Too hot to hunt groundhogs

[Ohio Varmint Shooter]

Here in central Ohio, we're in part of that heat wave. 90's and very high humidity for several days. It won't let up until Saturday. I tried going out for a few hours yesterday. Gawd awful hot.

Not only that, but we had about three weeks of heavy rain. All the soy beans that were struggling to grow, are now over 15 inches high. Much harder to spot g-hogs.

Oh well, squirrel season opens in 6 1/2 weeks.

 

[chino1969]

I bagged one groundhog this year at 355 yds. and that will probably be it. It is way too hot in southeast PA, the soybeans are too high and I want some of the fields to re-populate anyway. I've barely been able to get trigger time due to the heat.

 

[22turborimfire]

yep time to start going to the cut hay fields after this heat wave dies down

 

[WyleWD]

yep time to start going to the cut hay fields after this heat wave dies down

Be in the hay fields by 7am and leave at 9am.... they are out eating wet (dew) grass and forage. Trust me. WD

 

[Bangs OH]

We were working on a cool, dry summer like we used to have in the "olden" days, when you could still see 'hogs in beanfields until mid-August; even if the plants were high, they'd eaten open areas in them by then. Then all hell broke loose.
And I'm not big on wearing shorts in high vegetation thick with ticks, chiggers, etc. Or having scopes fog up due to humidity and sweat. Or trying to outrun a pop-up storm with lightning from out in a field a half- mile from the truck...
Damned global warming/climate change.

 

[agr516]

I must be the only one who does all of my groundhog shooting from an air conditioned pickup.

 

[Gman]

I must be the only one who does all of my groundhog shooting from an air conditioned pickup.

You can't do that in Pennsylvania. Heck, you are not even allowed to hunt from a bench in the bed of a pick-up.

 

[K22]

We are having the same heat wave, maybe worse here in eastern PA. However, if you go out in the evening you'll see them especially 1 to 2 hours before sunset.

They just cut the hay here and it was 95 on Monday and very humid. Saw six that evening from 7:00 to 8:30 in the evening. Didn't hit the fields before 5:00 pm.

I've had some of my best hunts after a heavy rain - I never go home when it's raining unless it's a widespread general all day rain out. I let the storm pass through then go out - however you need to make sure all thunder has stopped and there is no lighting in the area.

 

[MrMajestic]

You can't do that in Pennsylvania. Heck, you are not even allowed to hunt from a bench in the bed of a pick-up.

Yes we have many Draconian laws like no Semi Auto rifles for nothing! If they don't want them in the Deer woods okay but Varmints and Predators, really. I have a tricked out LR AR that I'm dying to use on Chucks.
Back to the heat, was out tonight for about 1 1/2 hrs. and got a pup at a whopping 33 yds. and a tick with my lighter! I was soaked with sweat until I made it the 100 yards back to the truck.

 

[Nomad47]

100 yards back to the truck, MrM?? Jeez, my rifles are never more than 5 yards from the truck. Well, they each weigh 16 pounds, so that is a good reason not to stray too far.

 

[lpreddick]

ghogs have no sweat glands so the tend to avoid really hot days. i think they can go for several days and not appear...thought i read they can have an area under ground for peeing/pooping. i have noted them barely sticking their nose out when it was still hot, only to retreat and return. i watched the temp and when it dropped..out can a hungry and soon to be dead pig. rain really drops the temp and i think this is why they are known to come out after a rain, not because they want the water on the vegetation. been told they don't like to get wet...watched one eating for 45 min in a constant rain. he would stop and shake the rain off just like a dog! one last observation re ghogs and heat...shot one off a rock with the temp in the low 90s. put my hand on the rock and could only leave it there for about 3-5 sec! didn't know some ghogs have asbestos covered feet.

 

[savagedasher]

Laughing here is it too hot for you to go hunting? That sounds like the excuse I give my wife on mowing the yard Good Shooting Larry