Has anyone tried this on groundhogs?

[akanotken]

I'm looking for some help removing some groundhogs from a friends property. I'm not looking for sport just looking to get them gone. The property is a solid hour or more from my house, so I can't pop in and out to their place to hunt like I'd like.

There are a couple of openings on two sides of one shed, and they have them down on a river's edge. It's a big river, bout a mile wide and this house is a vacation home for them, great for boating and jet skis. I've shot them from within the house, upper floors from both locations. I also walk their property and take them with a shotgun.

I've taken out a handful but there are a few stragglers left. Last one I hit with a 12ga and he spasmed and went down his hole. Now they are wary and I don't see them very often anymore. But there is at least one living under that shed, and one down on the riverbank.

Here's what I'd like advice on .... seems like someone would have tried this already and I'm curious if it works.

I'm thinking I could shovel dirt into the holes and shoot them during "repairs". Does anyone know how long they wait? Earlier this summer they did it overnight sometime ... I shoveled as I left that evening and my friend said hole was clear next day at noon.

On my last trip I covered the shed holes once at noon and there was no activity when I left at dusk. I couldn't check the next day.

I've thought about putting a game camera on the openings to see if I can spot when they clear the hole. Then I'd assume they keep a similar schedule in the future (i.e. if they work at 3 am, then I'd camp out and set an alarm a half hour before).

Has anyone any experience to share on this strategy? The real question is if they can be predictable about clearing their hole. Seems like they'd be easy to exterminate if they were.

 

[Frozen North]

They will only put up with so much crap before they move on. Keep the pressure on and the stragglers will pack up and leave.

Plug their burrows with rocks, it makes allot more work for them. If they are under a concrete floor in that shed, you may want to amp up your efforts.

If you make their life suck bad enough, they will leave.

 

[Grumulkin]

I have had several years of groundhog experience since they seem to like living under my front porch. Thus far, I've taken out 7 this year. What I've learned is:

1. I've never been able to make their life so miserable that they leave unless miserable means killing them.

2. The only holes I put rocks in are those in positions that would make it harder to shoot them. I cover the preferred hole which is accessible to an upstairs window and porch approach with light stuff that's easily removed.

3. I've never seen a groundhog out at night but I've heard they are active at night at times. I've also seen groundhog work that I know happened during the night. I've found them to be more active in the early morning when they're clearing out an obstructed hole or in the early afternoon when it's warm but they can be out at any time. My rule is never to approach their hole without a gun.

4. They tend to move around more in the Spring and Fall.

5. When they are out, they tend to be out for a reason and are fairly persistent. In one case, I shot at one with a 7mm Mag. and missed but it was out again 30 to 45 minutes later and died. So, if one goes down it's hole, don't despair; just wait.

6. They can remain in their holes for days at a time. I don't know what they eat; maybe roots.

7. It is entirely possible to miss a groundhog from 3 feet away. How do I know? I'm not saying. The moral; know where you gun shoots up close and a handgun works better for up close shooting than a rifle.

8. Though they will eventually die, if you shoot them with something like a 22 LR, they can many times make it to their hole. If you wish to stop them in their tracks, use something like a 357 Mag., 9mm Parabellum, 204 Ruger with a good expanding bullet, a 44 Magnum., 270 Win., a 7mm Rem. Mag or 300 Win. Mag. Other large bore stuff with no doubt work as well. I haven't taken one with a 50 AE or 460 S&W yet.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Road flares stuffed a few holes have been know to drive them out.

 

[ultradoc]

Road flairs is a good idea. You can also go to your local army surplus store or somewhere they sell paint ball goodies. Get some smoke granades.

 

[MtnCreek]

Conibear trap placed over the hole will do the trick.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

Mumble

Anyone here mumble like Bill Murray did in the movie caddyshak?

 

[MtnCreek]

Anyone here mumble like Bill Murray did in the movie caddyshak

Yes! I've cussed them out loud and without shame. Mowing a hay field, rear tractor tire runs over a groundhog hole causing very expensive hay mover to dig into the ground.

Groundhog holes have have been known to cause the death of cows and horses.

 

[spclpatrolgroup]

strychnine mixed with oats and left outside their burrow is also a proven method if they are too close to something you dont want to riddle with bullet holes.

 

[youngda9]

You can get smokers that kill animals...look like fireworks but emit toxic fumes. Fill in all of the holes except for one, light and drop in smoker, and fill the final hole. The animals will die in their den. This is the fastest method of eradication.

 

[desidog]

^Go to a garden supply place, and ask for the anti-gopher smoke bombs. I don't think they are all that great because of WW1, and because you don't have visual confirmation... but when those little chubby garden bandits are undermining your house's foundation, steps must be taken.

That said, if they're down by the river, why kill them? Unless you have cows in that field, they're not hostile or offensive creatures.

If you do get them, do it with a rifle and a head shot, that way you can skin em and make something useful of the whole situation.

Set up a metal plate target near their hole....dial in and ding it every 3-5 minutes. They'll hear that noise, wonder whats going on, and investigate....

 

[akanotken]

thanks all

Great suggestions here. I'll answer what seems open ended and ask some follow up questions.

Traps
Colibear traps - I've never seen another dog on the property, or cat either, so that seems fairly safe. Bonus is the visual confirmation. What I'm not sure about are restrictions ... seems like some areas require daily checks. If so, I could certainly set these up on the two holes I know about under their shed. I'd continue to hunt as normal, but could check these periodically. I'd have to remove them when I leave, it's too far and I'm too busy to be there two days in a row (usually).

Smoke/ Poison gas
Smoke grenades/road flares/poison gas - I've heard it said that they create safe rooms that are elevated to avoid drowning in a rain, and these provide safety from gas too. I don't know, but this seems like a good end of the day strategy. Plug one hole, toss in the smoker, seal other entrance. Look to see if there is a third entrance some distance away (smoke should confirm there is only two) then leave. Next time I visit see if any openings are reopened.

Anyways, I'm killing whatever I see. I figure groundhogs down on the rivers edge will be the first to recapture an old den.

Strychnine
As for strychnine ... I'll look to see how to buy that ... but need to see what else it might kill.

Ringing steel
I tried the ringing steel thing, no luck, but I had to wonder if the sound of the .22 I used kept them down in their hole. I also used an air rifle but it's got a little report to it as well. For folks doing this, what do you ring it with? What distance do you shoot it at? Lastly, I wondered if temporarily hanging a wind chime would cause same curiosity?

Bottom line ... it doesn't seem like anyone hunts these vermin by filling in holes and ambushing the work party.

More about their place. They have ~10 acres, long narrow trac. The front rectangle they have a local farmer plant in something ... I believe it's alfalfa but I'm no farmer. It grows knee high and isn't tobacco and that's about where my knowledge stops. Occasionally they'll find a den out there and when it's harvested I've taken a few out of that field. Around the house is lawn, and this is where the shed is ... they have a pool too. Likely 1.5 acre around the house. It's ~100 yards down to the James river. I'd guess the James is a little short of a mile wide at this point.

Couple of years ago I started "helping them" and knew nothing about the groundhogs except they were nuisance animals. I was their "gun friend" and didn't mind killing rodents. Shot them from elevated positions in the house (so misses/pass thru's would end up in the dirt). Just used FMJ/ball ammo. Had one crawl 2 yards. All others else was dead on the spot. I missed once as I had a poor stance required ... was glad I was shooting down. I also have killed the more curious with shotgun as I've walked their place.

This year I've used a bolt .223 with a nice scope ... it's a heavy rig but I'm not walking. I found some of the varmint rounds are quite accurate (tho my AR is accurate enough for this limited distance). None of the rounds have exited a hog so far. I had one hog with a touch of blood at his ear and nostril ... no visable entry or exit wound! I guess the bullet exploded in his skull?