Shoulda worn longjohns
- Thread starter Nomad47
- Start date
I started g'hog hunting when I was 12 or 13. Like most, my first gun was a 22 rim fire. I would sneak up and try to smack them at 75 yards or less, iron sights. Then at 15, I got my first CF, a 30-06 and put a 4x Unertl on it, mainly for deer. I shot 125 grain handloads and the 55 grain accelerators out to 150, maybe 200 yards at groundhogs. At 18, I bought my first true varmint rifle, a Remington 700bdl heavy barrel in 6mm Remington. Can't remember what scope I put on it but it was probably a 3-9. I remember killing one at 440 yards and was ecstatic. And all the locals thought I was telling a tall tale.
Now I expect a 600 yard shot to be a kill 90% of the time. I've killed 2 over 1000 and I've had 2 chances past 1100. Of course, equipment is much better.
I started in NY state - then Pennsylvania, then NY again, then Connecticut (which was good when I came here, but sucks now).
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
My first (is the statute of limitations up yet?) was shot at age 9 with a Win 67 at about 12 feet. dad and I on a back rd in his 56 Dodge pick up when he stopped and pointed out a pup along the road bank. Got out and shot it. I was hooked for life.
Hunted orchards with that 67 and a model 88 win 308, went out with a cousin in Midway PA who shot a 222 40x, a 6mm 40X and a 7mag 40X, all with 3200 Redfields. I got one at 200 with the 222, and saw a 400 yard shot with the 6. My world view was expanded. I bought a BDL 222 VS with an 8X Lyman, later a T10 weaver. I shot to 300 yards and no one around believed me. A great year was 12 woodchucks. I carried 6 or 7 shells in a wallet carrier, and even got an early bipod. My dad was an amputee, so he had a limited range of walking with me, so we did not get out a bunch.
Eventually moved to NY and got a 22-250 and started taking chucks to 5-550 yards, all with the T10. My Midway cousin kept going further out, and as I upgraded so did I. Now I have a battery of chuck rifles, all a variation on a theme, from 17HMR to 7mm Mag. Majority of work gets done with 222, 22 PPC, 6BR and Swift. I figure I am good to about 650 and that suits me. Friends bring the 243 AI etc and we go further on occasion. I have killed several at 700 with the Swift and a T10...but they were very unlucky groundhogs. Now I have better optics..
My favorite bible verse is Psalm 23..."he leads me to green pastures...he restores my soul". (Official Snert Paraphrase)
Snert
Hunted orchards with that 67 and a model 88 win 308, went out with a cousin in Midway PA who shot a 222 40x, a 6mm 40X and a 7mag 40X, all with 3200 Redfields. I got one at 200 with the 222, and saw a 400 yard shot with the 6. My world view was expanded. I bought a BDL 222 VS with an 8X Lyman, later a T10 weaver. I shot to 300 yards and no one around believed me. A great year was 12 woodchucks. I carried 6 or 7 shells in a wallet carrier, and even got an early bipod. My dad was an amputee, so he had a limited range of walking with me, so we did not get out a bunch.
Eventually moved to NY and got a 22-250 and started taking chucks to 5-550 yards, all with the T10. My Midway cousin kept going further out, and as I upgraded so did I. Now I have a battery of chuck rifles, all a variation on a theme, from 17HMR to 7mm Mag. Majority of work gets done with 222, 22 PPC, 6BR and Swift. I figure I am good to about 650 and that suits me. Friends bring the 243 AI etc and we go further on occasion. I have killed several at 700 with the Swift and a T10...but they were very unlucky groundhogs. Now I have better optics..
My favorite bible verse is Psalm 23..."he leads me to green pastures...he restores my soul". (Official Snert Paraphrase)
Snert
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
Stocky's. But you may also be able to get it at Boyd's.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
d
do it!
We should probably start a thread themed "your progression on groundhogs from earliest age to present - rifles, optics and distance".
do it!
done it!
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
Ordered one from Stocky's in the Hornet color. Got it today and it is really nice! Took 2 days to get here!!
Glad you like it. I suspect Boyd's might make the stock for Stocky's but there are some minor differences.
Like those colors...
It has been windy here in central Ohio this week. Shot 2 on Monday when it was breezy and cool (just about another longjohn day). Then Tuesday was nice and warm but very windy. I sat for 3 hours and got skunked - never even saw a head sticking out of a hole. As luck would have it, I saw one while driving home - it was only about 50 yards off the road in a small sheltered area with no way to set up for a shot.
Today was another windy cool day (yes, I am addicted to groundhog hunting). I was just about to pack up after sitting for 2 hours and seeing nothing when a stupid one ventured out of his hole. I didn't give him time to decide that his hole would be more comfortable.
That makes 448 for the season, 2,024 going back to 2011 when I started keeping logs on the computer.
Today was another windy cool day (yes, I am addicted to groundhog hunting). I was just about to pack up after sitting for 2 hours and seeing nothing when a stupid one ventured out of his hole. I didn't give him time to decide that his hole would be more comfortable.
That makes 448 for the season, 2,024 going back to 2011 when I started keeping logs on the computer.
