First Groundhog of the Season

[KirkD]

Well after supper this evening, I told my wife that I'd work on mudding the drywall in the bathroom, but I figured that just before I did that, I should take a stroll down to the alfalfa field to see if there were any of the Groundhogs up for an evening snack, before retiring to the many holes they have so kindly dug all over my alfalfa field. I got down my old Winchester Model 53 25-20, made in 1925 and grabbed 6 rounds stuffed with 5 grains of Unique under a 74 grain Lyman 257420 GC bullet.

Crossing the backyard, I dropped the lever and slipped one round into the chamber. I eased the hammer down, then clicked it back to half cock and made my way down along the fence to the alfalfa field. I was almost there when I saw one of the largest Skunks I've seen in a dog's age. Now we've been having trouble with skunks. They come around the house at night, steal the Pickles the Cat's food, and get into fights on the front step and three times, about 2:00 am in the morning, they've let fly right near the intake for our air exchanger. When that happens, I suddenly wake up to the whole house filling with stinking skunk fumes and I rush downstairs and turn off the air exchanger. Then, the next day, we burn candles all day to get rid of the stench. Anyway, we got more Skunks around here than you can shake a stick at, and here was one not 10 yards away perched right on the edge of a large Groundhog hole and me with a loaded classic Winchester 25-20 in my hands. Well, I eased that hammer back to full cock and laid that front bead between his eyes, there was a loud 'CRACK' from the old Winchester, and the Skunk conveniently tumbled into the entrance of the large Groundhog hole. Today was my lucky day, I guess. Of all the place for a skunk to expire, the entrance to a large Groundhog hole is about the best place I can think of. I didn't even have to drag him over to a Groundhog hole, he was already about 1 foot down into the hole, so I took a large rock and corked the hole and then added some loose dirt around the edge of the rock so I wouldn't have to smell the old boy for the rest of the summer and into next year every time I walked down to the alfalfa field, which is quite often. I imagine that the Groundhog that lives in that hole will be leaving by the back door to find some new digs shortly.

The field looked pretty deserted until I got near the far end. By cracky, there was a big fat Groundhog (compliments of the alfalfa) sitting by his hole! There was a small hamlet about a quarter mile the other side of him, and it is my policy to not shoot in the direction of a house, forget about a small hamlet, so I began to walk in a large circle around him to get between him and the hamlet. As I walked, I also spiraled in and pretended I wasn't interested in him at all. I peeked at him from the corner of my eye just to see how he was taking it. Well he took it until I was almost half way around him and then he couldn't stand it any longer and jumped down his hole. No problem, I then walked straight to my desired position and sat down, made myself comfy, and waited for him to stick his head out to take a look. I waited for a long time. Finally, I figured I'd haul out my iPhone and check out Leverguns. I just about had it up on the screen when I took a peek over at his hole. By gum, he'd got completely out of it and was sitting broadside to me not 25 yards away! I lowered my iPhone slowly down into the alfalfa and raised the hand back up to my rifle slow and smooth as silk. I pulled the hammer back very slightly with my thumb to take the pressure off, then pulled the trigger back as I eased the hammer back to full cock, then released the trigger so I could cock it without making a sound. I laid that bead on the big fat Groundhog and there was another 'CRACK' and he jumped straight up and tumbled into his hole. He made it about 4 feet in and at that point departed for the Great Alfalfa Field in the Sky. Of all the Groundhogs in my alfalfa field, that one was the hardest one to get, since he could see me coming 300 yards away. The rest should be a lot easier this year.

[TedH]

Well done Sir!

[mescalero1]

And using a fine rifle to boot!

[JerryB]

That's just great Kirk, what a fine way to settle a good supper meal.

[madman4570]

Great Job Kirk,
I hate them darn skunks,but the woodchucks I think
I have turned soft on.I have a fat one under my bicycle shed,
and everyday I whistle and he comes out stretching his paws.
He is fat and looks like a otter.I give him everyday a banana,
a apple,and a orange italian ice.
My wife somtimes says, where is my fruit to take to work?????????
Anyway all kill those skunks!

[Ysabel Kid]

A fine evening stroll for sure. What a great gun and round to use for those critters too!

[Borregos]

Great report Kirk, felt like I was right there with you

[95fan]

A very fine evening indeed.

[airedaleman]

Great account of a walk I wish I could have made with you!
I was a mighty woodchuck shooter in my younger days in upstate New York, but I too have gone soft. Last summer we had a pear thief chuck who cleaned us out. If he returns this year, he may find out that I'm not quite THAT soft...

[AJMD429]

...do you EAT them...?
I have, and the meat was good.

I used to take frozen patties of "ground chuck" to college and cook them on our (non-microwave) popcorn-popper, just to bug my citified/vegetarian classmates...

[Modoc ED]

Good job!!!

[rjohns94]

Awesome rifle and really nice post.

[alnitak]

Nice report, Kirk! Had to chuckle at the thought of the iPhone and Leverguns while waiting for a shot.

[ceb]

Dang good story, so you write as well as take beautiful pictures. I enjoyed that.

[gamekeeper]

Kirk, that sounds like a perfect stroll to me.

[marlinman93]

Nicely stalked, and nicely shot Kirk!

[cowboykell]

You should try your hand at writing books for children.

[KirkD]

You should try your hand at writing books for children.

There's an idea .... hunting and shooting books for children. I like the idea, but I'm afraid it might be a tough sell to get them into the libraries.

[20cows]

Excellent!

Last Tuesday I had three bunnies frollicking in the hay lot and two came to a similar end by .38-55.

A great way to end the day.

[Tycer]

Nice report, Kirk! Had to chuckle at the thought of the iPhone and Leverguns while waiting for a shot.

Me too. I surf while stand-hunting.

[don Tomás]

What a great idea, using a skunk to smoke out them groundhogs!
Tom

[Nath]

Shuks Kirk, you took your iphone and no camera!


Good for you Kirk

Nath.

[AJMD429]

I still want to know if anyone eats groundhog, and how you guys cook them, if you do...?

[JerryB]

When I lived in south middle Tennessee, a couple of friends and I hunted groundhogs with Kentucky rifles. The young ones my wife would fry like rabbit, the bigger ones were cooked in the oven. That makes some great BBQ.

[KirkD]

I don't have the stomach to eat mine. They are fat porkers and I just don't get all hungry when I see them. A few have had the mange and that really does not make me hungry.

[Nath]

Tumbling one of them lead bullets through m' will put you off too !

N.