I have seen very few groundhogs this year. I did notice some new holes in the edge of my property and caught 1 in a live trap.Once the soybeans start popping,they'll show up!
For now, my preferred gun is a H&R Bull Barrel .243 with a cast 85 grain GC bullet, that I cast from a Lyman mold. It is scoped with a Barska 6.5-20x50 Adjustable Objective Varmint Rifle Scope. Sighted in at 200 yards, I often shoot 1" target pasters at 100yards to shut up the range Nazis that see me shooting and say that cast bullets are not accurate in a rifle.
I do have a H&R .223 Bull Barrel that I have not scoped yet. That will become my GH gun with a cast 55grain Bator GC bullet.
Surprisingly there are many recipes for Groundhog (A.K.A. Woodchuck Ground Hog, Whistle Pigs, Pasture Pigs, etc.). Woodchucks are fatty, however it is claimed the fat does not have a bad taste but is still is generally removed. I remove it after skinning. The meat is dark with a mild flavor and will work in any squirrel or rabbit recipe. Woodchucks have scent glands in the small of the back and on the inside of the forelegs which must be removed. If the Woodchuck is old (look how worn teeth and claws are,) it should be parboiled or soaked before cooking, some cooks always soak woodchucks in cold salted water for 6 to 12 hours. The Older Woodchucks will also benefit parboiling in water with a 1/2 teaspoon or more of baking soda. The hide can be tanned and used for many outdoors projects. Including a great possibles bag for black powder shooting.
Contry-Style Groundhog
1 groundhog
1/2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. soda
1/4 c. cooking oil
1/2 tsp. sugar
NOTE: Clean and skin as soon as possible. Remove all sent glands. Cut off head, feet and tail. A clever or hand ax is best for this.
Dress groundhog as for rabbit, removing the small sacs in the back and under the forearm. Soak groundhog overnight in salted water with a touch of white vinegar, to remove wild flavor. Combine flour, salt, pepper and soda; rub into groundhog pieces. Brown grounhog in hot oil in skillet. A true redneck will use lard instead of vegetable oil. Don't need the oil if using a good no-stick pan. Sprinkle with sugar. Reduce heat; add 1/2 cup water. Cover; simmer for about 30 minutes or until tender. Remove cover; cook for 10 minutes longer.
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The flag does not fly because of the wind that blows it. The flag flies because each soldiers' last breath blows by it! Thank a Vet!
Remove meat from bones and grind. Add bread crumbs, onion, salt, pepper,same as you use for burgers, egg, mix thoroughly. Form into patties; dip into egg; then dip in bread crumbs. Fry in hot fat / oil until brown. Cover with currant jelly sauce and place in slow oven for 1 hour.
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The flag does not fly because of the wind that blows it. The flag flies because each soldiers' last breath blows by it! Thank a Vet!
"Minnowhead, whats your preffered Make and caliber of medicine, for these hogs ?"
I'm a Savage shooter in .223 with a ballistic tip V-Max pill.
Don't sell your Marlin short, it has served me well on those short range prairie grizzlies!
__________________ Throwing icecubes in the lake all summer long!
I was about to blame my gun, it being only a cheap 22 marlin. But ! Im starting to think its my bad shooting thats to blame. When I was younger a 40 or 50 yard shot with open sights was nothing. But now just seeing a ground hog, at 40 or 50 yards, is getting kind of hard.
Rem 700VLS .22-250 topped with a Simmons 6.5x20x50. Been shootin chucks for almost 50 years and this rig is the best I've ever shot, have taken many out to 400 yds. I handload 50gr Nosler BT with explosive results.
If I was just getting into the game I'd check out the Savage Axis, been hearing great things about them, great deal for the money.
Jus took two yesterday!!! One at 21 yards and one out at 43 yards with my Bow.....she had 5 pups.....i didnt think they had that many!?!?! I have a field ditch that seperates my property and the field and they come in and out of there....I set up in the chair and waited for her to come out and it never happened.....I slowly stood up and seen the male and female both standing up in the weeds.....male was closer so I took a shot and nailed him......female went down when I shot and stood back up.....I forgot that I only had two arrows in my quiver and the one had a muzzy 3 blade.....I said screw it getting these out of my yard is worth more than the tip.....put off a shot and absolutely nailed her!!! Seen the weeds go nuts for about 10 seconds and DEAD! I am excited to say the least!!
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Got one on Tuesday. 50ish yards out from the second story of my grandfathers house. He was snacking on my green bean seedlings. Didn't actually weigh it but i would guess 15-16 lbs.
I also caught a coon sneaking around my chicken coop, popped him with my S&W 22a-1 from about 10 yards. For small animals a .22 is my go to round.
Jus took two yesterday!!! One at 21 yards and one out at 43 yards with my Bow.....she had 5 pups.....i didnt think they had that many!?!?! I have a field ditch that seperates my property and the field and they come in and out of there....I set up in the chair and waited for her to come out and it never happened.....I slowly stood up and seen the male and female both standing up in the weeds.....male was closer so I took a shot and nailed him......female went down when I shot and stood back up.....I forgot that I only had two arrows in my quiver and the one had a muzzy 3 blade.....I said screw it getting these out of my yard is worth more than the tip.....put off a shot and absolutely nailed her!!! Seen the weeds go nuts for about 10 seconds and DEAD! I am excited to say the least!!
I have two guns to put them to sleep. I have a Savage 17 HMR and a Ruger 30-06 to reach out there for the far away ones. I picked up the 30-06 due to the farm I hunt being hunted daily by a relative of the farm owner that now they will not let me get within 150 yards of them before they start running.
Groundhogs
Groundhogs
Throwing icecubes in the lake all summer long!
hrs- 3.0
Jus took two yesterday!!! One at 21 yards and one out at 43 yards with my Bow.....she had 5 pups.....i didnt think they had that many!?!?! I have a field ditch that seperates my property and the field and they come in and out of there....I set up in the chair and waited for her to come out and it never happened.....I slowly stood up and seen the male and female both standing up in the weeds.....male was closer so I took a shot and nailed him......female went down when I shot and stood back up.....I forgot that I only had two arrows in my quiver and the one had a muzzy 3 blade.....I said screw it getting these out of my yard is worth more than the tip.....put off a shot and absolutely nailed her!!! Seen the weeds go nuts for about 10 seconds and DEAD! I am excited to say the least!!
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