Ground Hogs

[alldodge]

Been working on the "new to be" vacation rental, and noticed a couple ground hogs. Gee-wizz they can do some damage. The house as a deep crawl space and "I think" it goes down to bed rock. Have seen them come out from under the front and back decks. The decks are about 12 to 16 inches off the ground, so prime place for hogs

I poured some ammonia down one of the holes today, which was next to the edge of the deck.

Later while working noticed 2 of them of the back deck and they ran back under the deck.

Sat out in the truck with a 22 rifle and shot the female running towards the woods. She has been nursing and have seen at least one smaller one. The biggest issue, is they can do so much damage boring under ground I have to get rid of them.

Placed a boom box in the house and turned it up, hoping the noise will drive them away. If I'm unable to get rid of them, I have to rip out both decks just to get at them. If I have to do that, concrete is going back in

I have a good trap and can try i maybe tomorrow

 

[Bob_VT]

I just relocated one with a live trap this past week. I did not have a reason to kill it. You could gas then and seal off the holes..... the tunnels are up to 2 miles long....... If they are well established it will take some time.

 

[alldodge]

I would more then happy be willing to relocate, but would also feel bad about giving the varmint to someone else. The main issue is they are under the decks, and there is no way to get at the holes unless I tear the decks up.

The holes is sitting on one end of 24 acres and lots of open land. the shortest distance to the woods is from the front, and that's about 30 yards, the rear deck is about 150 yards. If the rental works out I have plans to remove decks and replace with concrete, but that's another day

 

[dingbat]

Beginning to hate them. Under mined the foundation on our old log barn. Starting to nose around he equipment shed.

Our dog that passed away last fall keep them in check. Killed 3-4 a year.

The neighbor gases them and bull dozes the holes close.

 

[alldodge]

A friend of mine had a buddy that lost a hole barn. The dang things bored under the main supports and caused a collapse of the hole thing

I looked up at the humane society and they say they provide nutrition for coyotes, eagles and hawks. I think there are plenty of mice and other rodents out there

 

[64osby]

Try fox scent on cotton balls placed around the deck. Fox scent will drive off skunks, might work for ground hogs.

I have them out by the pole barn. Did you know they can climb trees.

 

[Scott Danforth]

bait them, then plink them with the .22

 

[aspeck]

Plink them, skin ‘em, and roast them with carrots, onions, and potatoes! Yum! The young ones are the best!

 

[alldodge]

Plink them, skin ‘em, and roast them with carrots, onions, and potatoes! Yum! The young ones are the best!

I tried years ago to eat one, shot it at the end of the day of dear hunting. That think was as tough as shoe leather

Also got a shot off at the large male, but it was close to the deck and sort of ran under. After a hour, the pups started showing back up a couple times but never did see the male, so might have go him good enough he died in the hole.

Got one of the pups, and may have got the other, don't know right now. I walked around the corner of the house an saw the little one peeking just out of the hole. Tried to ease around but it saw me a went down quick. It pushed up some dirt to cover the hole, so I fired one into it. ​

Will be going back over in a bit to see if there are any signs showing back up

 

[MTboatguy]

Do like I do around here with the ground squirrels that screw everything up, I run a small gas powered engine with a hose on the exhaust down one hole and wait for them to come out of the other holes and knock them off with the .22 rifle. I can usually pick off a half dozen of them in a couple of hours using that method.

 

[Scott Danforth]

BTW, hitting them with a 30-06 round just makes a red puff......

the .22 leaves a carcass to stuff back in the hole

a 20 gauge with 00 just leaves a big crater where the thing used to be and you have to then fill in. it also makes a lot of noise for the neighbors to inquire about.... so back to the .22 with a "compensator" or an air rifle

not sure I would be eating them as there is not much meat on them. I would be putting down hardware cloth over the ground under the deck, however if the decks are as low as you say, no way my belly would fit.

 

[MTboatguy]

A 410 works on them pretty good, I am glad I live in an area that the neighbors never ask questions, I can shoot my M16 full autos in my yard and all that ever happens is someone shows up to ask if they can shoot it!

:lol:

 

[alldodge]

Do like I do around here with the ground squirrels that screw everything up, I run a small gas powered engine with a hose on the exhaust down one hole and wait for them to come out of the other holes and knock them off with the .22 rifle. I can usually pick off a half dozen of them in a couple of hours using that method.

No ground squirrels here but get the issue, would be fun. My issue is only one hole was barely visible, the rest are all under the deck

BTW, hitting them with a 30-06 round just makes a red puff......​

I had a 25-06 and just took his head off and part of one hand. Was a pretty good shot in an open field around 100 yards are his head just kept popping up and I was bored

A 410 works on them pretty good, I am glad I live in an area that the neighbors never ask questions, I can shoot my M16 full autos in my yard and all that ever happens is someone shows up to ask if they can shoot it!​

Have to get a bit closer with a 410, and same here with shooting a gun off, no one is going to say anything so long as its not late at night, or on Sunday when church is in. The house is about 1/4 mile from the church and behind their cemetery.

I'm currently about 45 yards from the deck, and got the Mom in the front yard at about 70 yards.

Was just out and did not notice any movement and walk around and where I shot down the hole it still had the same impression. Not saying anything to quick, but might have taken care of the current issue(s)

 

[sphelps]

Dont be so sure ya got em ... [video]https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ground+hog+caddy+shack+youtube&view=detail&mid=CAAB4523B5E1B7692EB6CAAB4523B5E1B7692EB6&FORM=VIRE[/video]

 

[MTboatguy]

All Dodge, I also use my .22 airgun and this puppy will take care of animals up to about deer sized, it is a powerful gun and weighs more than my .270, about the same noise as a .22 but a lot less expensive to shoot, it is a power house air rifle.

 

[alldodge]

Dont be so sure ya got em ... [video]https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ground+hog+caddy+shack+youtube&view=detail&mid=CAAB4523B5E1B7692EB6CAAB4523B5E1B7692EB6&FORM=VIRE[/video]

Good one
Yep I agree, and will be looking for the next couple days

 

[alldodge]

I kept looking at the Benjamin Marauder (22 cal) because it will take down larger game, but not a deer, but real quite. Then the wife said $500 for a air gun, so I said yes deer (I mean dear) and didn't buy it

I have some real old ammo, haven't shot anything in a long time. Only had one dud but one dud is to many, but ammo is probably at least 20 years.

Plan to get a deer this season, they are just over running the place and need thinned. Every morning and evening, they are all over our lawn. Wake up in the morning and they have bedded down the night before. Wife says ok, but she doesn't want to see it until its been processed. I won't get one at our house, just over at the other place

 

[MTboatguy]

Mine is a Benjamin Varmint NP and for a .22 it is a nasty gun, far less that $500, the NP stands for Nitro Piston and I have been very happy with it, I got mine at Sportsmans Guide a little over a year ago and they are still available for less than $200 at a lot of places, Amazon has them for $143.00 with free shipping.

 

[alldodge]

Thanks, good to know, will look into it

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Set out a few leg-hold traps, then shoot 'em when caught,......