Groundhog showcase

[quail4jake]

Just for fun...I would like to start this thread for any of us to post photos and stories of groundhog kills that we've made, please chime in!
Today I was out spraying weeds on our place carrying my S&W No. 3 on my hip when I saw a groundhog run into the hedgerow. I quickly doffed the sprayer and posted myself about 30 yards from his hole in the weeds to wait him out, after a while I heard a rustling behind me and slowly turned to see the foe closing in and trying to dart around me to get to his hole. He saw me and stopped to my right leaving just enough time to cock and draw sight; in heartbeat it was over, I made the kill at 4 yards!. The burrowmaster met his maker with a 250 gr. LFP boolit planted in his chest, when the excitement of being that close to dangerous game and firing in anger out of necessity was over I felt compelled to display the varmint with a warning to others. Please see below.
175094 175093





The victor!
























Now I know what you're thinking...how ridiculous, groundhogs can't read that high up on a fencepost. Yes, I did lower the sign to eye level but the traitor is still posted as a warning!

[richhodg66]

We don't have them around here, which is a shame. I've always thought them neat critters, though I'm sure they can be problems too.

[725]

Thrilling! :)

[Hamish]

Well done and well said!

[CastingFool]

I have killed 3 of them with my Henry BBS in 45lc. Let me find the pics and I'll post them later. 1st one was on the 4th of July.

[quail4jake]

There's just something American about that! Looking forward to your pics, CastingFool!

[MrWolf]

Got one under my shed. No shooting of anything allowed here. Got to say he is not a bad tenant as long as I don't grow anything...

[Texas by God]

Way to hunt! And the calligraphy is a nice touch. Best, Thomas.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Great photos. Really like the S&W.

[Hawk4570]

Nice! Those critters can give vent to a snarl that'll curdle your blood. They can also be pretty tasty as a pot roast. Don't try frying unless you have really good teeth & jaw muscles.

[Messy bear]

Love that poster and the victim! Made my day! I hope they can't read and you can administer more justice.

[dubber123]

Hard to top that shooter for class :) You could have at least let him get to 5 yards though, just for sport. ;)

[725]

I enjoyed the first posting but, at the time, didn't have time for a proper remark. The funny description aside, that's some good shooting / hunting. Being ready and accurate is harder than it may appear.
I've got a few whistle pigs here on the farm. Just haven't had the time to lay in wait for 'em. I will before the summer totally goes to fall. Grew up shooting them for a farmer / friend and loved every minute of it. Still makes me smile.

[CastingFool]

Sorry guys, can't seem to be able to upload the pics to CB. I recently "upgraded" to Windows 10, this may be the main reason. What I find puzzling is that I was able to upload the pics to another forum, and that was done after the upgrade.

[EMC45]

Very neat. I took a shot at one form the second floor balcony with the 380 KelTec and pretty sure I missed. Haven't seen that fat rascal since though.

[cattleskinner]

You may not have missed them. I have shot a couple with an LCP and every one of them has taken off. One I found dead later in the day, and a couple others smelled them a few days later in their holes. The 380 may be a touch on the small side for groundhogs.

[quack1]

I hunt hogs for a farmer/friend all summer. Nearly exclusively with cast bullets.
Here are some cast kills with various guns.
222 Sako Lyman 225462
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll300/1quack1/6-28-16%20%2011-12lb.jpg
25-20 Savage Lyman 257283
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll300/1quack1/Sav%2023B%20first%20hog%20cast%206-16-15.jpg
218 Bee Winchester Lyman 225438
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll300/1quack1/bee%20and%20hog%20cast%208-1-08.jpg
30-06 Winchester Lyman 3118
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll300/1quack1/30-06%201st%20hog%20cast%207-27-11.jpg

[cattleskinner]

Here are three targets of opportunity, even the babies are not safe. The big one was shot using a Glock 26, and all were killed with jacketed bullets.

[salpal48]

Your Lucky you got him while you did . you might have to go Hand To hand with that one

[nagantguy]

woodchuck hunting is my favorite past time, the numbers are way down last few years, don't know if it's hawks and coyotes who have exploded or tough winters or hillbillies with huge scopes on bargain 22s. I'm fit into the later catagory! one summer noton ago I got.50 and dad got.86! all his were with his h&r handi in 22lr, mine were with bow, 45, 06, 7mm mag 20 and 12 gauge, 410 but mostly .223.

[John Boy]

Hunted chucks as a teenager with a passion. Had one across a wide field with the den on the edge of the wood line. He knew the sound of our 52 Dodge 4 door hunting "sedan" any time we drove up the dirt road to the top of the hill - to the den like lightning... OK, the walk was long up the hill one late afternoon - 220 Swift in hand. Probably 300 yd shot but it was on target

[quail4jake]

Thanks for posting, Quack1. Beautiful trophy hogs, hope you took them to the taxidermist! Love that .25-20 savage.

[quail4jake]

Wow! tanks for the post Cattleskinner! Great that they were all pocket pistol kills!

[Thumbcocker]

"Hold still varmint while I plugs ya!"

