Annual Groundhog tally for 2013

Left OH yesterday for our daughter-in-law's parent's farm in PA. Got one this morning at 88 yds along the road in the front of the house. Blew it's head clean off with the 243. No pic.

This evening watched one playing peek a boo for a half hour. Had to wait for all the kids to clear out before I could take a shot from the back yard up into the grass between the hay and the corn at 230 yds. Took it's lower jaw off. Guess the trauma killed it cause it certainly was not a kill shot. Another inch and I would have missed cause I set the scope for 250 which is the distance I first ranged it from. Then I moved up for a prone shot. Hence the shorter shot/higher hit. Here are the pics. The DRT, close up and the farm house from where the shot was taken.

 
That's some good lookin ground there DB!!
thumbup1.gif
 
I went out this am in the rain again, with all this rain everything is growing fast the hay is allready to tall to see anything and the beans are getting there also.
I saw a few but was only able to get this one about 100 yrds away and could just see his head in the grass.

.17FB 30gr Berger
IMG_20130704_111935_282_zpsddeeff5a.jpg
 
Another frustrating day afield. Drove 1.25hrs one way to find only 20 acres of the near 2000 moved and bailed. Of the 20 acres, only 3 mounds and only one of those open. It had moss growing on it leading me to believe it had gone cold. The neighbors had 3 proud chucks standing pretty for some reticle ranging practice, but without permission, no shooting. I rode around for over an hour looking for places to ask permission, but no farm houses near the fields and no cut hay. Also got stuck in a downpour. This is getting frustrating. Going to have business cards and flyers made up for next year. Hopefully it helps. Will put them out at the feed stores and the local co-op.
 
Got a couple more on the farm again yesterday after work..I brought the Marlin 17hmr out to do some work .. The first chuck I took at 65 yards, I know a close shot but I managed to shoot him directly in the ear I wonder if he heard it coming haha... The second I took out at 157 yards.. He had caught me when I first saw him and he darted back into his hole, after 20 minutes of waiting he poked his head out. I waited another 15 minutes but he wouldn't come out any further, I think he could see me.. It looked like he was looking right at me thru the scope.. So I let him have it and he didn't move.. Walked up and noticed his head split open.. Gonna try to get out again this afternoon with the rem 700 in 22-250
(If you notice in the second picture I have a different scope on my 17.. I dropped my gun on the scope and actually dented it.. I had the second laying in my truck.. I quick changed scopes.. Had it zeroed in after 5 shots and went back out.




 
Last edited:
For the last two weeks my hunting buddy John and I have been hitting the fields pretty hard. The honey hole has been real productive but the piggies there are starting to realize what's up. Between three farms we have taken 29 of the little dirt diggers. Shots ranged anywhere from 120-300+ yards.

Also got one in my back yard this morning. Wife looked out the kitchen window and spotted one making it's way towards our neighbor. I ran and got the 204 and let's just say he never made it out of my yard!!
thumbup1.gif


Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

huntingpictures282_zpsa8f7d207.jpg


huntingpictures281_zpsef4456e7.jpg


huntingpictures280_zps9f498d2f.jpg


huntingpictures279_zps943f4dc8.jpg


huntingpictures278_zps8cd7ffe3.jpg


huntingpictures277_zps599c8c10.jpg


huntingpictures276_zps594e7f6b.jpg


Dave
 
Made it back home to NJ from PA around 6 PM Friday. Thought about going out today, but it was blistering hot so I ran some errands and stayed inside.

After dinner I got itchy feet and took off for the closest farm to see what I could see. It was still hot and humid and very uncomfortable.

As soon as I drove on to the property I spotted one that spotted me and ran for cover. Kept on going and spotted another. Same deal. Waited around for a half hour, but no show. Decided to go back for the first one. Saw him before he saw me. Got up on the tailgate of the truck and used the cap as a bench rest. 180 yds. Zippered him right up the back and opened him up like a can of sardines. Sorry, no pic.

Went back for the second one from a different angle. Just as I got into position he disappeared behind a shed. So I drove back over to the spot where I first saw him. We played cat and mouse for the better part of thirty minutes, but I could not get a clean shot cause he was behind a fence that was part wood and part wire. He finally called it quits and went back under the shed. He and I will wait for another day.
 
I think it's time to give it a break at least until they cut the fields again everything is way to tall they have to be standing on top of each other to see them.
I went this afternoon and the lowest field was to tall but I did spot one for a second through the bino's but lost it going to the scope, spent about 45 min looking then went to hit another spot.
The second spot was a little better but closer to houses so I took the 22mag seen three but could only get these two neither were very far maybe 50 yards well within the range of the 22mag

IMG_20130707_191140_829_zps7500dabc.jpg


IMG_20130707_185246_239_zpsaba0c513.jpg
 
My buddy John and I decided yesterday to do an evening hunt on a local farm.
Got set up about 4:30. After about half an hour,we finally spotted one about 195 yards out feeding in a bottom. John had his AR223 and I told him to take a crack at it. He got set up and the poodle gave him a perfect standing shot.John squeezed and shot right over it's head. The little fella dove for it's hole. John then realized he had the gun sighted in high for 100 yards and did not compensate for it.He told me if the pooch shows up again to take care of him.
After about 25 min. the hog starts sticking his head out of the hole but would not come out any further. I finally could not take it any longer. Got set up on him and and sent the 204 pill screaming his way. Instantly heard the crack of the bullet connecting with his skull and knew he was DRT!!

Sat for a while and then they started popping up everywhere. By the time we were done,I was able to send six more of the diggers to the big dirt mound in the sky making my total 7 for the hunt.

No pic on this hunt. I left the camera by the computer. The fields around here are getting pretty tall also. Might get one more weekend in before we have to wait till they get cut.

Dave

Dave
 
Here's a rerun from Saturday.

Went back to the farm where I played cat and mouse with one on Saturday. Took the wife for the first time cause a realtor was showing our house and we needed to leave.

The one I shot Saturday was still hung over the fence where I left him so I took his photograph for the record.




Also, like last Saturday, spotted one on the way into property. This one also lives under a shed and has eluded me for a long time. And he too disappeared under said shed. Grrrr! I'll be back!!

Drove the truck over to the target hog and snuck up on his location. Spotted him just to the right of the wood and wire fence. Attempted to work my way to a sitting position shot, but I think he got wind of me and started for the shed. I took a bead on him and pulled the trigger. Looked like he was hit, but when I went to take the pic, no hog and no blood. Grrrr!

Back to hog number one. Drove oh so slowly so I could find him, but he saw me first again and headed for his shed. Again I drove slowly to get a good view of his abode and waited. Now I'm only about 35 yards from the shed, but there are all sorts of fences and other obstacles between me and the shed. All of a sudden something looked out of place. Got the optics and took a look. Sure enough. There he is with just his head sticking out. I got the 223's scope on him and saw a narrow opening, but it would have to be a head shot placed precisely for the close distance and obstacles.

Here are the results.

 
Back
Top