Rolled a Groundhog today..

Squirrelhunter91 · April 9, 2006

Today we made a day trip up to our hunting cabin in Sullivan County.. Today was our only day to scout for turkey season which is 13 days away.. The turkey sign is good. Tons of tracks on our side of the mountain and scat. But that's for a different post.

Anyway, we brought my best friend JJ up with us to our place. Me and him went for a ride on the quad while my dad slept because he's working nights and sleeps during the day. Anyway, we went out for a ride on the quad for about 2 hours and on our way back through the field next to the house there is a groundhog. We got up on him with the quad to about 10 yards and he took off running into his hole. His hole is under a truck body that we use for storage. I then figured I might get him later in the day or just another day.. So then we went in the house ate lunch or whatever and then went for a walk. We took the owl hooter and stuff and got some crows & hawks fired up, but no shock gobbles. On our way back, we were walking down the paved road adjacent to the field and the house when I saw the groundhog out again. We quietly snuck down the road, went in the house, I woke up my dad and asked him if I could shoot the groundhog. He says of course. I grab the 20 gauge and two shells and lock and load. I round the corner of the house and there he is about 25 yards away. If I shoot then, I might hit the quad. So I snuck up on him to about 15 yards ( even with the quad ) and let er rip. He had his back to me so he never even saw it coming. The Mossberg roared and he collapsed on the spot. I had to step on his head though to finish him off. I had an improved cylinder choke in the gun and a 2 3/4" 7/8oz load of 7 1/2 shot. Kinda light, but oh well. I thought I grabbed a turkey load because the shell had high brass. So the pattern I must have hit him with was probably like a foot and a half wide..

We took pics with the hard camera. You folks know what happened with the digital camera. There are 6 remaining pics left on the film. I am gonna try and use up those pics and go get them developed.

This was my first groundhog of '06. He was a real mangy looking bugger. He had hair missing all over his body and everything. Not to mention a bunch of scars and almost no left ear. It must have been bitten off in a fight or something like that. He didn't hear me coming. I took a pic of the spots that was missing hair. He had a ton of fleas on him too and little mites.

Now I have one more behind my regular house that I am gonna try and stick with my bow. I've came close a few times, but I will get him.

Tominator · April 9, 2006