[308win]

Groundhog season is on; saw my first ones out here in central Ohio yesterday. Time to load up some V-Max!

[Grumulkin]

I have another one living under my front porch AGAIN this year. I thought I killed them all last year. Oh well, I'll get this one too eventually.

[BIGR]

Seen a few run over along the roads. Wife told me see saw one in our driveway the other day. Guess its time to get the rifle out. Let me see, where did I put those shells at for that rifle. Guess I need to reload some more up anyway. Happy hunting guys, and don't let those whistle pigs take over.

[gbran]

Groundhog Day

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/gbran/DSC00318-1.jpg

[41magsnub]

I have another one living under my front porch AGAIN this year. I thought I killed them all last year. Oh well, I'll get this one too eventually.

I bet that just breaks your heart.... :)

[Pumpkinheaver]

Those darn things have a season here in Mo. I think it opens in may. By that time the little ones are running all over the place.

[MCgunner]

Actually, I've never seen a ground hog.

[22-rimfire]

I don't believe their range includes Texas and the Southwest.

I used to always wait until the young ones were weaned (or apparently weaned) before starting to shoot them. You start to see the little ones out around the dens in May. It used to be my No. 1 activity in the summer if I wasn't fishing.

[308win]

Ohio has no season except you can't hunt them during deer firearm season. I hunt them until about the middle of April and take a break until the middle of June. This lets the young wean and provides plenty of shooting for the summer. The coyotes are really taking a toll on them in some areas I hunt. The ground hogs have taken to denning mostly in heavy woods now so shots are a lot harder to take. You won't see them very far from the edge where as they used to den and feed in middle of large wide-open areas. Interesting how fast animals will change habits to respond to local environment.

There is one that I have been trying to get for this will be the fourth year and I have taken probably close to a dozen shots at him. I have decided that I will either get him with a long (over 450 yd) shot or not at all. As soon as he hears or sees any kind of vehicle he heads for his den on a dead run but he hasn't figured out yet that when the car isn't moving I am still there; maybe he will figure that out this year and die of old age. He also likes to sit in the entrance to his den and sun; I have stung him with rocks multiple times and would have hit him several times if I had been two-three inches higher. I have also shot over him two or three times. So far I have had only one standing shot at him and I don't know how I missed him as it wasn't windy that day but I did.

[GunTech]

If only the weather would cooperate. We had some snow flurries yesterday, and cold weather is keeping the varmints indoors. Dangit!

[OH25shooter]

The weather here in Ohio has been too rainy, the fields are mush. But, I've seen a few as well and I will pay them a visit here soon. This is a good time, because they are a little sluggish from their winter sleep. So much so, I've crept up on them and hit 'em with a rock. I think my 22/45 or .357 Marlin rifle should send them to hog heaven.

[highorder]

For those of you out west, please consider this;

The black footed ferret which was all but extinct 20 years ago has been making a comeback thru captive breeding and release efforts.

The black footed ferret survives solely on a diet of prairie dogs, and the survival of the species is tied directly to the interaction of humans and prairie dogs.

I am an avid shooter and I support varmit hunting. I only ask that hunters continue to verify the critter in their scope before assuming its a prairie dog, especially when plinking over a dogtown all day.

I don't usually make posts like this, but I felt the fine people here at THR would take the time to consider my thoughts. Thank you.

http://www.blackfootedferret.org/index.html

[MCgunner]

Well, the only place I've seen prairie dogs is in a zoo.

See, this is why I don't have much use for center fire .22s down here and don't own one. :D We have coyotes, but I don't waste time hunting them. I'd rather shoot a hog off season, real hog, not ground hog. :D

[dagger dog]

Gbran,
Whats the chambering? I shoot a .22 hornet, off shooting sticks across the alfalfa feilds,shooting 35 and 40 gr Vmax. I like the Encore and Contender, most likley my next purchase, can't make up my mind on the caliber, .204 Ruger or have one reamed in .221 Fireball.

[308win]

I'd rather shoot a hog off season, real hog, not ground hog.

Ohio now has an open season on feral hogs; I am hoping to go hunting for them this year. Right now I believe they are mostly in SE Ohio but from what you all have posted about their prolificity (I don't think there is there such a word) it won't be long until they have expanded their range. There is a lot of public hunting land in SE Ohio; I am thinking that a .308 150gr spire point ought to do the trick.

[308win]

The first year I hunted one piece of property I shot 29 groundhogs off of about 30 acres of mowed hay fields. Last year I got two off of the same acreage; the groundhogs were there but they were using the woods surrounding the hay fields for their denning sites. This spring, I am going to locate as many of the active dens as possible and try stalking them and taking them with a handgun but I don't have much optimism about this endeavor and if I find I am not proficient enough with the handguns to kill them cleanly I won't continue. But I figure this approach should be challenging.

The coyotes don't seem to hang around and are more transient in this area; the land owner hears but never sees the coyotes and will often go many days without hearing one. I have tried calling a few times but have never had any luck other than an occasional fox which I don't shoot.

[redneck2]

Wow...re-live my youth. Grew up on a dairy farm. My dad bought me a Mod 700 22-250 when I was in high school. First year I killed 128 groundhogs. Spent a lot of time cruising the ditch banks and neighbors pasture and bean fields.

[Geno]

I love mathematics:

(1POA) + (1POI) = 1DOA varmint

Snicker, snicker, snicker.

[Urbana John]

308 Win, If you can't get that 450yd "hog", want me to bring over my Colt HBAR!!!! If I can hit a golf ball with her, I should be able to draw a little blood on the hog---slow him down a little, so you can walk up on him with you handgun!!
My new Anvil Arms upper should (BETTER) be here by this weekend, and my son might come up. What's your plans for Sat.??
Oh, ye. April 15th is a Sat., so I' try to make it.

[308win]

John

No, go train your own. What have you been up to? Still looking for 308 brass?

[dagger dog]

Whistle pigs, rockchucks, woodchucks, groundhogs,
hoary marmot. Anyone else know another name for these rodents?
And by the way they are good eating, you got to pressure cook them for about 8-10 mins, until they're tender, then I roll them in chicken frying fixings and deep fry. After you deep fry soak them in barbcue sauce and chow down.
I've put them on the grill while grilling some burgers at the same time to give them a smokey flavor too.

[OH25shooter]

the groundhogs were there but they were using the woods surrounding the hay fields for their denning sites.

308win,

I learned that tactic real quick. I scope the field and the surroundings first, but I prefer to go into the woods and sneak up from behind. You are right, the shifty groundhogs are sleeping in the woods. Another favorite spot for me to check are the old rotten wood piles of trees, logs, 2x4's, whatever. They like to climb up and get an over all view of the field. I even shot two in a tree one time. What county are you hunting?

[308win]

Licking County, Flint Ridge area. I have shot groundhogs out of trees and I have seen them climb trees to escape dogs.

[MCgunner]

Ohio now has an open season on feral hogs; I am hoping to go hunting for them this year. Right now I believe they are mostly in SE Ohio but from what you all have posted about their prolificity (I don't think there is there such a word) it won't be long until they have expanded their range. There is a lot of public hunting land in SE Ohio; I am thinking that a .308 150gr spire point ought to do the trick.

I've never found the 140 barnes in .308 lacking. :D I've never shot one much over 200 lbs, but I don't really think even the big'ns are bullet proof to a .308. :D

[OH25shooter]

Licking county as well, nearby Utica. I think the farm field I hunted is dwindling in the number of groundhogs. So much so, I traded away my varmint rifles. But, I still have my 38/357 Marlin lever action and 22/45 pistol. If you need help drop me a PM. Good luck.