Anybody doing any woodchuck (groundhog) hunting?
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<br>So far this year my varmint hunting partner and myself have killed 48 "chucks". This week, so far, has been very good. This past Monday my buddy killed 4 and I killed 3, Tues he killed 4, Weds I killed 6. My kills were between 200 and 450 yards and since he is using his 17 Mach 4 his kills have been between 50 and 200 yards.
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<br>He uses a 25gr berger bullet. It is amazing how that little bullet tears up a woodchuck. One he hit at 150 yards this past Monday ended up in 2 peices. I use a 52gr berger bullet out of my 22 CHeetah MK 1 at 4280 FPS. Last night I killed one at a measured 392 yards. There is no concernable lag in time for that bullet to get there. Even at 500 yards the bullet gets there long before I can recover from the slight recoil to see the hit.
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<br>I hope all of you are having success in killing varmints.
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<br>Don

Very cool donknows, Around my area (Nebraska) we don't have many chucks. Mostly crow, coyote, and pigeons are the only thing I know of. I assume you find the chucks in hay fields and alike. I am just starting to build on my varmiting rigs A Savage FP Tactical in 223. Then I will be pursuing some varmits. Take Care. Esox357

Congrats! DonKnows - Thats some good numbers. G'hogs and hunting areas are getting somewhat scarce, (I'll try to not to go into my previous post) and I was discourgaged but I got my 10th one tonight!. I think the heat spell we had drove them in for a short time(central bluegrass of KY) & I've probably passed up (not safe to shoot) at least twice that number. But as said, they are starting to get scarce, except in the city. Keep us posted as I would like to hear about your success. Good Luck and good shooting!!

Esox,
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<br>Many years ago about all we hunted was cut hay fields. I started hunting the farm I now deer hunt on about 15 or so years ago. They raise beans (soy beans) and corn and a small amount of potatos. (700 acres total). Once the bean plants come up the chucks move into the fields like flies over _ _ _ _ (well, you know the last word there).
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<br>There seems to be a lot of chucks this year, for some reason. There is one field (not more then 35 acres) that we have killed 14 chucks out of and we know there are more in that field. I would venture a guess that 1/2 of the bean plants have been eaten down to the ground. They are about 4" high right now in the parts of the field where the chucks haven't been, yet. That field was re-planted yesterday since there wasn't going to be much of a crop. We will keep pounding the chucks as much as possible for several reasons. The owner of that farm has allowed us to place permanent, free standing elevated stands for the purpose of varmint control and for deer hunting. The more chucks we kill, the more crops will grow to maturity and the better the harvest for the farmer - as long as mother nature co-operates. Chuck holes tear up farm equipment.
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<br>We have written permission to drive onto any property that farmer owns and/or leases. We are the only ones with written permission. When the son of the owner sat with us one night and watched us kill woodchucks to 550 yards he knew we were serious about our varmint hunting. We enjoy varmint hunting, plus it is good practice. It is a "win - win" situation for both the farmer and for us.
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<br>There should be opportunities for at least another 30 to 40 kills on that one peice of property (460 acres) before the beans get so high that we won't be able to see the chucks.
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<br>The farmer has other peices of property as well. We will keep the pressure on as much as possible.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Red,
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<br>Thanks for the possitive input.
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<br>I fully understand not being able to shoot because it isn't safe. Most of the property we hunt is relatively flat. Some of the fields have just enough "rise and fall" to make it difficult to see much further than 300 yards (on fields that are over 800 yards across). Then there are houses and such in the woods. Obviously we don't shoot in the direction of any structures. Because we are rather effective in killing off so many chucks the farmer that owns the property has allowed us to install elevated free standing stands. These stands are used for varmint and deer hunting. Because the land is relatively flat the elevated stand allows us to see more area and hence be more effective in killing the chucks.
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<br>We get phone calls all the time form the farmer, his wife, his sons as to where they see the most active holes. Afterall, they plant the fields, so they know where the holes are more so then we do. We don't walk the fields because we don't want to step on crops.
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<br>There are some fields where it just isn't possible to set up and shoot in a safe direction (due to structures around). In those fields the farmer uses "varmint bombs". They stuff the "bombs" down the holes and "try" to plug off the holes, hoping to kill the chucks. It really isn't all that affective.
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<br>It is an ongoing battle.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Last Monday night I was he spotter for DK.He spotted the chuck first and I had to reposition the spotting scope to get on the little bugger.While we were monkeying around trying to get ready to take the shot Don got distracted.I called out that there were two chucks.What I meant to say was that there were two chucks inline.As I was spotting them
<br>one would pop up facing away and then another would pop up facing us.Here were 2 Woodchuck close togeather INLINE!Don did not see the one behind the other.He pulls the trigger and no more chuck.We walk down there 147 yards and there lay two dead woodchucks.Dons first double. YAHOO!!!
<br>Dave

