Another Groundhog invasion :-)

[only1harry]

That adult G-hog I got last Friday seems to have left something behind - 2 of its offspring!  If it weren't her (I thought it was a male), then I am sure I orphaned the 2 little ones by one of my other G-hog kills this year.

They 2 young G-hogs were out for a couple of hours on Tuesday and then Wednesday they were out for hours trippling or quadripling the size of their stomachs.  I couldn't take it anymore.  I held out almost 2 days and later in the afternoon I just grabbed the 350 .22 and shot one about 27-28yds out.  It was a broadside shot with the lead placed well through its skull.  The pellet exited the other side right by the ear.  Both entry and exit points are well visible in the pics.  The young 4lb G-hog pushed forward a couple of feet after it came to from the shock, with its head down, so it bloodied its fat belly by dragging it on the blood on the grass from its head.  It too like its mother still had the clover in its mouth.

His brother ran down the hole under the shed and did not offer to help its fallen sibling.  I didn't see it until today around 10am.  It got smarter and was feeding about 38-39yds out.  About 5yds from the neighbor's backyard, so I left it alone.  I then watched it run back to the hill behind my house and disappear in the thick brush when a squirrel came down a tree and scared the young G-hog to death you would think.  It was actually pretty funny.  The little bugger got wise!  He moved from the tool shed to the back of my property at the bottom of the hill where there are 2-3 known G-hog holes.  It's about 40yds from my usual shooting position.  That's ok he won't be able to resist my tool shed much longer and will get closer where I can safely shoot it.  It has a very big appetite and usually covers a large area so he will wander closer to my shooting position.  It's only a matter of time, hehe.  Here are some before and after pics.

[wahoowad]

Sweet. You just couldn't resist! What pellet did you push through it?

[dk1677]

Nice shooting Harry!

[shadow]

They just keep popping up around you Harry hehehe. Great shooting and pic's bro and I'm sure that you'll let the other youngster go lol lol. Ed

[only1harry]

Thanks guys!

Wahoowad:  Pellet used was 14.3gr JSB Express.  The 350 likes them.

Ed:  Yeah I already forgot about the other G-hog.  He has nothing to worry about.. NOT!!  hehehe  

[atchman2]

You need to get a video camera and a tripod to record these on glorious film!  I've never seen an animals spook from the camera, only the operator moving too much.  Great shootin!

[1377x]

nice shooting

[only1harry]

Thanks guys.

Randy:
Groundhogs spook from their shadow!!  I have seen them spook from birds and squirrels all the time.  They run for their lives when a Robin lands near by sometimes.  They spook when the wind blows too
 
I would love to film some of these, but I would have to learn how to edit and compress them, make them smaller, add music and all that.  It would be very time consuming and unfortunately I don't have that kind of time.  I am working a lot more hours than ever, and the wife complains when I am not working I am on the PC again.  I just can't get a break!!  :0

BTW, I have to start by buying a digital camcorder!  We bought one like 11-12yrs ago, in the late 90's that was a ton of money and hardly used it.  I 'm sure technology has changed now and they are the size of your palm or smaller, and have all the right connectors and adapters to hook them up to your PC.

[jake]

great shooting harry