Nice thread fellas/
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
great screen name
Well, the chucks are getting few and far between. I went out yesterday, saw 5 deer before I saw my first and only groundhog. He came out of a creek bank to feed on some sprouting winter wheat that was planted after beans were combined. That was #450 for the season and just might be the last. Because I went out again today. In 5 hours of sitting at 3 locations, I briefly saw 1 that came out of his hole (390 yards away) in a combined bean field and promptly booked it to the woods that was about 30 yards away. I never got a shot.
I think most are either hibernating or have moved to a more sheltered hole location. I do believe they move 2 to 4 times per year. I have seen them cross fields for no other apparent reason than to look for a new home.
I think most are either hibernating or have moved to a more sheltered hole location. I do believe they move 2 to 4 times per year. I have seen them cross fields for no other apparent reason than to look for a new home.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Amazing!!!!! I had just about decided my groundhog hunting was over for this year. Then yesterday about a half hour before sunset, my newest farmer called and told me he just saw 2 in his recently combined bean field next to his house. Sweet! So I told him I would be over tomorrow (today) around 3 PM.
Well, this morning, I am sitting in my hooch (man cave)(reloading room) looking out the window, watching the trees sway in the wind and knowing it is only about 50 degrees outside. Phone rings. Its that farmer again. He says he is looking at 2 groundhogs out feeding in that bean field. I said I'll be right over. When I arrive he points out one that is feeding and only about 100 yards away. While I was setting up, the 'hog stood up to look at me a couple times but never went in his hole. SNICK (suppressor), dead groundhog. That was from his driveway. So I set up where I would have a better view of more of the field and shot 3 more in the next hour. Another half hour went by without seeing any more so I packed up - cold but happy.
454 for the year, 2030 since 2011. Yahoo!!
Well, this morning, I am sitting in my hooch (man cave)(reloading room) looking out the window, watching the trees sway in the wind and knowing it is only about 50 degrees outside. Phone rings. Its that farmer again. He says he is looking at 2 groundhogs out feeding in that bean field. I said I'll be right over. When I arrive he points out one that is feeding and only about 100 yards away. While I was setting up, the 'hog stood up to look at me a couple times but never went in his hole. SNICK (suppressor), dead groundhog. That was from his driveway. So I set up where I would have a better view of more of the field and shot 3 more in the next hour. Another half hour went by without seeing any more so I packed up - cold but happy.
454 for the year, 2030 since 2011. Yahoo!!
Went out today for a little more 'hog hunting.
I started out at the field I was at for my last previous post. Shot one there at a whopping 83 yards. I could see 8 holes in that bean field and I shot 4 there Friday, so I think there are likely 3 more still there. But of course, they might have moved after the beans were harvested or they could have gone into early hibernation. Hard to say for sure - I guess that's why they call it "hunting".
Then I moved down the road 2 miles to a huge bean field that belongs to an uncle of the farmer where I just was. Shot 2 more there - 286 and 171 yards. By then, thoughts of how much better I would feel if I was dressed in long johns crept into my head. So I packed up. When the sun was out and the breeze died down, it was actually fairly pleasant. Otherwise, it was downright uncomfortable.
HIghs are supposed to be in the mid 60s Thursday and Friday, so I don't think my groundhog hunting is over quite yet.
I started out at the field I was at for my last previous post. Shot one there at a whopping 83 yards. I could see 8 holes in that bean field and I shot 4 there Friday, so I think there are likely 3 more still there. But of course, they might have moved after the beans were harvested or they could have gone into early hibernation. Hard to say for sure - I guess that's why they call it "hunting".
Then I moved down the road 2 miles to a huge bean field that belongs to an uncle of the farmer where I just was. Shot 2 more there - 286 and 171 yards. By then, thoughts of how much better I would feel if I was dressed in long johns crept into my head. So I packed up. When the sun was out and the breeze died down, it was actually fairly pleasant. Otherwise, it was downright uncomfortable.
HIghs are supposed to be in the mid 60s Thursday and Friday, so I don't think my groundhog hunting is over quite yet.
Nomad I often wonder if groundhogs here in NC really hibernate, or just shut down when it's really cold and wake up when it gets into the 50's, which it does often here through the winter. You have to be at the ready at all times here. You guys have real winters, we don't. As it is I stopped by a farmers place yesterday who has near 200 acres of soybeans. He was washing one of his big rigs.
I asked how bad the smoke from the forest fires was bothering him, after a few minutes of cussing the lack of rain and the awful smoke ( I could only see 150 yards on the deer stand this morning ) I asked if he had trouble with groundhogs, he confirmed, I asked if he would mind me shooting them, he grinned and said "have at it son". So I'll have some scouting to do this winter and another spot this spring!
I asked how bad the smoke from the forest fires was bothering him, after a few minutes of cussing the lack of rain and the awful smoke ( I could only see 150 yards on the deer stand this morning ) I asked if he had trouble with groundhogs, he confirmed, I asked if he would mind me shooting them, he grinned and said "have at it son". So I'll have some scouting to do this winter and another spot this spring!
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