Annual Groundhog tally for 2012
- Thread starter Flyrod1
- Start date
1up5down
New member
Well the sky turned blue this afternoon so I thought I would hit the fields again. No pics on this outing, my camera battery died. Sorry.
Anyways got to the farm about 4:00 and headed for the knoll I like to shoot from. While walking up the lane, I noticed the dairy cows were in the field I planned on shooting from so I had to change my strategy. Figured I would sit in the lane with the cows behind me. Sat there for almost an hour and saw nothing.
Decided to move to a knoll in the field to the right of the one I normally shoot from. Sat there for a short while and glassed a rock break about 2 1/2 fields to my left and spotted one getting some rays. Ranged him at 436 yards. Got set up, held just over him and squeezed. Shot just over his head and slightly left. Watched him scurry down his hole but had a feeling he might come back out.
Waited about 15 min. and sure enough back out he was. This time from a different hole. Got set up on him again and sent a 40gr. pill his way. Thought I heard the bullet impact but was not sure. Also lost sight of the hog when he fell into the tall grass. Thought I would wait till I was ready to leave and go confirm my kill.
Sat there for a little longer and spotted one in the field in front of me. Got the LRF out and pinged him at 255 yards. Got comfortable and let one rip. Heard the impact and watched him fold.
Sat there for a while longer and spotted on slightly to my left feeding in another field. Ranged him at 273 yards. Got on him and fired. Heard the "thump" and saw the surrender flag come up so I knew he was history.
By now it was 7:30 so I knew if I was going to confirm my 436yd. shot I needed to do it now.I had to walk the opposite direction my Suburban was parked. Oh well I need the exercise. When I got to the place where I saw him last, I looked down and right there in the hole was a dead ghog!! Pulled him out and saw the bullet entered right behind the left ear.
Plan on going out again tomorrow so I will take some pics of the long shot.
Enjoy.
Anyways got to the farm about 4:00 and headed for the knoll I like to shoot from. While walking up the lane, I noticed the dairy cows were in the field I planned on shooting from so I had to change my strategy. Figured I would sit in the lane with the cows behind me. Sat there for almost an hour and saw nothing.
Decided to move to a knoll in the field to the right of the one I normally shoot from. Sat there for a short while and glassed a rock break about 2 1/2 fields to my left and spotted one getting some rays. Ranged him at 436 yards. Got set up, held just over him and squeezed. Shot just over his head and slightly left. Watched him scurry down his hole but had a feeling he might come back out.
Waited about 15 min. and sure enough back out he was. This time from a different hole. Got set up on him again and sent a 40gr. pill his way. Thought I heard the bullet impact but was not sure. Also lost sight of the hog when he fell into the tall grass. Thought I would wait till I was ready to leave and go confirm my kill.
Sat there for a little longer and spotted one in the field in front of me. Got the LRF out and pinged him at 255 yards. Got comfortable and let one rip. Heard the impact and watched him fold.
Sat there for a while longer and spotted on slightly to my left feeding in another field. Ranged him at 273 yards. Got on him and fired. Heard the "thump" and saw the surrender flag come up so I knew he was history.
By now it was 7:30 so I knew if I was going to confirm my 436yd. shot I needed to do it now.I had to walk the opposite direction my Suburban was parked. Oh well I need the exercise. When I got to the place where I saw him last, I looked down and right there in the hole was a dead ghog!! Pulled him out and saw the bullet entered right behind the left ear.
Plan on going out again tomorrow so I will take some pics of the long shot.
Enjoy.
1up5down
New member
As promised guys, I went back to the farm today and took my camera along with me!!
Got there about 2:30 and set up on the knoll I like to shoot from. I knew the cows would be coming into the field I was shooting from so I could not stay too long. Wasn't there more than five minutes and I saw one in front of me across the lane I walked in on. The way he was standing half in/half out of his hole leads me to think he spotted me as I was walking down the lane past his hole. Anyways I got the LRF and tagged him at 183 yards. Got situated and cut one loose. Immediately heard the "WHOP" and lost sight of him.
Stuffed him right down his hole.
The after effects of 40gr. meeting Mr. ghog.
After that the cows were coming down the lane so I had to move. Set up on the knoll where I was sitting yesterday and got comfortable. The wind was blowing pretty good. Sat for about 30 min. and I spotted one in the field behind me. Ranged him at 271 yards. Got comfortable, adjusted the bi-pod and waited for the wind to calm down. Finally the wind subsided for a few seconds and I squeezed. Heard the impact but had a hard time seeing him in the tall vegetation. Put the rifle down and took a look through the bino's and saw him slowly rolling around. Figured he was done so I took my time going to get him. When I got to where he was, all I saw was blood splatters all over the green stuff with a blood trail leading all the way to his hole. How he made it that far with all the blood he lossed is beyond me.
