Mad Dog Ground hog Guide

[284winner]

Any readers out there ever been on a groundhog guided shoot with Mike "Mad Dog" Groff ? If not and you love shooting in real world hunting situations on live targets, you must book a day with him. No I don't mean prairie dog shooting situations where on the 12th shot you hit a dog at 800 yds cause you walked the bullet to him. I mean 1 shot 1 kill situations. Ground hogs aren't dumb enough to sit for multiple shots. None I've ever shot at. You'll sit on the field edge glassing a high meadow maybe 500-900 yds out. When you do see one stand up, you'll have some time to set up for the shot. Mike will give you the range and wind. You must do the rest. In one day I'll get around 30-40 shots. Doesn't sound like alot but it's alot like spot and stalk deer hunting. If you get an opportunity or 2 in a day, your lucky. It WILL make you a much better shot. I'll kill 25 to 30 in a day out of 40. Ranging from 500 to 900 yards. Not to sound ignorant but out to 650/700 it's not too tough. Beyond 700 with wind, it gets interesting. Especially 850 +. It's a real blast and real long range school too. Advice tho: Know what your gun does at the mentioned ranges. Wind you'll learn. Have your moa numbers down out to 1000. Mike will teach you hold off for wind. Do not pass on this trip if you love shooting this kind of stuff. We usually retrieve our hogs for bullet expansion info. If you go, shoot straight and bring back your results to the forum.

 

[284winner]

No offense to the prairie dog guys out there. I've done it numerous times and love the volume shooting, especially with ARs. Just not even close to that style of shooting. More precision oriented.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

800 yds? I just move closer.. Pdawgs...

 

[Bangs OH]

Looks like Mike's finding a lot more "targets" than many of us around here in recent years; groundhog numbers are definitely down.
www.ncovarmintexpress.com

 

[284winner]

Haven't actually been out with Mike in a couple years. Spoke to him last week and he said his numbers were close to most years. Like any animal, numbers fluctuate from year to year. Alot of ranchers are poisoning prairie dogs too. Numbers dropping. Apparently shooting them isn't keeping the numbers where ranchers like. I had to cancel a shoot last year because of it. Sounds like some people have been out with Mike. Looking forward this year to head down.

 

[Changeling]

Ground hogs may be decreasing where you live, but not in Maryland ! It's been fairly warm this year here and I’ve shot 19 now (I think) off my deck with a .22 Mark I Ruger pistol.

I hear (from forum) that in the places where they are declining a lot of people think it is because of the Coyote invading new territory and increasing in number.

 

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

Here in Ohio.....

ground hog population down
Coyote population up

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800 yards? I'll move closer. I don't have the skills or the equipment for those shots. (and only a 223)

 

[WyleWD]

Looks like Mike's finding a lot more "targets" than many of us around here in recent years; groundhog numbers are definitely down.

Numbers are WAAAYYY down. Coyotes are fat and many farmers are paying to have chucks on their land trapped.

I strongly advise that before you go with THIS or any guide, that you familiarize yourself with the laws regarding permission slips, shooting from or across roads, and with the aid of a vehicle. And have respect for the land owners HE takes you onto. JME. WD

 

[284winner]

Sounds like there's some personal issues there that aren't none of my business. I'm part of the law enforcement community so I certainly understand reading and following state and federal laws come first. Also while on a shoot with THIS guide, we did in fact have a conservation law official stop at our location. Seems we were within the scope of the Ohio laws as he simply checked licenses and wished us luck from our gun rests ON TOP of the vehicle ON a land owners property. We DID NOT have a permission slip however I always have one while deer hunting another's land. Thank you for the concern.

 

[284winner]

No disrespect as I will again before I head south read thoroughly all of the state and federal laws surrounding the purpose of my visit. Again that thank you was a sincere thanks for the heads up. We did I'm my honest feeling think we were within the state laws. In michigan, there are laws preventing shooting from, off of or across any vehicle. In Ohio, I was shocked to know that it was legal to do so on private property.

 

[WyleWD]

Sounds like there's some personal issues there that aren't none of my business. I'm part of the law enforcement community so I certainly understand reading and following state and federal laws come first. Also while on a shoot with THIS guide, we did in fact have a conservation law official stop at our location. Seems we were within the scope of the Ohio laws as he simply checked licenses and wished us luck from our gun rests ON TOP of the vehicle ON a land owners property. We DID NOT have a permission slip however I always have one while deer hunting another's land. Thank you for the concern.

No personal issues with him as I've never met the guy. Just a heads up for ya as I know quite a few hunters in his general area and several have been warned about using a vehicle as a shooting platform. And if I remember correctly one was cited while using his vehicle on private property where he had permission. Enjoy your trip! WD

 

[284winner]

Well thanks for the information. I will certainly question the issue with him. I just reviewed the 2015 game law guide and unless I missed it, did not find anything about it being a violation to shoot on private property from atop a vehicle. I have not personally done it but another individual did during our shoot. Personally I use a bipod and shoot from a matt. Personal preference I guess. Shooting from a half mile away requires a fair amount of accuracy. Shooting from a vehicles roof isn't synonymous with accuracy. At least not at long ranges. I did read where land owner permission is required as it does not specify for any particular type of hunting. I suppose ridding varmints for landowners has a certain form of hunting attached to it. I suppose if a guide was to instruct his clients that it's lawful to shoot from certain illegal methods and a fine is issued to the client, the guide may certainly be shorted on his payment of services the exact amount of the fine. That seems a fair response to a negative action caused by the guide. Certainly no excuse for not knowing the game laws but a client wouldn't be out any more money than his original quote. Guess the short version is...know the laws. Thanks again .

 

[RussellJ]

I have hunted with Mike for the last eight years in a row, have been booking two hunts a year with him, hope to go to three hunts a year in the future. "NO" complains with Mike and his services. My buddy and myself look forward to our hunts with him each and every year.

 

[Drop Port]

Ground hogs may be decreasing where you live, but not in Maryland ! It's been fairly warm this year here and I’ve shot 19 now (I think) off my deck with a .22 Mark I Ruger pistol.

I hear (from forum) that in the places where they are declining a lot of people think it is because of the Coyote invading new territory and increasing in number.

This might be true, I am seeing less hogs and more yotes. Three coyotes taken in two outings on a local farm and one 64# coywolf in Balto Co.