the groundhog population. If anything stopped the fields from being mowed, it’s that the younger generations don’t work like the old guys did. Even on the well maintained farms you really don’t see groundhogs except for around the homes and barns.

Hi Mark, I didnt mean to imply the wells caused no groundhogs. I meant that farms that once had fields of clover are now left to grow weeds as the oldsters cashed in on the gas under them and the youngsters had moved on years ago.

 

[Richard308]

I have just about given up hunting GH in Ohio. Coyotes every where. There are just about as many in the citiy as farmland. I saw one in a cemetery 3 miles from down town Cleveland. I live in the city. When there is snow on the ground I see the tracks in my yard several times a week. Also have a red fox walking down the sidewalk in front of my house. It looks like it has mange. It's probably dead by now.

Belmont,Harrison Counties used to be the ground hog capital. I looked across a huge old clover field yesterday, not a one to be seen.

 

[Webster]

mikeinct,
If you are in the process of having a Savage put together in .243, consider the .243 A.I.. The performance of a .243 A.I. with either the 87 gr. Hornady V-Max or the 80 gr. Berger Varmint Match has served me well on groundhogs. My ranges are from 200 to 450 yds.

Why would you need a barrel burner for 400 yrds. 6BR will be accurate enough for hunting for 5000 rounds. I have 4300 on mine and it still shoots .350" or smaller.

 

[dantiff2]

Here's my 11 yr old getting it done. He has caught the groundhog bug! This hog has been his longest shot of the year @ 205 yds. His longest one has been @ 270yds (last season). This has been a busy year and we haven't been able to get out much this season but he has several others under his belt. Most our farms are green now and will have to wait until we can get back out. I love watching him get it done.

 

[ACF]

I've been hunting groundhogs in Pa. for about 40 yrs. and it gets harder to find places to hunt them. New houses erected in or near farmers fields ruins the hunting.

Some of the hay fields I've hunted for 20+ years are being converted to corn or soybeans which ruins the hunting.

The number of groundhogs in places where you can hunt is declining, maybe due to the coyotes, maybe not.

My point is, it's tougher to get shooting at our "little buddies" and I just love hunting them.

Chris

 

[troupe]

I grew up in the Northern Panhandle of W.Va. and I still miss groundhog hunting. The tri - state area W.VA, Pa., and Oh. had some of the best groundhog hunting to be had anywhere. I am convinced in my heart that the groundhog hunting made us a little better shots. My son got his first one at twelve and it was at 238 yds. He became hooked as well. Unfortunately , I have been in N.C. for the past 35 years. I wish I had a place to go back home to hunt the little critters, it was some of the best times in the outdoors. I do believe that the coyotes has taken a toll on the groundhogs. What great memories.

 

[snert]

I'm of the opinion that hepatitis is taking the groundhogs. Ny has far more coyotes than pa and I still shoot 30 or more in a field over a few days.

BTW, Cornell University did/does hep studies using groundhogs, since they approximate human hep.

And who would know if it's a disease? The DEC and PGC certainly are not studying groundhog livers. Too busy worrying about climate change and weather it's ok to hunt on Sunday, respectively

 

[troupe]

Very interesting on the HEP. I never heard that. 25 years as a LEO and know to find out that a groundhog could take me out. Whistlepig revenge. A 30 groundhog weekend sounds like heaven to this old hillbilly !!!!

 

[snert]

I only found out the link when I responded to an obscure cement block building way out, on an alarm, mid February. PTA dispatch sent heads up that this location was on the warning list for ALF/ELF domestic terrorism activity. What the@&$+???

Upon arrival I discovered a research lab chock full of horny woodchucks being used as HEP test pigs. One exceptionally dedicated make had chewed his way out and was happily setting off the motion detector as he made his rounds to the lady cages. The whistlepig rustler arrived and lassoed him, put him in a padlocked hut. No terrorism that night but apparently it had been hit by activists in the past.

According to the bleary eyed guy, Chuck's are susceptible to HEP.

Who woulda thought?

 

[hogpatrol]

#1 of the year but I've got a ways to catch up to my hoggin' fool brother. He's passed the 30 mark.

 

[Steve Ladino]

I got to spend 4 days potting groundhogs with the little 6MMBR gun in southwestern pa last week...The new laser range finder really helped..I used the Lieca 1200..very nice..I need to really sit down at the range & coordinate the sight settings to various ranges & use a note book...The winging it method cost me a few important shots..I had the sights on a white GH at 425 & it should have been a chip shot on my last day down there..I fell just short of the target & really spooked him so no second chance...I got fifthteen In 4 days my hunting buddies LUKE & John did about half as well..The longest shot was 568 yds with the new 80 gr berger HP varmint bullet..Seems very stable & hits with real authority at extended ranges...Most shots with the BR gun were 295 to about 470 yds..& I was pleased with that kind of shooting.The 87 gr V-max bullet was used the first day & a half,then I switched to the berger bullet,It was a short learning curve to get it on target to about 400 yds but the trajectory values were different from the V-max ...The grass is growing fast so If u havent got out yet this year do it !!! Always great hunting in pa..u guys are so lucky..I had asked the farmers to keep the ears open for coyotes..They are down there for sure not infested like here in Ct but if they get going they will wipe out the groundhogs so give them no quarter..Keep a sharp eye out on every field & use a varmint call before leaving each spot..We had one pop out just as we were leaving one spot at dusk..he got lucky & a free meal there..Good shooting & good luck to you all..mike in ct

You're right about them after the groundhogs......I've seen it.

 

[danny]

Hey you guys, before you think that you can hunt hogs in Ohio without a license, think again. I am from Ohio and you have always needed a license to hunt ground hogs in Ohio. If you get caught, even on private land, they will take your guns away, confiscate that gas-guzzling SUV, fine the crap outta you, take yor first born, make your wife into a sex slave, and probably slap you on your tally-wacker with a bamboo rod. Just get the license. The only place I know of where you dont need a license to hunt varmints in Montana.
AL O

Well, you don't need a license on your land, at least that used to be the case.

Danny

 

[hogpatrol]

Horse owners gave me a call today. Said get these GD groundhogs outta here! So even though it was hotter than the hinges of hell, went out the last three hours before sunset. Lucked out in a jump field with a family, five shots, five hogs, all with 17HMR pistol.

 

[hogpatrol]

Hay cut, time to hit the fields. Two evenings kill, nine and one crawlaway. Got out late this year, still plenty of families.

 

[hogpatrol]

Seems the mild winter helped the weak ones survive. The hay fields are loaded with them and they seem to know the safety zones too. Been getting after it with the hay cut.

 

[hogpatrol]

My brother an I hit the fields for a few hours. Got eleven. Had one go down the hole a little too far for me to chance yanking him back out. Couple days later, the wife and I got out for a couple hours, three with the Annie. Wheat's come off and beans are in. That'll drag them out of the hedge rows so expect more action when they pop.

 

[danny]

Had one go down the hole a little too far for me to chance yanking him back outView attachment 1188802 View attachment 1188804

One word: "Gaff"

Danny