Got my 4th Groundhog of the season this evening.

[DalesCarpentry]

Well I got my 4th Groundhog of the season this evening. I was using my new Remington 22-250 Varmint SPS with a Vortex Viper 6.5x20x44 scope on it. This is the 3rd confirmed kill with this rifle. I was using the Hornady 50 grain V-Max. I will start loading for this rifle later this week. I killed one a couple days ago at about 250 yards but the one I got this evening was only about 100 yards and took the top of his head off. Here are a few pictures of the new set up and the Groundhog I got tonight. Take care Dale

[PowPow]

I'm jealous. I've had my 22-250 for two years and all I have shot with it is a squirell, a crow, and several reams of paper.
Today at the range, it had a hard time with the paper.

[DalesCarpentry]

I'm jealous. I've had my 22-250 for two years and all I have shot with it is a squirell, a crow, and several reams of paper.
Today at the range, it had a hard time with the paper.

Now that's funny!!! LOL.

[Hairtrigger]

A 22-250 makes a crow into a 4' diameter mess

[DalesCarpentry]

I have to say Pa is a pretty state for sure. Here are some more pictures I have taken while out Groundhog hunting. The first picture is the first Groundhog of the season. I hit him in the head while he was walking at about a 100 yards. I did it free hand to boot no support. I took him with my Marlin 17 HMR. Dale

[bobg]

  Sure wish i had a place to hunt chucks. All the places i use to hunt are now posted or planted to corn.  .  The one great spot i hunted is now posted. Ask if i could hunt there. The guy told me no. Said someone shot holes in his hay baler and he knew i didn't do it but now no one could not hunt there.

[woodchukhntr]

Nice Rig!

I had an exceptional day on Sunday since chucks are becoming few and far between in central NY. I shot a chuck at 90 yards with my Contender Carbine with my .223 super 16 barrel, and followed that up by winging a coyote in the same field a few minutes after at 150 yd.  I switched to a 23" .17 HRM barrel and shot 4 more on 2 different farms.  2 @ 95 yards, 1 @ 170 yards and 1 @ 10 yards.

[DalesCarpentry]

Good for you!!! I did take my first one this year with a 17HMR. I have a bunch of farms around here I am allowed to hunt. The thing is only about a third of them have made their first cut of hay. That leaves about two thirds of my fields are to over grown to hunt. I expect big numbers this year because I really have not hunted them much the past 2 years and they have had time to recover. When I was hunting them hard a couple years ago I took 60 with my 243 Remington SPS Varmint. I am hopping for numbers close to that this year. There is one farm around here I don't hunt anymore because he won't even let me drive up the road any longer. He said I could still hunt it but I would have to walk in. It would seem that someone tore up his newley planted fields and did a bunch of damage. It was not me but I am paying for it. That really stinks to because it was my bigest area to hunt at one time. I would bet it was over 1000 acres and most of it is all open with many hills. To walk in would mean a walk up a very steep hill that goes on for over a half mile. I have a bunch of farms that are much easier to hunt so why bother. Dale

[ironglow]

Nice shot Dale..and a nice 'chucking rig.  Though there seem to be less chucks now than earlier years, I don't believe the big pressure is coming from hunting. Years ago there were more 'hog hunters out than now days (at least where I live).
   I believe there are 2 primary reasons for the decline of 'chucks:

  1) The disappearance of small dairy farms which have been absorbed into larger farms where the cows are not pastured and more fields are used to grow crops other than hay. Plus much land in  my area is into crop farming..corn, soybeans, grain etc...so the old dens are torn up again each spring and I believe the chucks are holeing up now in fields which don't get cut or plowed.

  2) Coyotes..they must be taking their share, so as the chuck population thins..then it's time to pressure the coyotes. Still varmint/predator hunting..

  As I said earlier, I am an administrator of a local cemetery and I have been clearing out chucks  on both the south and west sides of the grounds. I have shot so far this year, 3 on each side.

[Steelbanger]

Dale,

I haven't hunted chucks in years but have the regs changed? As I recall you had to wear a blaze orange cap while chuck hunting. I noticed in your pics that no orange was worn.

Just trying to save you a few dollars in fines.

[DalesCarpentry]

Yes you are supposed to wear an orange hat. I forgot it that day and that one was in my truck. Dale

[ironglow]

Dale,

I haven't hunted chucks in years but have the regs changed? As I recall you had to wear a blaze orange cap while chuck hunting. I noticed in your pics that no orange was worn.

Just trying to save you a few dollars in fines.

  I live in NY State, no such mandatory rule, though I often do wear a blaze orange camo hat.  A good idea where there are lkely to be other hunters afield in rolling country.

[DalesCarpentry]

I took my 5th one today. It was a little one and he was about 100 yards. Dale

[DalesCarpentry]

I took my 6th one today while at the range believe it or not. I was at the range developing some loads for my rifle. Well I was sitting there waiting for the barrel to cool when one popped out on the range at about 75 yards. I quickly loaded a round and put one in him. I have to say that is a pretty stupid place for a Groundhog to live. Since I have been going to this range I have had  simular things happen. I have had deer, turkey and this groundhog come out in the firing lane. One time there I was shooting my 243 at 200 yards when I had a crow land right there at my 200 yard back stop. That was a big mistake. It was like puff and it turned into a pile of feathers. Dale

[PowPow]

You must just be livin' right.

[ironglow]

 Got my # 16 last night..on my way to eradicate some beavers. Didn't score on any beavers though, probably will tonight.

  ...And before somebody remarks..it's conventional beavers, the kind who build nuisance dams...

[Hairtrigger]

  ...And before somebody remarks..it's conventional beavers, the kind who build nuisance dams...

Got it. You mean the kind there is a season for... not smart publically posting

[ironglow]

  ...And before somebody remarks..it's conventional beavers, the kind who build nuisance dams...

Got it. You mean the kind there is a season for... not smart publically posting

 Hairtrigger;
   In my area we are over-run by beavers. As I posted in this forum earlier, I am a state certified hunting instructor, so I do it the legal way, that is with a DEC issued permit. Many of these permits are being handed out to landowners in my area.
        I can't figure out why so many, when I say I am shooting beavers...simply ASSUME I'm doing an illegal act, when People who know me just automatically figure all is in order. perhaps it is because folks around here are familiar with the beaver problem...thanks to the "bunny-huggers"..