Groundhogs~first outing of 2015!

Got a call this past week from a farmer friend of mine, said that there were groundhogs up on his property that needed a little attention. Turns out there were only a couple on his properties...only 1 of which is still among the living. I suspect there are more, but it can take a warmer day to get them up and moving around. Hiking along the tree line, I spotted one in a field to my left, ranged it @ 172 yards and got the .223 into position. It had no idea I was there, the 53gr. V-Max hand loads made short work of him. Here was my vantage point...

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...pstwuerego.jpg

Here is the groundhog;

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...pshw1ut7lj.jpg

By day's end, I'd been to 2 other area farms I have permission on, and had shot 4 more groundhogs. I have photos of those too, but I'll leave it at this for now. Not bad for a guy recovering form a back injury! Laying prone was fine, getting up...not so easy. Glad there was nobody around to see how long that took...or..to hear the moaning/swearing/groaning! I probably only put about 2kms on the boots, but it felt good after a long winter of recovery. The farmers were as grateful as ever.

Exercise, fresh air, and getting caught-up with some old friends. Hard to beat that.

Nice work.

That's nice shootin. What are you zeroed at with your 223?

Nice shooting,. What rifle are you shooting.?

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Originally Posted by mbhunter

That's nice shootin. What are you zeroed at with your 223?

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Thanks mbhunter~rifle is zeroed @ 100 yards. Not because I think that's best, but because the range I have access to (with a proper bench) only has a 100 yard range. The scope has a BDC reticle, so not allot of guesswork if holdover is req. I've had the rifle for several years. The 53gr. V-Max is moving though, so I've found it to be pretty flat-shooting out to 200 yards. They're big enough varmints that barely any adjustment in where I aim is req. Even my daughter (has her hunter apprentice license) has nailed a groundhog with this rifle at a ranged 201 yards, and it only presented a head shot.

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Originally Posted by Hunter John

Nice shooting,. What rifle are you shooting.?

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Thanks Hunter John~the rifle is a Savage "Precision 10 Carbine" in .223. They don't sell them anymore, but these guns (as I understand it) were part of Savage's "Law Enforcement" line. 20" barrel, 1:9" twist, and features Savage's "Accustock". It's one heavy gun! No fun to carry any distance, but boy...it's steady when you get down to business. Shoots 55gr. and 53gr. exceptionally well, the 53gr. having a slight edge.

Nice shooting! I've only seen 2 groundhogs so far. Both dead on Hwy 60.

'Took a ride around my usual 'hog fields last week... 'Spotted 9 of the critters here and there.
Just waiting for a nice day to call in sick and go do me some groundhog shootin'

I have popped a few Gophers, but never seen anything near that size, lol. Thanks for posting

I've been cruising my favorite fields,too. So far,I haven't seen any. There's still the odd Coyote around. Maybe,they're keeping the GHogs in check.

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Originally Posted by Gaoler

'Took a ride around my usual 'hog fields last week... 'Spotted 9 of the critters here and there.
Just waiting for a nice day to call in sick and go do me some groundhog shootin'

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My fellow groundhog shooter! Hey Gaoler~was hoping you'd be the first to post of groundhog success! :) Thanks for chiming in. I saw more than I shot, and only stopped in on a few properties I have access to. Seems to be a good crop this year, if Saturday was any indication.

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Originally Posted by woody1948

I have popped a few Gophers, but never seen anything near that size, lol. Thanks for posting

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Hey Woody1948...yeah...gophers are an entirely different experience, though, if you enjoy shooting lots of ammo like I do..they're more of an action-filled day than groundhog hunting is. I tried gophers for the first time last summer, had a fantastic time. Only spent 2-1/2 days in S. Alberta, and trying my best to get out there this year too. We'll see. Here is a photo from the first 20 minutes of shooting...about an hour after I got off the plane from Ontario. :) MAN you guys have allot of these things out there...and they really have very little fear of people...the sound of gunfire doesn't seem to phase them...bizarre. You'll never see a groundhog eating one of their fallen brothers either. Gophers? Doesn't take them long for the "cannibal" switch to turn on. Crazy things. We visited one farm SW of Calgary where the field was quite literally crawling with them. Hit an hour-long stretch where I wished I had someone loading mags for me. Real problem out there, and, according to the farmers...they attract the badgers. Gopher holes are one thing, badger holes are huge!

