Woodchucks 2018

[22250Rem]

Chipmunks are no problem.. A Havahart trap and a cracker with peanut butter on it can do the trick. Woodchucks could be challenging and I don't have a Havahart that big. I've seen countless 'chuck holes right next to foundations. They seem to like digging right along the foundation wall... easier digging? If I don't get an opportunity to 'chuck hunt soon I could always resort to trapping some in the "gun free" zone out back if a suitable 'chuck size trap could be found. Meanwhile I can keep the wife happy with the humane trapping and relocation of the excessive chipmunk population. Here's one in the truck bed about to get a ride to his new home. I'd love to get pix of a woodchuck in a similar spot.

 

[Milt1]

Chipmunks are no problem.. A Havahart trap and a cracker with peanut butter on it can do the trick. Woodchucks could be challenging and I don't have a Havahart that big. I've seen countless 'chuck holes right next to foundations. They seem to like digging right along the foundation wall... easier digging? If I don't get an opportunity to 'chuck hunt soon I could always resort to trapping some in the "gun free" zone out back if a suitable 'chuck size trap could be found. Meanwhile I can keep the wife happy with the humane trapping and relocation of the excessive chipmunk population. Here's one in the truck bed about to get a ride to his new home. I'd love to get pix of a woodchuck in a similar spot. View attachment 798796

Not sure if the trapping and releasing in a strange area is humane? Please note that I'm not passing judgement of any kind here but I know that releasing certain animals in strange area is a death sentence for them. Regarding chipmunks, this is what PETA says: Note: Never trap or relocate chipmunks. You won’t affect the local population, and worse, releasing a chipmunk in a strange area will almost surely result in his or her death.

 

[22250Rem]

That's a very good point and probably correct. But the "boss" feels that it's more humane than just killing them. We live next to a woods which is only about 10 yards from the side of the garage. If I put them in that woods they can easily return. I have a 22 cal Benjamin air rifle but the chipmunks rarely stand still when they are out where I could get a shot at them, if I could do that. Perhaps I'll just declare a truce... unless they start being seen in the garage, ( which chipmunks sometimes do), and then declare all-out war on them like some folks do when that happens.

 

[Grumulkin]

Every year a groundhog or two or three choose to take up residence under my front porch. I keep them pretty well cleaned out as their main hole is at the side of the house under a window. This one had been pretty shy and hard to get a bead on but after a few weeks it finally made a mistake and I stamped its card with a 357 Herrett.

 

[22250Rem]

Well; It's Oct. 1st and here's the only woodchuck picture I got all this past season.... I must be getting old.

 

[22250Rem]

Now it's Dec. 6th and all the 'chucks are hibernating....... But as I was driving by the location pictured in post #55 (above), it reminded me of this thread. Stopped and took another picture and resolved to make a new years resolution of harvesting a few woodchucks this coming year. Perhaps then I can add some woodchuck photos. Hope the 'chucks awaken early next spring and a few make an appearance here...... See you all come spring.

 

[Axis II]

Now it's Dec. 6th and all the 'chucks are hibernating....... But as I was driving by the location pictured in post #55 (above), it reminded me of this thread. Stopped and took another picture and resolved to make a new years resolution of harvesting a few woodchucks this coming year. View attachment 814971 Perhaps then I can add some woodchuck photos. Hope the 'chucks awaken early next spring and a few make an appearance here...... See you all come spring.

Ohio went from 20 degrees and snow to 65 degrees last sunday and driving down the road to deer hunt there was a chuck strolling down the shoulder.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

we used to have lots of chucks here. but when I was a kid I had a dog that dang near wiped them out. the dog and I roamed our 300 acres at will.

he would kill them as fast as he could find them. if he was not fast enuf to catch them he would tree them for me to shoot. he once ran one up a telephone pole.

when he got older say up around 12 yrs old and was a bit infirm, he would bay them on the ground, then he would look over at me. you could read his mind. he was saying "hey boss help me out". id whack the chuck with a shovel or stick and he would go in for the kill.

after about 15 years of him killing or treeing every chuck in sight they have never really recovered their population and that was 30 years ago.

