I am declaring a formal declaration of war against...

the ground hog community.

That right, it's war!

How many times do I have to shot this pain in the butt creature in the head before it takes the hint to leave
or finally dies.

From late summer on up to winter time I shot this varmit 3 seperate times IN THE HEAD, with three different rounds from
the Gamo Shadow to watch the little bugger walk and or run away.

Since I bought the RWS 350, I have dreamed of the day when I can shoot him one last time.

That opprotunity arrived this last Saturday.

While doing some work in the house, I just happened to look out the window and what do I see one most critter on
my most wanted list, the ground hog.

I keep a close eye on him while I am hurrying to finish my work.  I clean up my mess...he is still there.  I put my tools away... he is still there.
I get my RWS 350 and one JSB Exact (if I miss he will not stick around for a second shot)...he is still there.  I go into the bathroom and open up the window (this window only has a half screen on the bottom, so I pull the top half of the window down)... he is still there.  I load the gun...he is still there.  Quitely set the gun on the open window.... he is still there.   Make sure the scope is set to 12x power...he is still there.   Find the little pain in the butt in the scope...he is still there (must be really hungry to hang around this long).   I aim for the only part of the body that is visible, the head.
I aim right between the eyes and let one JSB Exact take flight towards the ground hog.  

Now here is where its gets frustrating.  The pellet hits him in the head right where I was aiming, he jumped just like the squirrels do, and he ran away.  Not to his hole which is ten feet away, no he runs as fast as his short little legs can carry him down the fence line into another neighbors yard were I lost sight of him.

Now I am *_*_*_*_*_*ed.  This was max a 35 yard shot, a shot that would have brought instant dead to any other critter in the area, and this pain in the butt grond hog runs away........AGAIN!!!

So with all of that in mind people, someone tell me the best part of there body  to shoot for a kill.  Obviously his skull is made of granite and the only thing he is getting out of all my hard work is a headach.

I need a little help here people, becuase this is getting frustrating.

[longislandhunter]

Hey Kevin,

I'd still aim for the head, but I'd use a JSB Predator pellet instead.  I've taken many a ground hog with the Predator pellets.  They really are awesome.  

The other thing is that I usually don't aim between the eyes, skull is rather thick there.  I usually aim between the eye and the ear if I can get that shot.  

If he ran that far I'm sure he'll be back.  Doesn't sound like the round nosed Exact pellet actually penetrated, although I'll bet that critter sure had one heck of a head ache :)

Jeff

[Big_Bill]

Hay Keven,

Try some Head-ON, really works great for headaches !!!

When my air rifle doesn't do the job, I goto smokeless powder, never fails. IMHO

That groundhog must sure like your yard, I have had one in my backyard for five years now, and he's as big as my old tom cat. I never seen him do anything but eat clover, kinda like him/her.

The best to ya,

[nyairman]

Hey Kevin. I am thinking that both your rifles are in .177 right? A .22 would be a better choice on the larger groundhog especially at 35yrds. I agree with Mike on the shot placement and Jeff's thought on the Preditor pellet but I also think that Jeff is correct in the shot between the eye and ear. If you are indeed using a .177, and that critter is still alive, you must get CLOSER to him.

 I really think you need to be within 20yrds or less to take him out. Even then it might not work unless you penetrate a vital. Try the Predator pellet and get as close as you can. If you need help on stalking this beast, just ask Jeff and Ed. I am sure they can out think the beast!!


Greg

[shadow]

Kevin, as mentioned go for the side profile. The front of the skull on them guy's are sloped deeply and your pellet is probably glancing off. It's also the thickest part. There is a nice open area that the eye sit's in and behind it, that's the sweet spot. and as mentioned, the Predators and Tomahawks are the one's to try. Happy hunting, Ed

Ill bring my ar-15  :)  they go poof when you hit them... muh hahahaa

[daved]

That 350 never shot them worth a damn when I had it.  The last time I chronied it before you got it, it was just under 25 fpe with Predators.  If that still doesn't do the job, you may need a PCP or a rimfire :-)!  Or an RPG!  Good luck!

Dave

[Rixtrix]

What about the back of the head, Ed. Is it a thick spot, too. At least I know minme is, LOL

Ric G

As I remeber ground hogs were sorta large?? I think a rimfire would be in order...

[shadow]

Ric, for sure it's thick, nature's little way of self preservation. Ed

[shadow]

Here's a pic to give you a idea of what your dealing with. Better to see the sweet spot's, Ed

[USNCop]

with these guys.  Use a Predator, or perhaps the new Crosman Destroyer, Fireball or HP.
But I would definitely get closer if you are determined to take him with the AG.
Looking at the skull pics, if I were in your shoes, would try for possibly a slight quartering away shot thru the base of the ear.
My first choice would be a slight quartering toward shot thru the eye socket.  The groundhog is considered to have an exceptionally
thick skull.  But in many cases, the skull of a critter tends to be thin behind the eyeball.
A shot thru an eye quartering toward the opposite ear with a hunting pellet should be quite lethal.
Personally, I would even try to place some vehicles or create some type of temporary visual barrier to enable a close shot.
He is low to the ground and perhaps a prone position would allow you a stable shot on such a small target area while offering concealment.
I would even feed the thing if I had to.

I had a similar situation with a feral cat.  He gave me a run for my money for 2 weeks while I waited to mount and sight in a scope on my new B26
.22.

Now he's no longer with us..........

Shadow,
Judging from the pic you posted I think I would go with a shot right in the eye. Would you agree? His brain pan compared to the rest of his skull is really tiny. Plus he has a lot of gusseting.

The bone in most skulls is very thin in the eye socket. A pellet shouldn't have any trouble penetrating there and it would appear that you have a lot of room for different angles with an eye socket approach.

Either way he's going to be *_*_*_*_*_*ed and bleeding.

[shadow]

The area around the eye is a sweet spot for sure and the skull plate behind it is thin unlike the outer skull. Right into the fuse box, light's out. Ed