Rock Chuck hunting with the TX200

I got my TX200 back around October of last year. I have had a couple cheap scopes on it and it took a while for me to realize I needed a better scope and to get better acquainted with it.
I have been shooting a lot of squirrels and doves but this spring I got a great deal. I had a spot to hunt rock chucks but the population wasn't big. Well the next door neighbor to that farm called me in to do a rock chuck kill. I shot a couple and he was telling his neighbor. Well no one in the area wants people to shoot centerfires. So I show up with my TX200.
I am using all the tricks to get close.

https://i.imgur.com/uNTFJhN.jpg

My vortex 6-18x44AO has mil lines in it. I have the rifle sighted in out to 75 yards.
I have had a blast. I have shot a few here and there. Then one day I shot 11, and the next I got 16. Well the farmer asked to pay me for shooting the chucks. I declined and told him I was happy just to have a place to hunt.

https://i.imgur.com/TJ5BaFm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xZX6EaU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Iwqnj7T.jpg

I am up to 36 rock chucks on the place this year. He is super happy about it. Last year he lost 10,000 dollars to crop damage to chucks.

Nice story and pictures, Ron.

My tx200 and hw97k have made 22lr obslete.i get much more "permissions" to thin pests with my "bb guns" from farmers.

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Originally Posted by HARRYMPOPE

My tx200 and hw97k have made 22lr obslete.i get much more "permissions" to thin pests with my "bb guns" from farmers.

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For sure!!!!!!

Nice work Ron: How close in are you able to get to these chucks and what kind of shot placement are you striving for. I'm asking cause I've never shot rock chucks before. The vitals of some animals are in slightly different places as others. Just curious.

HollowPoint

I told the farmers that I shoot for neck and brain shots. The one farmer told me if I can't get a brain shot to shoot them in the lungs. I told him the big ones would most likely run off. He didn't care he wants them dead any way I can.
The shot I mostly look for is quartering to me I shoot just under the eye or in the eye angling back to the atlas joint or brain.
When I first started my culling I was in the 20 yard range. the survivors got smart and then I had to go to 30. I am very comfortable out to 50 yards on brain shots with my shooting sticks. This is a 4 shot group at 50 yards.

https://i.imgur.com/gMIdFVW.jpg

Assuming it is legal, do you think you could ethically head shot a turkey at less than 50 yds with the .22? Powerful enough? I think from what you have done it would be but am curious.
Thanks. Ron

Now that looks like a good time right there .

Great story and shooting. My .25 Condor SS and I have had similar experiences thinning red squirrels and woodchucks. People can't believe how quiet it is. I (sometimes) wear my ghille too. My farthest shot is 125yds on a chuck. I shoot for the same areas too.

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Originally Posted by MrWolf

Assuming it is legal, do you think you could ethically head shot a turkey at less than 50 yds with the .22? Powerful enough? I think from what you have done it would be but am curious.
Thanks. Ron

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I honestly feel that I could easily shoot a turkey in the head at 50 yards. I would feel better at 30 yards. At 30 yards I can shoot a spoon every time. My rifle is only 14.5 to 15 FPE and I know for a fact it is powerful enough out to 50 yards.

Thought that too once upon a time only with a .223.Soon learned a turkey's head doesn't stay in one place more than a second at most.Now the base of the neck where it meets the crop.......

I used the head as an example of hardness. My thought is base of neck also. Thanks I was curious about its impact power as I have toyed with the idea of a nice pellet rifle for awhile now. Appreciate the info.

Ron

looks familiar, Pokey area ?

Got any good recipe's to cook one up for lunch ???

Great story and photos. Thanks for sharing!

My first thought was hot is that suit?

Anyway have you thought about dressing up your rifle as far as concealment?

Best regards

Three44s