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...s33c2f841.jpeg

Seem a few groundhogs in a few fields last week but thought it would be inappropriate/ illeagal to just pull over and pop them. Don't have permission on these properties but if they would just cross the road. Some fine shooting your doing and your daughter at 201yds is pretty decent also. Keep on tipping them over.

outback

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Originally Posted by outback

Seem a few groundhogs in a few fields last week but thought it would be inappropriate/ illeagal to just pull over and pop them. Don't have permission on these properties but if they would just cross the road. Some fine shooting your doing and your daughter at 201yds is pretty decent also. Keep on tipping them over.

outback

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Well, if that was legal...I could have zapped 15-20 of them Saturday..EASY. Since it's not (and that's a good thing) I stick to the properties I have access to...or...start knocking on doors. The challenge is that you sometimes seem them in fields where it's not obvious who even owns the land. That's happened to me a few times. However, when it comes to getting rid of groundhogs, you rarely hear a "no" from farmers.

I find that some lads have permission on some properties for the turkey or deer but can't/won't help the farmer out with the groundhogs or coyotes. The farmer would like me to take care of the groundhogs and coyotes but still say's we can't hunt the turkey or deer because he has granted the other guy's permission for them. Sorry about their groundhog/coyote problem but that's the way she goes.

outback

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Originally Posted by outback

I find that some lads have permission on some properties for the turkey or deer but can't/won't help the farmer out with the groundhogs or coyotes. The farmer would like me to take care of the groundhogs and coyotes but still say's we can't hunt the turkey or deer because he has granted the other guy's permission for them. Sorry about their groundhog/coyote problem but that's the way she goes.

outback

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Ahh...well...groundhog/coyote hunting is it's own reward the way I look at it. And, you can be present on the farm longer than the "lads" with permission for deer and turkeys. Wouldn't be surprised if the tables turned and your good standing with the farmer ends-up seeing you with access for the edibles instead of the other guys.

Good job!

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Originally Posted by outback

I find that some lads have permission on some properties for the turkey or deer but can't/won't help the farmer out with the groundhogs or coyotes. The farmer would like me to take care of the groundhogs and coyotes but still say's we can't hunt the turkey or deer because he has granted the other guy's permission for them. Sorry about their groundhog/coyote problem but that's the way she goes.

outback

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Re-think,outback. You may be missing a golden opportunity to oust those other guys and scoop the whole thing. How does the old adage go....."never look a gift horse in the mouth."

'Hope to get out soon... If the weather warms up.
It was looking good there a while back, even got the motorcycle out and have done about 700 km on it.
Then I wake up Thursday morning and there's friggin' snow on the roof and ice on the windshield!

'Good thing in two weeks 'll be smackin' prairie dogs down in Colorado (happy dance)
We have two days afield planned and if it's as good as last time I'll be grinning ear to ear.
Taking a Rem700AICS in .243, a Rem 700SPS Tactical in .223, a CZ 455 in .17HMR and of course my JP upper'd AR15.
'Might even bring a pistol for Rattler defense or to take out the really close 'dogs...

Wow, nice shooting! I've seen a handful of groundhogs and even a few foxes out and about this spring, wish I had a rifle with me.

**UPDATE** Outing #2 under my belt, and my nephew and I got as many in the first 35 minutes as I did (solo) on the ones featured in this thread. It was a busy day~almost ran out of ammo! :)

we have very few groundhogs left, It never was a great area for hogs. I expect the coyotes have cleared them out. I filled several holes in yesterday with my backhoe, they weren't being used. A hayfield and ground hogs don't mix. Kind of miss them always shot a few before the grass got too high. Still a few porkys around , to clean up. old243

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Originally Posted by old243

we have very few groundhogs left, It never was a great area for hogs. I expect the coyotes have cleared them out. I filled several holes in yesterday with my backhoe, they weren't being used. A hayfield and ground hogs don't mix. Kind of miss them always shot a few before the grass got too high. Still a few porkys around , to clean up. old243

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A little surprised to read that, especially since about 95% of the ones I shoot are in hay fields. Granted, not all hay fields are created equal. Good drainage is critical, so if there aren't allot of rocks in with the soil, you won't find many/any groundhogs in my experience. Even in a given field, groundhogs tend to take-up residence in the same few spots that offer the best conditions. As "good" as other spots might seem to be, they never dig holes in them for some reason.

Back to the drainage issue...I suspect that is key. I find lots of holes on the sides of hills, never find them in hollows/low spots. Damp conditions no good, dry/sunny spots ideal, etc.

^^^ I think he means that groundhogs + holes dug in hay fields = hard on the farm equipment therefore need to be eliminated.

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Originally Posted by Tony Mo

^^^ I think he means that groundhogs + holes dug in hay fields = hard on the farm equipment therefore need to be eliminated.

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Just re-read that~I think you're right Tony Mo! Good catch. One farmer I know actually calls them "hay pigs" for that reason alone.

