The took the hay off today - it's officially Woodchuck season!!!

[GT Accuracy]

They gave the hay fields a haircut today just in time for 4-5 straight days of rain and I'm sure, more flooding later this week. It's been a wet one in NE PA and the woodchucks are loving it. After a solid numbers year in 2022, 2023 and 204 were down significantly. Today's 1 hour scout, the lady and I spotted 15 or so between the tractors raking hay. Hoping those numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.

I have hit the coyotes hard on the farms this year. In the 20 mile region we have taking over 100 with more getting shot every week. This is the highest amount of coyotes shot that I have been apart of in 10 years. Of course, with the thermals, we have gotten after them much more frequently, which the numbers reflect.

Anyway, here is to a great 2025 woodchuck hunting season to all of you - get out there and have a great time but leave some for seed

 

[troupe]

Good luck and have fun. Wish I was there. Nothing finer than laying in the fields waiting for the pigs to pop up.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Nothing finer than laying in the fields waiting for the pigs to pop up.

Very true, but now at 78 yrs old, my neck gets stiff quickly laying prone with bipod. Going out tomorrow for rockchucks and was just thinking about it and saw this post. It'll hurt, but I'll do it anyway.....it's what we do.

 

[Stormbringer]

Been chuck hunting three times so far. Right at 150 killed so far. Going P/Dogging Friday and then Chuck hunting Saturday.

Weather looks good both days.

 

[DogBuster]

First cut hay here is a month away

Remember our rain comes outta a 5” pipe

Bales are 3x3x8 and around 750#

 

[Deleted jeffppc1]

Farmers here in many cases have yet to cut as field remains too wet. Been raining right now for close 24 hours. Last year the farms I am speaking off went for over 2 mo with no rain. No soy boys farming. Hope you have a good crop of critters. I have one farmer who says just tell be where you want bales set to shoot off. This is a wrapped round bale he set for me, allow shots to 750 yds.

 

[GT Accuracy]

Farmers here in many cases have yet to cut as field remains too wet. Been raining right now for close 24 hours. Last year the farms I am speaking off went for over 2 mo with no rain. No soy boys farming. Hope you have a good cr,ok of critters. I have one farmer who says just tell be where you want bales set to shoot off. This is a wrapped round bale he set for me, allow shots to 750 yds.View attachment 1662659

Jeff,

We are soaking wet as well. When we had that 3 day break in the rain Saturday-Monday the farmers chopped it all, gave it 24 hours to dry, then 7 manned the rake-n-pick.

It was quite and operation to witness:

• Raking tractor putting 6 rows in to 3 or 2
• combine blowing back as 5 trucks changed out as needed.

All tractors and trucks were setup with larger, or multiple wheels, compared to their normal equipment used. They raked and hauled off nearly 300 acres in 6 hours...working until well after dark.

In normal woodchuck fashion....they were all out rolling in the cut hay like they were high on catnip. The old sows and boars with a few years on them stood in the hedgerows and kept watch as the yougin's enjoyed themselves.

 

[Deleted jeffppc1]

Farming today is certainly a far cry from 60+ years ago when as a young teen I would spend summers living and working on a relative's farm.

 

[K9TXS]

Very true, but now at 78 yrs old, my neck gets stiff quickly laying prone with bipod. Going out tomorrow for rockchucks and was just thinking about it and saw this post. It'll hurt, but I'll do it anyway.....it's what we do.

I'm right there with you Rick. I no longer shoot prone for that very reason and after knee replacement it's hard to get up. A tripod is your best friend. Standing or sitting it's great.

 

[DogBuster]

I'm right there with you Rick. I no longer shoot prone for that very reason and after knee replacement it's hard to get up. A tripod is your best friend. Standing or sitting it's great.

That’s where some type of portable table set up makes night/day difference

 

[Rick in Oregon]

That’s where some type of portable table set up makes night/day difference

Yeah, I'm aware.

But when spotting/stalking rockchucks, it's mighty hard to pack a bench about when you're sneaking about doing the old man ninja thing through the junipers trying to line up a shot through the grass and trees on a wary rockchuck a field away....or maybe two. There's times for a bench, but this is not one of them.

But ground squirrels.....that's another story altogether.....



But thanks for bringing it to my attention. Good tip.

 

[JB10]

I have only lived in 1 town all my life. My family was large into alfalfa and seeing stories of hay from other parts is interesting since i live what used to be the alfalfa capital of the world. I have hears stories all my younger life from relatives about growing in other states.