Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Trapping Groundhog/woodchucks????

They have dug underneath my tractor barn and garage but we never see them. When are they most active?
How do you trap them? What do you use?

Of course the 22 mag is by the door but you cannot shoot what you don't see
Thanks

Trap staked right in front of the hole, then the mag, Sounds like it might be skunks or some other nocturnal animal though, if it was a woodchuck you would've seen it....

hav a heart,little bit of lettuce or fruit in and you can take em down the road and drop off.
or the mag

Woodchucks are not active at night. Usually for about 2 hours before dark is when they are active for sure.

what size trap do you recommend

A leg hold 1.5 will work....

A 160 Coni would do a nice job right behind the ears.

A #11 will hold them too.

a bodygripper .....5" up to 7" depending on the size of the hole. Stake it away from the hole to make sure they don't go down the hole after being caught. I have caught hundreds like that.

I wouldnt be setting a body grip up on the home front if you have cats/dogs that you like.

if i need to rid something from around the house I usually use a live trap like the suggested havaheart.

You might not, but how many groundhogs do you catch?

I catch dozens every year, all in properly set bodygrippers and have never caught so much as a feral cat in one, and they are everywhere.

The trap needs to be fit into the lip of the whole and not just laid on top. Obviously don't set them where kids play.

Just wondering how you made out with those critters?

I'd try some apple and if that doesn't work some bread and peanut butter in a Hav-A-Hart trap.

As far as when they're active, I would say usually during the day but, I have evidence they're occasionally out at night though I haven't seen them in the flesh. As far as time of day, around here, I would say more in the morning the but last ones I saw were in the evening (one of them met its demise with my 308).

Be patient and keep the gun handy. Make sure you know where it hits at the range you might shoot from. If you check regularly, you'll probably see one eventually.

Use a 280 conibear. Works every time and kills them instantly.

Have purchased traps and replaced the 22 mag with the 243 Sako

Poconojack

We have cemented over a couple of holes but during the last week new holes have been dug.
I have two Labs so I have not put traps out till now.
I went to Gander Mountain and bought two types of traps and will learn how to set them this week.
My Labs will be on a leash for a while when they are out, mainly they are in the house or travel with me.

Now your talking