Annual Groundhog tally for 2011
- Thread starter Flyrod1
- Start date
selemdog
New member
He popped out at 9:15 eastern time. I had to go early because they are just not coming out much in the evening.I was outta there by 11. It was blazing today.
I am going to give it another go tomorrow at another property. There are a bunch of little ones that should be a little bigger now.
I am going to give it another go tomorrow at another property. There are a bunch of little ones that should be a little bigger now.
wahoowad
Member
I went out again this afternoon. Like selemdog I felt like I needed a little redemption after yesterdays trip.
Stopped at a lady's land I've been trying to get access to. Turns out I was a day late as she just finished trapping and blocking up a bunch of holes the day before. Darn! So she said she didn't need my services although had one hole they didn't get filled yet. She sent me over the hill and said to try and get it. I saw a 'hog as soon as I crested the hill but it faded back into the brush at the edge of the woods by the time I dropped down for my shot. I hung out awhile and then a big fat boy marched out a different part of the treeline. He saw me when I readjusted to his location and started to run back to the woods. He stopped to see if I was following him....which I was in a sense...if you consider the 58 grain Hornady V-Max from my Savage 243 was already on the way. It was a quick 153 yard journey and an equally quick end as the V-Max connected right at the base of the skull. I should have weighed this hog - felt like 20 pounds - the tail clicked 4 times when I lifted it. The landowner was happy and called some other neighbors and referred me to them. So it all worked out!
I then went to another place and decided to stay with the 243. It's heavy but I really like pulling the trigger on it. Not long after arriving I glassed a stand of trees where I have previously seen active holes. I spend a lot of time glassing with my binos and see a lot of 'hogs I'd otherwise overlook with my bare eyes. Sure enough I see a 'hog sitting in the crotch of a tree watching me!
I dropped down into the prone, ranged it at 204 yards, clicked my Vortex elevation up 3 clicks (probably could have just held over) and acquired my target. The 'hog had shifted, probably getting ready to hop down, and all I could see was a side view of the head. I put the target dot in the middle of it and slowly squeezed that sweet Savage Accutrigger. The 243 roared across the quiet farm and was accompanied by a tremendous THWAP as the V-Max connected. Man I love that sound! When I found the 'hog the head felt like a broken eggshell inside a dress sock.
A little later I missed a shot at 245
This is the second time I've missed this one 'hog at this distance. I relocated for another shot but it never came back out. I guess there is always next time.
Check out this big boy! He wasn't happy seeing me sneak around the edges of the field. The picture doesn't do him justice - he's ripped and muscled up like a prize fighter.
Stopped at a lady's land I've been trying to get access to. Turns out I was a day late as she just finished trapping and blocking up a bunch of holes the day before. Darn! So she said she didn't need my services although had one hole they didn't get filled yet. She sent me over the hill and said to try and get it. I saw a 'hog as soon as I crested the hill but it faded back into the brush at the edge of the woods by the time I dropped down for my shot. I hung out awhile and then a big fat boy marched out a different part of the treeline. He saw me when I readjusted to his location and started to run back to the woods. He stopped to see if I was following him....which I was in a sense...if you consider the 58 grain Hornady V-Max from my Savage 243 was already on the way. It was a quick 153 yard journey and an equally quick end as the V-Max connected right at the base of the skull. I should have weighed this hog - felt like 20 pounds - the tail clicked 4 times when I lifted it. The landowner was happy and called some other neighbors and referred me to them. So it all worked out!
I then went to another place and decided to stay with the 243. It's heavy but I really like pulling the trigger on it. Not long after arriving I glassed a stand of trees where I have previously seen active holes. I spend a lot of time glassing with my binos and see a lot of 'hogs I'd otherwise overlook with my bare eyes. Sure enough I see a 'hog sitting in the crotch of a tree watching me!
I dropped down into the prone, ranged it at 204 yards, clicked my Vortex elevation up 3 clicks (probably could have just held over) and acquired my target. The 'hog had shifted, probably getting ready to hop down, and all I could see was a side view of the head. I put the target dot in the middle of it and slowly squeezed that sweet Savage Accutrigger. The 243 roared across the quiet farm and was accompanied by a tremendous THWAP as the V-Max connected. Man I love that sound! When I found the 'hog the head felt like a broken eggshell inside a dress sock.
