Your progression on groundhogs from earliest age to present - rifles, optics and distance

[John Russell]

I am in the middle of a move now... much more rural. I am hoping that next year will be more productive. I hope to move to southern PA or Virginia in 2 or 3 years.... I am done with snow

I finished the move and I am unpackin' boxes ( and guns and reloadin' kit)... I just lined up 160 acres of hay for next spring... he has "woodchuck problems".

Roosters wake me in the mornings...

 

[snert]

I finished the move and I am unpackin' boxes ( and guns and reloadin' kit)... I just lined up 160 acres of hay for next spring... he has "woodchuck problems".

Roosters wake me in the mornings...

still in CT?

 

[John Russell]

still in CT?

For the moment...

 

[Nomad47]

s that a 6mm hole in the fence corner? collatoral damage in the hog wars of 2014

It sure is. I never expected the AMax to make it thru that wide body.
The farmer wanted rid of him, told me his hole was under the building.
I showed the pic to the farmer, told him I would pay for any damages. He later told me nothing was damaged.

 

[snert]

reminds me of a raccoon i once had to destroy with a 180 gr 40 cal. barn owner said the hole was only a reminder of a great shot (in his mind). After that i carried a 22 MK2 and cci segmented in my patrol bag. never had that problem repeat.

 

[bobinpa]

I started when I was 12. My parents bought me my first rifle when I was 11. It was a Rem 788 carbine in 243. The first year I deer hunted with it and it had factory iron sights. The next year my dad bought me a weaver 3-9 scope and I was a ground hog hunting machine. If I made a 150 - 200 yard shot I was a king. I still have that 788, but it stays in the safe mostly. I have a long list of mostly custom heavy barreled rifles from 221 Fireball to a 338 EDGE and I love shooting at them as far as I can find a place to shoot, hopefully I have the chance at 1000 yds plus and I rarely take a shot less than 200 yards. For me it isn't about numbers.... it's about distance.

 

[dedogs]

For me it isn't about numbers.... it's about distance.

It is when you are getting paid to kill them. However making looong shots is a lot more challenging--AND SATISFYING.

 

[bobinpa]

It is when you are getting paid to kill them.

I can appreciate that...

 

[Nomad47]

It is when you are getting paid to kill them. However making looong shots is a lot more challenging--AND SATISFYING.

I didn't know Montana had groundhogs.

I don't get paid to shoot them. But one of my farmers has taken my wife and I out to dinner - twice. And 3 others have offered to buy ammo, which I have turned down.

Speaking of paying for ammo. I have calculated that it costs me 72 cents each time I pull the trigger. That includes the cost of the brass and replacing the barrel. Not too bad, considering all the fun I'm having.

 

[dedogs]

I didn't know Montana had groundhogs

We have what are known here as "Rockchucks" a slightly smaller species of marmot. Biggest one I have killed was 12-1/2 pounds. Our season here in western Montana is short--from about the beginning of March to August depending on the weather. I have seen them sometimes in September, but very rarely. Other than that they behave pretty much the same as "Woodchucks" back east. Very destructive little varmints. One client that is a "Snow-Bird" came back late one year to find the little bastards had dug their way into their basement via a dryer vent and did 25,000 worth of damage. Needless to say they were happy to see me. Took 14 out in two days. dedogs

 

[Nomad47]

I'm sure the soybean farmers around here would be happy to pay $10 per groundhog killed. Problem is, too many (including me) are more than happy to shoot them for free.

 

[sscoyote]

Have always tried to use what I shoot. Did anyone ever come up with a "recipe" for them? My wife has crock-potted jackrabbit and it's actually my favorite game meat. Wish I'd have at least tried woodchuck in those days. Often wondered how these guys would have worked for jerky maybe.?

Wish I'd have known you guys were "around" back in those days--i could never get anyone to go with me. It was basically a solitary pursuit. This one was full of ticks taken with the Eddystone 25-06/75 Hornady HP as I remember. This kind of a gun was so unusual I think it was often advantageous to getting permission at some farms. When the farmer saw it I think they knew I was pretty serious about it. Just the Harris bipod itself was not commonly used back then--

 

[John Russell]

I'm sure the soybean farmers around here would be happy to pay $10 per groundhog killed. Problem is, too many (including me) are more than happy to shoot them for free.

When you charge, you are a Working man... when you give it away, you are a "woodchuck slut"!

I'm no "Woodchuck Slut"... I charge $300 per woodchuck!!!

My business card reads...

 

[John Russell]

Did anyone ever come up with a "recipe" for them?

Skin the dead woodchuck, and remove the bullet pieces (the lead is bad for you).
Soak dead woodchuck in salted water, adding spices to your taste, for 4 days.
Take woodchuck, and place on a ceder board and slow roast in oven at 275° for 9 hours.
Remove the woodchuck and ceder board from the oven, and let cool for 30 minutes.

Throw away the woodchuck and eat the ceder board.

 

[dedogs]

Throw away the woodchuck

AW hell John, They ain't that bad. I used to just take the four limbs and saute them in butter with a little salt and pepper. Way better than some of the Navy chow I ate in 'Nam. dedogs

 

[Nomad47]

When you charge, you are a Working man... when you give it away, you are a "woodchuck slut"!

I'm no "Woodchuck Slut"... I charge $300 per woodchuck!!!

My business card reads...

View attachment 993949

John, your business card is WAY better than mine. My top line reads "Groundhog Population Reduction". Notice that it says reduction and not elimination. And mine is not in color, either. Nice card.

 

[Nomad47]

sscoyote, your screen name sounds familiar to me. Do you happen to shoot specialty pistols? And do you know a gentleman near Phoenix that shoots the same and has every WSSM and WSM cartridge in one of those "specialty" handguns?

 

[Intheshop]

OKAY,chit can the CDL 06....and it is stupid predictable/accurate....

I'm officially back on the 22-250 train.

Well,until the wind picks up...just sayin.

 

[sscoyote]

sscoyote, your screen name sounds familiar to me. Do you happen to shoot specialty pistols? And do you know a gentleman near Phoenix that shoots the same and has every WSSM and WSM cartridge in one of those "specialty" handguns?

Nomad, yessir I do hang out on the SP forums, and I do know Tom. In fact I bought a Nightforce scope from him a few years ago, helluva' guy! Although I never shot a wood chuck with a SP sir, I did get a few rockchucks in my time XP-100 7-08/120 Nosler Ballistic Tip, and it was a shooter!--

 

[potatoe]

Here's just some pics of the progression. Some are my pop's some are mine.