There is a woodchuck in the brush pile next to my archery range .
The wife says " leave it alone "
The silly thing must have heard her and knows that it's safe there because he will come out and watch me shoot just a few feet away from me .
I happen to like pulled woodchuck sandwiches . :banghead:
"Dang Honey, the stupid thing ran out in front of my target just as I released, must of wanted to commit suicide."
A coyote must have got him. Haven't seen it in a while dear. Nom nom nom.
The chuck must trust you,so I ask you, do you want to break that trust?
Thwack oops darn target panic :archer2:
"I just wanted to practice drawing down on him. I thought it was a blunt on the arrow, but the string slipped, and well, shucks, it turns out I grabbed one of my broadhead arrows by accident! :) "
Reminds me of when my late brother accidently shot the neighbors cat... the arrow hit right between its eyes. It walked out in front of his target (like 15 yards in front) and my brother couldn't get it to move... thinking he would shoot over it.
He said the neighbor had difficultly believing it was an accident.
Put up a poll and I bet the majority would say "shoot him".
Don't be silly. the only good groundhog is a dead groundhog.
The hole creates a safety issue-an animal could step in the hole and break a leg, you could snap the axle on a tractor, or worse, the tractor could cause the hole to collapse and possibly injure the driver. In Florida, rattlesnakes live in gopher, a burrowing terrapin, holes.
Just sayin'!!!
Whistle.Pig.STEW!
Leave it a lone... shoot its babies.... Gray area? sure but not off limits>>>> :readit: ;) ;)
I would probably take a shot when no one was looking.
One time during a steel plate match a groundhog ran out in front of my friend's ten year old son who was in "shooter ready mode". I couldn't help myself and yelled "Chase groundhog--shoot!". He drew and emptied his mag at the groundhog 15 feet away. The groundhog moved around quickly as he emptied the gun quickly and came through unscathed. Lucky for us the range officer had a sense of humor.
They are tough critters for sure. Shot one square in the chest with to steel ball bearings from my Whamo slingshot. It shrugged itself and waited while I tried agian. Bearings bounced off.
Take a nice crisp apple out each time you go shoot. After you're done shooting, take out that apple, slice off pieces with your knife and eat them very loudly then throw one little part of a slice over toward the groundhog. Once he / she is looking forward to the apple, stop bringing any. You might have to shoot an overly aggressive groundhog.
Happy wife....happy life.... :readit:
The first sod poodle I ever shot was on my range. That was 29 years ago. It was the only one I ever shot with a compound.
The last 249 were with real bows. :)
Let him have it!
Makes some real good stew. Just saying.....
Be like shooting a sheep in a pin. Give it a name and make your wife happy.
Sounds like he has seen you shoot and isn't too worried.. :)
So, after watching you shoot a while he decided you were not a danger :dunno:
I would probably leave him alone, sounds kinda cool to have him right there. But then we dont have them where I live. I have seen them within 25 miles or so for years but not here
She will change her mind when it burrows under the house.
Had the same problem here until my wife looked out the window and saw the chuck eating her flowers. Then she told me to shoot it!
QuoteOriginally posted by Stone Knife:
Thwack oops darn target panic :archer2:
Yep, they are very destructive; it would have to go.
I learned a lot when I was a teenager and early 20's bowhunting groundhogs. I loved it! I stopped for 20+ years and during that time groundhogs also became scarce, especially in the areas I lived.
I have one now that has a series of burrows about 120 yards below my house.
I have to admit I'd rather watch him than shoot him these days. I don't feel that way about any other game animal.
Most of this feeling I'm sure is because, while I ate groundhogs as a teen ager (a couple), I wouldn't eat one now if I killed it.
QuoteOriginally posted by kstout:
Had the same problem here until my wife looked out the window and saw the chuck eating her flowers. Then she told me to shoot it!
They are just really big gophers...
But, until SWMBO says "Shoot it." it would appear that it has a Pardon. ;)
If there's a chance it would cost me a dime on repairs, or an injury, it'd be dead. Otherwise, like the fat, lazy grey squirrels around my yard and house that just live to tease the dogs, I enjoy whatever "wildlife" I can get on my tiny suburb property so I would let him live.
Apparently you do not have a garden or your wife would be 180 degrees on this.
The garden thing is surely important, I've never had one. I'm a retired biologist. I often fielded "complaints" from garden owners about various critters; rabbits and deer. I always suggested the garden owner plant more stuff and enjoy the beasts.
I imagine my attitude would have been different if I had a garden and had become emotionally (ha) attached to the veggies. I know I became very angry at a white-tail buck for practically girdling an expensive red maple I planted!
The ground hog's burrows are valuable to other animals; rabbits, skunks, opossum, weasels, and assorted others. In Indiana (more than 30 years ago) 13 skunks were found hibernating in a single ground hog burrow.
Of course those burrows in the wrong places can undermine foundations and break livestock legs.
They are shoot on sight here in Indiana (outside city limits) DNR does not care how or when you kill them, open season year round!
I'd rather leave the chucks and rabbits around my house alone, if they stay out of my gardens. Some do, the rest I eat with fresh vegetables.
Bob
I would leave it alone. Then you can use your "spirit of co-operation" and "responsible behavior afield" as really good talking points when you are trying to get her approval for your next bow purchase. May not work but is worth a try.
Wow! :laughing:
Sounds like the very definition of a death wish, you ask me!