Author Topic: Anyone still hunt woodchucks????????? (Read 9548 times)

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **on:** February 09, 2010, 07:43:51 AM »

With all the noise about coyote rifles, and the interest in prairie dog shooting,
anyone still like to shoot woodchucks...

?? Until I was 25 this was my favorite game...While today, coyotes probably get the number 1 spot, I still miss the summer fields and woodchuck shooting...Did a bit 2 years ago, this summer doesn't look promising either...Anyone still shoot these critters...?? What rifles have you tried, what calibers do you use now,and what is your average range...

?? What is your longest shot on a chuck and what was the caliber?

bobg · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2010, 09:01:42 AM »

I still hunt woodchucks. Getting hard to find a place to hunt. I use my 22-250. Shots are usually between 100 and 300 yards. I have a Ruger 204 that i am going to try this summer.
bobg

randy_68 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2010, 09:24:49 AM »

I have an abandoned farm that I shoot woodchucks at. BUT I use my PCP air rifles. All my shots have been under 30 yards and head shots drop them dead. I did lose the first couple with body shots so I don't take those anymore. I shot 15 in the last two years, getting four at a time on two occasions. I'm still after the grandmaster hog as he is pretty sneaky and I haven't got a shot at him yet. Here is a pic of the last two I got, a momma and a little one.

Swift One · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2010, 12:05:30 PM »

Alive and well. We got a few spots that produce em year after year. I use a 223. My shots are usually between 50 and 300. I am seriously considering trying a 204 barrel on my handi this year though.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2010, 12:35:21 PM »

I would if I could but we really don't have all that many around here and I have no private land access anyway and for sure there are none I'm aware of on public lands I could hunt. It's a rare year I even see one down here and when I do it's normally on the side of US431 on my way to Anniston and I sure can't shoot on the roadside bank off one of the busiest highways in the area.

Nope just no opportunity here otherwise I'd sure do so if I could.

Hairtrigger · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2010, 12:47:36 PM »

Plenty of farmers in my area want people to shoot on their land. It is not uncommon for me to be sitting along a road glassing a ditch bank and a local farmer will stop and invite me to his property

varmintman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2010, 01:17:14 PM »

I still do when I can but I live in the state game area now and not where there are alot of hayfields. Had a coyote hunter in my area the other day who heard of me and and invited me to hunt his farm around where I used to live and he took my name and phone# so when the season starts maybe I'll be at it again. I shoot a 22mag, 223 and a 6mm rem., depends on the range of the shot. Dan

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2010, 01:21:28 PM »

I would rather hunt woodchucks than anything else! I started in 1964 and still do it when I can. But there us less available land to hunt and the 'chucks are getting scarce due to coyote activity. Here in Central New York state there were effectively no coyotes in 1964, but there are plenty now. One set of fields that I used to hunt always had plenty of chucks, but in the last 10 years I have only seen one. While the farmer and I were talking a few years ago, a coyote sauntered thru the field and didn't even pay any attention to us. There is more posted land now and more houses. Roads that had no houses on them in the 60's now have enough to the point of not being able to get far enough from one to legally shoot.

The previously mentioned fields are now posted due to new ownership. I still have a couple of farms to hunt that have quite a number of 'chucks available. Good landowner relations has always been the key to having available hunting land. Just the other day I was given a lead to a farm than might be huntable. I stopped by and talked with the farmer for a bit and got permission to coyote hunt, I didn't see any, but I saw him when I was leaving and we had another conversation. When I mentioned woodchucks, he was very enthusiastic about giving me permission. He even offered to pay me! I'm not going to take up that offer, but will sure try to develop a good relationship with him this year.

My 'chuck hunting methods have changed over the years due to having less land available and therefore shorter ranges. Also, I really don't want to get the natives all riled up with a superboomer caliber. I used to use a Remington 700 in .22-250, but ran out of places where the range capability was needed. Sinjce then, my "long-range" calibers have been the .223 and .17 Remington. I find myself using my Contender carbines in .17 HRM and .22 Hornet most of the time. With the .17 HRM, the noise is low and the range is adequate for most places I hunt. I just picked up a .204 Ruger Contender carbine at the T/C Classifieds here at GBO, and plan to try it out this year on the longer fields.

calling4life · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2010, 05:04:02 PM »

I will shoot anything that moves, woodchuck, beaver, porcupine, muskrat, raccoon, fox, coyote, MT. Lion, I am an equal opportunity shooter.

