Finally got him

[Skip]

I have been stalking a goundhog in the garden for about three weeks now. He has been
into everything and has made a mess of it all. I’ve seen him munching away, but buy the time I get a gun he’s gone. Several times I got busted easing the window open.

Sunday I was working around the house. The first thing I did was open my window so I wouldn’t spook him again. I kept checking but he didn’t show.
 
Well to day I was off from work. As soon as everyone left for work and school I opened the window. My mission of the day was to get this critter. I put a fresh pot of coffee on and waited overlooking the garden.
I chose the CDT tuned Sk1 .177 with CHPs for the job. I never used it for anything that big before. According to Jeff with shot placement and keeping the range real she should do the job.
The wait continued for three cups of coffee, then I saw a flash of brown in the brush. I moved into position. Finally after a couple more minutes he pokes his head out of a bush to look around. I watched him thru the scope. He’s about 30 yards out (too far) I wait keeping him in the scope. Slowly he makes his way toward the garden stopping to look around every few steps. He’s getting closer now I try to settle the crosshair.
He starts munching on the string beans but now his head is behind a flowerpot. He’s having lunch and all I can do is wait. About now I realize my heart rate is up and hands are getting clammy.  Just what I need now a touch of buck fever.

As I take a few deep breaths to calm down he moves to the right. Ok he’s clear at about 18 yards and stops to look around. I settle down and put the crosshair between his eye and ear and squeeze the trigger. The shot seemed to spin him around, he rolled  onto his back. I reloaded and followed up with another to the noggin, it was over.
I would like to thank Jeff who gave me the confidence to even attempt this shot.
God I am still giggling about the whole experience, anyway here’s a photo.

SKIP

[Progun]

Congratulations Frank and boy he's a whopper too! Great pic and great story. Lot's of hunters here can appreciate your excellent markmanship and you probably saved your garden. Many years ago when I lived on a farm a single groundhog ruined approximatly 100 pumpkins over the course of just a few days.He'd gnaw on one and move to the next and so on until the whole patch was unmarketable.Incidentally groundhogs are good eating and they make a good taxidermy speciman when not shot up too bad.They are pure vegetarians and they have a lot of good meat. The smaller young ones are the best. LongIsland Hunter (Jeff) can tell you some good recipe's. Better keep your eyes open for another soon because gardens are a groundhog magnet.

[Crock Pot]

Well done!  I always think reading successful hunting stories like that is the next best thing to going hunting yourself

[Scruff_Dog]

nice shootin that thing is a monster.

[longislandhunter]

Hey Frank,,,,,

Congratulations on a fine shot,,,, outstanding,,,,,, that is one large garden muncher  !!!!
He won't be ruining any more vegetables :)

I really enjoyed your post,,, I felt like I was sitting there with you  :)

I'd keep that rifle ready though,,,,, where's there's one G-hog there's alway a couple more  :)

BTW...... G-hog pot roast is one of my favorite dishes,,,,, simple to make  and a treat to eat....  

Jeff

[gamo2hammerli]

Excellent story and hunt.

I've been trying to nail some grackles, starlings and crows that's been eating my just spread grass seeds....haven't been successful yet because I have to sit inside the sunroom and aim towards the door without the barrel sticking out (The neigbours would freak if they saw a gun barrel......)...that only gives me a 3 feet side to side range.  I got busted a few times by those birds......just a slight movement on my part....and they take off.  I think I'll need to put a couple of plants in front of me for coverage!!!!  Plus the "Buck Fever" you mentioned got the better of me a couple of times.  :o)  .....Inexperienced hunter.....

[ddmk6]

Nice, I could fell the anticipation, damn near as good as being there.  It will have to do for me, I'm stuck at work up on the north slope of Alaska for 2 more weeks, no guns, no women, no booze.

Nice shooting!!

Ken

[Skip]

Thanks guys but I have a corection to make. Upon closer inspection he is a she. Now I got to look out for the young and tender ones so they dont pick up where she left off.

[only1harry]

Nice shooting Skip and very good story.  I still get my heart rate up there when I put the crosshairs on an adult g-hog.  You hit the fuse box and he was a gonner after the 1st shot I 'm sure, but it's always good to follow up with another shot when dealing with g-hogs.  I know I 'm making it common practice with "my g-hogs" because I learned from my mistakes.  After I shot one a few weeks ago he got on his back and then started rolling around.  I stoot there watching him and after a few secs he just got back on all 4 and started running!  By the time I reloaded, he was down the hole.  

Are you in North Jersey?  I live in upstate NY and work in Jersey.  I 'm going to try and put a Fall hunt together (squirrel, racoon, crow, etc.) on some NY State land that I discovered near my house, after I survey it and see how the game is.  Let me know if you 're interested.  I 'm 40min. north of the NJ border (Bergen county).

Harry

[BillTheSlink]

Progun - 6/5/2008  3:17 AM

Congratulations Frank and boy he's a whopper too! Great pic and great story. Lot's of hunters here can appreciate your excellent markmanship and you probably saved your garden. Many years ago when I lived on a farm a single groundhog ruined approximatly 100 pumpkins over the course of just a few days.He'd gnaw on one and move to the next and so on until the whole patch was unmarketable.Incidentally groundhogs are good eating and they make a good taxidermy speciman when not shot up too bad.They are pure vegetarians and they have a lot of good meat. The smaller young ones are the best. LongIsland Hunter (Jeff) can tell you some good recipe's. Better keep your eyes open for another soon because gardens are a groundhog magnet.

I have to say I never got one with an air gun, but I love to shoot ol' whistlepig.  


I never did like them, but Grandpa loved them, even the brains; their meat is awfully dark.

If you do clean him, you had better hope he hasn't been in any clover.  Nothing smells worse than nicking the innards of a clover foundered groundhog.

The worst groundhog problem I ever had was up at our camp where we hunted every weekend and had a huge garden, Adams county OH; the place is loaded with them; never found anyplace that compared, even my trips to PA.  Anyway, we had one that realised we were after him so he turned nocturnal.  Lettuce, cucumbers, the whole nine yards, nibbled like Progun said.  Finally my Great Uncle put a 220 body gripper at the hole (not legal in OH to trap them, nor above 110 body grippers on land, but what are you going to do?)  This was like 13-15 years ago so I am sure the states not coming for us now. LOL

BillTheSlink