Pic of him before I shot. Black spot in the middle left of picture. 4 oclock to the right where dead grass ends.
No more excitement today except I shot a black bird with my 22lr revolver.
Here is a couple of pics where I made the 436 yard shot yesterday.
The dirt/rock break in center of pic to the left of tree above the cows. You can see a small white rock towards the right of it. Ghog was to the right of the rock in the grass. The cows were not in the field yesterday.
Pic with camera at full zoom.
Pic with camera no zoom.
Hope you guys enjoy my posts. More to follow I'm sure!!!
Dave
Got there about 2:30 and set up on the knoll I like to shoot from. I knew the cows would be coming into the field I was shooting from so I could not stay too long. Wasn't there more than five minutes and I saw one in front of me across the lane I walked in on. The way he was standing half in/half out of his hole leads me to think he spotted me as I was walking down the lane past his hole. Anyways I got the LRF and tagged him at 183 yards. Got situated and cut one loose. Immediately heard the "WHOP" and lost sight of him.
Stuffed him right down his hole.
The after effects of 40gr. meeting Mr. ghog.
After that the cows were coming down the lane so I had to move. Set up on the knoll where I was sitting yesterday and got comfortable. The wind was blowing pretty good. Sat for about 30 min. and I spotted one in the field behind me. Ranged him at 271 yards. Got comfortable, adjusted the bi-pod and waited for the wind to calm down. Finally the wind subsided for a few seconds and I squeezed. Heard the impact but had a hard time seeing him in the tall vegetation. Put the rifle down and took a look through the bino's and saw him slowly rolling around. Figured he was done so I took my time going to get him. When I got to where he was, all I saw was blood splatters all over the green stuff with a blood trail leading all the way to his hole. How he made it that far with all the blood he lossed is beyond me.
Pic of him before I shot. Black spot in the middle left of picture. 4 oclock to the right where dead grass ends.
No more excitement today except I shot a black bird with my 22lr revolver.
Here is a couple of pics where I made the 436 yard shot yesterday.
The dirt/rock break in center of pic to the left of tree above the cows. You can see a small white rock towards the right of it. Ghog was to the right of the rock in the grass. The cows were not in the field yesterday.
Pic with camera at full zoom.
Pic with camera no zoom.
Hope you guys enjoy my posts. More to follow I'm sure!!!
Dave
wahoowad
Member
I got out earlier this week and was able to scout some new fields. The grass is too tall right now for most of it but it has a lot of potential. That old barn at the top of the hill might make a great spot to observe the whole place. Also saw some coyote scat so may give them a few squawks on the rabbit call soon too.
I went out to a farm that produced really well for me last year. The owner confirmed a rumor I'd heard that they were selling the farm
. The deal already happened and they will be moving in a month or so. Crap. I'll be hitting it hard the next few weeks. This groundhog first revealed himself to me at 425 yards and I was excited to stretch the 243 out that far. But my shot missed and I couldn't tell if it was high or low so I decided to move in closer. The next shot I had on it was at 325 and I put the little target dot from my Vortex right on his head. I had a nice steady shot thanks to my new rear sandbag rest (on sale at Midway for $9!) and released a 75 grain V-Max downrange. That distinctive pop echoed back and I found it in the grass a few minutes later. Only later did I realize I was using the wrong dope chart to determine my scope adjustment! Doh! I have one for 58 grain bullets, another for 75. Sure enough the bullet hit the groundhog 2 inches low which was the exact difference between the 58 and 75 grain slugs from my chart. Hopefully that explains some recent misses over 400 yards. The shot was taken from the peak of the hillside in the background.
This 'hog appeared while I was waiting for another 'hog to come back out of a treeline. He was behind me and I saw him when I took a quick 360 scan. It looked very blonde at 200 yards. I took my shot while it was down on all fours facing my direction. The 75 grain V-Max entered the neck, went into the body and then never came out. Pretty impressive considered the havoc the 75 V-Max has caused on other 'hogs.
I took another one at 200...it was so bad I didn't even take a photo. I saw this fella watching me as I passed through a gate. He was only 15 yards away so I told him I'll catch up with him and his friend from the woodline another day.
I went out to a farm that produced really well for me last year. The owner confirmed a rumor I'd heard that they were selling the farm
This 'hog appeared while I was waiting for another 'hog to come back out of a treeline. He was behind me and I saw him when I took a quick 360 scan. It looked very blonde at 200 yards. I took my shot while it was down on all fours facing my direction. The 75 grain V-Max entered the neck, went into the body and then never came out. Pretty impressive considered the havoc the 75 V-Max has caused on other 'hogs.
