Pest control of the ground-dwelling kind..

[only1harry]

10am.  Finished giving my son a bath and breakfast and I 'm relaxing in my porch having coffee and a smoke when all of a sudden I spot some movement on the lawn 45+yds out.  I immediately go into stealth mode and get low approaching the window to take a better look.  There is no mistake about it, it's the large male groundhog I 've been spotting for the last 2-3 weeks and have been unsuccessful at getting a shot off at him after a couple of attempts.  I watched him for a couple of minutes while trying to come up with a strategy to approach him unseen since he was out in the open and so far away.  I needed to get within 25-30yds since my 350 is away and I only have a 14fpe gun to work with.  During these few minutes he kept walking farther away from his most remote burrow.  He managed to get completely on the opposite side of my shed about 20yds away from any known hole.  Great!  

I immediately sprint to my gun cabinet and take out the Diana 36 .177.  I load a 7.9gr CPHP and run to another window upstairs on the other side of the house closer to the groundhog and now I can't see him at all.  I estimate he is about 20yds behind the shed.  I go downstairs and come out the side entrance onto the driveway and slowly approach the shed always trying to keep the shed between him and myself.  I peak my head out on the left side and I can't see him.  I look around the other side and there he is munching away about 24-25yds out.  I adjust A/O and set mag. of the Bushy Legent at 13X.  I bring the 36 up to my shoulder but before it's completely there and I could put my eye behind the scope, he stands up and looks up straight at me.  I freeze while admiring his size about 2ft off the ground.  I 'm not leaning on the side of the shed yet and I 'm holding this gun straight out at chest level tyring not to move a muscle.  Half my body is exposed and he 's still looking straight at me getting nervous and sizing me up.  A minute later and I 'm getting tired.  The g-hog gets very low like a cat into the tall (uncut) grass and is slowly walking back towards his burrow crawling and laying low on the ground and very alert.  While he 's walking I pull myself back behind the shed.  I wait a few secs and take another peak.  He had stopped and was broadside looking towards my direction with his left eye.  I freeze again although only my head and part of my shoulder are exposed.  It seemed forever but he finally put his head down and started munching again not being able to resist my tall uncut grass and clovers.  I raise the 36 and put him in my crosshairs resting my left arm on the corner of the shed the best I could.  He 's looking real nervous now and turns and looks at me again as soon as I see him through the scope.  I freeze as I 'm looking at the crosshairs on his nose.  He makes another step, stops and puts his head up sideways looking in front of him but I could see that left eye looking my direction.  Perfect opportunity, it's now or never because he 's getting very nervous and heading towards the direction of his burrow.  He 's come a couple of yards closer but there 's no time to adjust the A/O.  Still looks clear enough.  I aim between eye and ear and squeeze the trigger.  I hear a pop or more like a crack and see the g-hog go down immediately.  No twitching no movement!  I reload quickly as my heart rate must be 150 and walk over.  His head is down and still no movement, with blood still flowing out the side of his head and nose onto the grass.  A few secs later as I 'm walking away to get the camera I turn around to look at him once more and I see his tail move once!  I ran back and put another CPHP on top of his head although I knew he was done, but didn't want to take any chances.  
He was a good size and I was very happy because he had eluded me for quite a while.  He has been a real challenge and worthy adversary.  
The CPHP had struck right where I was aiming with about 10ft-lbs of energy and exited out the right eye on the other side.  Another successful pest control hunt.  Besides, we can't let Jeff have the monopoly on g-hogs :-)
I felt a little sadness wondering if he was the last one I would see this year or for a while.  He was #8 this year..  I will miss the excitment, the challenge they present, and the adrenaline rush.

[Progun]

Way to go Harry!Great account and pic's to boot.Nice to know that while the Queens away the 'ol 36 with your skill of course can still get the job done.

[shadow]

Fine shot Harry and the pic's are fantastic, you all are really gettin after the G-hog's for sure.:) Ed

[only1harry]

Well you know what the say, when the cat's away the mice will play  :-)  

It still amazes me how a puny little 7.9gr pellet brings down the same 13-14lb g-hogs as the 350 used to with 14.3 or 21gr Kodiaks and ~10fpe more.  It's times like these when you appreciate the importance of shot placement, and all that practice and your marksmanship skills pay off.

[Scruff_Dog]

nice shootin you and that diana did a number on that critter.

[30-06]

Nice shooting there harry!!. You realy nailed that sucker.

[longislandhunter]

Outstanding shot, story and pics Harry.  Well done buddy  !!  That rifle sure is a beauty,,,, and clearly very deadly  :)

AS for  the G-hog population,,,,,, I'll bet you more show up in no time,,, they always seem to  :)

Keep up the fine work and keep posting the pics,,, I love it  !!

Jeff

[only1harry]

Thanks guys.  
You 're right Jeff!  It didn't take long.  Just spotted a young g-hog at that new hole I had posted pics of when I shot 4 young ones and their mother over the course of 2 days.  He must be a 5th sibling.  He is about twice the size now.  Looks like a 5 pounder (can you tell I fish too? hehe).  I guess I "missed" one.  They do grow pretty fast, I know that.  He was the smart one out of that whole family and kept a low profile for 3+ wks until today.  He was standing up right outside the burrow looking at me while I went and stood in front of the window looking for Grackles & Starlings and thinking that was a dead/abondoned burrow.  Silly me :-)   I decided to increase his chances and give him some time to grow up some more until he 's a challenge and I let him take a good look at me.  That burrow is within 25yds from the porch so I 'll be looking forward to finishing the vendetta with this g-hog family that I started, hopefully with the 350 when it arrives.  No loose ends!  :)

[gamo2hammerli]

That 34 got the job done!!!  Good hunting story and pics...

[only1harry]

Thanks Stan, but don't try to downgrade my 36 please! :-)  hehe just busting.. It's just a 34 with nicer wood and checkering.  It's all cosmetic.

[Timmyj1959@yahoo.com]

Hey Harry! Man I shure do LOVE your hunting storys & pics.!! Sorry for the late reply Buddy, I saw your post fri. at lunch before you had any replys,, but,, I had to jet right back to work. As usual Harry,, GREAT story & pics. my Friend!!  Tim.