Dave was and still is more excited about the double kill them I am.
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<br>The both of us were out this afternoon and I managed to kill another 4 chucks. That makes 52 between Dave and myself, so far this season. One in particular was really cool. It popped its head out of its hole, just for a few seconds. By the time I got on it, down it went. It was close, only about 175 yards. It did pop its head back up about an hour later and I quietly got on it. All I had was about 2 1/2" of it's head for an aiming point. I put the dot right in its left ear and squeezed. Once we called it a night we always check the chucks. Kind of sick I know, but we never said we weren't sick puppies, lol. The bullet did enter its ear and blew about 75% of its head clean off. What really struck us as funny was that its 2 top buck teeth were laying on the ground a foot or so away from the rest of what was left of it. No dentist needed,
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<br>If the weather co-operates we will be back out Monday afternoon (Sunday hunting isn't legal here).
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<br>Don

Great!! You guys are really having fun!! I have one 'double' on a g'HOG's - several years ago - I had 2 of them sunning themselves side by side on a haybail. Took them both with a .22-250- one shot. But now I hunt with a .223 (noise factor) - usually no exit (safety factor).
<br>I think you need a new goal to shoot for (pun intended -grin) are you VHA members ? 500 Club?? I made it last year. Good Shooting!!!!!!!!!!!

Good shooting - on the double.
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<br>I have heard a lot from people that don't beleive what that 22 bullet can do to animals. Obviously from people that never used them. On the 2 I killed (with 1 bullet) it went clean through both chucks. The second chuck was just as torn up as the first one.
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<br>My buddy Dave is a VHA member. If I was when I killed one at 660 yards a couple of years back I guess I could of been in that club.
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<br>We shoot them for the practice and to help out the farmers. I am not into it for any type of recognition.
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<br>It is enjoyable.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Evening DONKNOWS >> Hit the rockchucks this last weekend with the brother. Little buggers were everywhere. Nine taken in all from 160 - 460 yds. He was giving his new .223 it's first real test run. I was using my .243 with two loads. One using a 55 gr. Ballistic Tip at just over 4200 fps and the other using a 75 gr. Hollow Point at around 3700 fps. Both worked well.
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<br>We're also members of the VHA and shooting for the 500 and 1000 yd. clubs. Gonna load up an 80 gr. BT in the .243 to improve on the consistency and the 500 yd. club should be fairly routine. That 1000 yd. one will be a bit more challenging ;o) . Got a Sendero project in the works right now with the 1000 yd. goal in mind. Anyway, congrats on your success. Later. >> klallen

Congrats on the rockchucks,
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<br>If I may inquire, what is your load that pushes a 55gr bullet out of a 243 at 4200 plus? Whats the barrel length and barrel contour?
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<br>Since my last post we are now up to 56 dead chucks.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

DONKNOWS >> You surely can inquire. The rifle is the basic, M77 Mark II VT. No changes, as far as barrel length and contour, have been made. Still 26" and the factory contour. Just a little tweeting of that trigger.
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<br>I use 48.5 grs. of Varget started with a Federal primer. I had a MAX load established using 49 grs. of Varget that showed no signs of pressure in cooler weather. Velocities averages 4289 fps. Sadly, little of my serious varminting takes place in cool temperatures so I had to pull it back that 1/2 a gr. Velocities sit right around that 4220 fps level now.
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<br>I do think I am going to lean towards the slower, heavier bullet in the .243. The 55's certainly give a dramatic kill, but the consistency of something a little heavier appeals to me right now. Chat with you later. >> klallen

