A different 3 year plan...battling woodchucks/groundhogs

[AK13]

I know you said you can't use a .22, but what about a pellet gun? Some of those break action ones are about the same power of a .22.

I wonder if a pellet done would get it done. I think they have very thick hides.

The main issue that I have with them besides not wanting them living in my barn is that they get into my FENCED garden. It took me a while to figure it out, but the fencing is 2"x4" and the juvenile groundhogs can fit their heads through and crawl right through.

By the way, my best ground hog story is the time I got home and found one in my fenced garden. I took off full speed towards the garden. He saw me and went to squeeze back through the fence at the back of the garden. He popped through right as I made it around back. So it was basically pinned with me in front of him and the fence behind. I took a couple steps back and picked up a big rock. When I went for the rock he made his move. I managed to anticipate his speed and direction and landed the rock right on top of him (it was a small boulder so more of a heave than a throw). Took one more bigger rock to finish the job. I was surprised at the adrenaline rush from the whole encounter. Took a glass of bourbon to level me out.

 

[pma1123]

I bet that encounter was quite a rush!! I've been very close to these things several times, unarmed for that split second I get to experience this...

I have a similar story with throwing a hammer, because it was the closest thing I could grab as I caught a glimpse through the window and sprung up from eating a bowl of cereal.
I threw the (16oz Estwing) hammer overhand from ~10ft and landed a direct hit, heard a squeak, and it scurried down the hole.
No casualty; they're tougher than they look!

 

[bassJAM]

I wonder if a pellet done would get it done. I think they have very thick hides.

If you got a .22 cal air rifle that was pushing around 1000 fps, I think it'd do the job at close to medium ranges. And I'm not sure what the gun laws are where you live, but a CB round is whisper quiet out of a .22 rifle. Subsonic rounds are pretty quiet too. Either way, head shots are what you want.

I once took a groundhog at close to 200 yards with my .22 rifle, but it just paralyzed it's hind legs. I had to sprint up to him before he dragged himself back to his hole to put a round through his head.

 

[splitoak]

Any modern .22 cal of your choice...

 

[Jags]

As I'm in city limits, I cannot just open fire with a .22 without having problems with the law.

As the OP clearly stated, guns are not an option.

 

[mustash29]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[mustash29]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[peakbagger]

I do have a friend that uses a crossbow to take them out.

 

[bobdog2o02]

I have the luxury of best neighbors and a great backstop. If you want a dog that wants to hunt get an American bulldog. I have a2yr old female, at a dog show had her run the 100yd sprint. Clocked at 6.9 seconds.

Anyway, this dog caught a ground hog and shook it to pieces. Worries me because slot of the ground hogs,possums, coons etc in our area are carrying rabies........ If my dog would chase it I shoot it.

 

[bassJAM]

I have the luxury of best neighbors and a great backstop. If you want a dog that wants to hunt get an American bulldog. I have a2yr old female, at a dog show had her run the 100yd sprint. Clocked at 6.9 seconds.

Anyway, this dog caught a ground hog and shook it to pieces. Worries me because slot of the ground hogs,possums, coons etc in our area are carrying rabies........ If my dog would chase it I shoot it.

When I was a teenager, around 14 or so, I went fishing back at the river behind my parents and took along my Golden Retriever since he liked to stand in the water next to me as I fished. Along the way I saw a groundhog sitting upright at the edge of the field with it's whole body mildly shaking in a Muhammad Ali sort of way. I saw it from about 50 yards away, and it never budged as I got closer. By the time I was 15 feet away, my dog finally saw it (I think high weeds blocked his vision until then). The hair on his back stood up and he ran up and behind it, picked it up by the scruff of it's neck and shook it violently. Then he dropped it and walked back to me. He didn't even sniff it after he killed it.

This was a dog that to my knowledge never killed anything else, but he loved to chew on and roll on any dead animal he found. He somehow knew that groundhog had either rabies or distemper though.