I took another one at 200...it was so bad I didn't even take a photo. I saw this fella watching me as I passed through a gate. He was only 15 yards away so I told him I'll catch up with him and his friend from the woodline another day.
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1up5down
New member
Nice looking rig wahoowad.I'm thinking about getting a Savage LRP in 243. Already have a scope for it. Looks like you got some nice looking country side down there too!! Sorry to hear bout the farm being sold.
Maybe the new owner will let you continue to hunt ground hogs on it.
BTW good shooting and great pics. Keep em coming.
Dave
BTW good shooting and great pics. Keep em coming.
Dave
Dogbone
New member
Originally Posted By: 1up5downThanks Corey. Your right, them little critters are tough. If I count the one that made it to his hole, my count would be twelve. If not, then eleven.
Dave
No body no count. At least that's what I was told by the fellers on the forum after I first joined and tried to claim one I couldn't find, but new I hit by all the blood.
Just sayin.
Dave
No body no count. At least that's what I was told by the fellers on the forum after I first joined and tried to claim one I couldn't find, but new I hit by all the blood.
Just sayin.
1up5down
New member
Originally Posted By: DogboneOriginally Posted By: 1up5downThanks Corey. Your right, them little critters are tough. If I count the one that made it to his hole, my count would be twelve. If not, then eleven.
Dave
No body no count. At least that's what I was told by the fellers on the forum after I first joined and tried to claim one I couldn't find, but new I hit by all the blood.
Just sayin.
LOL... ok Dogbone. Eleven hogs it is. I guess I could go and dig up the runner to confirm the kill.
Dave
Dave
No body no count. At least that's what I was told by the fellers on the forum after I first joined and tried to claim one I couldn't find, but new I hit by all the blood.
Just sayin.
LOL... ok Dogbone. Eleven hogs it is. I guess I could go and dig up the runner to confirm the kill.
Dave
wahoowad
Member
Today I decided to visit one of my favorite farms and visit a side of it that follows a river. There are lots of a edges and treelines and I thought I might get into some 'hogs. Well...I did a lot of walking but only came across one single groundhog early into the trip. I popped it with an easy 150 yard shot.
I then kept going. I had packed a lunch and water so eventually covered a lot of territory. During a short break I realized I was not alone! This garter snake was laying on some logs next to me.
Towards mid-afternoon I was feeling really tired, had a pollen/allergy headache, and thought I might be coming down with some bug we have going around at home. I decided to take a long break in a little stand of trees, drink some water and relax awhile. I started rummaging around in my pack and pulled out my predator calls. I gave a few hollers on the rabbit distress just for the heck of it - I've never called one in and was mostly entertaining myself. I didn't even have my gun set up ready to go. Then I switched to the puppy distress, gave that one some work, then leaned back and just enjoyed the shade and daydreamed a bit. That's when the coyote appeared about 100 yards away! I had to scramble to change bipods, get set up, it was a real cluster funk trying to get ready! The whole time I'm worried it is going to see me as it kept looking toward my stand of trees. Long story short I dropped it with the 243. This was my first...looks kinda big to me.
I then kept going. I had packed a lunch and water so eventually covered a lot of territory. During a short break I realized I was not alone! This garter snake was laying on some logs next to me.
Towards mid-afternoon I was feeling really tired, had a pollen/allergy headache, and thought I might be coming down with some bug we have going around at home. I decided to take a long break in a little stand of trees, drink some water and relax awhile. I started rummaging around in my pack and pulled out my predator calls. I gave a few hollers on the rabbit distress just for the heck of it - I've never called one in and was mostly entertaining myself. I didn't even have my gun set up ready to go. Then I switched to the puppy distress, gave that one some work, then leaned back and just enjoyed the shade and daydreamed a bit. That's when the coyote appeared about 100 yards away! I had to scramble to change bipods, get set up, it was a real cluster funk trying to get ready! The whole time I'm worried it is going to see me as it kept looking toward my stand of trees. Long story short I dropped it with the 243. This was my first...looks kinda big to me.
Dogbone
New member
I'd love to get a shot at a coyote. Stupid NJ! It's got a season on everything. Including ghogs, and coyotes during the winter when we're not here.
Did see my first coyote last year in September. I saw it, but it did not see me. But is sure did disappear, melting into the landscape in an instant.
Did see my first coyote last year in September. I saw it, but it did not see me. But is sure did disappear, melting into the landscape in an instant.