Pasture fields for groundhogs?
- Thread starter dcm_ar15
- Start date
Victor Varminter
New member
Never have much luck in a pasture unless it's near a hay/crop field then it just so happens that last year I shot 3 out of the same pasture. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif I just happen to spot 'em when getting outta the car. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Pastures are generally to eaten down to interest a g'hog when the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. (I just had to say that! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif)
Don't be a nincowpoop, at least check it out for the farmer. Ya never know, it might have quite a few & I will look like a imbullsoul. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Don't be a nincowpoop, at least check it out for the farmer. Ya never know, it might have quite a few & I will look like a imbullsoul. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Generally speaking they don't frequent the pastures. As I was reading VV's post I remembered watching a groundhog along a pasture fence. It was unshootable at the time with the cattle on the other side so I just watched. The hog meandered under the fence & the cattle slowly worked their way over to it. After a few grunts by the cattle it just made it's way back under the fence. I've seen quite a few in pastures that have brush piles for them to hole up in too. It's just not the ordinary. I agree with VV tho. Check em out. The farmer will be happy to see you there watching.
VAnimrod
New member
Wow...
My experience is the exact opposite.
I took 42 from pastures last year alone.
In fact, almost all of my groundhog hunting is dedicated to pastures, because I get the permission from farmers to go eradicate the little ground grizzlies from the pastures so cows won't step in the holes.
Now, I don't usually find the holes in the middle of the pasture fields, though I do occasionally. Most of the holes are on the field edges, near wood lines, creeks, fencerows, etc. Somewhere that offers the little piggies cover and concealment for themselves and their burrows, as well as access to the pasture fields and edges where there is plentiful grazing.
Of course, this may be a mid-Atlantic/mountain area thing, but I'd say it'd certainly be worth your time and effort to check, and offering to check, and then CAREFULLY clear those pastures of groundhogs for local farmers is an excellent way of accomplishing two very important things: 1) gaining access to new hunting areas, and (perhaps most importantly) 2) doing a good service as a hunter that can and perhaps will better our image.
Good luck, and good hunting.
Oh, btw - for pasture duty, a good .22LR or small capacity .22 centerfire (I use a .221 Fireball) is about perfect. Plenty of punch for the generally shorter ranges, and not enough report to spook cattle, farmers, and neighbors.
My experience is the exact opposite.
I took 42 from pastures last year alone.
In fact, almost all of my groundhog hunting is dedicated to pastures, because I get the permission from farmers to go eradicate the little ground grizzlies from the pastures so cows won't step in the holes.
Now, I don't usually find the holes in the middle of the pasture fields, though I do occasionally. Most of the holes are on the field edges, near wood lines, creeks, fencerows, etc. Somewhere that offers the little piggies cover and concealment for themselves and their burrows, as well as access to the pasture fields and edges where there is plentiful grazing.
Of course, this may be a mid-Atlantic/mountain area thing, but I'd say it'd certainly be worth your time and effort to check, and offering to check, and then CAREFULLY clear those pastures of groundhogs for local farmers is an excellent way of accomplishing two very important things: 1) gaining access to new hunting areas, and (perhaps most importantly) 2) doing a good service as a hunter that can and perhaps will better our image.
Good luck, and good hunting.
Oh, btw - for pasture duty, a good .22LR or small capacity .22 centerfire (I use a .221 Fireball) is about perfect. Plenty of punch for the generally shorter ranges, and not enough report to spook cattle, farmers, and neighbors.
Thanks for the input, really looking forward to try these new fields. I got one more question while the topic is up, how do you hunt corn fields. Do you hit them hard in the spring before the corn gets to high or do you just hunt the edge of the fields through out the summer.
Thanks
Thanks
VAnimrod
New member
My groundhog hunting is generally more geared toward eradication, so I try to hit the fields hard in the spring, and then check back in throughout the summer to clean-up anything that I might not have gotten early.
IMHO, getting as many g'hogs as you can early, so as to minimize any crop damage is a REALLY good way to endear yourself to the farmer/landowner. Ditto that for getting them out of the pastures ASAP.
Likely if you do this, you'll be able to come back for other varmints ('yotes, foxes, etc.), and possibly for game animals later in the year.
I look at varmint hunting two-fold (and this is just my opinion, I suspect many have different views), in that it gives me excellent year-round rifle practice, and it's a service in removing the pests from the property of the landowners who allow me to hunt.
I'm not a farmer, but I grew up in farm country, worked on a bunch as a kid, and still live in farm-rich areas. I figure this is my way of still helping out on the farm...
IMHO, getting as many g'hogs as you can early, so as to minimize any crop damage is a REALLY good way to endear yourself to the farmer/landowner. Ditto that for getting them out of the pastures ASAP.
Likely if you do this, you'll be able to come back for other varmints ('yotes, foxes, etc.), and possibly for game animals later in the year.