 

[Ashful]

bass, my dogs are just miniature pinschers, a close relative to your weiner dog (mini pin's are half dachshund, half italian greyhound). They're ferocious little buggers (think little man syndrome), but no matter. The groundhogs and other varmint are more turned off by the fact that there's some noisy and nosy creature coming 'round all day, than how big or dangerous the dog really is. They'll move on to quieter pastures, even if your dog is less than entirely athletic.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Pellet guns do work. It may not kill them outright but they will get lead poisioning within 24 hrs Usually die in their holes. Iv trapped them too. But like others said then comes the unpleasant work of killing and dumping.(dispense with a 22 then into the garbage can) Once i smoked one out with break fluid and chlorine powder which prodeces a thick acrid smoke and then burst into flames.I actually gave up gardening cuz i got tired of defending my turf. Iv got one right now and he has to go as my tropical lime trees will be outside this summer. Not sure if i will use the trap or the pellet gun or the brake fluid.

 

[lobsta1]

I used to have a problem with chucks under the wood pile & corner of the block garage. Tried everything I could with no luck. Finally took 2 lbs. of cayenne pepper & poured it down 2" pvc pipe into the den. Then I hooked up my leaf blower & blew the pepper around underground. Finally followed that up with a gallon of muriatic acid down the pvc & the leaf blower again. They haven't come back since that assault.
Al

 

[NitroDave]

Fly bait, coca-cola, and a bowl....typically find them dead with their head still in the bowl.

 

[bobdog2o02]

Fly bait, coca-cola, and a bowl....typically find them dead with their head still in the bowl.

And it will kill your neighbors pets too, and maybe your pets, and your toddler grandkids

WTF man.

 

[NitroDave]

And it will kill your neighbors pets too, and maybe your pets, and your toddler grandkids

WTF man.

You could get a paper cut that could turn into a staff infection too...

Put the bait where others are not going to get into it.... Been doing this way in the country for over 50 years... And no dead children.....

 

[bobdog2o02]

You could get a paper cut that could turn into a staff infection too...

Put the bait where others are not going to get into it.... Been doing this way in the country for over 50 years... And no dead children.....

My grandpa used to use antifreeze with the same effect. I just remember anything with red blood would drink it and die.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I've used cages, foot holds and conis. I like the conis the best when I can use one. With a foothold you still have an angry woodchuck to deal with. Pellet guns will work, some of the new ones are just as powerful as a .22LR. It's still a firearm and many towns don't like you discharging them within the community though.

Keep all dogs away from the conis. You don't need the bad PR from catching one in a 220 sized trap.

 

[blades]

To pma123. really hate to tell you this, but under WI state law for some insane reason the freickin woodchucks are protected, classified with badgers. I do not know what idiot group got the woodchuck/groundhog deal slid in there but this happen some 20 years ago. Only exception is on farms when there borrows cause a problem for cattle. With some digging you can find info on the DNR sight, they are not listed on threatened or endangered species lists though. Other than that I have eradicated them over the years with just about anything at hand. To me they are a 1/2 step above rabbits as far as my garden goes and several steps below ants of any kind near any structure. As far as the DNR is concerned in this they can kiss my ........ !

 

[bag of hammers]

A couple of years ago we had one woodchuck show up - first one I've ever seen out our way (@ 15 years). The dog went crazy - kept it up in the tree for quite a while. When it finally had it's chance, it took off never to be seen again. Luckily there are hundreds of acres of bush around so it had lots of alternate places to hang out without a big dog to chase it. Not even sure why it decided to show up at our place (no lawn, no garden, etc.). Porcupines + dogs - been there, that's a whole other story....

 

[Jags]

Huh - woodchucks can climb trees. Who knew?

 

[bag of hammers]

Despite their heavy-bodied appearance, groundhogs are accomplished swimmers and excellent tree climbers when escaping predators or when they want to survey their surroundings.[8] They prefer to retreat to their burrows when threatened

I am looking for the pic now, might be on my wife camera...

 

[bag of hammers]

Also has some other interesting nicknames ("land-beaver" ....)
The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, whistle-pig, or land-beaver in some areas, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog

 

[Jags]

I saw that same quote. Had to look it up. I have had chucks cornered by my dog against a tree. Never saw one climb though.

 

[bag of hammers]

Me either. Maybe they just especially don't like Newf's

It was in no hurry to come back down, for sure...