[CatsDieNow]

I need some help in choosing equipment for hunting my mortal enemy - the woodchuck, evil destroyer of farm profits. :cuss:

The very limited amount of hunting that I have done involved borrowed rifles, so I don't really know what to get. I have only shot a rifle on a few occasions. I am female with fairly small hands. I'll be in a privatly-owned, semi-rural, Indiana cornfield (the landowner will likely be hunting with me). As far as I know, Indiana (class III) has no restrictions on long guns other than the federal laws.

Ideally, I'd like a scoped, sound-suppressed rifle in the smallest caliber that would do the job. While price is always important, I'd also like something I'll be happy with in the long run.

Any tips you guys have on rifles, scopes and such for small game hunting would be appriciated.

[Mike Irwin]

What sort of ranges do you figure you'll be working on?

If you can get by with the relative noise level, a .223 is poison on groundhogs out to 200 yards or more.

If you don't mind handloading for best results, the .22 Hornet can be a deadly 100 yard groundhog gun.

My favorite hog rifle in Pennsylvania was a .243 Remington. Killed a bunch with it over the years.

[kudu]

Long time Indiana chuck hunter here,
.223 would be about the best choice out to the ranges you will find in most fields around here. If you might think most of your shots will be under 150yds I would think hard on the new .17 hornady rimfire, super accurate from all the reports of my friends that have one. No recoil and very little noise. If you will be hunting with a landowner he probably has a different gun, you might trade shots short range or long range. I personaly use the .243 win in a reminton.

Good long range varmint guns;
.22-250
.220 swift
.243 win
+ more
medium range;
.222 rem
.223
.222 rem mag
.17 rem

LOTS more out there, you will have to find the right one for you.

[Kcustom45]

Where at in Indiana will you be hunting? I agree with what has been said so far, you can kill them everything listed here as long as you can hit them. Whatever you choose let us know how things turn out.

[CatsDieNow]

I'll be up near South Bend/Mishawaka, and yes, probably under 150 yards. The guy who will be shooting with me doesn't have any guns yet, but has recently declared war on the chucks and will be getting his own rifle soon.

I'll do some further research on the stuff listed here.

Are there any suggestions for optics?
Do I need some sort of kit to attach a scope?
Will these calibers work well on the wild turkey and pheasant too?

[redneck]

I can't comment on which to buy, but scopes generally will require rings and a base to mount for anything other than rimfire rifles which usually have a dovetail grooved receiver which makes things more simple.
Bases and rings depend on the scope and the gun, so your best bet is to go pick a gun in the caliber you want that fits you well first. Fit of the stock will make a big difference in how you can handle the recoil, and possibly your accuracy too. Then pick a scope and the necessary hardware to match.

For the 150 yard and under range, I think there is a lot to be said for .22mag and .17HRM. I haven't got to play with either one, but I've been thinking of buying one or the other for awhile now. Ammo is quite a bit cheaper, and factory loadings are all pretty good. And while you don't get the explosive effect of a centerfire .22 over quite as long of a range, the chucks are still dead. Recoil and noise are pretty much neglible compared to the centerfire stuff too.

[kudu]

There is a lot of open flat land around the South Bend/Mishawaka are, could get some really long shots off. I'm about 45 miles from that area. You got to remember also that the beans are over 2 ft tall right now and the chance of even seeing a groundhog is pretty slim unless youre within 40-50 yards. This time of year it wouldn't be the first ime I've used a shotgun with #2s to take them out. Good to 50-60 yds but quite a lot of recoil.

[CatsDieNow]

Kudu,

I'm just getting ready for the fall. :p

I think there is corn up this season, so the beans will be next year when I go home. Those little varmits are also burrowing in the ditchbank, so I could get some good shots from the back porch with a natural backstop.

