Tool shed still attracts Groundhogs

[only1harry]

It has been 11 days since I shot the last G-hog.  I 've been checking the yard from the safety of the upstairs windows about every 30min-1hr daily, and I was convinced they were all gone.  I did not check as much yesterday or today because I felt there weren't any left on my block.  Most of the neighborhood's G-hogs move under my toolshed when there is a vacancy.  After having taken 90 Groundhogs I thought I was done with them for a while..

Yeah right!  At 5:30pm I walked outside on the driveway from the side door to finish up some yard work, and put the water hose away, and who is 3ft from my tool shed staring me down?  I froze when I saw him.  After a minute of both of us staring each other down from about 17-18yds out, I slowly walked the 2 steps backwards and got back into the house because I did not want to seem like a threat to him.  As I had predicted the G-hog ran back down the corner hole of the other side of the shed.  This shed has 5 G-hog holes around it btw.  I had just finished target shooting with the Condor .25 and had filled the pellet holder when my wife asked me to go outside and clean up after her  I was going to clean the gun when I got back, so it was standing on its bipod on the floor near the window.  I grabbed it and loaded a 31gr .25 Kodiak.  I then immediately opened the window before the G-hog came out again.  As soon as I put the window up, I see its head pop out from around the outside corner of the shed.  He is hungry and wants to come out for dinner.  

It only had its head and neck sticking out of the hole and kept looking my way.  1-2min. later it looked to its left away from me, so I quickly through a pillow on the window sill and got into position with the .25 Condor.  I looked through the scope and it was looking up at me!  I 'm sure it caught some movement.  They often look up for birds of prey too.  I did not have a shot as his front part of the skull was slanted while looking up at me.  I stayed there hunched over the window sill motionless looking through the scope for another minute or two, until he finally made 1 step forward and completely came out of the hole.  He looked straight ahead and I had a pretty good broadside shot.  I squeezed and the G-hog dropped in its tracks as I heard a "thud" kind of sound from the pellet impact.  It put its head down and under its chest and never moved, except for its tail which went up for 4-5secs and back down again when it expired.

The Kodiak struck right next to the right eye owhere I was aiming and actually almost inside the eye cavity, and exited next to the eye on the other side. Distance was 22yds and G-hog 9.4lbs - male.  Condor was shooting kind of "slow" because I was practicing with it earlier.  I ran it through the Chrony when I got back in from target shooting and it was only 960fps after having taken 32 shots.  I was glad the POI had not changed much at all, even a the lowly 63fpe

[frank70]

Nice Condor and great shooting and pics

[dk1677]

Great shooting Harry!

[only1harry]

Thanks Frank and Dave.  

The Talon Tunes shroud is so long it always goes off the pic, hehehe  I 'm hoping to get something shorter soon and almost as effective.  We 'll see..

[renowntwo]

great shooting!!!

[longislandhunter]

Great shooting Harry.  That's a nice healthy hog.. but he was no match for the Condor 

Don't ever get rid of that tool shed buddy 

JEff

[Atchman2]

I see you followed my advice on Fleabay and got some more of that great nail polish.   Just some great shooting and a fantastic read!  I can't wait to read the forum everyday to see if another groundhog has bit the big one.  

[shadow]

Super shooting and outstanding pic's as always Harry, leave the den holes open and they will come hehe. Ed

[only1harry]

Thanks guys.  If I ever sell this house, I am taking this tool shed with me

Randy,
I remember you telling me about buying nailpolish at Fleabay, but don't go giving away all my secrets now, hehe. 
BTW, I started the nail polish thing more than 2yrs ago, so you are preaching to the Choir   

[Atchman2]

It is the Holy Grail of groundhogs!   

[only1harry]

Yep, the Mecca or Jerusalem of Groundhogs!  That's why they all come here,  

[1shotwonder]

Are you ready for coons and fox's this year Harry? That season isn't far away...lol!

Nice shooting!

[a1Bogey]

Good shooting O1H.    Think I will put up a shed to attrack those Ground Hogs.   Even though I doubt 1 has ever been seen down here in the South.  But who knows? and it can't hurt.

[only1harry]

Thanks guys!  Yes build a shed if you have G-hogs where you live.  Unfortunately there are no G-hogs down South (or too far South).  They hybernate in the winter so they live in the northern parts of the country where it gets cold in the winter.  They don't live where it's warm all year round.

Cody:  You bet I am ready for fox and coon!  But the season does not start until like middle of October so it's a long wait for me.  It will seem like ages!  hehehe.  Squirrel starts Sept. 1 however, so that's not so bad.  A couple of them are accustomed to visiting my feeders, but I don't like shooting them like that.  I like it when they go through my yard and are up in the trees.  It's more challenging that way.  We 'll see.  I bet I won't be able to resist a 17yd shot to the feeder, but I 've been doing pretty good so far! 

[Atchman2]

Yep, the Mecca or Jerusalem of Groundhogs!  That's why they all come here,  

I was going to say one of those, but I didn't feel it would be "politically correct"  

[only1harry]

Nah, this is the hunting forum.  We don't care about being politically correct in here 

[1377x]

nice shooting!