Klallen,
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<br>4220 FPS, WOW, thats moving right along.
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<br>One thing we notice is when we shoot a chuck at 500 or so yards it doesn't take the bullet long to get there. I push a 52gr bullet at 4280. There is no noticable lag of time at all like there would be with, lets say and 06. I like the flat shooters since it allows for less elevation adjustments. As an example, out to 200 yards I don't make any vertical adjustments at all and at 300 yards I adjust 1" high at 100 to be on at 300. We use a range finder to determine distances and even if we are off by 50 yards we still get the elevation right because the drop difference in that 50 yard error wouldn't really matter,,,,till we got out past 600 yards.
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<br>I wish you well on your varmint hunting,
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<br>Don

I really have enjoyed reading this woodchuck discussion. My favorite chuck rifle is a Winchester High Wall chambered in .219 K-Zipper. I have others in .243 and a .224 wildcat with a 26" bbl, 1-9 twist and a case that holds 51 grains of 4831. I use the 69 gr Matchking most of the time in it.
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<br>Chuck hunting is some of the best real rifle hunting that I have ever done. It's real marksmanship.

As of last Saturday our new total for the year now stands at 71 chucks sent to visit their maker, lol.
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<br>Have fun guys,
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<br>Don

Hey! Your the one having Fun!!!! GRIN!!!!!! 2 tonight, but a total of 13 pales in comparison. BTW - got my first one with the .17 HMR Ruger, 50 yards, dropped like a rock. Other I had to use .223 @ 255 yards, windy.
<br>Keep us posted!!

Red,
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<br>Congrats on the kill with the 17.
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<br>As of last Saturday our combined total for the year now stands at 93 chucks sent to see their maker
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<br>Hopefully we will break 100. Never have in the past. Two years ago we killed 97 and that was our best year. Last year was kind of slow, we killed 47.
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<br>Have a good one, and keep killing those varmints.
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<br>Don

Last Thursday evening (in 2 hours) I killed 9 woodchucks out of a 15 acre field. My wife was my spotter. It was a really good night. Most kills were between 200 and 420 yards. All nice and close.
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<br>Last Friday night I used Dave7mm's rifle (22 CHeetah MK 1) instead of mine because I ran out of ammo Thursday night. Which reminds me, I have to reload 60 rounds. In any case I spotted a woodchuck along the edge of the field, about 300 yards out. There was a slight rise in the field then it dropped back off to the edge of the woods. All I could see, on and off, was the top of its back. I kept loosing sight of it, I would see it for a few seconds, then it would disappear again. After watching it for about an hour I decided, I am going to "try" the shot. All I had in view was about 1 1/2" of its back, broadside. I put the dot right in the middle of its back and touched the trigger. I didn't say squeeze the trigger cause you don't squeeze a four ounce trigger. When we walked up to it we found that the bullet went thru, breaking its back. It did try to get up and go but when you break them in half it is tough for them to go anywhere, lol.
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<br>As we (Dave and myself) where watching that chuck Dave had to listen to my constant cussing of his blurry Leupold scope, lol. Man that thing is really blurry compared to my 6 to 24 X 50 Swarovski I have on my 22 CHeetah MK 1. I should add for those that don't know, I shake a LOT, so it is difficult for me to see thru a scope that is so eye critical, which his Leupold 24X BR scope is. My Swarovski on the other hand is not anywhere near as eye critical and my scope is much sharper and brighter. You DO get what you pay for with quality optics.
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<br>Off to reload ammo,,,,,,,going out tonight to kill more "chucks".
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<br>Have a good one all,
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<br>Don
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My buddy and I drove up to Vermont on July 10th to hunt chucks or more precisely to look for chucks. We never saw even one!
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<br>We went to a field that used to have chucks and even the remains of the dens have collapsed and filled in. We drove back to CT on R22. That's all dairy farm country. We did not even see one chuck there either.
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<br>I have not shot a chuck this year.
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<br>I have little use for my varmint rifles. For some varmint hunting a game rifle is just as good.

So did you use the AO to focus ? Were the lenses dirty ?
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<br>Leupolds are not dark and blurry.

