I've got a buddy who's completely sworn off deer hunting, anymore. He's into "pig" hunting. Loads his own ammo...........with INCREDIBLE detail. Barrels he uses are only used for (____) shots. Etc...etc...etc... . They're taking shots at many hundreds of yds. Now...I don't care to do anything like that. But, I wouldn't mind helping my landowners who own cattle to rid their pastures of these hole diggin' pests. Can you bait 'em with any success? How do you guys hunt 'em?
I love hunting ground hogs.........one of my favorite activities. My dad used to pay me $5 per hog that I killed out of the horse pastures as a kid. I bet I've killed hundreds of them. I never bait them, don't know how you would.......they mainly eat grasses or clover where I've hunted them. They usually don't stray far from their holes, so locate an area with some holes and get a good vantage point, get the rangefinder, and wait for them to come out, then let them have it. Most of the time it seems they pick up activity during the last 2-3 hours of daylight, but I've shot them all times of the day. It's tons of fun........... They get VERY spooky when they have been shot at , so you will want to setup in cover, or learn to shoot well from the prone position if your in the open. Most of my shots are 100-400 yards. Best times are mid to late spring timeframe before the hay/clover fields grow up too much, or the week or so immediately after each hay cutting. Other than these times, it's nearly impossible to see them in the tall hay or clover.
like Matt, I love hog hunting. Usually we set up in clover fields and wait. We usually have 150 to 375 yard shots... our best days have been right after a light rain, the hogs really love to browse on wet grass. As far as bait, never done it, but the farmers around here spread bubble gum balls around their fields...apparently the hogs eat them and it kills them.
Jeff, I've shot quite a number with my recurves. Now I'm not saying it's easy but I have stalked to within 3-4 yards (and I swear to God it's true) of a couple. It would take an hour sometimes to get close enough for a shot but it was worth it to me. They have to have their holes in a fence or hedge row. If the holes are in a field you might as well use a gun cause you won't get close enough. They are TOUGH too. I've had to put up to 3 arrows in a few to get them to stop chewing the first arrow that pinned them to the ground. I even had one charge me one time. I put a 4 blade Muzzy through his guts at about 15 yards and he ran straight at me. I kicked him and he rolled twice then got up sped past me into a hole right behind me that I didn't even see. I always wore camo, head to toe and good soft stalking shoes, bino's are helpful. It will definitely test your skills.
