I know most of the stories I see from Michigan concerning groundhogs involves shooting one at REALLY close range from under the barn.I have recently found there are a few serious LOONG shooters over cut hay and alfalfa,I am researching the state and hope to find how wide the distribution is in the state and if it is directly attributed to hay, alfalfa, or just beans. I travel a long way each year to shoot new places for weeks at a time and would appreciate some help. I will honor your given area. If there are any really long shooters, I would like to speak with you especially.
Hoping to find one of the few remaining Michigan groundhog hunters
- Thread starter VaRandy
- Start date
Anyone?
I'm an avid ground hog hunting. I just can't get enough of it. These days, it's more about being out in the field on a beautiful summer evening than shooting the critters although I still enjoy the challenge of stalking them and making a good shot.
Here in eastern PA, the once utopia of ground hog hunting with long endless rolling hay fields, has turned into a challenge to find a place to hunt. Over development and the change in farming practices have eliminated most of the long rolling hay fields in my area as housing developments claim farms and farmers turn to grain farming, planting rows of a variety of crops eliminating the ability to see the hogs. Most of the hogs have moved into tree lines since the field are turned over each planting season due to crop rotation.
Still, there are a few places remaining. I'm basically a under 300 yards shooter since I shoot off a shooting stick which limits my precision. I won't shoot anything under 100 yards unless it's a problem hog and the farmer has specially requested that I eliminate the problem critter. What I enjoy the most is stalking, moving around.
There are places in north central PA, around State College, where long shots are still available the last time I checked. Look for heavy dairy farming areas that tend to grow a lot of hay for cow feed.
Here in eastern PA, the once utopia of ground hog hunting with long endless rolling hay fields, has turned into a challenge to find a place to hunt. Over development and the change in farming practices have eliminated most of the long rolling hay fields in my area as housing developments claim farms and farmers turn to grain farming, planting rows of a variety of crops eliminating the ability to see the hogs. Most of the hogs have moved into tree lines since the field are turned over each planting season due to crop rotation.
Still, there are a few places remaining. I'm basically a under 300 yards shooter since I shoot off a shooting stick which limits my precision. I won't shoot anything under 100 yards unless it's a problem hog and the farmer has specially requested that I eliminate the problem critter. What I enjoy the most is stalking, moving around.
There are places in north central PA, around State College, where long shots are still available the last time I checked. Look for heavy dairy farming areas that tend to grow a lot of hay for cow feed.
Rick in Oregon
Gold $$ Contributor
You guys having a hard time finding places to shoot chucks may want to consider 'varmint vacations' and check out the excellent rock chuck shooting in the mountain west. I know, long ways off, but considering the difficulty you're experiencing now, a week long trip in God's country may very well be worth the extra time and expense involved.
I'm not aware of anyone who's spent a week in the high country shooting chucks ever saying they wished they had stayed home instead. Just throwin' it out there.
I'm not aware of anyone who's spent a week in the high country shooting chucks ever saying they wished they had stayed home instead. Just throwin' it out there.
B23
Gold $$ Contributor
I had a gun built by a smith in PA. (Kevin Cram Montour County Rifles) a few years ago and he used to tell me about the LR and ELR groundhog shooting they did in PA but said pretty much the same thing as K22 and the groundhog shooting wasn't nearly as good as it used to be and had definitely changed over the years.
A lot of places have very few groundhogs left.Here in WV I used to take between 50 and 100 per summer,with a good evening getting 6 or 8 shots.Coyote and bald eagle populations have increased to the point that I often make the joke when I do see a chuck that I'm going to call the DNR and report a sighting.I have no less than 10 beautiful long range varmint rifles sitting in the safe and not being used.It's been 4 years since I actually went hunting for and killed a groundhog.The last real good hunt I had was in 2007.Many places share this story in the east.Hope you get along better in MI,but I'm afraid the days of farmers wanting someone to thin out the hogs are gone.One old farmer around here used to tell anyone asking permission to hunt groundhogs it would cost them a dollar apiece for every one they miss.
Couple farms in the thumb offer some decent range shooting. Southern Mi near Chelsea, Grass lake some as well. Saginaw county use to have some decent opportunities also. Been years since I've shot those fields so guessing there built up by now. Ohio is my go too shooting grounds for Pasture Pigs these days
I shoot a few in the mid-Michigan area where I grew up. Im not as hardcore as some, as they aren't my only targeted species at that time of the year but I won't let them go if I happen to drive by and see them out.
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