2023 Groundhogs

[BiscuitsandGravy]

#1 for us.

Obfuscate for the Ingo censors and kiddies... Approx 181 yds per GPS...


Sig Tango MSR 1-6- Approx 2moa holdover...

 

[patience0830]

181 yds with a 1-6? Fine shooting, Tex.

 

[FN USA]

Nice shot! I'm waiting to catch one outside his hole at about 70 yards.

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

181 yds with a 1-6? Fine shooting, Tex.

Its sillier than that... Yes- at max 6x. Wolf steel case 55gr hp from a BCM 11.5". Its the woods/barn/truck gun. That's all I had handy at the time. I don't have the usual more precision gear and loads for groundhog season out of the safe yet.

 

[slipnotz]

Got my first one of the year Saturday at 110 yards. Used a 55gr V-max hand load.

 

[Bucky623]

I got this one out of the back yard yesterday. First one this yea. I put it in the drive so my son and his friend could "enjoy" it when they pulled in.

 

[Grogmister]

I have gotten 2 out the back door so far this year. About a dozen last year. Damn things are thick!!

 

[snapping turtle]

Coyotes been keeping the numbers down here. Only shot two last year on property both with 22 LR. Both taking refuge under building.

If I remember correctly this is breeding season and they will be out and about a bit more.

 

[duanewade]

I've seen several in places that I haven't asked permission to hunt yet. Haven't seen any on our 34 acres. I took about 30 last year from our place and a neighbor's property.

I picked up a Remington 783 in .223 last year and it is a tack driver. Will definitely take some shots out to 300 yards with it. My mini-14 used to be my go to groundhog gun but i limited my range to 150 yards with that.

Looking forward to this season.

 

[Hookeye]

My 700 in .243 likes WW 80gr factory stuff well enough. Got a couple boxes from Brians Surplus.

Am down to one box of Nosler 70gr BT so keeping that in reserve. My reload is that on 4350. Its shot well in a few diff Remingtons over the years.

Got the beater #1 buttstock swapped and zeroed w Norma factory .22 250. Think the box says 53gr. Old wood grain cardboard packaging is still kinda cool.

Forget when the pups are weened. Start hunting when i see the little fuzz balls out and about. More targets and more humane IMHO.

 

[blain]

~ Groundhoggers ~

I took my dog out a few nights ago (semi-rural area). The area was lit up fairly well (just flipped on the lights before going out the door). I like doing that to see what I can surprise outside.
I caught a glimpse of something moving into the woods from a field area, about 75' away.
I only saw the back half of the being. It looked chunky and dark brown, like a groundhog.
BUT it wasn't waddling and had no visible tail. It was moving smoothly like a cat.
I've seen plenty of foxes, groundhogs, cats, dogs, squirrels, coyotes, etc.
If it was standing still, I would have said it's a groundhog. But the way it moved throws me off that I.D.

Any ideas of what I might have seen?

 

[Bstarkey_46947]

Got my first of the year on Saturday 4/8. Usually get 2/ yr. Damn things den under my deck or yard barn. My son dispatched an entire litter a few years ago just sitting on the back patio picking them off.

 

[yetti462]

I wish we had them down here in numbers.

 

[ancjr]

I've been seeing them all over New Albany, Clarksville and Jeffersonville this year.

 

[duanewade]

First kill of the year

T/C Venture in .243 at about 80 yards.

 

[Bucky623]

First kill of the year

T/C Venture in .243 at about 80 yards.

Nice rifle.

 

[bwframe]

Love the great detail in this thread. So much better than "one for me today."

 

[HoosierHunter07]

~ Groundhoggers ~

I took my dog out a few nights ago (semi-rural area). The area was lit up fairly well (just flipped on the lights before going out the door). I like doing that to see what I can surprise outside.
I caught a glimpse of something moving into the woods from a field area, about 75' away.
I only saw the back half of the being. It looked chunky and dark brown, like a groundhog.
BUT it wasn't waddling and had no visible tail. It was moving smoothly like a cat.
I've seen plenty of foxes, groundhogs, cats, dogs, squirrels, coyotes, etc.
If it was standing still, I would have said it's a groundhog. But the way it moved throws me off that I.D.

Any ideas of what I might have seen?

Small Bobcat?

 

[littletommy]

My dogs do all the groundhog killing here, I think the tally was 7 last year.

Haven’t seen a single one so far this year. There’s two properties behind us that have dogs now, so I’m guessing the groundhogs have moved somewhere safer.

 

[freekforge]

Got one at 23yds with a pellet gun the other day. Tossed it in the slow cooker with some BBQ seasoning and made pulled ground hog bbq sandwiches for lunch at work.