I still shoot one or two a year. I once saw my gpa shoot a chuck in the head at 50 yrds with a stevens tip up pistol and a 22 short, rested on a fence post.it was hilarious.

the biggest problem we had with chucks was them burrowing in the foundations of farm buildings. they would get to digging under a building and make a total mess of it.

last one I shot was eating the green beans in my garden.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Here in my part of New York they have been working on I 86. Since then the seed business behind my house and my yard and several ofy neighbors have been infested with chucks. Counted 25 so i bought a crossman 760 pellet gun to control them. I've killed 8 so far but it doesn't have enough punch to get them all. I need a better gun something in 1400 fps range or a 22 cal at 1200 fps. Can't use rimfire in city limits.

 

[Hookeye]

Started blasting them around '76 w a Ruger 10/22.
Popped a couple and needed more HP.
Got a Rem 660 in .222
8th grade I traded that off for a Ruger #1B in ,.243 win.

View attachment 815878

13# here.

Have taken some around 16# and one monster that was over 20# (but that was when I was squirrel hunting w a Rem 121...........he took one, went into hole, came out, took another, went in, and came back out growling as I ran up and put one in his noggin. The two prev shots, first at 50, next at 25 yds, were behind shoulder an inch apart.

No crops, just a stand of hardwoods, knew a big one lived there. First time I ever saw him out. Kinda feel bad about it. Would have felt OK if I had the $ back then for a full mount........he was a brute.

 

[Paul7]

Here it is July and I haven't even pointed a gun at a 'chuck this season (yet). One of the farms I used to hunt is up for sale due to the elderly owners death and a few other spots are currently in limbo, too......... So the only 'chucks I've managed to "shoot" have been with a trail cam about 125 yds. out back in a "no discharge of firearms" area. I could most likely get away with popping one in the head with a 22LR round but I'm not gonna push my luck. Here's a few pix from the "gun free" zone along with a young fox that stopped by to check out the woodchuck holes. First time in my life I've ever had pictures of live 'chucks instead of dead ones posing next to a rifle. It's frustrating to be reduced to currently being limited to shooting 'chucks with just a trail cam but boredom can do funny things. But it's still fun anyway.View attachment 795840 View attachment 795841 View attachment 795842 View attachment 795843 View attachment 795844

How about using an air rifle?

 

[22250Rem]

Never gave my air rifle much thought...... It's a Benjamin Trail .22 Cal. Nitro Piston 2 with the Center Point 3-9x scope that came with it. Biggest thing its ever taken has been squirrel ( air rifles are legal for that here) and I've learned to limit my range to about 20 yards. Checked my state regs and 'chucks are an unprotected species and would be legal with an air rifle. There are air rifles capable of taking 'chucks but I wouldn't trust mine unless I was really close. 'Chucks are tough critters and I worry about taking one ethically.... Don't want it to escape down the hole to die a slow painful death or spend the rest of its life in pain. But then; last summer when I was setting trail cams by 'chuck holes there's a spot where I could vanish into the bushes about 10 yards from a big woodchuck hole and sit there with the Benjamin Trail...... A head shot with a 22LR can take a chuck at 50 yards...... A Crosman .22 cal. Piranha 14.3 gr. hollow point lead pellet at about 832 fps ( I've chronographed it) at about 10 yards might be feasible with a head shot. A body shot would be too risky as they can sometimes still make it underground even when mortally wounded. I should see what kind of energy those pellets have at about 10 yards by shooting them into things at that distance and checking for penetration and other signs of energy. Here's one of the 'chucks by the hole with the bushes visible in the background. Still undecided about it but at least it's legal and I've got at least 6 months to think about it.

 

[Ks5shooter]

We do quite a bit of varmint hunting on the farm I have permission to hunt. But when hunting them with the farmer I always give him first shot as he loves it so. After that all bets are off. Hes 72 now and man can he can still shoot his 22-250. We have become good friends.

 

[22250Rem]

I used to help a friend cull woodchucks on his land when they started getting too thick. He had an open meadow he kept cut down and he hated having 'chuck holes out there where he mowed. A lot of that area isn't even 150 yards wide and surrounded by woods. Most shots were from 50 to 125 yards. The closer 50 yard shots were done with a variety of 22LR rifles aiming for the head.... Anything beyond that I used a 22 Hornet and it was ideal. The bigger stuff like 22-250 and 220 Swift were definitely "overkill" in that little field but we had a lot of fun doing what he used to call "critter control".