Can you kill a groundhog with a Pellet?

[r2t2]

Groundhog Problem: Too many and I am in an area with other dwellings on a lake. I don't want to disturb neighbors or be unsafe so I am wondering it a quiet pellet gun would be lethal. If so, what do you recomend?

Rt

 

[Majic]

It won't be a humane kill if it even kills it. Groundhogs can get to be a good sized little critter with a thick layer of fat.

 

[SVT93]

I used a .177 which worked ok on a small one at very close range. I'd go looking for a .22 airgun though. If you can get good shot placement they work fine. quick search found this- http://www.americanairgunhunter.com/groundhog.html

 

[wooderson]

You might also consider a .22lr pistol loaded with Aguila's Colibri rounds. Quiet, more humane - safety comes down to how and where you're shooting.

 

[kart racer]

Get a 17 hmr or mach 2.The mach 2 should take care of it at shorter ranges and not bad in the noise area.

 

[razorburn]

Don't do it with any pellet gun you can get from walmart/local sports store. Get over 30-35 fpe. Which means no .177. A .22 14gr bullet going a true 1000 fps should do it with a good shot from a fairly close range. If firearms are an option at all, I'd choose that every time.

 

[rangerruck]

if you get a 22 cal or bigger, using co2 or pnp charged, that is going at least 1000 fps at the muzzle, that will do it. Problem is , they are very expensive.
cheaper way is to get a single shot, and use Aguila colibri or super colibri, or cci cb shorts or longs.

 

[expvideo]

I bagged one with a 9mm, but I guess that's a little louder than you need

 

[joneb]

David killed Goliath with a sling so all things are possible. A bolt action .22lr will work with .22CB's get the longs if you have a repeater. CB's are as quiet as a air rifle if not more so, and the 29grn bullet at 700ish FPS will muster around 32 FT/LBS of E and with a head shot will work fine. I would practice first and limit your shots to 15-20 yds.

 

[Rabid Rabbit]

Having shot groundhogs with 22LR and up I agree with jibjab. Another alternative is to call a pest control company that has one of these http://www.rodexindustries.com/action.html devices.

 

[ZeSpectre]

We had a neighboring farmer who used to get up close and take 'em out with an airgun but it was something really high end (I can't remember what) not your typical Daisy .177.

In my younger days I killed a groundhog with a slingshot (though I still consider it to have been a lucky shot).

Now that I'm older (and wiser?) I don't think I'd try for a humane kill with less than a .22LR

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Certainly you can. Sneak up behind the groundhog. Lay the pellet on its head. Then pound the pellet with a 12 pound sledge hammer.

 

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

practical supression

put a .22 lr in a .22 mag chamber and POP, its done, and pretty quiet. Put in a .22 short even better. BUT, the 1000+ fps air rifles out there today, especially in .22 are pretty dern cool. Consider trapping options....that works a lot more around here and lets me spend time shooting rats.


ST

 

[LAR-15]

Use a compound bow with a good broadhead.

Groundhogs are generally tough animals

 

[22-rimfire]

I used to shoot them with a 22LR a fair amount. If I were to attempt killing a groundhog with a pellet gun, I'd use a 22 cal and be good enough to him the critter in the eye. It should penetrate sufficiently to reach the brain and humanely dispatch the chuck. It boils down to being a good shot and only taking shots that you can make. I doubt a body shot will kill one or if it does, it will be a slow lingering death (disease or infection mostly) for the groundhog which I can not suggest.

With a regular 22LR, body shots will not kill them immediately. They will die in their dens. Again, I did eye and ear shots mostly with 22LR and that takes them down promptly.

 

[Dorryn]

I killed a groundhog with a rake once. Those little bastards are surprisingly fast and strong. And angry. Though that could be because I had hit it with a rake.

 

[doubleg]

This thread is hilarius.

 

[deadin]

You could probably beat one to death with the pellet gun.
I would recommend a pellet rifle over a pistol. (You don't have to get quite as close)

 

[The Rifleman]

Why not just put out some traps? Figure out where they are comming from and where they are going to and set a dozen or so traps. Figure out what they like to eat and place it around or above the trap.

Beat them over the head with a baseball bat and throw them in the garbage.

 

[B.D. Turner]

If you can get in pellet gun range why not use a bow? Field tips would be fine and great pratice too.

 

[MikeK]

A guy that lives in the area uses .22 shorts from a rifle. He says it's quiet and kills them quickly if he does his part.

 

[doubleg]

Definatley^ I spent many a night plinking in my back yard with Longs out of a 22 bolt rifle. Just slightly louder than a paintball gun.

 

[foob]

Do they taste good?

 

[PaladinX13]

Groundhog Problem: Too many and I am in an area with other dwellings on a lake. I don't want to disturb neighbors or be unsafe so I am wondering it a quiet pellet gun would be lethal. If so, what do you recommend?

Having taken the lawn/landscaping destroyers with a Benjamin/Sheridan 392 (.22cal pump rifle)... you absolutely can do it humanely, but make sure you're proficient with the weapon first... that is, able to put the pellet behind the groundhog's ear with relative ease.

Noise-wise... it depends on how skittish and how close they live (what kind of setting are you in?)... but a many air-rifles aren't significantly more quiet than a .22LR using CB Caps.

 

[Picknlittle]

Do they taste good?

Not bad BBQ'd,...maybe a greasy and stringy for some.