Conrad,
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<br>Yes I used the AO and no the lens are not dirty. Compared to my Swarovski 6 to 24 X 50 scope my buddys 24X BR Leupold is in fact "unclear" and it is very eye critical.
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<br>Those are the facts, nothing more, nothing less.
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<br>Don

The latest total now stands at 96, only 4 more to go to reach that 100 mark.
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<br>This Saturday we (Dave and myself) are in for a special treat. Boyd Heaton - a bench rest shooter from Williamsport, PA (1022 yards) is comming up to hunt "chucks" with us. We are not going to hunt chucks this week, only scout, to offer Boyd the best places to kill woodchucks to 1200 yards. Boyd is bringing up all of his necessary equipment and his 300 RUM and he has a special set-up with a video camera that can obtain a 100X zoom. We will get to play back the KILLS,
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Don,I can't wait.....I just loaded some 125gr Sierra's to try....I might come up early,(around noon)if that's o.k.?Let me know .......

Boyd,
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<br>Dave and myself surely enjoyed your company yeasterday.
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<br>We had a good time talking guns, checking out your little guns, especially that little 46lb rifle.
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<br>The report: We saw about 15 woodchucks during the day. I am sure some of the "spottings" where the same chucks. The one place where Boyd could set-up and shoot 1200 yards was not a good option since the mirage was so bad (mid -day). We saw so many chucks out in a harvested oat field that we never did go back to the field wereby Boyd could shoot to 1200 yards. The longest shot taken was a mere 450 yards - in that harvested oat field. We confirmed 5 kills and 2 others were hit but not hard enough that they did crawl/limp off into some high weeds - we didn't find them. I doubt they survived.
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<br>Boyd did get some shots on video. It made it rather difficult in that Boyd had to first set up the video camera then go back to the bench, locate the chuck and shoot it hoping it didn't move out of frame before he shot.
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<br>Dave was the spotter with the Swaorvski spotting scope and I glassed with the Swarovski binocs but I actually saw more chucks with my naked eyes then I did using binocs. Its nice to have such good vision
<br>Dave would get the distance using the Leica Geovids.
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<br>We all had an enjoyable and productive day. We enjoyed checking out Boyd's rifles, especially BOOMER. lol. Boyd's "Big Ugly" as he calls it weighs 46 lbs and it just fits across the back seat of Daves Tahoe. Dave took a picture of me holding it - offhand - and I will pass along that picture as soon as we get the film developed and scanned.
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<br>When that 240gr Match King hits the top of a woodchuck mound the PUFF of dust flying is about 10 feet in diameter. There is absolutely no doubt where the bullet hits, lol.
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<br>All in all we had a good time and we hope Boyd (and anybody else that wants to come over) is able to kill some more or our 2 gazzilion woodchucks we have around here.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Don,Two GAZZILION....I think that's an understatement.Let me know when I can come back.I'll video and you guy's can shoot.I hope you can make it next weekend.You will see alot of neat stuff...Let me know if you are gonna make it.And I'll look for you.....Thank's again......

Don, please send me your E-mail address - I have a few questions for you regarding a custom rifle project that I have in mind. My E-mail is coco132@cox-internet.com GuyG

Don, I'd like your's and Dave's e-mail also. [email][email protected]...[/email]

Guy,
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<br>Feel free to post your questions here, on the forum. There are a lot of very experienced people about that can help you - no doubt.
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<br>If you would like - send me a "Private Message" and I will respond in kind.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Boyd,
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<br>You already saw - with your own eyes - what woodchucks do to oat fields. As I drove you around yesterday I am sure you saw several other (unharvested) oat fields. You already know what that means. As soon as the nursery harvests those fields, we will be in there. So, if you and anybody else wants to come over again, thats fine with us. Dave and I can shoot - if you like - and you can run the camera's. You already saw - first hand - that these chucks don't stay out very long. One has to be quick to get on them and kill them.
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<br>Sounds like fun to me.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Don, I cannot the private message to work. Guy

Guy,
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<br>I sent you a "Private message". When you sign onto 24 hour you will see an envelope "flashing" to the left of the main index (at least thats how I see it). Click on that flashing envelope and you can read the "Private Message" and respond.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don
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<br>Boyd,
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<br>For some reason I can't send you E-mail.
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<br>Don

Don, got the private message, but cannot figure out how to respond. Guess I'm just computer dumb! Guy

Guy,
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<br>Click on your name (on your posts). That will take you to your personal info. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. On the lower left click once "Send a Private Message".
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<br>When the next window comes up, put the name "DonKnows" in the appropriate box, Give it a title in the appropriate box and then type a message in the large box below that.
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<br>Then send it
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<br>Don
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<br>P.S. If you need additional help, ask the site owner.

