Any Long Distance Ground Hog Hunters/Shooters on Here?

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Bob Wright

Hawkeye
Joined
Jun 24, 2004
Messages
7,686
Location
Memphis, TN USA
Haven't done that in a long time. Last time I used a Ruger Super Blackhawk but kept my kills around 100 yards or so. This in eastern Ohio, near Cadiz/Steubenville.

Bob Wright
 

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
25,150
Location
Lake Lure NC USA
I'm mostly a handgun hunter. Combine that with the heavy growth, not many wide open places to hunt them, long distance around here is around 100 yds.
But throw in the handgun feature, and it really can be a challenge.
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,936
Location
missouri
Most of my groundhog removal happens by way of a 17HMR under 100 yards and I recollect the most recent one was taken out with a 22 pistol. Just don't see them from much distance here--they tend to hang out around old buildings and such..
 

XP100

Blackhawk
Joined
Aug 28, 2003
Messages
791
Location
Florida
Early Remington 700 Varmint Special in 222. just shy of 300 yds. is longest shot. It took me almost a month to get that one. Didn't know exact distance but everytime I pulled into the field it would stand eract at its hole and everytime I would aim a little higher. After about a dozen trips walking down to where it was I finally connected. I have an Ithaca Tikka standard barrel and a heavy barrel but that would have been to easy.
 

Bigbore5

Single-Sixer
Joined
Aug 29, 2022
Messages
177
Location
Stanley NC
I don't live far from Contender. We are rolling farm land rather than his foothills, so 200yds is about it. I use a 357max Blackhawk or an XP100 in the Fireball.

My longest is with a FA 353 at 210yds so far. I don't see iron sights like I used to, and if I put a scope on something it's a rifle.
 

Black Fly

Single-Sixer
Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
466
Location
Lake Nice, VA
When I lived in PA, spent a lot of afternoons shooting and shooting at groundhogs. My first long range was in 69, all but 300 yards with a 264 Win Mag. A lot died in front of my Mossberg Chuckster. My current groundhog gun is a 77 Tanger RS in 22 250. Cheap Winchester 40 grain factory loads make pink smoke out to 300 yards. Hopefully I can get back home for an early fall shoot.
Bfly
 

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
25,150
Location
Lake Lure NC USA
Since Mobuck mentioned the 17 HMR,, I can say I carry one in my truck for work purposes. (Animal Damage Control)
And when I'm being paid,, and need a firearm for smaller critters,, it's my go to rifle.

But 99% of my groundhogs are just trapped. I picked up (2) today from (2) different customer's houses. In my book,, easy money.
 

jack black

Blackhawk
Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
771
Location
East of Austin
My early Chuck hunting was the rolling farmland in VT. We could take 500-600 yd shots all day long.

I miss those early days. There is still plenty of farmland in Bernie land.
 

XUSNORDIE

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jul 29, 2023
Messages
211
Location
Gettysburg PA Area
I haven't been out this year due to a couple health issues. But every summer for a long time has been involved a ton of GHOG shooting. Most of the farms I hunt are in MD with rolling hills and were limited to about an average of 300 yd pokes...there are a few opportunities for some much longer pokes but I typically brought my predator rifles with modest optics. GHOG hunting is fun and is useful when working up loads for the upcoming predator seasons. Mostly used 17 Hornet (Hvy Barrel), 204 Ruger (Medium Barrel) and 223 Rem (Sporter barrel). If walking and stalking usually brought a Marlin 22 Mag or GP100 for close shots.

I did build up a 6.5 CM on a MOD 700 action, Timney trigger and HVY 26" barrel w/SEI comp. Put it in a Stocky's Varminter and topped it off with a Vortex 6-24X50 Viper HST. Haven't worked any loads up yet but plan on making a few 95gr Vmax pills just to see how they will do on GHOGS at longer pokes. Will probably need to wait until next year when I get around better.

Groundhogs, Woodchucks, Hogs, Chucks, Pigs, Whistle Pigs, Bogeys, Pasture Poodles......I love hearing all the different names folks have for them.
 

wagwan

Bearcat
Joined
Feb 8, 2022
Messages
15
Years ago, when I lived up in rural Canada we shot hundreds and hundreds of them with every caliber imaginable. My fav was an early Ruger No. 1 heavy barrel in 22-250 wearing a Leupold 6-18. We could take shots as far as we could see - 500 and 600+ just to see if we could do it. (Used binocs to find them). We didn't get many at that distance but when you did it was awesome with huge bragging rights. The local farmers loved us!
 

XUSNORDIE

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jul 29, 2023
Messages
211
Location
Gettysburg PA Area
Years ago, when I lived up in rural Canada we shot hundreds and hundreds of them with every caliber imaginable. My fav was an early Ruger No. 1 heavy barrel in 22-250 wearing a Leupold 6-18. We could take shots as far as we could see - 500 and 600+ just to see if we could do it. (Used binocs to find them). We didn't get many at that distance but when you did it was awesome with huge bragging rights. The local farmers loved us!

A bud of mine used a Ruger No1V in 223.....it was a beautiful rifle. His was topped with a Weaver T36. Long for him was 300 and he rarely missed.

Binos are must when hunting GHOGS. Heck often we would have a spotting scope to scan fields and then move to an area to get an easier shot.

Farmers do love and appreciate GHOG hunters. More than a few times when asking permission to hunt a farm for deer, dove or predators we would offer our assistance around the farm. I've found myself cleaning horse stalls, fixing fences, throwing hay.....but a lot of the farmers would just ask to kill GHOGS. Twist my arm!

I've seen my share of stuck/damaged farm equipment, and injured livestock due to GHOG holes.
 

Skeet 028

Single-Sixer
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
160
Location
Northwest Wyoming
I shot em in Md Ruger 1 22-250 sold it and used either 722...one a 222 the 2nd was a 722 in 222 Mag. The mag is almost equivalent to the 22-250...less recoil and more accuracy
 

flyingtiger

Single-Sixer
Joined
Nov 23, 2016
Messages
115
Location
Ohio
Here is what my son does
Resized_20230629_161001.jpeg
 

XUSNORDIE

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jul 29, 2023
Messages
211
Location
Gettysburg PA Area
Stalking GHOGs with a handgun is very time consuming compared to long poke with a rifle, but it's great fun and challenging in a different way.

Most of my handgun GHOG kills have been in the back yard or near/inside a barn.....lol
 
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