Posted: 4/28/2007 3:02:27 PM EDT
| I have a groundhog under a shed type structure and several more in the field behind my house. My question is what is the best way to lure the one on my property out of his hiding spot? I have permission to go into the field and take as many as I want so thats no problem. Also is a .22 good enough shooting 38gr american eagle hollow points? distance would be no more than 80 yards or so. Thanks |
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I've heard of people placing a metal target some distance from the hole and popping it a couple of times. Supposedly the groundhog will come out to see what's going on. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable shooting a groundhog with a 22LR unless I was sure of a headshot. This sounds like the perfect excuse to get an AR! |
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I use the CCI SGBs ( .22LR small game bullets) out of either a 10/22 or CZ 452 and rarely lose one.Maybe 2 out of 10 get a second shot.Usually try to limit myself to 75 yd shots,but have taken them over 100. Of course,I've also been known to pop them with a roundball over 90 gr of 2F. 
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All the groundhogs I have shot (with a .22) have required multiple shots to kill them. They are tough little buggers. I killed one on my patio with a pitchfork once.  
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I think this was used for groundhogs. I got this from Ragnar Benson's "Survival Poaching." Cover the animal's den entrance with a black cloth. He'll come out to see why the sun went down suddenly. When you see the cloth move, use your favorite method of dispatching him. |
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I have seen many shot with .22lr Both rifle and pistol, they are very tough, and require a very good shot do drop them with one shot. If you have an accurate .22lr rifle, you can take them to 100yds with head/vital shots, with high velocity hollow points such as CCI stingers, QuickShock, or Aguila SuperMaximum. That said, .22lr are not 100% effective on such thick skinned tough animals. Head shots are great if you are going to eat them, If you want to just kill them and dispose of them, and dont feel comfortable with a head shot, you can take out there front shoulders with broadside shots, and if they live, they will have a very hard time pushing thereself back down a hole, and impossible to ever climb back out. if you hit there back legs, they can drag thereselves pretty well. I have seen one shot center mass from 50yds with a .22lr rifle, with good hollow point ammo, and then it ran for 50yds through a rock field/cinder pit before stopping to die. I shot one connecting at least 3 times with a 10-22 from 25yds, and he still made it into a hole under a big rock. To lure them out, I hold two baseball size rocks in my hands, and hit them together to make a series of click/clapping sounds, that seems to make them stick there heads out.(curious critters they are). |
| Shot many of them as a kid in Il..We never needed to try and lure them as the come out of their holes alot. I remember whistling at them to get them to stand up as I did'nt have a scope on my H&K 91. Like others said .22 for short range. Most fun with good optics and high velocity. Kinda miss that red mist! |