Went out today for some groundhog huntin'...
Very frustrating... Lots of 'em out, but on properties I haven't got permission to shoot on... It's like they know.
The two properties I can shoot on... not a one... Lol.

Man, would I love to do some groundhog shooting! I don't hear much around here in the Niagara region though. Anyone else have luck down my way? Only thing I've heard the last few years is that they've moved west of here and aren't spotted frequently.

-huntshop

They're in more places than people think...but in "huntable" populations? Not TOO many places I'm aware of. I took Tuesday of this week off to take a buddy out who'd never been. I gave him the first 8 we encountered (he pulled the shots on the first 3, then settled-in) and I took the last one on his insistence. Total for the day~6.

Hay is very high right now making things difficult, but I was told by 2 farmers that they hope to have it off in the next 2 weeks or so. Lots of rain on deck for this week, so that could be pushed back a little. Once it starts getting cut, it's game-on again. Putting my .223 brass in the tumbler tomorrow night! :)

I was out again yesterday, nine only. It has really slowed down over the last week. We have finally received a little rain and the crops and grass are growing. Most of the Gophers are too hard to see now. Won't be out again until I can find a hey field that has been cut. I was going to track how many I shot this spring, but lost track. But I did shoot over 4,500 22s, that should give you some idea.

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Originally Posted by woody1948

I was out again yesterday, nine only. It has really slowed down over the last week. We have finally received a little rain and the crops and grass are growing. Most of the Gophers are too hard to see now. Won't be out again until I can find a hey field that has been cut. I was going to track how many I shot this spring, but lost track. But I did shoot over 4,500 22s, that should give you some idea.

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Hey Woody~that's pretty awesome. Looks like my 2015 plans to get out there have been sidelined. Some family stuff has come-up, and duty calls. However, last night..my nephew and I hatched a plan to spend a full 7 days+ out there next spring, mostly gophering...but maybe a little fishing. I guess gophers are best late May/early June...but fishing in the mountains isn't until late June..?

On an Ontario note, I've been out almost every week including this past weekend and the hay here is impossibly high right now too. 3 weeks ago, the farmers all told me they were wanting to start cutting, but we've had lots of rain, and cool nights since then...so nothing is cut. They're praying for a string of 7-9 or so dry days.

I did find a field that has traditionally been corn but this year...is in grain. Those plants are low, and it seems that the groundhogs will snack on those too. Spotted 2, the .223 made contact with one of them. Photos aren't web-forum friendly...the 53gr. V-Max hand loads are doing their job with authority.

This weekend's plans~look at fishing seasons in AB, get quotes on renting RVs, and start looking for more spots to shoot out there!

GrouseWhisperer, I was down in the Provost area a couple of weeks back, that country is alive with Gophers. I am trying to talk my son in going down for a weekend next spring.
i am out with a friend tomorrow to wash out a couple of Badger holes. He has a 1,000 litre tank of water on the truck.dump it down the hole and watch where they come up, fast shooting , have to use a shotgun, we had six come out earlier this year. This is work by the way, not hunting, lol

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Originally Posted by woody1948

GrouseWhisperer, I was down in the Provost area a couple of weeks back, that country is alive with Gophers. I am trying to talk my son in going down for a weekend next spring.
i am out with a friend tomorrow to wash out a couple of Badger holes. He has a 1,000 litre tank of water on the truck.dump it down the hole and watch where they come up, fast shooting , have to use a shotgun, we had six come out earlier this year. This is work by the way, not hunting, lol

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Would like to be there for that kind of work, or at least...see how it's done. 2/3 farms we shot gophers on had real badger problems. Saw plenty of holes, even spotted a couple in the distance when we pulled in. Too fast though. My buddy (the Calgarian) tried to get a shot off on them though. Crazy...the size of the holes they make. Rare to find even a groundhog hole that large, but it happens.

is there calls for groundhogs? or its just sit and wait to spot ?

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Originally Posted by Baha

is there calls for groundhogs? or its just sit and wait to spot ?

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There is groundhog calls, Ive never met anyone who used them though. You can walk along a farm field and just wait for them to Pop their head up.

I worked at a horse stable where the groundhogs were a huge problem. The horses were injuring themselves in the groundhog holes. So when I first started bow hunting I'd find a recently dug hole, bring a chair and a cooler with beverages in the Early morning and just sit and wait.

Other times if I seen a few in the field i'd crawl in the high grass areas with my bow get nice and close then pop up. They would run into the hole but within 5 minutes they'll pop their head up and its bye bye groundhog.

I'd sit on the tractor with my grandfather... they were accustomed to the sound of the tractor; but if I was to walk, they'd be gone.

In some places they're called "whistle pigs" for a reason...