Woodchuck Hunting

[dbHunterNY]

So on the family farm and a couple other properties I was taking over 80 in summer. Number drafted down and I haven't been seeing many anymore. My savage model 12 varmint rifle was in partial retirement. There was a chuck digging up the barn yard around every building. The old varmint and I still got it. Picture setup to not be so graphic with the giant hole in its head.

 

Edited July 2, 2023 by dbHunterNY
Part of last sentence got cut off.

[mowin]

I had the same rifle in 22-250.  Was a tac driver.  Another rifle I wish I would never have sold. 

[Larry]

Use to hunt them all the time in my youth. I have a pre 1980 Remington 700 varmint special in 22-250. I had so farms I would hunt south of Nunda one had a field that was over a mile long and a half mile wide. One evening I shot 23 chucks out of that field.

[Larry]

That's some farms not so

[mowin]

2 hours ago, Larry said:

Use to hunt them all the time in my youth. I have a pre 1980 Remington 700 varmint special in 22-250. I had so farms I would hunt south of Nunda one had a field that was over a mile long and a half mile wide. One evening I shot 23 chucks out of that field.

Biggest field I had to hunt was around 500 yards wide, but well over 1500 yrds long.  My farthest shot on a chuck was a verified ranged at 502yrds.  I could see the "red mist" in the scope. 

[dbHunterNY]

1 hour ago, mowin said:

Biggest field I had to hunt was around 500 yards wide, but well over 1500 yrds long.  My farthest shot on a chuck was a verified ranged at 502yrds.  I could see the "red mist" in the scope. 

Off memory I think I'm 8.75 MOA in elevation at 500 yards. Just over so I'd add another click and send it.

 

 

 

[cj3a]

Used to hunt 3m but t we lost all the property.   I made for a fun summer.

 

[dbHunterNY]

resurrecting this old post. i've not taken very many woodchucks in recent years. with all the sun shine hay fields are cleared and looks like chucks are making a come back. dad has taken some out of the field here and there in small numbers but i think it's time to pull my chuck gun back out of retirement.

[broomeguy]

Mama with 2 babies in my backyard. Gonna let the babies grow a bit more before having some fun. 😀

[mowin]

I haven't chuck hunted in yrs. Still have the same fields to hunt, but just don't see many. 

[Larry]

I'm going to do some short range work for this summer camp. Shots will be less than a 100 yds I'm going to use my 22 hornet and my 17 hmr. Most will be 50 yards or less.

[Lil zeek]

My first confirmed woodchuck kill was a few days a go shot one during turkey season with my shot gun it rolled down into it hope never found it and shot one a month ago it was squealing on the ground but when I ran up to it, it ran away.they are much larger than I thought they were 

[MPHunter]

My dog had this little guy trapped behind our pool storage box in the back yard a couple weeks ago. Woodchuck was not happy. Started squealing at me when I tried to move him out with a shovel and then when I moved around in front of him he started chomping his teeth at me. Left him alone to calm down and he was gone 30 minutes later.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Got these two last week. They have been in one of my barns for years. Finally got them, although i saw a giant one thats still living in there. Used a .17 hmr on these two.

[dbHunterNY]

@Spaceman Spiff nice job getting them out of there. they love barns and structures to dig under which can compromise floors or underground utilities. @Lil zeek if you use a rimfire you often have to shoot them in the head or they run off and make it back to their hole. 17HMR does a good job but it's cookin out of the barrel compared to a 22LR or 22 mag. i think with this heat early mornings and late in the evening is best. i went to the farm yesterday around 6pm and nothing was out. later around 830pm I saw a could along the roads on the way home.