A little later I missed a shot at 245
Check out this big boy! He wasn't happy seeing me sneak around the edges of the field. The picture doesn't do him justice - he's ripped and muscled up like a prize fighter.
Last edited:
Great pics and write ups, guys!
Today I returned to one of my honey hole farms that I used to hunt from 1970 to the mid 90's. The original owner only has about 1/4 of the original farm left, but the original farm was 1900 acres! It was like going home! Blueridgeboy joined me late morning, and even with a few misses, this is how we ended the day, less two that were just too far down the holes to reach without going waaay past your armpit
BRB posing with our booty.
Two were killed with the pellet rifle, the other nine with either one of the 204's, or my swift.
It was the best day we've had so far this year.
F1
Today I returned to one of my honey hole farms that I used to hunt from 1970 to the mid 90's. The original owner only has about 1/4 of the original farm left, but the original farm was 1900 acres! It was like going home! Blueridgeboy joined me late morning, and even with a few misses, this is how we ended the day, less two that were just too far down the holes to reach without going waaay past your armpit
BRB posing with our booty.
Two were killed with the pellet rifle, the other nine with either one of the 204's, or my swift.
It was the best day we've had so far this year.
F1
jim wallace
New member
When out at 5:30 yesterday evening from about 6:30 to dark shot 4 more ,2 males ,1 sow and 1 pup saw 2 running for cover when pulling in all under 200 yards . Besides 1 the pup which it wanted to die all were standing up to see. The beans are starting to come up in the barley fields but its tough to see them .So far 19 off of this 1 small bean field.Saw 1 turkey and 2 nice Bucks and a Doe.
ARCOREY
New member
Missed another while ringing steel today. Had plates at 350yds and 420yds and was working on getting the windage down when he came out in the field. My buddy Chris and I tried him and missed. I hit high right as did Chris, I took one more stationary shot then one while running. He was about 320yds. What really made me mad was I went back to the steel and went 3 for 3 at 350yds and 1 for 1 at 420yds with the AR. Wish I had gotten the wind down before he showed up.
BRB and I did a morning hunt today. The total was four, with none past 250 yds. The shot I'm most proud of was at only 69 yds. with my pellet rifle....one shot, DRT!
The piggie was only half grown, but it's still pretty good for a 22 caliber pellet rifle!
This one brings me to 28.
F1
The piggie was only half grown, but it's still pretty good for a 22 caliber pellet rifle!
This one brings me to 28.
F1
satchvet
New member
Since I got all my first cutting finally in the barn, it was time to take the 22-250 to the field. I killed two yesterday and two this afternoon with one more saved by a strand of electric fence. My step dad has his pea patch fenced in with electric and as I was heading to the place where I normally sit, I saw a groundhog posing for me at about 250 yards. But when I got set up, the electric fence was really close to my line of fire and I was afraid I would get the fence and not the groundhog. The Chief would not have been happy so I continued to relocate and eventually got busted. But we WILL meet another day!!
Having knowledge is not the same as applying it.
Monday was a major exercise in frustration, 0-6. Still struggling to cross the 300 yard line. I had 5 shots at just over 300 and could not connect. The ground hog was nice enough to stay up and let me keep shooting at him. Clearly he did not feel in any danger. I could not even see where the misses were going in the grass. Then missed another at 50ft! Actually, I seem to miss the close ones more often than the longer shots. Either my brain can not remember to compensate for the short range ballistics or I just suck at short shots. May need to follow ARCOREY's suggestion about carrying the MKII. Nothing left to do but go home and clean the rifle.
Took it out yesterday to see if I could figure out the issue only to find that it was 1.5" left at 100. Yea, that might affect things a bit. Fiddling with the scope last week with out reconfirming my zero was the culprit. It's not like I don't know any better.
Redeemed myself last night with 4. Like everyone else, not seeing too much activity with all the heat, but from 7 pm on, they were up.