But I can honestly say I haven't had many opportunities for shooting these guys, only a couple in my life so far.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2010, 07:20:50 PM »

I took 60 Groundhogs durring the summer a couple years ago here in sw Pa. I was using a Remington 700 Sps Varmint 243. Most of my shots were between 100 and 300 yards or so but I have taken a couple out to about 500 yards. I don't have that rifle anymore.

I did buy a Marlin 917V in the 17 HMR a few months ago and plan on using it this summer until I can buy another Remington 243. We have a lot of them around here and I live in a very rural area with fields for miles. I have several farms I am allowed to hunt. I just can't wait for spring.

Dale

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2010, 03:38:05 AM »

Dale that country has some great chuch shooting...Several years ago I met a guy at the Pitt. Gunshow that had shot over 400 chucks that year...His weapon of choice was a 40 x Rem. in .30-338!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!He had 4 of them with 6-24 B & L scopes on them...This guy was serious...he was building a .2506 FOR CLOSE SHOTS......

mjbgalt · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2010, 04:02:31 AM »

i don't normally go out just to shoot groundhogs. but they are a target of opportunity, if i see one and i have gun with me, i am going to shoot it.

i have probably only shot a dozen or so in the last few years. i try to use a different gun when i can. so far i have .17HMR, .243, 6.5x55, .22-250, .204, .22 LR.

wanted to whack one with the .25-06 but haven't seen one yet...

btw the .243 with the 60 grain hollowpoint at the speed of light is a nasty mess when you go see the hog. lol

the 6.5x55 just unzipped it, pretty yucky looking too...used a deer bullet for that.

buffgun · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2010, 04:08:00 AM »

When I was a kid growing up in up stste NY I used to chuck hunt all summer with my marlin model 57 .22 mag ! 100 yd shots where nothing ! We used to par boil them then bake them in apple sauce yum yum ! I saw some last summer in a field here in Ga so I might try to find out who owns the field and try to hunt them !

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2010, 06:02:49 AM »

Last year I shot 10 chucks in one day an 2 farms. I was very surprised since I haven't done that well since the early 80's, and the chucks are a lot scarcer. One was with a .243 with a 58 gr. V-Max. It really did a job on it.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2010, 06:05:39 AM »

Yea I was using 58 GR Vmax out of my 243 and it sure did a job on them at any range. Dale

375supermag · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2010, 10:25:26 AM »

Hi...
I haven't hunted groundhogs seriously for quite a few years.
Back in the late '60s-early '70s, I used to hunt them in western Pennsylvania with a .22 rifle...had a couple of farmers that would pay me 50 cents a piece for dead groundhogs. Kept a teenage boy in spending money.

I have done an occassional groundhog hunt since then, but nothing more than once of twice a year.

However, after Feb.2nd, when that little rodent Punxatawney Phil predicted 6 more weeks of winter and we promptly got one snow storm with 31" of snow and a couple days later, another with 15-18" of snow with some drifts of 6-8 ft, I have decided to retaliate.

This summer there will be no safe groundhog in southcentral Pennsylvania...I am going to wage war on the little so-and-so's. I am dead serious...I am going to start stocking up on ammunition for my 7mm Mag, 25-06 and 22Mag. Groundhogs everywhere will tremble at the mere mention of my name. I don't care what it takes, I am going to extract my revenge on any groundhog foolish enough to lift his buck-toothed head up out of his burrow.

They will rue the day that they provoked me!

bobg · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2010, 11:22:35 AM »

My grandmother use to cook the ones i shot in the hay field behind there house. The big ones she gave to her neighbor. She would keep the younger ones. Don't remember now how she cooked them but they were good. Haven't ate one in close to fifty years now.

Ethan · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2010, 04:32:09 PM »

I killing whistle pigs every summer I am out there trying to kill them

I use a Tikka 595. 243 win. Nikon Monarch 5.5X16.5 a Weatherby Vangaurd 257 wetherby mag. Leopld VX III and a Browning T-bolt 17 H.M.R. Leopld VX I 3X9

all these guns kill them dead. Most my shots are 50 yards to 300 yards.

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2010, 04:55:47 PM »

Haven't seen many lately. Used to love woodchuck hunting. Still remember the first (you never forget your first). But where I hunt in upstate NY it seems woodchucks have become an endangered species. 20 years ago I could see half a dozen in our 40 acres of hay fields on a nice summer evening after hay was off. Now you see none. Coyotes? Probably.

