My official (unofficial) opening of groundhog season is always Feb. 15. But, since tomorrow is supposed to be rainy and it was 72* today after a month of below freezing temps, I moved opening day up one.
My first stop was to the local airport where I'm the only person allowed to hunt. The manager welcomed me back and said "go do your job".
The runways are bordered by fields 300 yards wide and 3/4 mile long. I parked and got ready for combat- 6mmAI Encore, Raging Bull .41 Mag., backpack, Bushnell Ranging Binos, short Bog Pod with PSR rest.
I didn't walk 100 yards before I saw 2 groundhogs looking at me. They weren't spooking since they hadn't been shot at in 9 months. I walked straight at them. Lateral movement makes them spooked. I sat down on a little rise in the flat fields and set up the Bog Pod. It was rock steady, just like shooting off a bench. I put my small sand bag under the butt (it's just like the ones many vendors make, but I "invented " this one in 1978 and had my mother make me a bunch. Should have patented it.)
Ranged the 'hog at 203 yds. Had the 3-12 BPlex on 12X. Put a 85 gr. Nosler PT in and held just below his neck on the broadside shot. Normally, it would have been a 70 gr. BT, but I have plans for this bullet. Bang! Pop! Dead 'hog.
Took the photo like I always do of the first one each year. Four years ago I took it in 3" of snow! Threw him in the weeds and continued. It must have been my day. I proceeded to take three more at 113, 129, and 165. Life is complete. I feel whole again. My heart went out to these fellows. It's Valentine's Day!!

Great way to spend V-Day!

😬😎💘

DOING YOUR JOB, WTG

Great way to start the year off!

Good way to start the 'season'!

Good goin'.

Great way to start the year. In Missouri we have to wait until May 7 this year. Just about everything closes until after spring turkey season in Apr.-May. I'll just have to keep shooting at coyote so kill a few for me.

The whistlepigman cometh. Good shootin', Doc!

Good job Doc! It will be a long time before they wake up around here, snowed the last 2 days! At least 3 more weeks & I'll probably see a few but won't shoot any until the pups are out, don't want to shoot all the "seed". Pretty sure yours come out earlier & stay out longer than their western cousins.

Dick

FAA regulation #1707 states "any groundhog shot near runway must be taken with 6.5 caliber or larger"... However, since you used an AI 6mm I`ll let it slid this time...

Great Start!

Dick, the few groundhog die hards around here gives me a lot of grief for shooting them so early for "taking out the seeds". For the last 40 years, I've checked the sex of everyone I've killed.
Up until mid April about 98% of the ones I've taken have been males. They are out impregnating their honeys and on the move. If the females are out much they must be nocturnal.
I took 2 more yesterday. Those plus the 4 on VDay were 100% males. They can rest easy now since I'm heading out on vacation to some place warm.
James, you're so full of it. The regs actually say the preferred method of take is subsonic weapons. That's what I use when outsiders start landing so I don't scare them.
( I finally figured out the photo post thanks to James, but notice the graininess of the photo compared to it on the Bragging Board. I don't have a clue. Help would be appreciated).

Doc,
To keep it from being fuzzy looking, you have to actually click the photo to open it up so it's larger; then you'll right click, go to properties, copy URL....and so forth.

If you right click on the thumbnail pic and do all the motions, It'll be blurred.

Does that make since???

Kim, That`s exactly what I told "Papa Doc" to do.....Must be a West Virginia thing cause he`s handgun hunting too much instead of getting computer time.... I just don`t know what to do about those darn handgun hunters....

[.... I just don`t know what to do about those darn handgun hunters....

[/quote]

You could always try joining us. lol

Way to go Doc! I love reading your stories.

Doc,
Glad to see your out enjoying yourself shooting groundhogs!