Groundhogs

C

Crazywolf

New member
What is the best time of day to hunt groundhogs?
I have found 4 new den holes in the side of a hill overlooking a creek bottom. The holes are about 6 to 10 feet up the hill and are about a foot to a foot and a half wide.
I have never hunted groundhogs before but I Hunt almost everthing else out there. Would love the practice on these critters with my 22-250 at long range. I can see the holes from up to 300 yrds.
Any suggestions.........
 
Where I shoot them, that depends on the time of year and the weather. Nice mild spring day, they will be out eating pretty much all day. Later in the summer, they aren't up much during the heat of the day, mostly mornings and late afternoons. Don't see them up much in bad weather either.

You never know with critters though. One of the best days of chuck shooting I've had in the last few years was a cold overcast, with rain off and on. We sat in one spot and killed more than you would believe me if I told you.

- DAA
 
Crazywolf,I live just up the road in Marshall and get to pop a few groundhogs when I can find them.Most the time you can set up in the evening and get a shot as they seem to keep pretty much "on time" schedule feeding time than in the mornings.FYI,in Mo. we aren't alowed to start hunting them till after spring turkey season.
 
crazywolf, daa pretty much hit the nail on the head. when ever you get a chance to shoot a groudhog do it! because if you dont they will multiply faster then all get out.they are extremly abundendt here in northern ohio(which is good for me i geuss).but they are not so good for farmers though and can devastate a soy bean crop.but here in ohio we have "ideal" conditions for them to grow in, fence rows and plenty of vegitation. well good luck. mattf
 
Crazywolf, ya can't beat summertime whistlepig huntin! As stated before early in the year it can be an all day affair, just walk the field edges, keep glassin, and set up when ya see one. Later when it heats up early morning and late afternoon/evening are the most productive times. I use the earlier part of the season to walk, making a mental note as to where the active holes are on the couple thousands of acres of farms I hunt, then as the summer progresses I just drive into the edges of the fields and set up on the top of my truck hood, glass and wait for a shot. I've stopped shootin em unless they are at least 250-400yds out as my Ruger VT in 220 Swift is no match any closer. I try and wait till May to really start hammering them so as the young are weaned and then I have more targets. All this has givin me the itch! Come on MAY!!
Good luck keep us posted!!
 
I hear Ya Swift!! My longest shot on A "yote" to date is 350+ yrds. Shot some crows at over 200 yds. Just never understood guys who buy distance guns then set up so their gonna shoot less the 50 yrds. Waste of gun I think.

What Kind of Fields do the Ground hogs like to be in??
I would assume fresh cut hay fields would be the best.

Thanks For the info.......
 
Come on MAY!.

I heard that! We actually do a fair amount of shooting earlier than that. Have to. Landowner has told us flat out that if we aren't willing to come up and pound them early, when it does him the most good, we won't be welcome later in the year. All else equal, I'd rather wait, but I do understand where the guy is coming from and don't blame him a bit. When we first started shooting his ground, his fields looked like they had crop circles the chucks were eating so much. Funny thing is though, almost all the chucks we see and shoot early, are males. This picture is a few from one corner of a field early last April, only two females in the bunch.

- DAA

DAAChucks.jpg


Edit: lessee if I got the picture working this time...

[This message has been edited by DAA (edited 03-05-2002).]
 
Hmmmmmm...
Sprinkler pipes, flat land, silo, maybe some mountains in the background?

Dave,
Pick me up some potatoes when your up there sometime....
biggrin.gif
-Mike

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Guy and gals, the pigs are out!!! I`ve got 2 groundhog so far this year. I missed one the day befor yesterday, which also happened to be the coldest day of the year here, and another one today. I spotted both at about 150 yrds. in open fields and both started running befor I could get set-up to shoot. First shot at both was at about 175 yrds. and they were in high gear. The mailes are still out looking for females to breed, but they are always on the move and if they take off on you they don`t stop till they reach cover. Been useing a .17 K-Hornet on the last fall and this spring. I think I`m falling in love all over again.
 
hi i am new ot hog hunting i living in the black hills of sd whut kine of place do thay like liv in and wher can i go to get them???

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CALL ON MAN
 
You might be a bit early for woodchuck. After they come out in the spring they'll stay up most of the day as they are pretty hungry after hibernating all winter. They'll also wander fairly far from their holes seeking food. Later on they'll usually go down during the warmest few hours of the day. Your best times then will be morning and evening. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal
 


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