GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: only1harry on June 21, 2016, 08:40:58 PM
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It took me long enough :) This wasn't the big one I was after that has burrowed under my foundation but it will do :) I have been trying to get that other one for 2 weeks but all I get is his behind in my scope or he 's too far out and near the neighbors.
Anyway this younger one I spotted a couple of days ago. It's a little darker than the bigger one and has been hanging around my tool shed. Today I spotted him sun bathing his upper 1/2 of his body which was sticking out from under the shed. I cracked my office/shop door open and he retreated. I set up in the back of the room with the Disco .22 about 14ft from the door and waited. After 20min. he had not resurfaced. I didn't give up, but started getting hungry. The wife said there is some Pizza left that my brother brought over on Sunday so I threw it in the toaster oven to heat it up and went to the window to check on the G-hog. There he was completely out on the lawn grooming himself just a foot or 2 from the shed. I sneak back downstairs and get behind the chair that I was resting the Disco on. I get the crosshairs on him 24-25 yards out, but he is still moving and grooming. Finally after 3 or 4 min. he turns and faces me and puts his head down while he appears to be scratching his chin or neck. His head is fairly steady so I aim above the eyes in the middle of the skull and squeeze the trigger. I hear a thwack and the G-hog stands/jumps up and drops dead. No movement nothing. His tail went up slightly and came down quickly which meant it was over.
I walked over and took a couple of pics. The wind was pretty strong and constant at 14mph so the JSB 18.1gr was slightly off center to the left which was the direction of the wind, but I got him at the top of the head where I was aiming half way between the eyes and the ears. I had the power adjuster all the way down. Muzzle velocity was 785-789fps or almost 25fpe.
Hopefully I can get the other bigger blondish one this week. He has been giving me a lot of trouble.. Today he was walking and feeding almost up against the house and eating my wife's flowers. I was frustrated I couldn't shoot him from the 2nd floor window, unless I stuck half my body out and aimed down at him :) I was almost hanging out the window but couldn't get a shot off for 20min! It was comical to say the least :) But he never knew I was right above him, I was that stealthy, heheh. This G-hog doesn't know how lucky he is. I 've had him in my crosshairs a few times, mostly his behind, but never could get the crosshairs on his head, and I don't take risks. If I don't have a perfect head shot I don't take it. OK here are the pics of this younger 8-8.5 pound one!
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/only1harry/Hunting/2016%20Off-Season/2016%20Groundhogs/IMG_3539_zpsqotdt5dk.jpg) (http://s224.photobucket.com/user/only1harry/media/Hunting/2016%20Off-Season/2016%20Groundhogs/IMG_3539_zpsqotdt5dk.jpg.html)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd48/only1harry/Hunting/2016%20Off-Season/2016%20Groundhogs/IMG_3541_zpsiz1l7hs9.jpg) (http://s224.photobucket.com/user/only1harry/media/Hunting/2016%20Off-Season/2016%20Groundhogs/IMG_3541_zpsiz1l7hs9.jpg.html)
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Nice shooting Harry! ( 'bout time ;) )
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Good Job!!! Harry! Nice Shot!
I have a fresh hole about 20yds from my garden. I have been watching it for weeks and have never seen him. Every once in a while I will go kick some dirt down the hole and the next day it is always pushed back out so I know he is there, he just never seems to come out in the daylight. At least not while I am around.
But I am not giving up I will get him one day!!! I am looking for number 5 he may be it!!!
Jim - jhm757
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Alright!!!
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Nice shooting Harry.
Hopefully I can get the other bigger blondish one this week. He has been giving me a lot of trouble.. Today he was walking and feeding almost up against the house and eating my wife's flowers. I was frustrated I couldn't shoot him from the 2nd floor window, unless I stuck half my body out and aimed down at him :) I was almost hanging out the window but couldn't get a shot off for 20min! It was comical to say the least :) But he never knew I was right above him, I was that stealthy, heheh. This G-hog doesn't know how lucky he is. I 've had him in my crosshairs a few times, mostly his behind, but never could get the crosshairs on his head, and I don't take risks. If I don't have a perfect head shot I don't take it. OK here are the pics of this younger 8-8.5 pound one!
