Hello and happy new year being from New York we’ve always hunted upstate New York woodchucks with great success. However, the last few years has been pretty scarce on woodchucks. Just wondering are there any good counties in Pennsylvania with farmland for hunting woodchucks? Thank you.
PA woodchuck hunting
- Thread starter Bobbyboy6br
- Start date
If you mind traveling, a friend of mine hunts the Perry County area and claims the ground hunting is excellent with lot of farm access. Maybe some others on here that hunt that area can confirm that claim.
The area where I live, Berks County, had become overdeveloped and it is difficult to not only find a suitable farm but also to get access.
The area where I live, Berks County, had become overdeveloped and it is difficult to not only find a suitable farm but also to get access.
Pretty slim pickings around here in Erie, Crawford and Venango county areas here in north western Pennsylvania. Getting harder to access land to be able to hunt on. Lots of posted stuff anymore and less owners willing to let you on. My work has me driving every back road in these counties amongst a few others and my chuck sightings have dwindled big-time in the last five years or so. Coyotes?
Last edited:
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
I shot quite a few in south eastern PA years ago along the interstate 83 corridor. Haven’t been back in probably 20 years
Preacher
Gold $$ Contributor
Biggest problem is the coyote these days, not a one to be found back in the 60's and 70's, and I usually shot close to 500 groundhogs a year if I kept at it....
Lucky to see a handful around these days, and I don't shoot them except with a camera...
The coyotes started to appear around here in the early 80's...
They hunt down the young pretty quick, and the old die off, nothing to raise new babies....
Lucky to see a handful around these days, and I don't shoot them except with a camera...
The coyotes started to appear around here in the early 80's...
They hunt down the young pretty quick, and the old die off, nothing to raise new babies....
dgeesaman
Gold $$ Contributor
Never hunted them, but had to do some pest control to keep the groundhogs out of our horse pastures.
I agree, there are coyotes around but they stay away from people and houses. So that's driven the groundhogs toward residences under foundations and sheds and stuff. The groundhog numbers out in the fields and well clear of buildings and houses is pretty scarce.
I’m up in Erie county and I’ll say that a lot of the farms are now posted and leased out. Several farms I used to hunt are now leased out to a group of guys with more greed and money than brains. Farmer will tell you that you have to legally ask the lease holder for permission all while telling you that nobody is shooting any of them.
I’ve tried on a few to get permission just for shooting chucks.
One guy I finally got ahold of actually wanted me to pay money to hunt chucks on land that he has leased from the farmer. In the end i hope the farmer is getting enough lease money to cover broken animal legs and equipment tire blow out from hitting the holes.
Not trying to be negative or rain on the OP. The leased out land shit has really put me in a bad mood when it comes to access.
I still shoot chucks once in a while at one farm that is across the street from my brothers house. All their land is open to public hunting, just stop and ask for permission. They are good people and understand very well that their property is kept better in check by guys actually shooting does ,and chucks.
I’ve tried on a few to get permission just for shooting chucks.
One guy I finally got ahold of actually wanted me to pay money to hunt chucks on land that he has leased from the farmer. In the end i hope the farmer is getting enough lease money to cover broken animal legs and equipment tire blow out from hitting the holes.
Not trying to be negative or rain on the OP. The leased out land shit has really put me in a bad mood when it comes to access.
I still shoot chucks once in a while at one farm that is across the street from my brothers house. All their land is open to public hunting, just stop and ask for permission. They are good people and understand very well that their property is kept better in check by guys actually shooting does ,and chucks.
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a good story. Yes they are not as plentiful as in the 60s and early 70s? First big blow was clean farming, ie no fence rows. Then supposedly coyotes. I have never seen a coyote when groundhogs hunting, so I am not in on that one
. In my area in central Pa blowing propane down a hole and igniting it was big. That wiped out some farms I hunted for years. For about 30 years I did not hunt them much. 2 years ago I started visiting a new area talking to farmers. I was welcomed with open arms 90 percent of the time. About half the farms had a few while half had a fair population. 2 farms are loaded. I heard the same story from all, no one hunts them anymore.So a bit of knocking on doors, walking out in the field to a farmer on a tractor I think would be a good investment of time. Limit to 2 or 3 a trip, don't start till June and you will have targets for years to come.
. In my area in central Pa blowing propane down a hole and igniting it was big. That wiped out some farms I hunted for years. For about 30 years I did not hunt them much. 2 years ago I started visiting a new area talking to farmers. I was welcomed with open arms 90 percent of the time. About half the farms had a few while half had a fair population. 2 farms are loaded. I heard the same story from all, no one hunts them anymore.So a bit of knocking on doors, walking out in the field to a farmer on a tractor I think would be a good investment of time. Limit to 2 or 3 a trip, don't start till June and you will have targets for years to come.
I tend to agree with Preacher. I grew up in southern Clinton County in the 60's and 70's. It seems we had chucks to shoot at daily if we took the time. We always had a rifle close by on the farm. They seemed impossible to overhunt. The yotes moved in and apparently they took a liking to them since there are very few left. I guess they like a variety with their fawns.
hogpatrol
Silver $$ Contributor
Before the chinese virus in SE PA, I hunted them fairly hard and averaged over a 100 a summer. Last year, I shot one. Between the red fox and coyotes, the farm field and hedgerows are almost devoid of hogs. They're now in the safety zones around homes and outbuildings. The game commission requires written permission by the owner to hunt in the safety zones, impossible with most farms in corporate or trust ownership. So where there are groundhogs, there is no shooting and farmers and land managers just flood or gas them out.
Sounds great I’ll give it a try thanks much .
JEFFPPC
Gold $$ Contributor
He who does the work reaps the rewards.
Been hunting groundhogs for about 30 years in NY and PA. In PA never had coyotes out while hunting but seen a lot of foxes. NY was a different story. Seen and shot plenty of coyotes while hunting groundhogs. This one farm in PA I started hunting maybe 16-17 years ago I always stop in when in the area to talk to the farmer. Last year was in the area and when looking out in the fields they had a lot of hogs out. So stopped and talked to the farmer. He said I lost your number! I am overrun. I asked what changed. He said the only thing he can think of was he let a guy trap foxes on the property a year ago. Said he took 20+ Fox. Take it for what it’s worth. I don’t hunt them until June. More targets that way.
What county in your opinion is overrun with groundhogs?Thanks
I'm in Southeastern Ohio, poor to none. Is it possible that fracking is driving them out ?
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.