Savage_99 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2010, 05:06:30 PM »

Its February and chucks are still in the ground around here in New England. On top of that coyotes are new here and they have wiped out the chucks. There are books written about chuck hunting by Estey and Landis etc. and it was one of my favorite hunts.

I miss the woodchucks.

Connecticut's chuck season starts 3-15.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2010, 05:31:12 PM »

Quote from: Ethan on February 13, 2010, 04:32:09 PM

I killing whistle pigs every summer I am out there trying to kill them I use a Tikka 595. 243 win. Nikon Monarch 5.5X16.5 a Weatherby Vangaurd 257 wetherby mag. Leopld VX III and a Browning T-bolt 17 H.M.R. Leopld VX I 3X9 all these guns kill them dead. Most my shots are 50 yards to 300 yards.

Hi Ethan. I see you are a Steelers fan also. I live in Scottdale Pa about 50 miles or so se of Pittsburgh. Where do you live? Dale

Leatherstocking · « **Reply #21 on:** February 14, 2010, 02:22:45 AM »

Quote

Its February and chucks are still in the ground around here in New England.

Of course the same is true here in NY. When I said "lately" I was referring to the last 10-15 years.

docmagnum357 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2011, 07:15:28 AM »

I shot a bunch of them one summer when i had permission to hunt a big farm near my house. that has been twenty years ago. I used a 7mm mag with 120 grain nosler ballistic tips. Longest shot was about 425 yards. I will confess it was luck. usually we shot them between 200 -350 yards.

As far as eating them, I like Groundhog. I shot one on the farm with my Detective special, and we cooked it. A lot like pot roast, with all the same vegetables, and, gues what, it tasted about like pot roast! I now have a .243 and a 8x57 I am playing with a lot, so maybe I can report back on how an 8x57 with Ball kills them. I am hoping dead right there with out the spatter of a 7 mag or .243. Both of tose calibers are a little hard on meat, to say the least.

Ethan · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2011, 12:48:47 PM »

Quote from: DALESCARPENTRY on February 13, 2010, 05:31:12 PM

Quote from: Ethan on February 13, 2010, 04:32:09 PM
I killing whistle pigs every summer I am out there trying to kill them I use a Tikka 595. 243 win. Nikon Monarch 5.5X16.5 a Weatherby Vangaurd 257 wetherby mag. Leopld VX III and a Browning T-bolt 17 H.M.R. Leopld VX I 3X9 all these guns kill them dead. Most my shots are 50 yards to 300 yards.
Hi Ethan. I see you are a Steelers fan also. I live in Scottdale Pa about 50 miles or so se of Pittsburgh. Where do you live? Dale

I live in Chambersburg PA 85-90 miles soulth east

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2011, 01:13:30 PM »

I can't wait for chuckin' time. Last year was an OK year considering the lower numbers of chucks available. I received permission to hunt 2 new farms and did OK on one with a 325 yd. shot with the .204 Contender barrel I bought here last year. I also was pleased with my Savage 24V in .222/ 20 ga. with 4 chucks on one woodchuck safari. I am hunting coyotes, but they aren't cooperating and I much prefer the weather during woodchuck "season".

M700 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 04, 2011, 03:55:20 PM »

Do western "rockchucks" count?

I use a .22 Marlin, or a .204 Ruger/CZ rifle mostly, but also use a .25-06 or a .308 from time to time. My son favors his old 6mm Remington:

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #26 on:** February 05, 2011, 03:27:03 AM »

I used to really enjoy popping groundhogs. They really became scarce the last few years. I've been seeing more lately so I'm planning on getting a few this summer. Best day is floating a river, wetting a line, WITH a cold beverage while watching holes in the bank. 22 mag or 22 Hornet at the ready. Priceless

Swift One: What kind and where did you get the forearm for your H&R? Also what scope/reticle is that and how does it preform? Thanks

Halwg · « **Reply #27 on:** February 05, 2011, 04:51:38 AM »

I've tried recently to get access to some farms to hunt woodchucks, but nobody likes the idea of me shooting rifles across their pastures or meadows. So if I could find a place to hunt them I would, but none of the public land I hunt has many, if any, groundhogs.

Ron 1 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 05, 2011, 05:19:08 AM »

i dont think he seen his shadow so it might be a little while for me yet.
but when he/she pokes its head up i hope to be there with the 22-250
this year could be a blast for me as me son is now old enuff to hunt them too

rw

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #29 on:** February 05, 2011, 07:46:03 AM »

Get that boy huntin groundhogs. You'll both have a great time. That was some of the most fun I had when I was younger.