wood chuck near archery range

[MCNSC]

So, after watching you shoot a while he decided you were not a danger        
 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

[KentuckyTJ]

She will change her mind when it burrows under the house.

[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!

[dbd870]

Originally posted by Stone Knife:
Thwack oops darn target panic      

Yep, they are very destructive; it would have to go.

[Bowwild]

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.

[Paul/KS]

Originally 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.    

[Cavscout9753]

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.

[Bill Carlsen]

Apparently you do  not have a garden or  your wife would be 180 degrees on this.

[Bowwild]

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.

[JD Page 1965]

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!

[Whitetail Addict]

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

[Sam McMichael]

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.

[LookMomNoSights]

Wow!  

[GreyGoose]

Sounds like the very definition of a death wish, you ask me!