[Legionnaire]

Cats, given your range and application, take a look at the CZ 527 American. Available in .22 Hornet, .222, and .223. It is lightweight and very pointable ... hunting accurate out of the box. Comes with scope rings that attach directly to the receiver, sort of like Ruger's setup. Add a good quality scope and you're good to go!

http://cz-usa.com/_p/pdt.php?id=31

[Bigjake]

not worth much to yourself, but i've killed 19 woodchucks this this year with a 22-250 in a winchester 70. FLAT shooter, out to about 400 yds (at least thats the farthest i've shot.) stick a good scope on one of those and you have surgical precision woodchuck removal. can't beat it. unfortunatly, it barks LOUD. i take most of my shots between 200 and 300 yds, anything within 200 is a sure kill if you the shooter are on your game. if you happen to go centerfire, try the win supreme ballistic tips. them suckers do nasty things to woodchucks. i had a thread a while back with pics of some of my fun, do a search for it if you are at all interested.

PS, i think 22-250 is also known as .223 mag, or so i'm told.

[coldshot03/04]

CatsDieNow, Cool handle... I hate'em too.(Cats) :evil: Try the 17cal.

Just for fun check this outhttp://dogbegone.com :evil

[mete]

For really quiet I use 22lr RWS hollow point subsonic.They are very accurate. 22Hornet is not too bad for noise. The other 22 center fires are fairly loud.

[DadOfThree]

As far as I know, Indiana (class III) has no restrictions on long guns other than the federal laws
There is no hunting allowed in Indiana with a suppressed rifle. You can pay for the stamp and own them, you just can't hunt with them.

[CatsDieNow]

No supressors...even on your own property?

Well, it looks like I'll end up with two rifles. A Ruger .223 for sure, and probably some model of .17

[DadOfThree]

No supressors...even on your own property?
You can have them and target shoot them, you just can't hunt with them. At least according to the Hunting Rules and Regs, you can't hunt with one or posess it while hunting.

[CatsDieNow]

Well, I'll take your word for it. I don't know much about the regulations.

I guess I thought that some of the rules didn't apply if all the hunting (and processing) took place enitrely on your own property. Of course, that may just be because no one would ever know. :D

Are the regulations online somewhere?

[Kcustom45]

Of course, that may just be because no one would ever know.

I think that is probably it.

Here is the regulations. I hope this is what you were looking for.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/hunting1.htm

[Sunray]

US laws are daft. Some States allow suppressors but not full auto(machineguns) some FA but no suppressor, some both, some neither. You don't need either to execute ground hogs. A scoped .22 lr will do. Not as much fun as a center fire but it won't cost you money you may not have.
CatsDieNow, you may also find you require a small game hunting licence and if you don't know the regulations you'd best learn them before you run into a game warden. "...your own property..." just means you don't have to get written permission to be there. ALL game and hunting laws apply. Subsonic ammo is no good for hunting and I'd look long and hard at buying a .17. It's very new and there's nothing that says the ammo for it will be available 5 years from now.
Why all the worry about noise? If you're not in an area that allows the discharge of firearms, you can't hunt anyway. I mean if you're not out in the country, you likely can't shoot there without attracting the attention of the local constabulary.

[redneck]

If ya look around at all, its fairly obvious the .17 is building a following. And in the unlikely event that it dies.....just buy a .22 mag barrel and the gun is in service again. .22mag has been around and should stay around.

[CatsDieNow]

According to the DNR website:

Nuisance Animals

A resident landowner or tenant may take, without a permit, a beaver, mink, muskrat, long-tailed weasel, red fox, gray fox, opossum, skunk, or raccoon that is discovered damaging property; you must report the taking of the animal to a conservation officer within 72 hours. The conservation officer will direct you as how to dispose of the animal. Ground hogs (woodchucks) may be taken at any time using any equipment.

Probably best not to push my luck though.

Well, I'll post a report this fall. :D

[kudu]

Woodchucks are not considered a game animal or a fur bearer, they are in the same catagory as, say, rats and mice. Kill them all and no one will say anything.

[Bigjake]

except the peta types from my old HS.....

[zahc]

Ground hogs (woodchucks) may be taken at any time using any equipment.

I saw my dad take one with a 16 inch crescent wrench. Gave me a whole new respect for pops.



Subsonic ammo is no good for hunting

I use it for squirrels.

I say get a .17 and a centerfire, .223, 22-250, or 6mm/.243. Probably .223.

[CatsDieNow]

I say get a .17 and a centerfire, .223...

And that is exactly what I did. I hope the ammo price for .17 goes down soon :(