Groundhogs

[Garufa]

I was not aware that groundhogs could climb fences.  Never thought about it to be honest but I just saw one do that very thing in the back yard over a 4’ chain link fence and jump over to the neighbor’s side.

I need to sight in my rarely used pellet rifle but I doubt it would do much good at 25 yards.  Might have to go stalking if I see it again.  

[gary_boom]

They climb trees also. You need a bigger pellet rifle.

[Omega]

Yea, a couple years ago I was hunting when I seen one in a tree making his way down.  It took me a bit before my brain would allow me to connect that shape with a groundhog.

[Garufa]

13 minutes ago, Omega said:

Yea, a couple years ago I was hunting when I seen one in a tree making his way down.  It took me a bit before my brain would allow me to connect that shape with a groundhog.

My brain still can’t process groundhogs running around in trees, but in this day and age I’m not surprised anymore, lol.

[eRay]

I heard the neighbors dog barking up a tree a while back. I walked over to see what he was barking at and was greatly surprised to see a big groundhog about 30 feet up in the tree. First time I had ever seen one in a tree.

 

[owejia]

13 hours ago, Garufa said:

I was not aware that groundhogs could climb fences.  Never thought about it to be honest but I just saw one do that very thing in the back yard over a 4’ chain link fence and jump over to the neighbor’s side.

I need to sight in my rarely used pellet rifle but I doubt it would do much good at 25 yards.  Might have to go stalking if I see it again.  

They hunt hogs with pellet rifles. Good shot placement will get the job done with the pellet rifle. Eye or ear hole shot will solve the problem.

[Raoul]

48 minutes ago, owejia said:

They hunt hogs with pellet rifles. Good shot placement will get the job done with the pellet rifle. Eye or ear hole shot will solve the problem.

Who does? That's crazy.

[Chris]

11 minutes ago, Raoul said:

Who does? That's crazy.

I expect that's only for certain values of "pellet rifle" where x = a really big pellet moving really fast.

https://www.pyramydair.com/article/_50_Caliber_Dragon_Slayer_Air_Rifle_December_2007/45

[WFM]

Google it on youtube. Quite a few videos of hog hunting with pellet rifles, just not your typical Walmart pellet rifles.

[Omega]

I've been zeroing a Benjamin Titan NP in .22 and I have no doubt it can take on a groundhog, but I would limit it to under 30-40 yards or so. 

[E4 No More]

Where I was a cop we had several residences with HUGE gardens in town. Naturally, the large population of groundhogs were a problem, and there was an ordinance against discharging firearms in the town. Since I was the designated sniper for my PD, part of my job was to go around town sniping groundhogs with my Ruger 10/22. The groundhog's skull is surprisingly strong. I had to use the hottest available round at the time - which were Remington Vipers - to kill them beyond about 30 yards. I can't imagine using a pellet gun for the task. Of course, today's pellet guns are a lot strong than they were in early 1990's.

I've seen groundhogs jump several feet high and climb fences, but never saw them climb trees. I have no doubts that they can. I'm also seen them stand and fight like a raccoon when a dog comes too close.

[Ronald_55]

2 hours ago, Chris said:

I expect that's only for certain values of "pellet rifle" where x = a really big pellet moving really fast.

https://www.pyramydair.com/article/_50_Caliber_Dragon_Slayer_Air_Rifle_December_2007/45

They make .50 air rifles that some people deerhunt with.

[Alleycat72]

I use a suppressed 5.56.

[10-Ring]

I killed one with a Daisy Eagle when I was a kid.  It was in our garden and paid me little attention.  I shot it between the eyes at about 10 feet.  It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done.

[TomInMN]

On 10/9/2019 at 2:13 PM, 10-Ring said:

I killed one with a Daisy Eagle when I was a kid.  It was in our garden and paid me little attention.  I shot it between the eyes at about 10 feet.  It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done.

 You just made my day.

[DaveTN]

I'm getting a live trap today from my BIL. I have a big Groundhog in may yard. And for being fat he can move pretty fast. My Doberman has almost caught him a couple of times; I don't want that to happen.

 

[10-Ring]

6 hours ago, TomInMN said:

 You just made my day.

You would have thought I'd killed a buck of unheard of proportions when I got that groundhog.  I was pretty proud of myself. 

[TomInMN]

8 hours ago, 10-Ring said:

You would have thought I'd killed a buck of unheard of proportions when I got that groundhog.  I was pretty proud of myself. 

I can imagine! Were your friends suitably impressed?

[DaveTN]

On 10/12/2019 at 3:46 PM, DaveTN said:

I'm getting a live trap today from my BIL. I have a big Groundhog in may yard. And for being fat he can move pretty fast. My Doberman has almost caught him a couple of times; I don't want that to happen.

 

This is what I found this morning, I figured this would happen. I have a large Pecan tree in my backyard. The groundhog I was trying to catch was sitting off to the side eating nuts and watching the show.

[Erik88]

Maybe the picture is making it look smaller but is that cage even big enough for a ground hog? 

[TomInMN]

5 minutes ago, Erik88 said:

Maybe the picture is making it look smaller but is that cage even big enough for a ground hog? 

They say the camera adds ten pounds. I'm betting that squirrel looks much bigger than it actually is...

[DaveTN]

The trap is 10" wide 12" tall 32" long

[Slappy]

Got one on the run a year or two ago out at our farm. I’ve nearly broken my legs stepping in their holes before while walking to the deer stand in the early morning. 

[A516]

We have a small groundhog that runs across the backyard a lot.  Lately he has moved to the front yard and is eating some broad leaf weeds that grow in the cracks around raised flower bed stonework.  He is getting rid of the weeds better than a string trimmer.

[DaveTN]

I’ve caught two squirrels; man, they get down right pizzed off. This guy wasn’t very happy either. But still no Groundhog.