Scouting chucks

[GT Accuracy]

For those of you who wait until after the first cut, is there anything more fun in this game than scouting out your fields, getting eyes on new, fresh dug holes, and getting a head count for the precious first week of June ?

I have eyes on 5 right now and couldn’t be happier

 

[DRK]

For those of you who wait until after the first cut, is there anything more fun in this game than scouting out your fields, getting eyes on new, fresh dug holes, and getting a head count for the precious first week of June ?

I have eyes on 5 right now and couldn’t be happier

I have seen one so far, lots of active holes in N. IN.

 

[K22]

I've been on one recon mission this year thus far. Results were poor, only found one active hole (evidence of dug out). But it's still early and these days, with the changes in farming practices, most of the hole are in tree lines, sometimes deep in the tree line making them difficult to detect.

It's always windy around here in March to Mid-May, but this year has been the worst I can ever remember. High winds (gusts in excess of 25 mph almost every day.)

 

[GT Accuracy]

Same for us in northern pa with the wind. It’s been ridiculous

 

[hpshooter]

Wife and I have a "ground hog route" that we travel every time we go to town. Always looking for dug out holes this time of year. This is strictly an observation route since 90% of it is in the city limits.

Have been seeing a few chucks for the last 2 weeks. Actually saw 6 out today.

 

[jelenko]

Official scouting chuck

 

[STS]

Scouting chucks out west is easy. Look for a giant pile of rocks with anything green near by. Done.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

You guys in the east get an unfair advantage IRT your chucks. Out here in the west, few chuck holes, as our rockchucks use rock piles and rock outcroppings to den up in. There could be an entire family inhabiting a rock pile and you'd never know they were there. Sneaky lil' critters for sure, and they take advantage of the natural surroundings for their dens.

Ours are just now starting to emerge from their winter sleep. Here's a local pic of mom rockchuck along with young Rocky, Rockett, and Rockshel seeing what's up.



Joe Blow walking by would never know an entire family had taken up residence in that rock outcropping....but savvy rockchuck shooters know, don't we?

Anxious to get started, but I always wait until just after 1 May to give the young-un's a chance to grow to be "target worthy" and leave a few for seed. Chuck sustainability 'ya know (grin).

 

[troupe]

From a old groundhog hunter from the East, I am so glad to see there are still folks that love the hunting of these varmints and let them grow some before heading out and shooting them. I have seen postings of folks going out early and shooting anything they seen. Let the small ones grow up a little. When we used to go out, it was much later. I do miss it more than any type of hunting. Being here in Eastern NC, groundhogs hunting is rare. I still have the rifles for it and dream of sitting in a alfalfa fields for a evening of hunting groundhogs. Ranks higher than deer season and on par with trout fishing. I miss the hills.

 

[GT Accuracy]

A few more from today’s investigations. Two new ones. Same hole. Should be a breading pair. Very excited for this little field

 

[DRK]

A few more from today’s investigations. Two new ones. Same hole. Should be a breading pair. Very excited for this little field

Sounds like they need to percolator until late May.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Its good to see some chuck hunters who appreciate the sport and are not just satisfying the lust to kill something. Hats of to you all. And to those who say, I gotta kill them for the farmers. Yep, you believe your own bulls%$×. After Memorial day. I will be hitting a couple farms to spray some dirt on young ones to wise them up from the local ATV hunters. Had a group brag too me last year about cleaning out a half dozen young ones at a time getting between them and their holes with the ATVs.

 

[GT Accuracy]

Its good to see some chuck hunters who appreciate the sport and are not just satisfying the lust to kill something. Hats of to you all. And to those who say, I gotta kill them for the farmers. Yep, you believe your own bulls%$×. After Memorial day. I will be hitting a couple farms to spray some dirt on young ones to wise them up from the local ATV hunters. Had a group brag too me last year about cleaning out a half dozen young ones at a time getting between them and their holes with the ATVs.

It must have been very difficult to not give them a serious chastising about such activity

 

[JEFFPPC]

They heard my thoughts. .they are actually employees of this large farming operation. I never got any flack back from the owner who will place strategic round bales to shoot off where I request them to be place. Getting a hernia fixed tomorrow but hope to be out next week doing some educating. I can shoot out to close 800yds, not easy to find in my atea.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

They heard my thoughts. .they are actually employees of this large farming operation. I never got any flack back from the owner who will place strategic round bales to shoot off where I request them to be place. Getting a hernia fixed tomorrow but hope to be out next week doing some educating. I can shoot out to close 800yds, not easy to find in my atea.

Jeff, best of luck with the hernia surgery; hope it all went well. Had a few of those myself, take care in the field. Nice that your landowner will place those hay bales in strategic locations for you to shoot from. Love it when a plan comes together!

One of the ranches we shoot lets us use his flatbed truck/trailer for the same setup to get some needed elevation. Another cooperative friend.

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

June 1st cant come Quick Enough for me and my brother to Start our Season for the Summer!

Photo taken thru a 7x50 pair of binos!

Groundhog is left of the phone pole about 500 yds out from my location

 

[ken158]

They heard my thoughts. .they are actually employees of this large farming operation. I never got any flack back from the owner who will place strategic round bales to shoot off where I request them to be place. Getting a hernia fixed tomorrow but hope to be out next week doing some educating. I can shoot out to close 800yds, not easy to find in my atea.

Good luck with that hernia surgery - I had a double fixed at the same time and could hardly get out of my tv chair for a few days… my prediction is that thinking about chuck hunting will be very far back in your mind at least until the staples or stitches come out!

 

[JEFFPPC]

Good luck with that hernia surgery - I had a double fixed at the same time and could hardly get out of my tv chair for a few days… my prediction is that thinking about chuck hunting will be very far back in your mind at least until the staples or stitches come out!

It ended up I had a double also. I am actually surprised I don't feel worse. Got cut down to only 10lb weight lifting until I get rechecked and no stairs for three days. So far so good. One nurse asked how I picked the surgeon as there is several to choose from. I said why to you ask? She said this guy is the best you will do great. I asked my Family Dr, Who would you send your son to? He gave me the name. Family Dr is a gun guy.