Maybe drop a bowling ball on him. :D
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Good shooting Harry
Jay
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(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff67/Old_Longhair/Smilies/applause2.gif) Congratulations on #1 Harry! Fine shooting!
#2 is only a matter of time.
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Thank you fellow hunters. I am looking for the big one. He 'll be out soon. Hopefully work won't be too busy.
Jerry, I have to remember to keep the bowling ball near by, because the anvil I tried to drop on him was way too heavy to lift to the window :)
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I caught a glimse of the larger tan G-hog this morning around 7:20. It seems he was done feeding and went into thick brush 45yds out and didn't come out. My wife was up early and she said he was on the lawn for 1/2 hour. I told her to wake me up next time. So I expect him to come back out between 1 and 3. The last couple of times I had him in my crosshairs (but not his head) was in the early afternoon. I am in the 3rd week trying to get him.
In the 250+ G-hogs I have shot I have never had so much trouble getting a shot off at one. So far he is the luckiest G-hog around :)
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Great shot! A small groundhog is better than none. I have a similar issue with a large groundhog at a friend's place. Never comes out when I'm waiting for him and is very weary of humans.
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Thanks. They only come out twice a day and usually don't stay out for more 25 minutes. So you have to keep looking out the windows to try to spot them. When I know I have a G-hog I try to look outside every 15-20min and at every side of the house. They usually come out around the same time every day if the neighborhood is quiet, so you can plan ahead of time to greet them with some lead :) It's best to know where their burrow is so you know which way they will be coming from.
BTW, I got a story about the 2nd G-hog today ;)
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Very Nice Harry 8)
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Loved the read,great kill!! I think we are all looking for the "big one" lol
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It took me long enough :) This wasn't the big one I was after that has burrowed under my foundation but it will do :) I have been trying to get that other one for 2 weeks but all I get is his behind in my scope or he 's too far out and near the neighbors.
Anyway this younger one I spotted a couple of days ago. It's a little darker than the bigger one and has been hanging around my tool shed. Today I spotted him sun bathing his upper 1/2 of his body which was sticking out from under the shed. I cracked my office/shop door open and he retreated. I set up in the back of the room with the Disco .22 about 14ft from the door and waited. After 20min. he had not resurfaced. I didn't give up, but started getting hungry. The wife said there is some Pizza left that my brother brought over on Sunday so I threw it in the toaster oven to heat it up and went to the window to check on the G-hog. There he was completely out on the lawn grooming himself just a foot or 2 from the shed. I sneak back downstairs and get behind the chair that I was resting the Disco on. I get the crosshairs on him 24-25 yards out, but he is still moving and grooming. Finally after 3 or 4 min. he turns and faces me and puts his head down while he appears to be scratching his chin or neck. His head is fairly steady so I aim above the eyes in the middle of the skull and squeeze the trigger. I hear a thwack and the G-hog stands/jumps up and drops dead. No movement nothing. His tail went up slightly and came down quickly which meant it was over.
I walked over and took a couple of pics. The wind was pretty strong and constant at 14mph so the JSB 18.1gr was slightly off center to the left which was the direction of the wind, but I got him at the top of the head where I was aiming half way between the eyes and the ears. I had the power adjuster all the way down. Muzzle velocity was 785-789fps or almost 25fpe.
Hopefully I can get the other bigger blondish one this week. He has been giving me a lot of trouble.. Today he was walking and feeding almost up against the house and eating my wife's flowers. I was frustrated I couldn't shoot him from the 2nd floor window, unless I stuck half my body out and aimed down at him :) I was almost hanging out the window but couldn't get a shot off for 20min! It was comical to say the least :) But he never knew I was right above him, I was that stealthy, heheh. This G-hog doesn't know how lucky he is. I 've had him in my crosshairs a few times, mostly his behind, but never could get the crosshairs on his head, and I don't take risks. If I don't have a perfect head shot I don't take it. OK here are the pics of this younger 8-8.5 pound one!
Only One problem with your fun story ... what gun you using and what pellet ?
wll2506
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Great shot! We don't have any ghogs around here so I'll have to hunt vicariously through your pics. ;)
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Thanks guys. Got another one in the late afternoon but it's not the big one I was hoping to get. I had a lot of work and didn't check the windows for over an hour and probably missed it, but I think the big one lives at the neighbor's and only comes to my yard every 2-3 days.
