Groundhog Season !!
#189745
02/14/2018 11:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
OP
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048 |
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!!
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: wvhitman]
#189747
02/15/2018 12:24 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Great way to spend V-Day!
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: KRal]
#189750
02/15/2018 2:06 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,205
KYODE
Shooting Expert
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Shooting Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,205 |
Kentucky….no place like home.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: KYODE]
#189751
02/15/2018 2:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,821
45MAN
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,821 |
"ADAPT OR DIE". I USE ALL CAPS, NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN OLD HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS, PLUS IT IS EASIER TO TYPE AND READ.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: wvhitman]
#189755
02/15/2018 11:16 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461
pab1
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461 |
Great way to start the year off!
Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce. Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: pab1]
#189759
02/15/2018 3:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105
Russell
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,105 |
Good way to start the 'season'!
It's not the gun, but the man behind it.
Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret. USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: Russell]
#189762
02/15/2018 4:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155
Gregg Richter
Distinguished Expert
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Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,155 |
Good goin'.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: Gregg Richter]
#189764
02/15/2018 5:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 142
Teep
member
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member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 142 |
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.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: wvhitman]
#189766
02/15/2018 6:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
The whistlepigman cometh. Good shootin', Doc!
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: s4s4u]
#189770
02/15/2018 11:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 818
sixshot
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 818 |
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
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: sixshot]
#189775
02/16/2018 1:51 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
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...
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#189780
02/16/2018 5:28 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
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Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
Ernie the Un-Tactical
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: Ernie]
#189783
02/16/2018 2:00 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048
wvhitman
OP
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,048 |
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).
Last edited by wvhitman; 02/16/2018 2:04 PM.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: wvhitman]
#189785
02/16/2018 3:22 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
( 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???
Last edited by KRal; 02/16/2018 3:24 PM.
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: KRal]
#189786
02/16/2018 3:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
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Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
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....
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#189799
02/17/2018 1:26 AM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556
junebug
Gun Slinger
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Gun Slinger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556 |
[.... I just don`t know what to do about those darn handgun hunters.... [/quote]
You could always try joining us. lol
junebug
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: junebug]
#189805
02/17/2018 3:56 PM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 270
Randominator
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 270 |
Way to go Doc! I love reading your stories.
NRA Life Member HHI Member VHA Member
"get busy living, or get busy dying"
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Re: Groundhog Season !!
[Re: Randominator]
#189930
02/25/2018 1:11 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 53
HHI6818
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 53 |
Doc, Glad to see your out enjoying yourself shooting groundhogs!
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