Where to find Groundhogs?

[Hibs]

I’ve got a 6 year old boy that I am wanting to get him started in the outdoors shooting with some groundhog hunting. Anyone frequented some public grounds recently where there are an abundance? I am a MD licensed hunter and would be using rimfires. Thanks in advance MDShooters!

 

[Pale Ryder]

Most of the public hunting lands that I have encountered are wooded. GH’s like to hang out in fields or near wood lines. Maybe approach some farmers and ask for permission.

 

[Ammo Jon]

Willing to shoot suppressed?

https://www.marylandzoo.org/

 

[Mini14tac]

Usually in bean fields. The things will eat a damn near perfect circle around their hole. Farmers hate em due to crop damage and tunnel cave ins when the farm equipment runs over them. I used to sit in a folding lawn chair about 80 yards from the hole an kill em with a 22 mag.

 

[Sundazes]

Usually in bean fields. The things will eat a damn near perfect circle around their hole. Farmers hate em due to crop damage and tunnel cave ins when the farm equipment runs over them. I used to sit in a folding lawn chair about 80 yards from the hole an kill em with a 22 mag.

I think for a 6 year y/o, a 300 win mag would be appropriate

 

[Doctor_M]

.45/70... might as well make a man out of him. And the puff of pink smoke where the groundhog used to be is very satisfying

 

[Melnic]

Willing to shoot suppressed?

https://www.marylandzoo.org/

always good to read an Ammo Jon post for an early afternoon chuckle

 

[Hibs]

Most of the public hunting lands that I have encountered are wooded. GH’s like to hang out in fields or near wood lines. Maybe approach some farmers and ask for permission.

I was hoping maybe some easy access state parks or WMAs before I just start cold knocking.

Usually in bean fields. The things will eat a damn near perfect circle around their hole. Farmers hate em due to crop damage and tunnel cave ins when the farm equipment runs over them. I used to sit in a folding lawn chair about 80 yards from the hole an kill em with a 22 mag.

Right, this is the idea. My son has a single shot .22LR, suppressed, with a red dot, hoping he can put it to use if we find some.

Willing to shoot suppressed?

https://www.marylandzoo.org/

Funny.

 

[traveller]

under my deck would be a good place to start

 

[Archeryrob]

Usually in bean fields. The things will eat a damn near perfect circle around their hole. Farmers hate em due to crop damage and tunnel cave ins when the farm equipment runs over them. I used to sit in a folding lawn chair about 80 yards from the hole an kill em with a 22 mag.

Yes, looks like a bomb crater from the air. Farmer also hate them as several they know of have been killed on flipped tractors from the front wheel hitting a hole snapping and rolling the tractors.

Some farmers have guys doing it and some do not. They will let you hunt the summer many times. Make sure you take the boy asking for permission.

 

[trickg]

I'm trying to coordinate a prairie dog shoot with a friend of mine if/when I go back to Nebraska to visit this summer. A good day in a dog town will dozens between two shooters.

 

[GSuders]

Talk to some farmers near you I'm sure if you ask them many would be happy to have you harvest the groundhogs. I used to hunt a Christmas tree farm. They had 4 different properties, but the one really had a groundhog problem. Right after they would mow or a fresh rain it was like heaven. I shot 9 one evening after work. Lately I mainly hunt crop fields. It can be tough as you have to get them before the crops become to tall or wait until the crops are harvested. Groundhog really like beans and hay fields.

 

[SummitCnty]

McKee Beshers, Patuxent River SP in HoCo, Hugg Thomas all public with some open fields.

 

[cww]

And alfalfa fields. Public lands with some crop fields should work. Target the public dove spots, places like McKee Beachers.

 

[Arcamm]

Willing to shoot suppressed?

https://www.marylandzoo.org/

You better have a Ghillie suit too. Some of the animals in that hood shoot back!

 

[Clark W. Griswold]

Keep in mind that your 6 year old will need a hunter safety certificate if he is shooting the groundhogs

 

[sxs]

Usually in bean fields. The things will eat a damn near perfect circle around their hole. Farmers hate em due to crop damage and tunnel cave ins when the farm equipment runs over them. I used to sit in a folding lawn chair about 80 yards from the hole an kill em with a 22 mag.

I used to hunt 'em in a field in Millersville many years ago basically while doing early season dove hunting. Peaches were coming in right at that time and the damn things would climb the peach trees to get at the peaches. The farmers rule was to shoot them on sight if we wanted to hunt. After wounding a couple with birdshot, I started carrying my TC in 30 Herrett or my 357 mag S&W revolver. I could sometimes pick them right off the trees or on the ground near them.

 

[Hibs]

McKee Beshers, Patuxent River SP in HoCo, Hugg Thomas all public with some open fields.

And alfalfa fields. Public lands with some crop fields should work. Target the public dove spots, places like McKee Beachers.

Thanks for the suggestions. I’m a little familiar with Patuxtent River SP, I scouted deer there, so the fields there was going to be the first place we started.

 

[Hibs]

Keep in mind that your 6 year old will need a hunter safety certificate if he is shooting the groundhogs

I’ll be squeezing the trigger. Back over to your side of the fence please, Mr. ATF

 

[calicojack]

always good to read an Ammo Jon post for an early afternoon chuckle

Hmm. I thought he was serious.