I look at varmint hunting two-fold (and this is just my opinion, I suspect many have different views), in that it gives me excellent year-round rifle practice, and it's a service in removing the pests from the property of the landowners who allow me to hunt.
I'm not a farmer, but I grew up in farm country, worked on a bunch as a kid, and still live in farm-rich areas. I figure this is my way of still helping out on the farm...
Pruson
New member
dcm
I never wasted time hunting cornfields at all. UNLESS, they are truck farmer type cornfields, "sweet corn" for the produce stands and shipping for human consumption. I have found this year that groundhogs love this type corn even better than soybeans or about anything else. These types fields are harvested at various stages(multiple times) throughout the year by the hundreds of migrant workers. Immediately after being picked the fields are cut down, in order for the next crop to be planted. Once it is cut, the residue corn laying around on the ground is the strongest magnet known to a groundhog. We enjoyed some extraordinary shooting this past year at a Corporate Farm for produce(sweetcorn) here in VA. It was unbelievable, there was three of us shooting and at times it sounded like you were listening to hunters on a dove field. Alot of gunblasts, alot of groundhogs died there that day.
Other than that, I don't waste my time on cornfields.
I never wasted time hunting cornfields at all. UNLESS, they are truck farmer type cornfields, "sweet corn" for the produce stands and shipping for human consumption. I have found this year that groundhogs love this type corn even better than soybeans or about anything else. These types fields are harvested at various stages(multiple times) throughout the year by the hundreds of migrant workers. Immediately after being picked the fields are cut down, in order for the next crop to be planted. Once it is cut, the residue corn laying around on the ground is the strongest magnet known to a groundhog. We enjoyed some extraordinary shooting this past year at a Corporate Farm for produce(sweetcorn) here in VA. It was unbelievable, there was three of us shooting and at times it sounded like you were listening to hunters on a dove field. Alot of gunblasts, alot of groundhogs died there that day.
Other than that, I don't waste my time on cornfields.
ARCOREY
New member
Anywhere there is dirt and fence posts, you'll find pigs. Sometimes the dirt and fence posts are optional /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif. The majority of my kills have come from pasture land on the field edges, fence rows, and even the ones that burrow on the road banks. Last year I took 3 in one day from a young corn field and 2 from the neighboring pasture field. I usually start scouting for hot holes in March and remember where they are for the rest of the year. The farmer is good about leaving grassy edges around the fields to drive on and shoot in, this helps when the hay and corn are tall /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif.
broknaero
New member
yes, i hit the hay feilds when the grass is short(spring and after cutting). but inbetween cuts when the hay is too high i focus on pastures. we have alot of stone walls up here and the chucks love them, makeing the brushy edges of cow pastures prime areas to watch for them when the hay feilds are to high.
badtothebone
New member
I don't usually have much action out in the middle of a pasture, but I find tons of action along the fences. Fence posts and hog holes go hand in hand where I hunt. Also any creeks or steep hillsides in the pasture can hold them. One of my farmers lost two expensive cows when a creekbank collapsed from hog holes. He wanted them gone in a big way.
One thing I've learned abou 'hogs is that they show up where you least expect them.
On a related note, I was really impressed with Hornady VMax bullets. I've used Nosler Ballistic Tips for many years, and this year gave the VMax a try. Very explosive bullets.
Happy hunting.
Rudy
One thing I've learned abou 'hogs is that they show up where you least expect them.
On a related note, I was really impressed with Hornady VMax bullets. I've used Nosler Ballistic Tips for many years, and this year gave the VMax a try. Very explosive bullets.
Happy hunting.
Rudy
looks like i'm between you guys. VA to the east, OH on the other side. most of the pasture in this area is mtn. pasture. 20-30 acre fields, rocks, trees, fence lines. i like to just "hunt" through the area, after the first trip you'll know where the holes & hogs are located. good practice shooting, offhand, prone you name it. got 12 one day with my 270 in 13 shots. had one crawl-off. when deer season came in i was confident with that rifle, and in decent shape too, from walking. i still enjoy shooting with a bipod and sandbags, lazy-mans way. that's why i have the 243 and 25-06.
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ARCOREY
New member
I pulled an Accutip with a kinetic puller and found the bullet to be the spitting image of a V-max 55 gr. (same as 223 accutip)in length and profile dimensions. The powder closely resembles the Hogdon BL-C(2) and was approx. 26 gr.
My handloads with the listed powder, Winchester cases and CCC 450 primers along with the V-max had almost the same POI at 100 yds. The velocity wasn't verified due to lack of chronograph, but I could feel the similarity in recoil and report, unlike other loads I had shot.
My handloads with the listed powder, Winchester cases and CCC 450 primers along with the V-max had almost the same POI at 100 yds. The velocity wasn't verified due to lack of chronograph, but I could feel the similarity in recoil and report, unlike other loads I had shot.
