Anyone eat groundhogs?

kytimberman

kytimberman

New member
Just wondered if any of you varmint hunters have tried eating groundhogs(woodchuck). Years ago I used to hunt woodchuck a lot in the Shenandoah Valley of VA, it was easy to get permission to hunt 'em. One summer while working as a college student cruising timber in western West(by God) Virginia, one of the locals asked me howcum I had never eaten any of them, they were good, he said! Being a hungry and broke college student, I figured what the heck, so I cleaned the next few young ones I shot, parboiled them, and then grilled them with some barbecue sauce. Tenatively taking the first bite, I was amazed- it was as good as the best spare ribs I had ever had, and between me and my fellow cruisers, those 'chucks were devoured in minutes!
 
My dad says they are good eatin. Back when he was younger, he would do alot of camping with his friends, and thats what they lived on. But I've never tried them.
 
i have not eaten any in over 30 years ...but over the years i would go out and kill a few young ones for my father-in law he really liked them but only young ones..i used to go squirrel hunting with him all the time...that was his first love...he died a few years back and i just don't have the desire to squirrel hunt like i used to...but now the grandkids are getting to the age to start going and it will be my duty to start them hunting.......trapperdoc
 
...tried groundhog, once, liked it, but no other opportunity to do it, again.

I had just arrived at the local gunshop, after getting off work, early. The owner's Mom had just brought in a BIG plate of something, all fried crispy golden brown. I accused him of killing a housecat and having Mom cook it. He replied that it was groundhog, and I should try it. I told him "I don't think so!!" But then I thought, "This is probably the only chance in my life I will ever have to try groundhog."

Well, I tried it, and it was excellent!!! I went back for seconds, but it was all gone.

I have never again had the chance to eat groundhog, but will not pass it up, if I get another chance.
 
I have a buddy whose mother roasts them stuffed wih oyster dressing... man now Im hungry..thanks...lol /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Oh Yea Been eatin' them hogs off and on all my life. There are little brown kernals under their front legs if you remove them they'll taste a little less gamey.

And cookin' em on the grill with bar-b-que sauce is the way to go.
 
Probably the best people to ask would be oldsters who lived through the depression years in the 30's. I met an old gal on an ice fishing trip in Ontario one winter. She was wrinkled and gnarly, and her eyes really lit up when we started talking about woodchuck. She stated how poor they were, and they ate woodchuck often, said they were terrific, as good as anything she ever bought at a market. I was impressed, but to this day still haven't tried them. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
 
That is one heck of a good question. I'm from Michigan and it is well known by local historians that the Chippewa Indians considered them a prized delicacy. Why not? They are strictly vegetarians and around these parts eat the finest alfalfa, young bean sprouts and other choice crops. I've often thought it might be a big waste leaving them for the scavengers. This spring, I'm going to give them a try.

Huntinfool, thanks for the tip regarding the glands on their front legs. Makes sense.
 
Yes, although it's been a few years ago. Most of the meat on the table in our home was wild game. Mostly squirrel, rabbits, grouse, and ground hog. Deer were scarce then, but if you someone killed we had prime eating.

The young ground hog are the best eating and we usually parboiled then fried them. The large ones are tougher.

The old timers said the ground hog hides made good shoe laces and heads for banjos.
 
I use to wonder what groundhog meat taste like until one summer I shot one. When I examined it closer I noticed that I had hit it in the head and there were worms crawling out of its head. That pretty much settled it, I would leave it up to somebody else to tell me what groundhog tastes like.

Groundhogs sit in the grass all day. Obviously they are going to be full of parasites. They are pretty nasty and I would NOT eat them.
 
I've always found they taste best when parboiled with an eagle, then breaded with cracker crumbs after dredging in loon eggs. Fry the eagle and groundhog until brown, then garnish with a salsa made from Kirtland Warblers.
 
yes, I've eaten my share of groundhogs. But before any here start cooking , clean all the fat that you can off of them. The fat is the part that makes the meat have a gamy taste that most don't like. I used to grind and make meatloaf out of the young ones I'd get.
 
I never ate groundhog until after a hunt once on an elderly couples farm. They used to let a friend of mine and I hunt groundhog there every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The place was loaded with em back then. The old farmer had turned over his M-Farmall once after the ground gave way under one of his rear tires.

Anyway we were treated to BBQ that next weekend and groundhog was the main course. I thought it was some kind of beef animal at first. I had to get passed all the sauce that was coated over the meat. It by all means was very tasty to me back then. They only ate the younger groundhogs for BBQ, said they were more tender in the first place.
 
I remember shooting groundhogs on my girlfriends farm... The neighbour and I got talking and he actually gave me a blast of crap for not eating the hogs, actually claimed they were awesome eating... Still haven't managed the gumption to try them though...

Cheers
Jay
 
Originally posted by hunterintheshadows:
[qb]when the nerves go nuts from a head shot, does it effect the tenderness of the meat?[/qb]
Click to expand...
A head shot on ANY animal is best for eating purposes. It's the groundhogs turned "INSIDE OUT" with a gut shot from my 22-6mm that could only be appealing to a maggot or buzzard. Certainly changes thoughts on bullet placement. As said above, I'm going to try one this spring. I doubt the indians who lived off wild game would consider them a prize if they weren't good eating. My guess is they will be excellent if handled and prepared properly.
 
Some of you guys crack me up. Groundhogs eat the same food that cattle eat how bad could they be. LOL! they are good as any other red meat herbivore if properly prepared.

It reminds me of what the good book says,(paraphrase) "In the last days men will be so sqeamish that they will not be able to put their hands in the bowels of an animal and still eat the meat!
Come on people give it a try!

"The Chuckster" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 


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