Anybody Hunting Woodchucks?

[frank bullitt]

Bob, I thought it might be one of James bows! Yes, he does great work.

Haven't got a shot on one yet this summer, but they are coming back well here in my part of Indiana. I did watch last week as our year old German Sheprd, trapped and killed one behind the house, along the creek!

She made it look easy!  

[Bayou Buck]

Are those things any good to eat? Look like they've got some meat on their bones. Maybe smother 'em in onions?

Come on, fess up. I have no doubt that one of y'all has thrown one on the pit....

   

[Barry Wensel]

Believe it or not woodchuck liver is excellent. And frankly I don't care much for liver. It's very mild and tender, similar to chicken livers. When I was a kid we had a hunting camp in Dutchess Cty., N.Y. My dad had the local record of 29 confirmed kills with his .22 Hornet back then. When I was about 16 I decided to try and beat it. I waited until about now, after the first hay cutting, and when the young were out on their own. I started at first light and walked until dark. I don't think I sat down for more than fifteen minutes all day. Every time I got back to the truck I'd put on dry socks, got a drink and snacks and take off again. I have no idea how far I walked that day but I've never walked that far since (probably total!). No road hunting allowed and I had to cut the tails off and keep the livers on ice for proof. I've killed quite a few of them with the bow but this was for quantity not quality. I used a .222 w/ a 4X scope but most of my shots were under 50 yds. I ended up with 46 confirmed kills that day. The local farmer was really happy. I went back about ten years ago and walked around the same farm and never saw a one. And no... I didn't get them all. They claim the coyotes, which were not present in '59, pretty much wiped them out. Anyway, chuck livers soaked overnight in salt water, rolled in flour and fried in butter with some salt and pepper are excellent. bw

[T Sunstone]

Now that's what I call determination Barry, cool story.

[Whitetail Addict]

Barry, that was a great story, thank you. 46 chucks in one day is quite an accomplishment.  

Thanks for your reply Barry, and I haven't used anything but Woodsman broadheads for a long time, by the way.    

Thanks for all the replies everybody, I appreciate it.

Bob

[Zbone]

Just the other day my lapdogs had a young one surrounded in the back yard and had a heck of a time calling them off it. Almost got bit by both dogs and groundhog breaking it up...8^)

I too was a groundhog killing machine as a kid and young man and killed hundreds of them, and although I haven't intentionally  hunted them (mainly because of limited access anymore) it is still pretty popular for some to hunt around here...

They can become pretty smart and learn quick of a kid sneaking with a .22 or bow and can become pretty good adversaries if educated..

Although there doesn't seem to be as many now days, likely due to coyotes and clean farming, they are still pretty common around here...

As for table fare, I'm not any kind of a liver eater, but rumor has it around here some say the young ones can be palatable, and although I tried it years ago, they're not for me. They are way too stinky, tough to skin, and way to many glands to cut away... I think they have something like 11 different type of glands on their body...

Have a question that's been debated.... Can they smell you like deer... Can or will they wind you if up wind, say within 50 yards?

[Red Beastmaster]

Like Josey Wales said, "Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms".

Other than standing on one to get my arrow out, I don't handle or eat them. The last one I shot was living in an old dead cow compost pile.

[Mike Vines]

Last year. Shot at like 3 or 4 feet...

 

[Whitetail Addict]

He didn't go far after that shot did he?   :D  

That's awesome, thanks Mike.    

Bob

[Mike Vines]

Yeah, he didn't do much after that one.  

I was out practicing in the back yard, getting my broadheads ready for the year, and I noticed he would stick his head out every time I would go get my arrow and return.  So each time I came back, I just got a step closer, then another step closer, and another step closer, till he popped his head out, like he always had and there had been no problems before (just some guy who looked exactly like him, shooting a longbow), except this time I was just a couple feet away at full draw.  Then the Eclipse broadhead did it's job and quickly I might add.

[Red Beastmaster]

You gotta admire a man who hunts dangerous game while wearing Crocs!

Nice shot.

[Wudstix]

You're making me misty for my younger days in PA. Sticking whistle pigs.    

[Whitetail Addict]

quote:Originally posted by Wudstix:
You're making me misty for my younger days in PA. Sticking whistle pigs.      

Bob

[Tony Sanders]

First chance I had at a ground hog this summer. I went down to the sod farm this evening to do some stump shooting. As I was walking along with the sun very bright and behind me, I saw something move down in the field and sure enough this young one was out for the evening feed. I was able to close the distance and the snuffer broadhead did the rest. I will throw him in the crockpot along with a couple of squirrels, with some carrots,potatoes, mushrooms and a can of cream of mushroom soup and one packet of lipton onion soup mix. It will be some good eating.

  Tony


 

[Whitetail Addict]

There he is! I've been expecting you Tony.    

Nice chuck! Nice shot!

I haven't had breakfast yet, and your description of how you're going to cook it has my stomach growling.

Most of the fields around me have finally been mowed, and I was hoping to get back out today, but my girlfriend just muttered something about me getting that @*#% floor done before I go back out woodchuck hunting. I think the smart move would be to work on the floor today. :D  

Thanks Tony.

Bob

[frank bullitt]

Nice 'hog, Tony!