I've sort of done a number on WV groundhogs, so expanded my territory to Idaho for rockchucks, basically the same animal. I started 6 years ago. I got 90+ that year. The farmer spread the word about this old guy with a handgun that shot pretty good. My territory expanded accordingly.
Initially, I was worried about the ID wind and took my "big" groundhog guns- .250 Sav. AI XP-100 and 6mmAI Encore. A friend that went with me used a XP .223 AI. He did good in the wind. So, I switched to my .223 Contender and .22-250 XP-R, plus a Ruger MKIII .22 suppressed for close shots. They have done good in the wind with a little reading.
I've included my yearly & lifetime totals of these 2 animals together. Back in the '80s, the hey day of WV groundhogs I took over 500 a year for 7 years. The best year was 636. Best chuck year was 2022-487. That year's grand total was 704.
Last year was showing "the hit man effect"- 278 chucks, 171 groundhogs.
This year my hopes were not as high. First morning I went to a farm that had not been good last year. Here's 40% of what I took in 2 1/2 hours with my .223 Contender. I was pleasantly surprised.
I found another good farm where I took about the same amount, but the chucks were so scattered I couldn't collect them.
Then a few days later I went to a new farm. This about 40% of what I took in 2 1/2 hours with my Rem. 22-250 XP-R. Also, that increase my lifetime total to a pretty significant number.
I debated on what bullet to use in both my .22s. I finally settled on Nosler 40 gr. BTs. They have not disappointed me. I took 2 large chucks lined up at 130 yards with one shot. I also took a chuck in front of an old 4" water pipe at 170 yards. The 40 grainer took the chuck & penetrated both sides of the pipe. So much for the poor, weak tinney bullet!
I never let my suppressed MKIII rest. In 2022 I took 109 with it. Three in in 5 minutes off the same rock at 104 yards with Rem. 38 gr. subsonic ammo. This year I only took 54, but a longer shot at 105 yards. That's a poke for subsonic .22 ammo. I only took 298 chucks this year.
I'm wondering if I've shot myself out of some really serious fun. Guess I'll see next year.
Oh, my lifetime total of these 2 low land grizzlys as of today is 16,113 with my handguns.
Initially, I was worried about the ID wind and took my "big" groundhog guns- .250 Sav. AI XP-100 and 6mmAI Encore. A friend that went with me used a XP .223 AI. He did good in the wind. So, I switched to my .223 Contender and .22-250 XP-R, plus a Ruger MKIII .22 suppressed for close shots. They have done good in the wind with a little reading.
I've included my yearly & lifetime totals of these 2 animals together. Back in the '80s, the hey day of WV groundhogs I took over 500 a year for 7 years. The best year was 636. Best chuck year was 2022-487. That year's grand total was 704.
Last year was showing "the hit man effect"- 278 chucks, 171 groundhogs.
This year my hopes were not as high. First morning I went to a farm that had not been good last year. Here's 40% of what I took in 2 1/2 hours with my .223 Contender. I was pleasantly surprised.
I found another good farm where I took about the same amount, but the chucks were so scattered I couldn't collect them.
Then a few days later I went to a new farm. This about 40% of what I took in 2 1/2 hours with my Rem. 22-250 XP-R. Also, that increase my lifetime total to a pretty significant number.
I debated on what bullet to use in both my .22s. I finally settled on Nosler 40 gr. BTs. They have not disappointed me. I took 2 large chucks lined up at 130 yards with one shot. I also took a chuck in front of an old 4" water pipe at 170 yards. The 40 grainer took the chuck & penetrated both sides of the pipe. So much for the poor, weak tinney bullet!
I never let my suppressed MKIII rest. In 2022 I took 109 with it. Three in in 5 minutes off the same rock at 104 yards with Rem. 38 gr. subsonic ammo. This year I only took 54, but a longer shot at 105 yards. That's a poke for subsonic .22 ammo. I only took 298 chucks this year.
I'm wondering if I've shot myself out of some really serious fun. Guess I'll see next year.
Oh, my lifetime total of these 2 low land grizzlys as of today is 16,113 with my handguns.
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