Annual Groundhog tally for 2011

I went out this afternoon/evening with the goal to stretch out some shots on any hogs who wanted to show up in the 95 degree heat. I took my Savage Model 10 Predator in .243 shooting Hornady VMAX 58 grain.
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I have a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 scope on it with a target dot.

The hogs did not seem deterred by the heat and several were out. I went 4 for 4 with distances of 156, 192 and a double at 202. I had to hunt from one field over to try and get positioned for the longer shots, otherwise they would have been around 100 yards. Wish I could have tried them from further but these were the shots I got.

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Around dusk I decided to try and call in a coyote. After a few toots on the call this fox popped up out of nowhere about 15 feet in front of me. We both were really surprised. He was really curious and hung around about 10 minutes watching me.

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Nice going wahoowad. Those Predator 243's are nice rifles. The three I've been around were all shooters. Cool fox picture
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I forgot you had a target dot scope Wahoo. I'm sure you're enjoying that. Nice looking rig, good shots and good photo of the fox.
 
It seems like everything that could prevent me from going groundhog hunting for the last six weeks has succeeded! Today the stars lined up and I shirked my chore list and went hunting.
I got a brand new place this afternoon. When I pulled up to the field, this one greeted me.........
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The shot was only 141 yards, and the 204 saved some beans!

Against my better judgement, I left that place and headed West to our old honey hole from year before last. The evidence is still clear that we over shot that place, and only a couple piggies were seen, and none presented a safe shot with a real rifle. This one stood up and flipped me the bird at just under forty yards....so I whacked it with the pellet rifle!
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BRB killed another one at a different bean field, to make it three for the afternoon. Pickens in the Piedmont are looking slim so far.......
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Saw 4 yesterday. Three offered no shots. The first was a 75yd runner when I entered the corn field. The second I walked up to in a rock pile and brush, shot was about 10yds with the scoped MKII Ruger pistol. Ended up being a pup playing peek-a-boo with me over the rocks, he lost. #3 and #4 were 343yds across the first corn field. I had a perfect view of them playing around the hole. The one was a monster hog. I set up for the shot but felt uncomfortable with the background, so I called it off. Just then a truck and hay wagon drove behind the groundhog in the distance. The shot would have been too close to the horizon line. I tried to flank them and get a better angle, but it didn't work. Seems like everybody is making hay now so the next two weeks will have a hard time finding a safe field to hunt.
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Corey, love your posts. They are filled with the real world of backing off of a shot when necessary, occasional missed shot, etc. Too bad those 340 yard shots didn't work out. My goal this year is to connect on a 300 yard shot. I need to save a couple hogs and find a good 300+ yard shot at them.
 
Thanks wahoowad. I leave a lot on the table due to bad shot angles. I feel pretty confident in my abilities at that distance, but not enough to gamble with a kids life. After I walked up and looked, I saw two trucks hauling round bales out of the adjacent field. A little later I talked to their dad who was cutting a field next to me. Sometimes you have to go with your gut and walk away from a shot. If it doesn't look right, walk away, it's only a rodent and there will be other chances. I never take the horizon shots unless I know what is behind them and have verified it within minutes of the shot.
 
Got 5 yesterday, 3 pups and 2 big boys. Four of the shots under 50 yds. The last was 365yds. with 1/4 value 3-4 mph breeze. Held on his head and took him thru the shoulder with a 50 gr. v-max from the 22-250, rolled once and gave the surrender tail..
 
Went to the new bean field by the river on Monday evening, and shooting conditions were less than ideal. The wind was blowing 10-20 and swirling, and all shots were between 298 and 432 yards looking directly into the afternoon sun! I missed more than I killed, but did manage these:
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The longest was 429 yards with the swift (VS SF), and shot two with the 204 (LV SF) in the low 300's.
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First time out today with gun . Saw 11, shot at 7 claimed 6 .4 out 7 this years pups . Distances 150 - 247 yards . Weather permits will be drilling them tomorrow evening . Sorry guys pictures ain't my thingy .
 
Virginian ,you got that 6ppc going yet? I just got threw turning necks for the 30 BR had to order some of Cheeks bullets out of Texas they just got in today i'm good on the 30 now just need to switch barrels and resight .I picked up 5 more of Smiley Hensley's flags last week we will need to get together and send some down range . You be the judge on when I'm very flexable and Piedmont is open 7 days a week pretty much 8 am to dark for rifle range .I'll get the other guy in Charlottesville that has the other ppc with Scoville stock to join us.The Scoville boys against the Leonard . Take care hunting with Dave and his boy tomorrow I didnt hunt this afternoon wanted them to get in the action tomorrow.
 
Same field today I took pop 1 of my hunting partners and young man hunting saw 12 . Morning was slow killed 1 black groundhog boy missed 2 had lunch at local resturant watched a little nascar practice when and checked out new field came back sight drizzl and they starting coming out of the wood work figure of speech . 2 or 3 paying no mind to the guns going off . Longest shot today 213 yards, best shot free hand by the young man 70 yards , hog did a complete flip . Eight were hit 1 got away with the 22 Hornet 140 yards 35 grainers . 2 managed to get back to hole from 243 . 5 were put to rest. Beautiful day today I didnt even shoot was having to much fun watching them. Hay was cut today will be hunting about 100 yards in front of the house havent hunting this in 2 years .
 
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3 more yesterday evening longest 271 yards . Will be taking a break for a few days need some adjustments on the heights of table i built from Franklins plans. Talking about a rock solid table . 16 for 3 times All within 3 miles from my front door woohooo.
 
Did some tinkering/adjustments to the rig yesterday that should allow me greater success past 300. Now all I need is a clear afternoon, mowed field and a volunteer. Corn's getting high, wheat's been high. Most of my shots have been CQB as of late. It's enough to get me thinking about open sights.
 
Rowdydog, that is the exact reason my MKII goes with me now. I've shot three with it this year and recovered two. Both recovered about 10yds and both head/neck shots, the third was a 62yd runner that rolled into the hole. I have a neat little kydex holster for the scoped Ruger that makes it carry very comfortably. I couldn't tell you have many hogs I walked up to in the past within 10yds of and wished I had my pistol handy.
 
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