William: The information you seek is in my original post. I always list the gun, caliber, pellet, distance, and usually MV/ME. I have highlighted it in bold for you below :)
Harry
It took me long enough :) This wasn't the big one I was after that has burrowed under my foundation but it will do :) I have been trying to get that other one for 2 weeks but all I get is his behind in my scope or he 's too far out and near the neighbors.
Anyway this younger one I spotted a couple of days ago. It's a little darker than the bigger one and has been hanging around my tool shed. Today I spotted him sun bathing his upper 1/2 of his body which was sticking out from under the shed. I cracked my office/shop door open and he retreated. I set up in the back of the room with the Disco .22 about 14ft from the door and waited. After 20min. he had not resurfaced. I didn't give up, but started getting hungry. The wife said there is some Pizza left that my brother brought over on Sunday so I threw it in the toaster oven to heat it up and went to the window to check on the G-hog. There he was completely out on the lawn grooming himself just a foot or 2 from the shed. I sneak back downstairs and get behind the chair that I was resting the Disco on. I get the crosshairs on him 24-25 yards out, but he is still moving and grooming. Finally after 3 or 4 min. he turns and faces me and puts his head down while he appears to be scratching his chin or neck. His head is fairly steady so I aim above the eyes in the middle of the skull and squeeze the trigger. I hear a thwack and the G-hog stands/jumps up and drops dead. No movement nothing. His tail went up slightly and came down quickly which meant it was over.
I walked over and took a couple of pics. The wind was pretty strong and constant at 14mph so the JSB 18.1gr was slightly off center to the left which was the direction of the wind, but I got him at the top of the head where I was aiming half way between the eyes and the ears. I had the power adjuster all the way down. Muzzle velocity was 785-789fps or almost 25fpe.
Hopefully I can get the other bigger blondish one this week. He has been giving me a lot of trouble.. Today he was walking and feeding almost up against the house and eating my wife's flowers. I was frustrated I couldn't shoot him from the 2nd floor window, unless I stuck half my body out and aimed down at him :) I was almost hanging out the window but couldn't get a shot off for 20min! It was comical to say the least :) But he never knew I was right above him, I was that stealthy, heheh. This G-hog doesn't know how lucky he is. I 've had him in my crosshairs a few times, mostly his behind, but never could get the crosshairs on his head, and I don't take risks. If I don't have a perfect head shot I don't take it. OK here are the pics of this younger 8-8.5 pound one!
Only One problem with your fun story ... what gun you using and what pellet ?
wll2506
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Big Congrats brother 8) and great shooting and pics as well. I was wondering when you were going to get after em since they always seem to find dens in your yard. >:( Ed
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Thanks brother Ed. What I have been doing the last 4 years or so is leaving them alone to see if they will mate and produce more (smaller) targets of opportunity :) I have been lucky so far and was able to shoot a bunch of young ones that would come out of my shed, but not this year. These G-hogs were here in early May and I let them be to see if they have a litter but if I have not seen any little ones by now almost end of June, there is not going to be any. It's too late in the season. I probably shot the last female in the area last year or there is a sterile one out there from all the lead in the grass :) Usually I see the young ones in late May or early June. So I started going after them about 2 weeks ago and right after I noticed the new burrow under my foundation.
Also sometimes young ones move in to my property from other neighborhoods in the middle of the summer after I get rid of the older ones. We 'll see if what happens again.
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I don't know how I missed your post but great shot buddy and super pics as usual. Nice lookin G-hog for sure. I know you don't eat them but he'd make a great pot roast :)
Jeff
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Thanks Jeff. I knew you 'd be drooling :)
Do you still have permission to remove G-hogs at the veggie farm? You should try to get out there. It must be overrun by them.
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Fantastic, hope ya get the big one!!
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Nice shooting Harry, I'm sure the big one is next! ;)
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Thanks guys. I got another average one, but spotted the big one on the neighbor's yard about 55-60yds out. It gets around.. I will wait until it moves under the tool shed.
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Nice job on the G-hog Harry
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Nice shot.
But why everyone kills these animals?