Groundhog hunting!

TRich · June 01, 2025, 08:35:26 PM

So I'm new to trad bow hunting! I started Sep 2024. I had an unsuccessful deer season, missed a few squirrels along the way, added a couple more bunny misses, and finally I've been battling with a groundhog for a couple of weeks. I'm going to keep hunting groundhogs and anything else I can hunt to get better, so any advice is welcome!

Well, I finally stalked him down and put a broadhead in him today! I saw him out basking and I crawled up a hill to get about 15 yards away. His burrow was in a stump and it's overgrown with poke, I could see him looking for me the wrong direction and I could see his whole body so I took the shot. I heard the meat slap and then it was a mess of bushes, grass, and my fletching. I was getting my next arrow nocked and I saw it fighting the shaft of the arrow, a snap, and then everything was gone!

I can see some blood in the hole, and I'm certain he was skewered. Should I try to dig out the burrow and get him tomorrow? Or chalk it up and be glad he's doubtfully going to be munching my garden this summer? Any hunting tips for finding and hunting more in the future?

woodchucker · June 01, 2025, 09:18:10 PM

Better get a backhoe if you want to dig him out....

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Wudstix · June 01, 2025, 09:32:33 PM

Growing up in PA loved hunting whistle pigs all summer.

TRich · June 01, 2025, 09:43:48 PM

Well I don't have a backhoe, so I reckon I'll just say goodbye to that arrow! I figured I might find a half in there not so deep, but I stuck a stick down the hole and boy it goes deep and steep. I still can't believe the arrow didn't pass through, it wasn't a razor blade but I would've expected it to pass through a groundhog? I guess they're tough buggers.

woodchucker · June 01, 2025, 09:56:54 PM

To get a pass through on a woodchuck, you pretty much have to be shooting on your belly!!
Arrow goes "through" them, but hits the ground and prevents it from flying out the other side.

TRich · June 01, 2025, 10:02:28 PM

Ahhh, I see. I was shooting uphill but I bet the broadhead hit the stump behind him and that stopped it. Think it's better to use field points? I heard blunts won't be fatal unless it's a head hit. I'm cheap and I hate losing a nice doug fir shaft AND a broadhead!

woodchucker · June 01, 2025, 10:22:30 PM

Ace Hex Heads work pretty good, actually cut a hole. Or just get some cheap broadheads?
With me, everything gets a broadhead. I use Zwickey Deltas or Eskimos

TRich · June 01, 2025, 10:52:26 PM

Okay I have some ace hex heads. I shot a no mercy into that one. Is there a reason you like the deltas and eskimos over the no mercy? I'll try to find some really cheap broadheads for my summer escapades "saving my wife's garden."

woodchucker · June 02, 2025, 06:53:19 AM

Not really? I shot Eskimos for about 20yrs. 125gr, mounted horizontal, flies exactly like my field points.
I switched to Deltas a few years ago. Mounted horizontal, they fly exactly like the 135gr Judo point that always rides in my bow quiver.
Both heads are practically indistructable!!

supernaut · June 02, 2025, 08:39:20 AM

Congrats on the groundhog!

I grew up hunting them here in PA and I still get after them in the fields behind my house. They are tough as nails and you will likely lose or break most arrows you get through one because they always try to get into their holes when hit. They are also very intelligent in my opinion and wise up real quick once they are shot at. My best luck on stalking up for a shot comes right after the fields are freshly cut but once they see you a few times they will head for their holes a lot sooner when they spot you. A lot of times they will stop at the edge of their hole right before they dive in and this gives a shot opportunity but again, you will likely lose or break your arrow if you score a hit. I routinely take shots at well over 50 yards, especially after they wise up and won't let you get close. You can always try to sit in ambush at a hole and wait on them to come out. This is also tough hunting because they usually just peak out a little to make sure they are safe before they commit to coming all the way out. They are pretty smart critters.

Have fun and don't be afraid to lose or break arrows. Ground hog hunting is a lot of fun and will make you a better big game hunter in my opinion.

Here is a picture of a little hog I walked right up on behind the house a couple years ago. It was in the March I believe and it was a cold day. This little fella had no fear of me and I could've probably picked it up but I also know how nasty a groundhog can be so I just took a few pics and we parted ways.

TRich · June 02, 2025, 09:11:42 AM

Well, I guess I'm gonna order a pack of Eskimo's then! The no mercy blades certainly fly different than my field points, they are heavier than my field points so I've been putting them on heavier spines shafts to tune them. I might even try some Amazon special heads and throw em on my Kimery special shafts just for small game.

TRich · June 02, 2025, 09:20:38 AM

Supernaut,
Thank you for the congratulations, after so many misses I was beginning to wonder if I did in fact know how to shoot a bow and arrow!