Don,
<br> Still bragging I see(grin)... 97 and counting. I stand at two drive by coypus... Can't shoot the little suckers now as the grass and soybeans are getting high. May come see you yet;-).
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<br>Regards, Matt.

Matt,
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<br>No bragging, just having a good time
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<br>Don't the farmers down your way have several cuttings in those hay fields? We keep in constant communication with the farms we hunt - that have hay fields. They then call us when they cut so we can get in the next day.
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<br>While we were out a couple of days ago we had a local guy stop and ask us if we can kill the woodchucks behind his place. Sometimes, just being out where people see you is enough of a reason for them to stop and they ask you to hunt their property.
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<br>We won't be going out tonight or this weekend since I need to load up ammo for the 1000 yard shoot we are going to this weekend, in Williamsport, PA.
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<br>I wonder if they have a "booby" prize for the person that shoots the worst. If they do, I can have them put my name on it ahead of time, lol.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

I'm trying a new load this weekend...So it will probably be me that get's the booby prize....Just put all ten on paper....Some people won't.........

Boyd,
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<br>10 on paper? Is that paper 10 feet square?
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<br>I thought 2 holes constituted a group
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<br>I will call you later.
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<br>Have a good one,
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<br>Don

Don,
<br> Actually have a bit of hay on family land. Kicker is we don't have Hogs. To low, hot, flat, dunno. We are, however, experiencing a coypus population explosion. The little bastards are making swiss cheese out of every ditch bank they can. If only I could get them out of the ditch and in the field...

Greetings Gentlemen:
<br>I'm new to this site. My Rock Chuck count is 21 for the year. The Chucks are a problem at our cabin site. There are 26 cabins in the forrest with a no shooting agreement for the area so I am a tactful shooter. These chucks produce more dung that Chuck Schumer. I counted 46 of them by walking less than two miles through the area.
<br>While I normally use a CZ 223 Varmint or Lux on Varmints in this case I'm using a CZ Trainer in .22 LR and a CZ American in 22 mag. I working on reduced loads using Blue Dot for the .223s but I'm not satisfied with them yet. I'm looking for MOA load @ 2300 fps with a 50-55 grain Nosler BT that is not too noisey.
<br>This past week I managed eight kills. Three with the LR and the others with the 22 Mag. The LR kills were taken with one shot each at ranges of 50-65 yards. Hits were two head shots and one upper chest. The ammo was CCIs new Velicitor. This ammo shoots five shot into .75" @ fifty yards with this rifle. The longest shot was 139 yards with the 22 mag. Ranges with the mag were 90-139 yards. The 22 mag ammo was Winchester "Black Box" which will hold 1.1" at 100 yards with this rifle. All shots were upper chest except one that was behind the shoulder of a 95 yard shot. This was the only one to make it to his hole. For the eight chucks I fired nine shots. One LR shot hit a twig 10 feet in front of me and went wide. With the one exception mentioned above the kills were instant....the chucks droped and stayed down.
<br>My routine is to get up and have a cup of coffee and then walk out and bag just one chuck per day just after sun up. Great way to start the day.
<br>Earlier this year I bagged 320 (aprox) White Tailed Prairie Dogs about sixty miles from the cabin. Because of the drought the populationwas down. I shot several that had large black patches on their skin. The Div. of Wildlife told me this is not pleague; rather is is stress from the drought.
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<br>Good hunting

Hey Don,got me two tonight at 525 from the same hole off my tripod..Shot the first one and about two min later another one came out. He Must have thought me hitting the first on was a lucky shot.And I would probably miss him..He was DEAD wrong.....................Was'nt even after hog's........Red tag deer time of year.................

Hey DonKnows
I am new to the board and couldn't help but notice that you know somewhere where there is a Gadzillion chucks. I am located in western Pa and would love to get acquainted with you and your gadzillion friends. How do I go about that? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />