Just killed #3 at 225 yards. Buddy killed 2. We are sitting and prone on hay bales.
Waterdog?I've shot the least this year that I've ever shot, maybe 5 or 6. Mostly because the hay fields never got mowed for a first cutting until now. One has a better chance of shooting a beaver or waterdog (or trout) from our hay fields this year. I still use the V-max in 223
Waterdog
Back in the 1960's, we hunted woodchucks for practice with our deer rifles. I had a Savage 110, 30-06 that I graced with a hand-shaped stock blank and a 2.5X Weaver scope. My buddy had a Model 70 with a 4X scope. We handloaded ammo on another buddy's press, usually with 125 grain Sierra bullets and IMR 4064 powder.
One year, I kept track of kills and averaged 220 yards. One kill, on the second shot at side-hill chuck, lying on its fresh mound was 440 yards! The first shot was a bit low and it was spotted, and the chuck went down, but came back up and laid across the top of the mound. My second shot found the mark.
We didn't have fancy equipment, but my buddy had binoculars and I had a bipod that I made from 1/2" copper water pipe when I was about 16 yrs. old.
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Leupold VX3i 6.5-20x50 went to range today only shot 100 yds and sighted 1.5 in high for longer distance it did well.
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I have read somewhere that woodchuck don't climb trees, I have shot 2 when I was a kid in a giant pare tree we had. Seen one I the crotch of a Apple tree one time deer hunting. My f150 is a killing machine, I worked at night alot, always have a good brush guard. hit 15 deer one year, it got the Nick name of deer slayer around town.Only one in August, and I bagged him with my F-150. Does that count? Have managed one in September with my 16 gauge. He was up the pear tree eating my pears. I walked under him twice before the wife pointed him out. She fetched ol' reliable (M37 Winchester) and I done for him with an ounce and eighth of sixes. Otherwise, there's been no sign of any other chucks around here. The coons and possums are another story, however. Since we got our "shooting licence" the first of August, I've managed 12 possums and 5 coons! They've been quite a nuisance to the chickens. And to make matters worse, I think we've got a fox too. Just when you solve one problem another come up!
It won't be long before small game season starts here, but I always wait til a good hard frost before doing much other than dove shooting. But they haven't been flying very well here, sadly. Perhaps a little later they will. I guess we'll see.
Hope everyone's season goes well
Mac
I have read somewhere that woodchuck don't climb trees, I have shot 2 when I was a kid in a giant pare tree we had. Seen one I the crotch of a Apple tree one time deer hunting. My f150 is a killing machine, I worked at night alot, always have a good brush guard. hit 15 deer one year, it got the Nick name of deer slayer around town.