Not exactly worthy of story and song....
I have permission from several farmers in the area to hunt grounhogs on their property. Lots of soybeans this year. I drove around with one guy who's a friend of mine to his father's house. Several buildings and silos out back. And I'm told there are groundhogs there.
Several times last week I was out walking and walking in the fields. Nothing to be seen. I always stop by the father's barn/silo area to see if I can spot anything. Last time I was there, I came around a corner of a bar, and there was a groundhog, about 20 feet from me. Within a split second, it dives under the barn. But I remember where that spot is, thinking it's probably an often used escape route.
Went out today, didn't see anything, but stopped by the barn/silo area for a look. I quietly come around the corner like before....nothing. So I walk around the other barns and silos. A few minutes later I look at that same 'escape route' hole. And I think I see a groundhog sitting at the entrance. I check with my scope, YES! There's one sitting there. I'm standing behind a 4 foot tall gas tank. It provides the world's greatest rest (and cover). The hog is only about 40 yards away. Not exactly challenging with a rest as good as this.
17hmr...to the head. Instant kill. Interesting enough, there was an exit wound....and a small mark on the concrete footing where the bullet hit. Very small, no damage.
A previous time I was at that barn, I saw another groundhog, but I had my 223, and it was only about 30 yards away, and behind it was the concrete footing of the barn. I didn't want to blast away part of the barn footing with a 223, so I skipped it. I figured this place is a job for the 17hmr.
I have permission from several farmers in the area to hunt grounhogs on their property. Lots of soybeans this year. I drove around with one guy who's a friend of mine to his father's house. Several buildings and silos out back. And I'm told there are groundhogs there.
Several times last week I was out walking and walking in the fields. Nothing to be seen. I always stop by the father's barn/silo area to see if I can spot anything. Last time I was there, I came around a corner of a bar, and there was a groundhog, about 20 feet from me. Within a split second, it dives under the barn. But I remember where that spot is, thinking it's probably an often used escape route.
Went out today, didn't see anything, but stopped by the barn/silo area for a look. I quietly come around the corner like before....nothing. So I walk around the other barns and silos. A few minutes later I look at that same 'escape route' hole. And I think I see a groundhog sitting at the entrance. I check with my scope, YES! There's one sitting there. I'm standing behind a 4 foot tall gas tank. It provides the world's greatest rest (and cover). The hog is only about 40 yards away. Not exactly challenging with a rest as good as this.
17hmr...to the head. Instant kill. Interesting enough, there was an exit wound....and a small mark on the concrete footing where the bullet hit. Very small, no damage.
A previous time I was at that barn, I saw another groundhog, but I had my 223, and it was only about 30 yards away, and behind it was the concrete footing of the barn. I didn't want to blast away part of the barn footing with a 223, so I skipped it. I figured this place is a job for the 17hmr.
