Kill a Groundhog - Feed an Eagle

[Dennis_in_VA]

Went Groundhoggin' today with my shootin' partner John.

I was using my 700SPS in 223 spitting out 55gr Blitzking @ 3300 fps.
John was using his Savage 22-250 putting 50gr Vmaxes to good use.

I got dibs on the first shot and managed to drop this ol' boy with one shot @ 352 yards.

Well not ten minutes later a group of Buzzards came in to the free meal.

We watched and shot some video footage of the clean up crew. They hung around for about 45 minutes then they all took off. I had noticed, out of the corner of my eye, what I thought was a Buzzard with some white features. Well when I put the optics on it, I was surprised to see that it was a Bald Eagle.

Well it just came on down, cautiously approached the Groundhog and started having it way with it.

John was shooting footage with his Video camera and I thought 'Hey, get some thru the scope footage', so I did my best with my point and shoot thru the scope.

Hope y'all like it.


Click Here

 

[2506]

Good work. I just hope somebody from the EPA does not come looking for you claiming that you lead poisoned the eagle.:crazy:

 

[Moderator]

That is VERY cool. Good shootin' and thanks for making the video.

 

[SnakeEye]

I've started seeing a few eagles along the river the last few years, fun to watch em. Never had any feast on a dead pig tho, but the buzzards like a meal sometimes.
I do hope you meant to say you popped that pig yesterday,Saturday) as you know the idiots in Va don't allow hunting on Sunday!

Varmints For Fun

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

Yes, the video was taken yesterday.

We were out testing our new portable shooting bench that we are going to bring to the marketplace.

Well there was probably less Lead residue in that Groundhog than the water we drink everyday. There was definitely an EXIT wound! Plus the Buzzards had inflicted some damage before the Eagle got there so if anything were to ingest heavy metal it would be the Buzzards.

I need to find out which camera will lend itself to digiscoping better than the one I have right now. It was kinda hard to hold the camera on the 2.36 mm exit pupil.

But this was a very rare occasion.

 

[Idaho_Elk_Huntr]

I am from Virginia and in all the years I lived there I saw 3 eagles. One nesting pair not far from Richmond on the James River and the other in Goochland. Here where I live in Northern Idaho it is a daily thing seeing eagles. In the winter you can see as many as a 100 together on the ice eating dead salmon. When I get time I will post some pics

 

[cliffy]

All forms of Owls, Hawks, and Eagles are protected in the lower forty-eight! I only killed one hawk, with permission from a state game warden, because it was an injured chicken-killer. I shot a Marsh Hawk that had been raiding farmers domestics! Was I thanked? HARDLY, since I lost my rights to hunt for Doves on that very farm forever, by the very farmer that had granted me Dove hunting permission. Live and learn, I guess. cliffy

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

The Eagle WAS NOT HARMED IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM!!!

It came down to feed on a Groundhog that I had previously shot.

The only thing that was harmed was the Groundhog.

And YES, the hunting was done on Saturday!

 

[cliffy]

Dennis, I did not mean to insinuate that you harmed an Eagle in any way. Good gravy! Flattening a woodchuck is a good thing. Feeding an Eagle is GOOD. cliffy

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

Oh, sorry, I misinterpreted what you were saying.

I know that is a BIG NO NO to harm lots of different Bird species.

We just blast Varmint Species.

Some people would have figured that since I had the scope in his general direction that I was shooting at the Eagle.

We were sitting there, just enjoying the opportunity that was presented to us.

Like how many guys can say ' Who got to feed a Bald Eagle today, raise their hand'?
,That's what I asked the family when I got home).

 

[cliffy]

Dennis, I knew you wouldn't shoot an illegal species, but I'm glad you shot a varmint! Feeding an Eagle is good. The Feral Hog must be next on your list of varmints to shoot. These vicious predators are invading 90% of our states, with no end in sight. Never pass up a shot on a voracious pig. cliffy

 

[Dennis_in_VA]

We don't have those here yet.
And I hope we never do.
They are so destructive!
But I would not mind at all helping to control the Hog population.
I am guessing that they would be good table fare to boot?

 

[chino1969]

I did a similar thing but it was a red fox that I fed. Some may ask why I didn't take the red fox. Many of the areas I hunt groundhogs on are owned by the 'vested' gentry who hunt foxes on horseback. Years ago when I asked permission to hunt these lands I gave my word that I would not take any red fox and have honored my word. At any rate, I shot a groundhog @200 yd. + with my .22-250 A.I. using 80 grn. Hornady A-Maxes with a healthy dose of RL 22. This is my groundhog load for this season. The A-Maxes open sufficiently to drop them in their tracks. The furthest I've shot this season was 385 yds. Soybean has just been planted and the voracious buggers will be decimating the soybean fields with one exception; I'll be waiting.

Lou Baccino

 

[2506]

Dennis I was only poking fun at the EPA and PETA with the statement about giving the Eagle lead poison. You know that is the reason that they give for banning lead or lead core bullets in many states.

 

[cliffy]

Banning Lead seems STUPID, but I have recently started A BARNES regime of practice loads, along with Nosler E bullets, and what ever lead-free wannabees shooting up all over the Internet regarding 6mm,.243) caliber fare. I love LEAD, but can actually survive without it. Seems some of the unleaded bullets can actually perform, but NOT to the exact extent of BONDED-CORE bully-bullets. The Lead-Free fare must now MEET or exceed the Speer Trophy-Bonded Bear Claws to make me go totally lead-free! cliffy

 

[Larryh128]

A little off subject but some might find it amusing. A friend who had an extremely good set up for ducks and geese on the shoreline was over run with coons and possums. He eliminated over 90 critters thru the summer and found it amusing to put them out on the boulders behind his waterfowl blind and watch the eagles feed on them. Opening day of the goose season arrived and as the geese filtered down the shoreline, they would fly a 1/4 mile out and away from his blind and then back to the shoreline. He couldn't figure out why. I'm still laughing.

 

[Intheshop]

Oldie but goodie post.

From the Va mnts...saw a Bald Eagle a month ago whilst varmint hunting.BIG A$$ mature bird.He was parked in some treetops on a river bttm.He put up with me horning in on the action for 15 minutes or so,got pi$$ed and left.

On feral hogs...it only takes a cpl of farmers who are,how you say...a little lazy on their fences and,well we have some here.So far I haven't blasted them but if it continues,anybody got any good recipes?

 

[long40shot]

What happened to old cliffy?

 

[rogn]

My sister emailed me an article about 3 eagles that had died of lead poisoning in PA. Consensus was they had died from eating woodchucks. Lead particles in stomach/gizzard appeared to be bullet frags. Spokesman said in the area where found groundhog hunters left the dead chucks out for the vultures and the eagles picked up the lead while feeding . Take home was to dispose of the chucks in a way so birds could get to them. No indictment.

 

[Nomad47]