[mold maker]

We don't have them around here, which is a shame. I've always thought them neat critters, though I'm sure they can be problems too.

Be happy seeing them somewhere else. They are interesting, but a great nuisance in your yard or farm.
I was 50 before I saw one locally, and didn't know how lucky I was.
mm

[Hickok]

I didn't take a picture, but I shot one through the neck with my repro Colt .44 Army revolver at 25 yards. Same size hole in and out.

In days gone by, ground hog hunting was a favorite pass time, with a .223 or 22/250, but the dang coyotes have just about made the 'hogs extinct.

[roverboy]

I didn't take a picture, but I shot one through the neck with my repro Colt .44 Army revolver at 25 yards. Same size hole in and out.

In days gone by, ground hog hunting was a favorite pass time, with a .223 or 22/250, but the dang coyotes have just about made the 'hogs extinct.

Same here. I used to give them a hard time with a .223 but, now you don't see a whole lot of them.

[jeepyj]

A few years ago I had a small flower garden in the back yard in the middle was a decretive rock. One day I came rolling in there was hedge hog setting on the rock with his front feet in the air looking straight towards me. I rushed into the garage hopping he didn't move and grabbed my great grandfather's peep sight .22. Came back out and steadied the old rifle and took one of the best shots I've ever taken right pow right between the lookers. He fell directly backwards. Even though I don't have a picture reading this post brings a smile.
Nicely done quail4jake!
jeepyj

[quail4jake]

Well done! There's nothing like the feeling of a quality head shot. My son killed his first groundhog when he was about 10, hit it in the mouth at 150 yds. with a .22 mag. We won't mention the fact that it was the last boolit in the 9 round mag that found the critters incisors! The boolit actually shattered the teeth and expanded in the cervical spine, Ben pulled the one tooth that was still in the mouth and made a necklace out of it for his future wife. I seriously hope that he's rethought that.

[dmitch]

175384175385175386Several years ago when I had more time for such things, I was experimenting with the Lyman 224450 hollow point mold I have........ nestled in a 30 cal. sabot....... flung out of my Remington 700 in 30-06........ at 3750 -3775 FPS IIRC. My limited experiments resulted in somewhat reasonable groups of 2 to 2 1/2 inches at 100 yds. I am sure I could have done a little better, but was still amazed they would shoot that well spinning that fast. The woodchuck was only about 75 yds. That little 244450 HP did as much damage as a Hornady VMAX.
dmitch

[jhalcott]

I have shot them with about EVERY cartridge around, from the 17 HMR and .22LR to the mighty 575 NE! A few with muzzleloaders too. A couple years all I used was handguns. I used to take pictures of them but don't any more. Biggest one I ever got was over 15 pounds. He almost filled a 5 gallon bucket!

[quail4jake]

That's really impressive, sending a cast boolit over 3700 fps and making a solid groundhog hit! Thanks so much for sharing.

[Texas by God]

Quack1 I love those rifles. Classics all. Best, Thomas.

[Hamish]

Saturday I accidentally left one of the overhead doors cracked while going in and out getting tools while changing brake pads on one of the vehicles.

Tuesday morning I realised and dropped the door.

This morning I was out by the shop and heard bumping against the walk in door. Mm-hmm,,,,,,.

This afternoon I ran both overheads up and drove the mower out, figuring it should leave on it own while I mowed. Well, after about 15 minutes I drove past the shop and the little bugger was sitting in the door opening. It started to zip around the edge of the building into the back yard several times, but I guess he was unwilling to give up his new digs as he kept darting back into the shop.

Now understand, between a 14' Jon boat, an 18' pontoon boat, reloading room, mowers, tillers, tools, and all my sons effects and furniture, it's a maze in there.

So,,,,,,I went back in the house and grabbed a handful of 22 pellets and the pump pistol. Being young and stupid, he eventually left cover and concealment. Bad idea.

176231

[Half Dog]

My gun belt fit me once-upon-a-time.

[quail4jake]

Nice shooting...thank god you had your ol' shooting iron handy when the beast came to render your home his! Another close call and well acclaimed victory!

Saturday I accidentally left one of the overhead doors cracked while going in and out getting tools while changing brake pads on one of the vehicles.

Tuesday morning I realised and dropped the door.

This morning I was out by the shop and heard bumping against the walk in door. Mm-hmm,,,,,,.

This afternoon I ran both overheads up and drove the mower out, figuring it should leave on it own while I mowed. Well, after about 15 minutes I drove past the shop and the little bugger was sitting in the door opening. It started to zip around the edge of the building into the back yard several times, but I guess he was unwilling to give up his new digs as he kept darting back into the shop.

Now understand, between a 14' Jon boat, an 18' pontoon boat, reloading room, mowers, tillers, tools, and all my sons effects and furniture, it's a maze in there.

So,,,,,,I went back in the house and grabbed a handful of 22 pellets and the pump pistol. Being young and stupid, he eventually left cover and concealment. Bad idea.

