Ground Hogs

[Jstpssng]

If someone shot him I'd have to return the favor in kind

If somebody comes into my door yard and starts shooting he can expect the same.

I'm waiting to see that picture...

 

[Jstpssng]

I doubt a groundhog is eating your wiring. Most likely mice.

It could also be squirrels or rats, considering the amount of damage.

My insurance won't cover that type of damage.

 

[BackRoad]

I had a Luke Skywalker rabbit under my F-350. It knew exactly what wire to eat to disable the dually, nibbling the wire down to the nub. Ford unfortunately put that critical wire head high to a rabbit...

I channeled my best Elmer Fudd...and then spent 50 bucks to replace the proprietary Ford connector.

Rabbits don't last long around my place!

 

[RandyT]

They make some fine PCP air rifles now. These are not your Red Rider BB guns. A .25 or .30 caliber at around 900 fps with a well-placed head or heart/lung shot, can take down coyotes. The past couple of years have seen the introduction of several different guns that are tack drivers and cost below $400.

The only problem with PCPs is the air to power them. There is the hand pump, but that gets old real fast. They have introduced several new electric pumps that work well for filling an air gun and cost below $300.

I have been an air gunner since the 60's. They are not a firearm so do not fall under the ATF rules and regulations. You can legally add suppressors and they can be really quiet. I own several but all of mine will not add up to what one of the top tier air guns will cost, yet when it comes to shot placement, mine will do everything the expensive ones will do.

The reason I used the .17 HMR instead of the air rifles was that I didn't have any charged up at the time and when it comes to ground hogs you must strike when the iron is hot.

The ATF doesn't but Illinois for the most part does. .22 and larger over 700 fps is considered a firearm and requires a FOID in IL.

 

[masseyrider]

Jimmy Dean said everyday is Ground Hog day.

 

[wmfamily]

Good do eat so long as you know how to cook them..... Kind of like squirrels.

They stink too much for me to skin them. My parents said the young ones were good to eat but I haven't bothered to skin one yet to try.

 

[wmfamily]

Now, if you just want them dead, you can use a Conibear body trap. It is a kill trap and can only be used responsibly and with caution. Put it over the hole(s) and you will get the animal. But, it will trap and kill cats, pets, and hurt a child. If those are in the vicinity, don't use it. If not, this will get the ground hog. And if you are not careful setting it, you'll find out how powerful it can be... Be careful. The Hav-A-Hart cage traps will work eventually...but it takes much more patience. I just want them gone.

Yes, the conibear trap works well. I killed two the other day that have dug holes in my barn. Set the trap and place it at the entry and they will stick their head through it. Box traps also work well. They are so dumb my mom doesn't even bait them, just puts them at the entry of their hole and they will walk through it at some point.

 

[MossRoad]

... Box traps also work well. They are so dumb my mom doesn't even bait them, just puts them at the entry of their hole and they will walk through it at some point.

That's how I catch them around my place. I just dig out the hole a bit so only the trap fits in and they have no place to go but through it.

 

[wmfamily]

BTW, the best bait I've found for live traps is cantaloupe. I eat the good parts and the rind goes into the trap. The last one that I caught in a live trap took about 30 minutes to catch. Unfortunately for him he didn't make it through the night. Since I currently live in a sub-division I had to bury the smelly mutt and that was a big hole.

 

[m7040]

Canned peaches in syrup works for me. Pour a little of the syrup to lead him into the trap