Monday was a major exercise in frustration, 0-6. Still struggling to cross the 300 yard line. I had 5 shots at just over 300 and could not connect. The ground hog was nice enough to stay up and let me keep shooting at him. Clearly he did not feel in any danger. I could not even see where the misses were going in the grass. Then missed another at 50ft! Actually, I seem to miss the close ones more often than the longer shots. Either my brain can not remember to compensate for the short range ballistics or I just suck at short shots. May need to follow ARCOREY's suggestion about carrying the MKII. Nothing left to do but go home and clean the rifle.
Took it out yesterday to see if I could figure out the issue only to find that it was 1.5" left at 100. Yea, that might affect things a bit. Fiddling with the scope last week with out reconfirming my zero was the culprit. It's not like I don't know any better.
Redeemed myself last night with 4. Like everyone else, not seeing too much activity with all the heat, but from 7 pm on, they were up.
wahoowad
Member
Keep at it Rowdy...you'll connect! I was thinking the exact same thing today (can't get past 250 for me) and feeling like I'm in a funk over a string of recent long range misses. I went out today to try and shake the bad string of luck, it had been kind of a slow evening without a lot of sightings, no shot opportunities but I finally spotted a small groundhog a pretty good distance away. I lasered it at 319 yards and wasn't feeling very confident as I dropped down and got into shooting position.
I checked my range card and tried to hold 9" high. My trigger pull was feeling noticeably stiff but it eventually broke and the tiny 20 grain 17 Fireball Accutip shattered the quiet and went zipping downrange. I didn't see or hear it hit so assumed I missed. I stayed in position about 15 minutes hoping it would come back out but it started to get dark and was time to head home. I walked down to where I had seen it to confirm if I had hit or missed it. To my surprise it was laying right where I saw it and the 17FB had stopped it DRT. And the little 20 grain pill had an exit hole even at over 300 yards! I don't think I've ever had an exit with it so was surprised it did it at this distance. It went through the thick midsection too. This is my personal best.
I checked my range card and tried to hold 9" high. My trigger pull was feeling noticeably stiff but it eventually broke and the tiny 20 grain 17 Fireball Accutip shattered the quiet and went zipping downrange. I didn't see or hear it hit so assumed I missed. I stayed in position about 15 minutes hoping it would come back out but it started to get dark and was time to head home. I walked down to where I had seen it to confirm if I had hit or missed it. To my surprise it was laying right where I saw it and the 17FB had stopped it DRT. And the little 20 grain pill had an exit hole even at over 300 yards! I don't think I've ever had an exit with it so was surprised it did it at this distance. It went through the thick midsection too. This is my personal best.
The Virginian
New member
I haven't been able to groundhog hunt in a while so I'm take a couple days off to have a go. I got to hunt tonight and I have to return home around lunch time on Saturday.
In transit with my two pugs bones on the dash headed to the tidewater area, good to go!
For medicinal purposes only!
#7 125 yards as I was unloading my gear!
55 gr Sierra soft tip
#8 115 yards evidence still in his mouth!
#9 this guy I flung some lead at 303 yards and missed... I had to put the creep on him to get in close to 100 yards.
No tail, he must of been a scrapper.
In transit with my two pugs bones on the dash headed to the tidewater area, good to go!
For medicinal purposes only!
#7 125 yards as I was unloading my gear!
55 gr Sierra soft tip
#8 115 yards evidence still in his mouth!
#9 this guy I flung some lead at 303 yards and missed... I had to put the creep on him to get in close to 100 yards.
No tail, he must of been a scrapper.
The Virginian
New member
#10 125 yards
All shots taken with my Remmy VTR 22-250 using Sierra 55 gr soft tip. Wish me luck, going to hit hard tomorrow! More to follow...
Eric
All shots taken with my Remmy VTR 22-250 using Sierra 55 gr soft tip. Wish me luck, going to hit hard tomorrow! More to follow...
Eric
killcoyotes
New member
so far my shooting partner carol and i have taken 31 chucks on our 4 evening out in the bean fields. here`s few pics.
ten from 4-5 11
my blonde chuck.
carol with one from earlier in the season.
ten from 4-5 11
my blonde chuck.
carol with one from earlier in the season.
Last edited:
The Virginian
New member
WOW! Nice shooting killcoyotes! Keep after 'em.
Eric
Eric