Interesting topic as I am tired of winter here and ready to go. I agree about helping the farmers then getting permission for predators. Also about the truck crop fields, and pastures.
I like to carry a small 22lr semi auto for the pasture edges,crop fields,small lots,little creek edges & hedge rows. Walk,ambush and shoot off hand,kneeling or prone. Then keep moveing.........very enjoyable and good excersice. A 17hmr or 22 mag are also good rounds for this in sporter weights.
For the large hay fields I set up with the flat centerfire, currently 22-250, bi-pod, big scope for the long shots. As someone said "it's lazy"........thats true. Enjoy the evening or morning.......peaceful. Flip flops and shorts sometimes with a old towel to lay on. Sit back and watch the clouds.......till the jack in the box, woodchucks pop up. Good shooting after a rain and they don't like it windy. The fun is in makeing the long shot and the peaceful scene is broken by the big ka-boom.
For health concerns with livestock on the farm always stuff them back down the hole.
The farmers will give you a freindly wave all the time. I also help them with minor tasks/chores as needed.
I like to carry a small 22lr semi auto for the pasture edges,crop fields,small lots,little creek edges & hedge rows. Walk,ambush and shoot off hand,kneeling or prone. Then keep moveing.........very enjoyable and good excersice. A 17hmr or 22 mag are also good rounds for this in sporter weights.
For the large hay fields I set up with the flat centerfire, currently 22-250, bi-pod, big scope for the long shots. As someone said "it's lazy"........thats true. Enjoy the evening or morning.......peaceful. Flip flops and shorts sometimes with a old towel to lay on. Sit back and watch the clouds.......till the jack in the box, woodchucks pop up. Good shooting after a rain and they don't like it windy. The fun is in makeing the long shot and the peaceful scene is broken by the big ka-boom.
For health concerns with livestock on the farm always stuff them back down the hole.
The farmers will give you a freindly wave all the time. I also help them with minor tasks/chores as needed.
slagmaker
New member
I am just getting farmers in my area to start letting me hunt more property around me. One of the things I have been doign is talking with the farmers that do let me hunt and asking if they have any neighbors with groundhog problems. If they do he lets them know about me and introduces me to the neighbors. I have lots of valleys in my neck of the woods that are wooded hillsides and pasture/crops bottoms. Prime piggy areas. Looking forward to hunting this spring.
hey, arcorey. i'm just west of your home, i'm an hour west of Harisonburg. 30 miles from rt. 33. used to work in the Shendoah valley. you know what kind of fields we have in this area. let me know if you need help blasting hogs. i have a couple rifles i need to blow the spider webs out of, tj
ARCOREY
New member
Redsnow,
Those hogs have to be able to repel cliffs to live over there, and most holes are horizontal bores,LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. I'd like to partner up with some new faces once in a while, but it isn't allowed where I hunt. The farms are strict and only allow myself and one existing hunting partner. They even know my vehicles and require me to arrive in those vehicles only to keep others out, sorry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif. What's the yote huntin' like over there, I shoot at Brandywine range occasionally and see dead ones up there in a dump site.
Those hogs have to be able to repel cliffs to live over there, and most holes are horizontal bores,LOL /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. I'd like to partner up with some new faces once in a while, but it isn't allowed where I hunt. The farms are strict and only allow myself and one existing hunting partner. They even know my vehicles and require me to arrive in those vehicles only to keep others out, sorry /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif. What's the yote huntin' like over there, I shoot at Brandywine range occasionally and see dead ones up there in a dump site.
VAnimrod,
Another VA hunter here. I said I was going to try the dogs again last Saturday. I did, no luck calling at all, not even a fox. About 9:30 I gave up calling and shot 2 poodles. 38 degrees and breezy, but there were a few out munching. I left the groundhogs around 10:45 and went searching for more permissions to hunt dogs and hogs. I picked up a couple places and got a few leads, interspersed with a couple "Naw, we already got some folks takin' care of that" answers. Lots of land leased up this way for deer, turkeys, and geese, most of those clubs don't want to share the varmints or predators even though they really don't do it enough to help the farmers at all. Most of the landowners want to let me hunt, but are locked into honoring their leases.
F1
Another VA hunter here. I said I was going to try the dogs again last Saturday. I did, no luck calling at all, not even a fox. About 9:30 I gave up calling and shot 2 poodles. 38 degrees and breezy, but there were a few out munching. I left the groundhogs around 10:45 and went searching for more permissions to hunt dogs and hogs. I picked up a couple places and got a few leads, interspersed with a couple "Naw, we already got some folks takin' care of that" answers. Lots of land leased up this way for deer, turkeys, and geese, most of those clubs don't want to share the varmints or predators even though they really don't do it enough to help the farmers at all. Most of the landowners want to let me hunt, but are locked into honoring their leases.
F1