i'll tell ya how much a woodchuck chucks

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pittsteele

Joined
Aug 24, 2001
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half the foundation of my horse barn! :grumpy: :mad:
for some reason this year they're breedin like rabbits. the dog usually takes care of them in the early season, but this year it's crazy. anyone have any tips/tricks for 'controlling the population'. the only problem is no poison (other animals) and no firearms (township ordinance). these are tough little buggers, the pellet gun just pisses 'em off... i'm thinking high powered crossbow???
 
Personally, I shoot those little boogers on sight. I've found that .223 is great woodchuck/ groundhog medicine. I hate them too. They've trashed our garden on more than one occasion. I shoot 'em in the face whenever possible.

A crossbow or regular bow will work just fine. Nailing a woodchuck with a broadhead from a compound bow would be satisfying indeed.
 
There's hardly any around where I live anymore. I think the growing coyote population has really put a dent in the "groundhogs". Get rid of one pest gain another!
In fact they have moved to cities and the one I work in has them in people's backyards. I lent a lady at work my live trap to catch the ones in her small backyard and it worked really well, by positioning it so they had to travel through it out of their holes. It's a spring loaded double door model made by Havahart, I believe the #1050.
 
How populated is the area you live? I'm not advocating breaking the law, but...
a closed bolt or lever action rifle .22LR with subsonic ammo is REEEEAL quite. If your neighbors aren't close it might work out. Otherwise try a trap (not the cage type) and a club.
 
I think the live traps are called Hav-A-Hart. Get the right size, get the right bait, and check the traps often. Then once you've caught what your looking for (let all cats and small dogs out!) fill up your wheelbarrow with water and place the trap inside. Very quick, pretty clean, and quiet. I use this technique for rats. They love peanut butter. The live traps enable you to let out the wrong catch without injury. The spring traps can catch cats and dogs and possibly lead to legal problems with your neighbors. Let us know what you end up doing and how successful you are.
 
Living in a more urban environment, my wife and I love the little guys and often drive around to see if we can spot them in the grassy areas along roadways or the local park.

They don't do any harm at all in this environment, and help keep the grass mowed...

More problematic are skunks, which are constantly becoming smelly road-kill. "Dead skunk in the middle of the road, stinkin' to high....Heaven!"
 
Some of the new air rifles are near equivalent to .22 rifles and can have built in silencers...er noise reduction elements. Not sure how that fits into your scheme of things.
 
You might consider a live trap. That way, if you catch the neighbor's cat, you can decide how much you like that particular neighbor.
 
racegunner said:
How populated is the area you live? I'm not advocating breaking the law, but...
a closed bolt or lever action rifle .22LR with subsonic ammo is REEEEAL quite. If your neighbors aren't close it might work out. Otherwise try a trap (not the cage type) and a club.
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I'll second the subsonic .22's... not only are the REEEEAL quite, but they are also REEEEAL quiet too!;):D The ONLY sound you hear is the bullet hitting your target!
 
I wonder what a bludgeon-tip bolt from a 200+ lb crossbow would do to the skull of the morbidly obese rat that is the woodchuck.:D

"that's gonna leave a mark!"
 
pittsteele said:
good input, thanks all :thumbup: ...will follow up after this weekend
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Please post pix in Whine and Cheese. :D:thumbup:
(( Do not post pics. One of our guys posted similar pics, got ratted out, and had legal probs over it. ))
 
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Mongo said:
I'll second the subsonic .22's... not only are the REEEEAL quite, but they are also REEEEAL quiet too!;):D The ONLY sound you hear is the bullet hitting your target!
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I'm with racegunner and Mongo. I don't advocate breaking the law, but I live in the suburbs, and have used my lever action Henry .22 with CCI subsonics for taking care of gophers in the back yard and nobody ever knew a thing. Mine is the carbine with the shorter barrel, and it was still REEEEEAL quiet, just like Mongo said. It's also REEEEAL quiet!!:D
 
BOBO said:
The spring traps can catch cats and dogs and possibly lead to legal problems with your neighbors.
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Incorrect. You wouldn't be liable for anything because the pet was unsupervised and wandered onto your property. Thats not to say the neighbor wouldn't sue, just that they wouldn't collect.
 
update: well the mutt got another one, my neighbor got one with a shovel and i opted to try the bow out with some pretty good hunting arrows, got another one. so down to one now, the big one :mad:
 
pittsteele said:
update: well the mutt got another one, my neighbor got one with a shovel and i opted to try the bow out with some pretty good hunting arrows, got another one. so down to one now, the big one :mad:
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Careful! That big one is wood-Chuck Norris!!! He will be out for revenge. You better have back-up.
Also, please stop makin' fun of mi speeling. It just hurts. :)
 
Woodchuck Stew

1 woodchuck
2 onions, sliced
1/2 cup celery, sliced
Flour
Vinegar and water
Salt and pepper
Cloves

Clean woodchuck; remove glands; cut into serving pieces. Soak overnight in a solution of equal parts of water and vinegar with addition of one sliced onion and a little salt. Drain, wash, and wipe. Parboil 20 minutes, drain, and cover with fresh boiling water. Add one sliced onion, celery, a few cloves, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until tender; thicken gravy with flour.
 
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