Targeted at the Airport

[YZ-80]

I can only imagine being on my take-off roll in my Gulfstream G7, approaching VR and injesting a 15 pound groundhog into my starboard engine. The results would be catastrophic! This man is doing the Airport a valuable service.

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I moved to my town 49 years ago. After 4 years people told me I should look at the airport and the groundhogs that were on very large fields on both sides of the runways. I was blown away. The fields looked like they were inhabited by flies- dark spots everywhere. Scads of groundhogs!!
I went to the airport manager and asked permission to shoot them. By that time I already had a reputation of a serious groundhog hunter using only handguns.
After 45 years I've taken over 700 groundhogs there with my handguns. I've taken so many groundhogs in WV that I've had to go to ID to hunt rockchucks, my groundhog's cousins.
I've kept excellent records these 49 years of the numbers taken with each gun & the distances. Since both animals View attachment 604545View attachment 604545are basically the same I include them together. This year in ID I reached a milestone that I think is unique
A week and a half ago I finished my summer crop damage deer hunting- 88 with my handguns. I returned to the airport thinking there may be a few groundhogs left over from my spring hunt. In 4 days I spent 2 hours each and took 18 groundhogs, a surprise. Four of them were very spooky the first 3 days. Day #4 I decided to target these 'hogs.
I did a walk around in a secluded part of one field with my .41 Mag. Taurus Raging Bull. The first 'hog was out feeding facing away. I took my time and shot him offhand at 68 yards with a 210 gr. Horn. XTP in the neck. #1 target down. The damage was minimal. I've never liked XTPs on deer due to this. THere are much better bullets, but they do fine on groundhogs. I'll try a turkey with them this year.View attachment 604550

I moved to the other side of the runway to a much larger field. I set up on a small knoll with my BogPod tripod and PSR handgun rest. over the next 90 minutes the other 3 targeted groundhogs came out. I shot them at 159, 170, and 198 yards with my SSK .22-250 XP-100 handgun and 50 gr. Nos. Ballistic SilverTips . All 3 were very large with the center one a monster. It had evaded me since the 1st week of March. All these 'hogs were males.View attachment 604551
That about does my groundhogs for this year. Just a few days left. Guess I'll have start bow hunting until I can use my handguns on turkeys, does, bucks, and maybe bears the rest of the year. I really love this handgun stuff!!

God bless you!!!!

 

[Blueridgeguy]

That's amazing! Congratulations on that milestone

 

[Montana'eer]

Man I toasted my fair share of ground hogs when I lived back in the EP of West Virginia, but not that many!! Great shooting

 

[222 Fireball]

I moved to my town 49 years ago. After 4 years people told me I should look at the airport and the groundhogs that were on very large fields on both sides of the runways. I was blown away. The fields looked like they were inhabited by flies- dark spots everywhere. Scads of groundhogs!!
I went to the airport manager and asked permission to shoot them. By that time I already had a reputation of a serious groundhog hunter using only handguns.
After 45 years I've taken over 700 groundhogs there with my handguns. I've taken so many groundhogs in WV that I've had to go to ID to hunt rockchucks, my groundhog's cousins.
I've kept excellent records these 49 years of the numbers taken with each gun & the distances. Since both animals View attachment 604545View attachment 604545are basically the same I include them together. This year in ID I reached a milestone that I think is unique
A week and a half ago I finished my summer crop damage deer hunting- 88 with my handguns. I returned to the airport thinking there may be a few groundhogs left over from my spring hunt. In 4 days I spent 2 hours each and took 18 groundhogs, a surprise. Four of them were very spooky the first 3 days. Day #4 I decided to target these 'hogs.
I did a walk around in a secluded part of one field with my .41 Mag. Taurus Raging Bull. The first 'hog was out feeding facing away. I took my time and shot him offhand at 68 yards with a 210 gr. Horn. XTP in the neck. #1 target down. The damage was minimal. I've never liked XTPs on deer due to this. THere are much better bullets, but they do fine on groundhogs. I'll try a turkey with them this year.View attachment 604550

I moved to the other side of the runway to a much larger field. I set up on a small knoll with my BogPod tripod and PSR handgun rest. over the next 90 minutes the other 3 targeted groundhogs came out. I shot them at 159, 170, and 198 yards with my SSK .22-250 XP-100 handgun and 50 gr. Nos. Ballistic SilverTips . All 3 were very large with the center one a monster. It had evaded me since the 1st week of March. All these 'hogs were males.View attachment 604551
That about does my groundhogs for this year. Just a few days left. Guess I'll have start bow hunting until I can use my handguns on turkeys, does, bucks, and maybe bears the rest of the year. I really love this handgun stuff!!

I live in your neck of the woods, and I hate groundhogs, so thank you for reducing their numbers. They burrow under my fence, and then dig holes against my home's foundation and under my propane tank. I think they also chewed the wires under the hood of my car. I dispatch them with a suppressed Ruger 22/45, because my XP-100 in .222 would annoy the neighbors. : )

 

[HRM Johnny]

Fantastic. Congratulations on your epic milestone.

 

[TigerOnThe Hill]

Congrats, Doc. As always when I click on one of your posts or contributions, I always enjoy it and am never disappointed. It looks like retirement suits you well. I have a question for you regarding the BogPod tripod and PSR handgun rest. On my last prairie dog hunt, I borrowed my son-in-laws BogPod Deathgrip. It worked ok, but not good enough for me to buy one. There just wasn't enough support at the rear of my handgun. I understand the BogPod tripod and PSR handgun rest has been discontinued, but it seems like I read somewhere you saying it was available at HHI. I've looked at their website, but can't find it. Did I "misremember"? If it's not available, is there a substitute you could recommend?

 

[WV Hitman]

Tiger, I have the new HHI PSR rest. It's very good. Ryan started making them, but only for recent HHI members. He's got a new job & not doing as much HHI stuff now. Email him if you're a HHI member (if not, should join. All old Sixgunners are on line. Lots of new ones now). He'll probably put you on a waiting list.
The problems you saw with the Death Grip is why I didn't buy one- no rear rest. A good alternative (if you don't have to walk far) is put a claw bag on any rest you have on the BogPod. I did this on my PSR in WV & ID. Even though the PSR by itself is pretty stable, the claw bag on top is just like shooting off a bench!
Where are you 222 Fireball. I don't know any serious handgunners anywhere close to me.

 

[milestown]

Hit man
Your living life like it should be lived. Doing what you enjoy.
I want to be like you when I grow up or retire. Striking fear into varmits.
Are your " handguns" custom built? Triggers, barrels,stocks?
I enjoy reading your stories and pictures.

Hal

 

[WV Hitman]

Hal, all but 2 of my Contenders, Encores, XP-100s were made by my good friend, JD Jones of SSK Industries. He's retired, by all these guns live on as a tribute to him. Just finished "groundhog season"- 459 this year. Now it's time for bow, doe, turkey, bear, buck seasons. Definitely living a dream!!! Love it!