Thoughts

[Rocker1]

    I just had a very good friend of mine call and ask me to shoot abunch of groudhogs, now most of the guys from our old gta  know i really don't hunt.  i quit hunting  after i got out of service in 1971  and just lost my desire to hunt, i have give this offer much thought  i would find it hard to kill something i am not going to eat, now if he was going to eat them or whatever  i would consider it but i am not going to shoot them and leave them laying.  whats your thoughts gentlemen. thanks david

[dk1677]

David I respect your decision not to hunt, And wouldn't do it just to join in with your friend, And Thank you for your service!

[Big_Bill]

I understand where your coming from David,

Killing for the sake of killing, is not hunting to me. However I still destroy animals that are destructive to my home and property or dangerous to my pet cats.

Now if you can get Jeff's recipe for Groundhog, it might make for some fine vittles ! Hunting for food never bothered me at all !

I have helped out  farmer friends that have allowed me to hunt on their property, when they had problems dealing with critters destroying their crops and animals that they depended on .

Ground hogs dig holes in the fields, and horses and cows can break their legs in them. I have helped relocate them for him.

But life is short, and if you do not want to something, don't do it !

Bill

[Jay]

Brother Dave, I really think only you can decide what you want to do, if it will bother you then don't. Just loan your friend a gun an some advice on it's use an have him take care of them.Or with your skill's, build ya a live trap an relocate the critter's some where else, an just give them a wave goodbye from all of us vet's.

[Yellowstone]

I agree with Bill if your not going to eat them and they are not a threat. Just killing for killing that a no no. IMO
Killing and eating thats hunting.

[MichaelM]

if he has a farm with large  animals such as horses or cattle like bill said I wouldnt think twice about thinning out the GH populationas at that time I would consider them a pest and dangerous to the guys property... if its just cause he owns some land and there are a bunch of GH there well... if they are tearing up the main yard yea I would help out... if they are out in some un-used field then I would just have to let the little guys live and have fun lol...

 same with yotes but alittle more strict on them... those guys are mean and fearless.... neighborhoods, farms, pretty much any proporty I will take one out just because those guys will kill ANYTHING they can get there paws on.... kids/wildlife/pets/farm animals of all types...

I AM an animal lover and I dont put much into killing critters for the sake of killing... honestly there just isnt any sport in it... but for proporty or kept animal safety... well it doesnt bother me one bit

[crowpopper]

thats your personal decision and i whole heartedly agree with anyone who choese that
now if you want a good recipe for chucks i got one
it involves basting with bbq and slow cooking on a grill or smoker

[VINNY]

I too agree with Big Bill!

[North Pack]

Assuming it's legal, - to each his own. One size does not fit all, ... thankfully.

[airiscool]

I agree with the "no need no shoot" policy, but consider the damage factor. Chuck holes are not just a danger to livestock, but to people walking the property, kids playing, and to vehicals.

After a few years their den complex can become quite extensive, and once abandonded it will  cave in. Some are so large and complex that tracks and farm equipment can get stuck, break an axle, or worse. Some local farmers have had loaded hay wagons roll over after driving over a den complex.

I was driving a four wheeler across a hay field and as I came up over a rise, I had just enough time to swerve around what looked like a small bomb crater. It was wide enough, and deep enough that the four wheeler would have gone down into it and flipped end over end had I not turned in time.  The "crater" was an old, big chuck den that had collapsed. That's why manytimes you'll see "clumps"  of uncut grass out in hay fields. Many farmers  hay around Chuck mounds rather than risk driving over them.

And the tunnels can be dangerous to people once they collapse too. Over the years I've had two Chuck dens here in my yard. Within about two years after the Chuck is gone, the tunnel collapes leaving a grass covered trench about 6 inches deep and 6 inches wide, and it can be up to 30-40 feet long. You can twist, or break an ankle if you don't know it's there and step in it while cutting the lawn, kids playing in the yard, etc.

You may be doing someone a favor by getting rid of the Chucks.

Paul.

[shadow]

If the critter becomes destructive and G-hog's are along with P-dog's that dig holes that cattle and such can drop a leg into and break it put the G-hog's down but anyone who knows me has seen me hunt and care for wild critters and I enjoy doing both. As mentioned by the FAMILY MEMBER'S don't kill for a thrill but if you do decide to do some pest control try to find a area after the pest control hunt to dispose of the carcasses where another wild critter will get a free meal. I've taken pest bird's and have kept the strays around here fat and happy hehe. One thing you don't want to do is live trap wild critter's then release them elsewhere. Many states have law's against that since it may spread a sickness elsewhere. It usually comes with a hefty fine if caught but you can obtain a permit but that's more money also. Follow your heart bro it'll lead you down the path you wish go. Ed

[longislandhunter]

I agree with the others..... follow your inner feelings regarding the matter.  I don't have a problem culling out animals that are doing damage to property or crops but if they're not doing any kind of damage then I wouldn't feel right shooting them just to shoot them.  Follow your heart and you'll do the right thing for you.

Jeff

[Rocker1]

I will take pictures. thanks david

[Rocker1]

Well guys i went  and had a look today after i left the dr.s  office, i counted  7 groundhogs they have destroyed this mans cabbage and tomatoes also while i was there i seen a coyote he must have been a couple hundred yards but i seen him . i quess i am going to take my remington sps varmit rifle in 223 along with my xls, my oldest boy is going with me because wife want let me go alone.I will keep you posted and hopefully pics..  thanks david

[shaft]

my two cents on the subject;
I would not kill unless im hungry, its a starling, or its destroying my livelyhood, but i have raised cattle my whole life and have never seen one break a leg in a rodent hole.
KH from UT

[shadow]

It sound's like the critters are eating up the resident's garden and if you seen seven or so of them I can tell you there's more around. I would harvest them myself for food but if no one consumes them and you spotted a Yote you might want to leave them in a area for the Yote to consume. Most of my life was spent on a farm in South Dakota raising cattle and growing crop's and my father and I have had to put down cattle due to a broken leg from P-dog (Prairie Dog) holes. We had so many in one section of our property that we had to close it off from the cattle and commence to dropping P-dog's. It looked like the surface of the moon out there with all the holes. Ed