Groundhogs

[flaboy]

GroundhogS, is .177 enough?
what pellett?

[longislandhunter]

I've taken my share of G-hogs with my .177 R9 using CPL's,, if you do a search in the Hunting Gate you can see some of the pics. I must add though that with each of these kills I watched my range and was confident I could make an accurate head shot. I normally use my .22 cal rifles for G-hogs, but if conditions and range are right I know I can take out a G-hog with my .177 guns.

Just remember though,,, a G-hog is a large, tough animal. Whether I'm using a .177 or a .22 if I don't feel I have an optimum shot I'll pass. I also like to wait until the G-hog has moved away from the burrow entrance as I've seen them gather the last of their strength after being hit and make a last ditch dive for the hole,,, disappearing underground. I eat the G-hogs I shoot so I don't want to lose my critter dinner down the hole :)

Jeff

[shadow]

Yup Jeff know's his G-dog's and has taking his share.:) Out here we got dem P-dog's and they got a tough hide also, I've used both .177 and .22 to drop em at 40+ yard's but you want good shot placement and the right pellet for the job, the Predator work's nicely. Ed

I remember as a kid being trapped in West Va due to a snow storm, while on Xmas vacation.  We were out in the middle of 600 acres were uncle daddy may have been the norm.  LOL  They didn't have running water and it was colder than dangit.  Paw Paw, or what ever they called him, left out with a gun over his should stating he was going after dinner.  That was the only time I have ever eaten ground hog and rightly don't remember it being good or bad.  During that same ordeal I had the opp to eat pigs feet, tail and tongue.  Amazing what you'll do when hungry, cold and forced to use an out house.  LOL

[longislandhunter]

I really enjoy them !! :)

Good tasting meat and plenty of it on a nice fat G-hog. 2 of my favorites are g-hog pot roast and g-hog stew. mmm mmm good :)

Jeff

[rdrce698]

Hey Jeff,
 Are you talking about those brown wierd looking little critters that are always along the L.I.E?
I will try just about anything but until recently have never even considered squirell pidgeon or groundhog, let alone the Long Island variety!!
I have enough pidgeons around here to eat well for a lifetime!! I  need to learn more about this. Its really interesting to me.
Pete

[30-06]

Hello Pete!! Ask Jeff(Longislandhunter) for a few recipes. He sure likes to cook stuff rolled in bacon. LOL!!!  

JOHAN

[longislandhunter]

Bacon????? Did I hear Bacon??????? I love Bacon !!!!!!!!

Seriously though,,,, I really do love bacon and critter dinners, but yes Pete,,,, what you're seeing on the E-way are groundhogs, also know as woodchucks. They really are delicious,,, even though I guess most hunters don't eat them. If you think about it all they really eat is grass, berries, nuts,,,, all clean, natural foods. As for the pigeons and squirrels,,,, also some mighty fine eating !!

Ya gotta give em a try :)

Jeff

[msasso]

If you are ever using ammo and gun you feel may be a little light you can opt for a certain shot. Most likely a chest shot to a fat woodchuck will send him running to die in his hole or his body fat will absorb the impact entirely. A head shot with a .177 should only be taken if you can slip it in the base of his skull or right behind the ear. If you take a dead on shot to the head with the woodchuck facing you, that pellet will have to pass through all the bone and tissue in the face and will most likley come to rest without touching the brain. This also holds true for racoons and foxes. Although, I would recommend a .22 caliber for any of these species.
With a .177 on woodchucks, try to keep your range around 20-25yds.

[Brushy Bill]

I have eaten many groundhogs, very tasty. We usually hunt them here ( Indiana) in June. They love soybean fields. And at that time of the year, you can get the younger ones, even more tasty.

[only1harry]

Well what kind of gun are you using?  You need to make sure you have enough kinetic energy to take down a groundhog with a .177 or .22 even if it's a head shot.  They do have a very big and thick skull and I would recommend getting up very close if you don't have a Magnum powered gun of at least 14ft-lbs or more.  Head shots to the skull usualy require a Magnum gun to penetrate deep (or all the way through).  I have found they die very quickly with neck shot or shots just slightly behind the ear because you can hit the spine and some large arteries that run through that area.  I have shot 2 groundhogs with between eye & ear skull shots but I use an Ultra-Magnum springer (350 .22).  One of them missed slightly and went into the ear..   The Crosman Premier 14.3gr went right through to my surprise at both 27 & 35yds.The next day I tried the same shot with a 21gr Kodiak at 32-33yds I think it was and it did the job but it did not penetrate the skull all the way through, but that's ok.  Double penetration is not needed but has to be "deep" penetration.  

Do not attempt any body or chest shots.  They are pretty much useless against groundhogs as if you took a quartering shot on a fox or coyote.  They will run down their burrow faster than you can blink after the jump up from the sting.

I prefer .22cal. (or larger) because of the bigger wound/damage area they inflict.  I would post the links to Tom Holzel's groundhog/woodchuck hunting but they are not working right now.   Tom Holzel is an experienced hunter and airunner and also Dr. Beemans personal friend.  I will post them if the links ever are active again.  He mainly talks about the difference the caliber choice makes in groundhog hunting and various techniques when hunting this large size small game quarry.