Getting out of work on time was a first in a long time. I watch it rain very hard while eating dinner and then the sun popped back out. Drove to the sporting goods store and picked up my new hunting license. On my way home I saw several groundhogs out enjoying the change in weather. That was all I needed to see. I filled the gun with air, refilled my slug container and grabbed my orange hat and range finder.
The first property is essentially a 14 acre yard with cut grass that is surrounded by farm fields. The property owner has a big problem with groundhogs and wants them gone. As I rounded the pole barn I saw one groundhog at 50 yards. It was an easy offhand shot and he was done. Walking along the pond I saw 3 more groundhogs well past 100 yards. Using trees to block my stalk, I got to 104 yards. From a kneeling position I took a shot. He immediately fell over and his tail started the wag. I was amazed! The two others ran. Assuming they went into a nearby hole I continued a stalk. Then I spotted one on his mound. A quick range, dial, and offhand shot had him wagging his tail at 45 yards. A few more steps revealed the third groundhog looking in my direction. Ranged, dialed and fired at 75 yards with a solid hit and decent blood trail to his hole a few feet away.
I loaded the truck and headed to the second permission, a 100 acre farm with rolling hills. When I arrived I was pleased to see some crops had been harvested and new planting taken place. As I walked away from the truck I spotted 2 groundhogs. They were too far and I walked towards a woodline to cut the distance. They spotted me a few steps later and I knew they would head to their dens. I sat down and used the rangefinder on the closest one, at 174 yards. I dialed, sat down and had to use hold over hashes. The first slug was about a foot high. He must have heard it hit, because he stood up and looked in my direction. I adjusted my aim and tried to get as steady as I could. When I fired the second shot, the lighting was great, I could watch the slug as it started to drop. And then it disappeared dead center under the head between the front shoulders! I could hear the unmistakable thud as it hit. A few seconds later he made it into his hole. I checked and found a significant amount of blood and know he's dead, but I wasn't reaching down the hole to pull him out.
It's like I couldn't miss tonight. I've been hunting groundhogs for 34 years and this was one of the most memorable groundhog hunts. I know some will probably say I shouldn't shoot at that distance unless I know I can make a quick killing shot. But both of these property owners have had documented damage in the thousands of dollars and want them gone by any means possible. One of them rolled a tractor when he was planting and had to farm with an arm in a cast. I believe in making the cleanest kill possible, but he doesn't want me cherry picking shot opportunities either.
The bottom hog was the 104 yard shot.
The first property is essentially a 14 acre yard with cut grass that is surrounded by farm fields. The property owner has a big problem with groundhogs and wants them gone. As I rounded the pole barn I saw one groundhog at 50 yards. It was an easy offhand shot and he was done. Walking along the pond I saw 3 more groundhogs well past 100 yards. Using trees to block my stalk, I got to 104 yards. From a kneeling position I took a shot. He immediately fell over and his tail started the wag. I was amazed! The two others ran. Assuming they went into a nearby hole I continued a stalk. Then I spotted one on his mound. A quick range, dial, and offhand shot had him wagging his tail at 45 yards. A few more steps revealed the third groundhog looking in my direction. Ranged, dialed and fired at 75 yards with a solid hit and decent blood trail to his hole a few feet away.
I loaded the truck and headed to the second permission, a 100 acre farm with rolling hills. When I arrived I was pleased to see some crops had been harvested and new planting taken place. As I walked away from the truck I spotted 2 groundhogs. They were too far and I walked towards a woodline to cut the distance. They spotted me a few steps later and I knew they would head to their dens. I sat down and used the rangefinder on the closest one, at 174 yards. I dialed, sat down and had to use hold over hashes. The first slug was about a foot high. He must have heard it hit, because he stood up and looked in my direction. I adjusted my aim and tried to get as steady as I could. When I fired the second shot, the lighting was great, I could watch the slug as it started to drop. And then it disappeared dead center under the head between the front shoulders! I could hear the unmistakable thud as it hit. A few seconds later he made it into his hole. I checked and found a significant amount of blood and know he's dead, but I wasn't reaching down the hole to pull him out.
It's like I couldn't miss tonight. I've been hunting groundhogs for 34 years and this was one of the most memorable groundhog hunts. I know some will probably say I shouldn't shoot at that distance unless I know I can make a quick killing shot. But both of these property owners have had documented damage in the thousands of dollars and want them gone by any means possible. One of them rolled a tractor when he was planting and had to farm with an arm in a cast. I believe in making the cleanest kill possible, but he doesn't want me cherry picking shot opportunities either.
The bottom hog was the 104 yard shot.
