Author Topic: Anyone gearing up for groundhogs? (Read 971 times)

beavis · « **on:** March 17, 2005, 02:45:33 PM »

hi everybody, just came across this site about a week ago and wanted to see if there are any groundhog hunters here. Our season usually starts in June here (Iowa) and I am hoping to get out a few days and see what I can get. I have a 222 and 223 available but would really like to use this as an excuse to get a 17HMR. I am kind of leaning towards an NEF Sportster but I am also a Ruger fan and also kind of like Savages. I would really like a Savage 24 in 17HMR/12ga just because I think they are cool but that is a lot of weight to have to hoof around and the 12 ga would be out of season for everything else till fall.

Anyone else also looking forward to going after some giant rats this summer? I am quite new to hogs and would like to hear any stories, advice, techniques, favorite guns etc that you would like to share.

If there are any Iowa hoggers out there that would like a huntin' buddy let me know, I'll bring the cooler (gatorade of course).

Catfish · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2005, 06:10:39 PM »

Beavis,
Got my first one today. Shot him with my .204 barrel for my Encore.
With all the crap you put out about which guns you like admit it, your just a Gun Nut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can spot one a mile away, they tend to look like me!!!!!!!!!!!

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2005, 06:43:12 PM »

Yes, I am ready to bust some hogs... My advice would be to get permission to hunt as many fields as you can and have a high quality pair of binoculars. Where I hunt you will also need a rifle that can reach out "accurately" well beyond 250 yards.....

Feez · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2005, 01:49:36 AM »

12 ga
22-250
204
7mm mag
.357 mag it's all good. And yes, good binoculars. Because the junk ones make your eyes bug out after a while.

french · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2005, 06:49:20 PM »

i use a 17 rem, 22-250, and a 270 win to hunt hogs they are great longrange guns.

Hildy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2005, 03:17:44 PM »

I'm ready

I use a 17hmr, 223, and a 25-06.

farmuse · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2005, 06:35:29 AM »

"gearing up?..." Oh man, am I. I bought a Savage .204 a month or so back and I am going nuts waiting for the weather to break. I think I have it dialed in good for 200yds, but I haven't had a chance to put it on the little furry targets yet. Things are warming up (finally) and everywhere I look I see them out, I just haven't had a chance to put in the trigger time yet. I think I'll check the weather forcast and see if maybe I don't feel sick later this week. I am sure you all have had a bad case of the "I just can't work today-24 hour flu" before...I feel it coming around again.

Feez, Thats a nice pair. What did you use? How far? They look like pretty good shots...one a head shot?

Feez · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2005, 07:56:22 AM »

Thanks farmuse

It was a Cooper Varminter in 204. Hornady factory 32gr. That picture is from last year. It's still a little cold up here for groundhogs to be out in numbers.
I don't remember the distances for specific ones, but I didn't get any over 250 yards yet. Out of about 25, the 204 made them all instantly dead except for one gutshot that crawled 15 feet before giving up. The wounds seem unpredictable to me. Some smaller, closer ones had no exit wound. Some bigger, farther ones had 2- 3 inch exit wounds. I'm sure it has to do with which bones it hits etc. but still seems unpredictably deadly.

farmuse · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2005, 12:51:40 AM »

Thanks Feez,

Like I said I have not had a chance to use the .204 on fur yet so I am interested in hearing from those who have. I used a 30-06 with 150gr ballistic silvertips (my old deer load) for a while and that really puts the hurtin' on 'em :wink: . I switched to the .204 cause I was looking for something that might be cheaper to shoot and I hope to see the impact on a few too.

I'll let you know how things are working out for me.

Good luck,

ratgunner · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2005, 04:16:01 AM »

I'm ready soon as my m77 gets trigger work,any thoughts on the rem walking varmit rifle?it seems a great idea to me.

Swift One · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2005, 03:09:10 AM »

I plan on going out to scout some land this weekend. Where I live there is a field about 500yds from me and I have been watching them through the spotting scope. Unfortunatly, I am not allowed to hunt that field. :cry:

ebonitekid767 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2005, 07:48:17 AM »

i can hardly stand it!i got a new H&R varmint .223 for christmas with a tasco MAG IV 5-20x scope and over 300 rounds of win 45gr JHP's ready to go.also just slapped a tasco varminter 2.5-10x mildot scope on my marlin 25n.i cant waitttttttt was coming home from oneonta last night and counted over 25!

223Shooter · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2005, 11:53:02 AM »

I would love to hunt woodchucks where I live. BUT...I live in Wisconsin and they are protected.....crap.... :cry:

kirbymagnum · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2005, 04:24:16 PM »

How well does the 17 hmr work on groundhogs?

koli · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2005, 03:30:37 PM »

Quote from: 223Shooter

I would love to hunt woodchucks where I live. BUT...I live in Wisconsin and they are protected.....crap.... :cry:

YIPES!!!!!! :eek:

I would have to move. Can't hardly wait for this snow to melt.

Hildy · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2005, 04:17:56 PM »

kirbymagnum,

The 17hmr works great on groundhogs up to around 100-150 yards or so.

You will rarely see an exit with the 17 grain loads and it will do a good number on the inside of a hog. Keep your shots above the stomach and it should anchor them quickly. Any shot in the lower abdoman will leave the groundhog to die painfully in its den though.

It is my gun of choice for close range shots requiring little noise but I am done pushing it's limits as I have other calibers for that purpose.

This is my experience with the caliber since about a year after its introduction. Use it for what its made for and you will love it

Qaz · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2005, 02:51:57 AM »

Kirby, I will agree with Hildy on this. The 17 HMR is a great little round if you set a reasonable limit for its range and 150yds is reasonable. A hit to the head or upper chest will drop them right now. My longest shot was 186yds, put the cross hair on the top of his head and the bullet hit him right between the front legs. He just dropped backwards and never moved. Many people put a high power scope on the HMR, but I think that is part of the problem with poor kills ( they think they are closer than they really are). I have a 3x9 power scope for that reason. I find that if I can see the hog well enough to pick my shot then I am close enough for the little 17gr bullet to do the job.