I shot a groundhog and hit it well but it wasnt more than ten yards from its hole.  i got a clean pass through (snuffer) so it had no trouble entering its hole and of course its still in there.

What are some ways to get that thing out. i shot it about a half hour ago and i know its dead.

any help would be greatly appreciated!

thanks, John

Start Digging Maybe??      

Why you want it out?
Gonna mount it?

no but id like to recover it just for the sake of getting it. i guess its already buried though!

I have left many already buried. This will be your easiest option. If you are full of energy try and dig him out but I am sure you can think of better things to do!!!!

My dad always told me you could get a strand of barbed wire, run it down the hole, and twist it around. It will catch in the groundhog's hair, then you can drag him out.

I never really had the need to try it, but it sounds like a good idea.

I hunted ground hogs for years before I moved to the south. I have lost many down the holes. The holes can be very deep. It is probably a waste of time to try to dig it out. The only instant kill I ever got on one was I hit in the ear, thru the brain and out the other side. That one dropped dead. Many dozens of others always ran for the hole after being hit. If it is a pass thru, they usually make it into their hole.

we use to use a slim green limb with a small fork on the end for twisting in the hair/hide of game in holes. gotta take your time and not pull to hard to fast. we always had a dog near by on ground hogs and other critters that size. made things interesting to say the least.

I know a tree rat twisted on the end of a green stick can be a handful.

dang' reading what I just typed takes me back to a VERY, VERY special time. folks just don't enjoy the woods like we did growing up. if it went up, we brought it down....if it went underground, we dug it out, if it ran we chased it and, WE ATE IT ALL. LOL

One thing to consider, kill a female now, ya probably kill a den full of little ones too.... Just saying...

Put that barbed wire on the end of a plummers snake. Hap

I know a fellow whose farm we used to hunt on who went after one with a three gallon can of gas and a match.  Ended up opening a series of trenches, putting a lot of dirt in the air and losing his eyebrows.  No woodchuck (or at least it didn't land on his property).

He was a hoot.  Had terrible teeth so his family collected a bunch of cash to present to him to get them fixed.  He used the money for an elk hunt and had a huge rack he proudly displayed on the side of the house.

I do miss him.


Sadly, you will lose woodchuck with a bow.  At least we always did.  At least you don't have to bury them.    

QuoteOne thing to consider, kill a female now, ya probably kill a den full of little one too.... Just saying...

And that is a good thing for me.

With regard to A.S.'s comment concerning the barbed wire. In the very early 70's my dad hooked me up with a back woodsmans from a place called Panther, KY. This gentleman slammed on the brakes one time as we were driving at night and jumped out of the truck, ran and grabbed a oppossum, dropped it in a sack and tossed in in the truck bed, jumped back in the truck and we proceeded on. We were taken by all this and he just drove off as if nothing unusual happened.

While squirrel hunting with him, we saw a couple of squirrels dive into a narrow hollow log. He cut a piece of barbed wire and cranked out the two squirrels. We ended up getting both of them. I am still amazed nearly 40 yards later.

He accomplished the aforementioned as simply as eating a boloney sandwhich.

Ground hog holes go really deep and have multiple passages. It would be a miracle to get it out if you ask me.

I shot them with a stick bow as a young teen growing up in Pa. If you know the holes well watch the chuck as it feeds and try to put the sneak on it so you end up between the chuck and his hole. Not always easy to do. With you between the chuck and his hole you will buy yourself an extra couple seconds after the arrow hits. And wear work boots. As said...they often have multiple holes. Geeze...I loved stalking them. I still remember my first one with a stick bow. Bow was a 50 lb Dammon Howatt high speed. Shot the chuck at about 8-10 yards with a field point right in the back of the head. I think I was 12. I still remember the orange dipped wood arrows I had. I have a pic of one I shot during a break taking high school senior exams. Stalked right up to it. At a few yards it dawned on me it was sleeping. Very odd. Out in the open on the mound by his hole. Shot it at about a yard. They were "Ground Grizlies" and I might as well have been in  costal Alaska. As a kid wanting to be like my boyhood mentors I read about, woodchucks provided me with plenty of stalking opportunities and stick bow action.  
Do not overlook eating them. They are great! We had "Grammys groundhog roast" every summer. She made them with a shake and bake type preparation. Really good! Holy crap...I have redneck roots...proud of it to!

The Magnus Blunt was designed with the intent of cutting down on lost groundhogs and rockchucks. Works great too with bows of 50# plus.
 

As with anything, arrow placement is key.

Well, I was going to say "bowfishing rig," but that Magnus blunt looks pretty well suited too. - John

They are tough critters.  I got lucky and made a head shot on one with a judo when I didn't know well enough to use broadheads on them.

I would say forget about the one down yonder and go shoot another!

QuoteWith regard to A.S.'s comment concerning the barbed wire. In the very early 70's my dad hooked me up with a back woodsmans from a place called Panther, KY. This gentleman slammed on the brakes one time as we were driving at night and jumped out of the truck, ran and grabbed a oppossum, dropped it in a sack and tossed in in the truck bed, jumped back in the truck and we proceeded on. We were taken by all this and he just drove off as if nothing unusual happened.  While squirrel hunting with him, we saw a couple of squirrels dive into a narrow hollow log. He cut a piece of barbed wire and cranked out the two squirrels. We ended up getting both of them. I am still amazed nearly 40 yards later.  He accomplished the aforementioned as simply as eating a boloney sandwhich.  

You don't forget good stuff like that  

They are a tuff critter, hit one mid ship and they are lost. With that said they are a nuisance animal and gone is good, although I have been told the young ones are  good eating. Maybe someone with more experience will chime in with a recipe.