176231

[res45]

Around here in Mid State NC there are a few around but I can count on two hands the number I've seen in five years,nobody I know shoots them because there so scares,I've seen more dead on the road hit by cars than anything else. Only thing around here that need killing is all those darn yotes that showed up several years ago,my neighbor who live across the road on a farm had dropped about 15 so far this year just setting out on his back porch late in the evening.

[versa-06]

quail4jake that's a nice ole pistol, and you other fellers nice IRON on display you've got there. I don't respond very often but this one really tripped my trigger. You boys finally talked me into cast several years ago and about bankrupted me. Got several cast launchers now because of this crew, but one morning I was coming out of the woods and had just bagged my 3rd deer with my 358 a nice 8 point, came to the hay field 22 or 23 degrees that morn. never seen one out in cold like that, and best I could judge at about 125 yards Whistle Pig was rollin on in the frosty bottom. I turned them horns loose and settled the cross hairs and 358 sang out again, No Meat Damage, lower chest sideways and gutted! I was ONE TICKLED HILLBILLY!! Wife got a kick too. Man the memories you guys stir. Love ya guys, Keep God 1st Jim

[CastingFool]

by using Mozilla firefox, I was able to upload some pics of my woodchuck kills with my Henry BBS in 45LC. First one was on the 4th of July. The 2nd pic is actually my third kill. I will have to add the pic of my second kill later.

somehow I posted one pic twice, and can't delete it.

Here's the pick of my 2nd woodchuck kill.

178523

[quail4jake]

Nice shooting, casting fool! That ol' .45 really ripped a hole. Thanks for posting!

[Hamish]

by using Mozilla firefox, I was able to upload some pics of my woodchuck kills with my Henry BBS in 45LC. First one was on the 4th of July. The 2nd pic is actually my third kill. I will have to add the pic of my second kill later.

somehow I posted one pic twice, and can't delete it.

I hadn't realised how pretty those rifles are!

[cga]

Seekers of the "red mist". LOL
No pictures, but I did one in with an AR50, 600g.Barns hp., max load of H50bmg. Their manual says a smidgen over 3100fps. Just under 70 yards, sunning himself in the morning sun, in my back yard.

And yes, it was a sight to behold.

[Finster101]

Whistle pigs were always a favorite target of a friend of mine who is sadly no longer with us. I have seen him bust one at well over a hundred yards with his gold cup. He is one of the best pistol shots I have ever seen. I'm sure there are better out there but when you are a kid growing up that kind of shooting stays with you especially when you can't even come close.

[NyFirefighter357]

So a few years ago we started seeing a chuck around the houses. Over time one became two then three or more. They dug in to the dirt along the side of my pool. They dug burrows in the backyard and also under my deck. Not only where they making me worried about the pool they where driving my dogs crazy, especially if they were under the deck. I barely could get a door open or get to the window and poof they were gone. I heard stories of 3 chucks eating in the back yard while my wife and her friend were having a chat. She'd text me pictures of them in the yard eating the lawn. My neighbor sent me a picture of one standing on a rock in my back yard. My friends, family and the groundhogs taunted me. If I was home I would sneak a peek always watchful for the elusive whistle pig. While sitting at the kitchen table I saw my GSP pointing and excited at what was out side. Could it be a bird, squirrel, chipmunk? I looked and caught the tail end of a woodchuck right next to my deck along side my house only a few feet away. Of course I had the kids and dogs wanting to see and for sure spooking my quarry. I hushed the kids out of the room while putting the dogs in the crate, cocked & loaded the high powered pellet gun and took to the door. I looked out and it was gone. Did it go back under the deck, did it run off into the wood pile or was it just out of sight? Let me check,. I quietly slid the door open and stuck my head out, I can see the ghost it's a just beyond the corner of the house. A mere 4yrds away. I raise the gun and take aim through the scope. I'm going to have to shoot between the deck spindles. It turns and sees me. I watch through the scope motionless. It's now or never, I aim a little high to compensate for the close distance. I release the safety and pull the trigger, the explosion of air forces the pellet out of the barrel hitting its target with a thud. My quarry never moved, the 1,000 fts 10.5gr .177 cal. pellet did its job well. One down and a few more to go. I have pics but can't download them. Jason

[Silvercreek Farmer]

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/mlindsay527/image.jpg1_zpsh2mgwvwp.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/mlindsay527/media/image.jpg1_zpsh2mgwvwp.jpg.html)

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/mlindsay527/image.jpg1_zpszyxqbtyu.jpg (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/mlindsay527/media/image.jpg1_zpszyxqbtyu.jpg.html)

[randy_68]

I've shot 20 or so with airguns using lead pellets if that counts. LOL
here are a couple pics
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h81/randy_68/Hunting%20pics/007-3.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h81/randy_68/Hunting%20pics/031.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h81/randy_68/Hunting%20pics/SUNP0003.jpg

[EMC45]

Busted one tonight with my son's .22 Springfield Meteor with a Federal Auto Match. Head shot, instant kill. In the freezer right now.

[merlin101]

I live in the city and would think chucks would be kinda rare but my dog has gotten a couple of em in the back yard.
I used to hunt them quite a bit but haven't in years, now I miss it.