ethical groundhog hunting

[carterbeauford]

Good advice... too numerous to reply to individually, but it is appreciated. A bolt .223 with quality optics and more practice seems to be the most logical solution.

Carterbeauford, with all due respect, I'd suggest you leave the SKS at home

I know, I know... I fire it with the gas valve shut off, essentially turning it into a bolt gun. Need to pick up a 5 round fixed magazine.

I hunt them on Sundays, which is also illegal. Don't know if it is appropriate to admit to that on here or not but I do have an excuse. I do so on my own 70 acres. I am not aware of the PAGG (PA Game Gestapo) actively patrolling posted private property during groundhog season. I don't wear orange during groundhog season. I am not a model hunter. You see what I am getting at, though. Good luck trying to prove I am not target shooting without a dead groundhog.

 

[22-rimfire]

"I know, I know... I fire it with the gas valve shut off, essentially turning it into a bolt gun. Need to pick up a 5 round fixed magazine." That is a lot of hassle.

I have my doubts that you actually do that on your own land. Best approach is to get yourself a bolt action 223. Fantastic woodchuck rig.

 

[carterbeauford]

I have my doubts that you actually do that on your own land

My Yugo came with a nice, smooth gas valve. It can be switched on or off in a split second. Draw your own conclusions

 

[knoxx45]

Are you actually hunting though.

The whole SKS, semi-auto, and Sunday laws only apply if you are “hunting” them. Check your state’s/ local laws because some states allow the killing of “nuisance” animals. When I was in college in Rhode Island, they had this kind of law. Basically, it meant that you could legally shoot any animal on your own property that was on the nuisance list with out the state’s hunting laws applying, because it was not considered “hunting”. This included rats, raccoons, coyotes, ground hogs, foxes, and a few others that I can’t remember.

Also are you sure about the no semi thing. What about BAR’s?

 

[22-rimfire]

Yep, positive. No semi-automatic rifles or handguns are allowed to be used for hunting in Pennsylvania. That includes the Browning (BAR), the Garand, M1 Carbine, M14, Remington 7400 or whatever the current model is, AR's, etc. That includes 22 rifles and handguns for small game as well. They have a simple rule--"No semi-auto rifles are allowed." Semi-auto shotguns are allowed for small game hunting if plugged to hold 3 rounds. Groundhogs are listed as a game species even though they can be a nuisance.

Carterbeauford enjoy yourself. Hope the warden does not hear you shooting when you are out in search of chucks. SKS's can be a lot of fun to shoot. I just never liked their tendancy to shoot doubles and triples with one trigger pull.

I got a kick out of some guys fishing a river in a boat.... warden checks us and asked if anyone upstream was fishing that I saw... just a couple of guys in a boat.... he checks them and they had dumped their rods and gear into the river. Funny.

 

[parmamoon]

O.K. The key to solving any dilemma is getting to the root of it. That being said, are you really concerned about the "suffering" of the chuck, or are you just trying to finagle yourself a new gun by convincing your wife that it's necessary to the betterment of humanity? If it's the latter, well, you have my undying support! But if you are really are consumed by guilt, you must ask yourself why? Why do you hunt the chuck? for fun? for food? or perhaps to alleviate some suffering of your own? .e.g. The pain that you feel when you pull out your wallet at the J.D. dealership to buy a new axle because you tractor fell into a gigantic hole that mysteriously appeared where there was none. or the pounding of the migrane you get from hearing you wife gripe about the reoccuring damage to her vegetable and/or flower gardens. If you kill just for fun I doubt quick kills will cure your ill. But if it's for the other then
you should consider this, you may not be a sharpshooter,or even a good shot, but you are the "man on the scene" of a job that needs doing. so get it done however you can. Killing and suffering go together it's not your fault it's just a fact of life.

 

[Troutman]

Adding to this.......I confronted more woodchucks/groundhogs, than any other game animal, as I remember.
Their was a friends uncle who had a chuck problem on his property. He had come to me about it. He found out from my friend that I was a good negotiator. The way he talked about it, it seemed to be only a couple on his land, near his beautiful, rich, award winning garden. (Food source). He told me he tried smoking them out, using broken glass and plugging the holes with dirt... Tried flooding them out, even tried poison. Didn't work for him. I told him, sounds like a PETA conspiracy. I guess these varmints have rights too. Woodchucks/groundhogs are becoming tougher and more brazing these days, I guess.
When I went to his property, which was a beautiful dwelling that sat on a huge amount of green pasture overlooking lovely daffodil’s and the garden, I looked at the area he was talking about, he had more than a couple of woodchucks from the size holes (could fit Jimmie Hoffa in 'em) and number of holes in his land (entry/exit holes). He had a major problem. Looking at the house from a distant, it looked luxurious. With those holes, up close….It looked like a oilfield. If this guy’s property was in Texas, he would have become another Jed Clampett (Beverly Hillbillies) He down played the situation. Well, he was at the point to offer me $5 a head. I used my Winchester 94, 30-30 to convince them to leave. The man was even nice enough to serve me breakfast and dinner. If my wife did this, I would never leave the house.
The best time to confront these varmints to get off the mans land was from sunrise (early morning), than again at dusk (towards the evening), when they were the most active. Just like in the westerns, “get out of town before sundown”.
Their low-key, cautious. They will stick their head out of the hole, even if their is an unusual noise around...tractor, lawn mower...That’s when the fun begins. Unlike deer, that takes off and leaves the county. These varmints are bold when they claim a territory, and don't care about other peoples land rights or to pay taxes on their supposed, claimed land (freeloaders)...
This brings to…... Is their a way to confront these things in a humane (ethical) way? Well, I guess you have to ask PETA? ….Texas could use “work for food” workers, for drilling, to find more oil in the world.