It seems a lot of folks that hunt groundhogs come from PA. I had tried to sit by a tree in some bushes before to catch this one, but didn't seem the best strategy. I believe the hay will be cut in the very near future here, so I look forward to trying all I can on em then. Hopefully I can recover one! I was thinking about maybe only going for the head with blunts? Maybe that would keep them above ground?

supernaut · June 02, 2025, 09:40:58 AM

Growing up in PA farmland, ground hog hunting is definitely a tradition. Plus, the farmers really appreciate it.

Be ready for a lot of action when that hay is cut. I've always just used a broadhead and shot for their vitals with a bow. You'll have a better chance at recovering one the further away you can shoot them from their hole.

A lot of times ground hogs will burrow in woods or thickets that are adjacent to fields (I've even seen ground hogs climb up into trees). If you find a burrow in woods or thickets you will clearly see the trail the hog takes into the field and you can try to set up an ambush as they are heading into the field similar to sitting on a deer trail into a field.

Good luck, it's a lot of fun! Keep us posted on your hunts.

RIVERWOLF · June 02, 2025, 10:59:51 AM

Groundhog.."Ground Griz" as I have always referred to them ;^)
Are tough critters...I was lucky in that we lived in farmland all my youth and young adult life and I had parents that allowed me the freedom to spend all my spare time in swamps-woodlots-streams...taking it all in like a sponge ;^) . I was blessed with perfect parents and a perfect time to grow as I did.

I cut my youthful hunting canines hunting Ground Griz...rabbits..squirrels ...Nothing sharpens your stalking/hunting skills like stalking small game . The shooting part should already be polished before hunting while Roving and with other targets ...

Speaking for myself...I wouldn't hunt Groundhogs with blunts. They are dense bodied and tough...I would use what you use or intend to use hunting deer sized animals. Taken many rabbits with blunts , and judos...squirrels also....but I prefer broadheads for those animals as well, with rabbits maybe being the exception . Squirrels ain't nothing but a......
"ball of muscle wrapped in a buffalo hide"... Tough...especially Big OL' Fox squirrels

This ol' Griz was educated via the farmers, I did a spot and spook from below, and then hustled up the hill above his den and took him when he peeked looking in the direction I last was..This was several yrs back using my 55# Mt Ash hybrid longbow 2018 shaft..and a Bear SS Razorhead . It actually pinned him to the ground from above .

Congratulations for committing to traditional equipment ,
and my best to you upon your journey !

Wudstix · June 02, 2025, 06:21:06 PM

That is a good idea to get them as far from the den as possible. They are hard critters to get on the ground after a hit. I grew up in central PA and Ground Hogs/Wood Chucks were a vital training experience for hunting whitetail.

RIVERWOLF · June 02, 2025, 06:50:03 PM

Yes I agree, get them in the open feeding or traversing through the woodlots etc,,,but some of them don't play that;^) That is when the spot and spook works pretty good. Good broadhead is always mandatory imho for these critters....

Best way/time is working streams-edges-and bean fields when the beans/vegetation is just high enough to fully cover the Ground Griz when on all fours....Get a nice spot and stalk with the new growth/beans helping you out. Hate it when that Happens

Supernaut...yes sir. They climb trees very well. I have a couple videos of just that. Pretty long video and I don't know how to post them on here (large format) ...but it is a pretty good video of one showing just how comfy they are high-up ;^)

this is one that was traversing a deer trail early fall....Funny how some of us are so easily "distracted" while deer hunting ....

RIVERWOLF · June 02, 2025, 07:15:14 PM

little warm-up

RIVERWOLF · June 02, 2025, 07:22:38 PM

found one of my pics....

RIVERWOLF · June 02, 2025, 07:35:49 PM

one more ....This is a perfect example where spot and stalk is off the list...This was a heavily used lake , mowed with a very large grass area. The property manager had major "issues" with muskrats ...Then I got a call about this little Ground Grizzer ;^) Seems he took to life as a Muskrat .He dug and burrowed a hell of a den in the bank of this lake. You couldn't get a football field away on that golf coarse of a yard ...So the old spot and spook was in order;)

Lots of ways to hunt them , and the season/terrain will likely dictate a good bit of the options. Pure spring-fall fun it be ......Best with your hunts everyone.

frank bullitt · June 03, 2025, 07:42:55 AM

They are fun to hunt, and great practice for whitetails. I've seen many in trees, and here in indiana, Mulberry are ripening, and they will climb and eat.
Setting up a stand is another good way to hunt.
Last spring, I was practicing JRB Tree climbing with a saddle, was about 15 feet up, once settled, looked to my right, about 15 yards was 'hog in an Elm tree, a little higher!
Good hunting and shooting to ya!