Ground hog problem

D2Cat

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Have them critters digging under anything concrete. I set a live trap and got one the first day. Since it's 22 miles from the house I put my neighbor in charge of the problem. He can handle it however he chooses. He seemed pretty excited because he has a dog that enjoys the hunt!

I used lettuce and some old dog treats, but I read cantaloupe, field corn, apple, carrots, can creamed corn all work well.

What creative methods do you guys use?
 

RCW

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Used cut up fresh peaches in live traps. Advice of Nuisance Trapper friend.

Can't shoot where house is.
 

Dave Ogren

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The main ingredient in ground hog repellent is Castor oil. Seems to work.
Dave
 

rc51stierhoff

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Have them critters digging under anything concrete. I set a live trap and got one the first day. Since it's 22 miles from the house I put my neighbor in charge of the problem. He can handle it however he chooses. He seemed pretty excited because he has a dog that enjoys the hunt!

I used lettuce and some old dog treats, but I read cantaloupe, field corn, apple, carrots, can creamed corn all work well.

What creative methods do you guys use?
40grains of IMR 3031 with a cherry on top (40gr BT)….if you have close neighbors fun-day sundays may be frowned upon though.
 
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NCL4701

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Havahart live trap baited with cut fruit. Peaches and apples work well for us. If you catch the wrong thing you can let it go. If you catch the right thing they’re easier to shoot.
 
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mcfarmall

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Foot trap and a .22 pew pew to the melon works for me. Or an old pickaxe handle if the pew pew is not available.
 

RCW

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40grains of IMR 3031 with a cherry on top (40gr BT)….if you have close neighbors fun-day sundays may be frowned upon though.
36 gr. IMR 4064 topped with a 55gr Sierra spitzer in a .22-250. Rem Mod 700 Varmint Special. Pushing 4k fps at muzzle.

Got ~100 per year years ago. Longest poke was almost 600 yards.

Most in a day was 11.
 
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JimmyJazz

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I was in your boots not long ago. Look up Duke body trap. Make sure you also buy the contraption that enables you to both set it and remove the deceased varmint. Just set it over the hole with the attached chain secured to the ground. The next time you "visit" the trap your varmint will have been largely consumed by hungry predators. No bait needed. I dispatch several per year with this approach. Since I am not around when the ghastly event occurs I feel a little better about myself. I tried many other approaches. This is your solution.
 

GreensvilleJay

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'cherry bombs' tossed into the hole, with the other entrance blocked, then pack in the hole you tossed the bomb into.
 

Biker1mike

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Havahart live trap baited with cut fruit. Peaches and apples work well for us. If you catch the wrong thing you can let it go. If you catch the right thing they’re easier to shoot.
I have a few Havaharts. Never recall seeing the fine print of ' catch em and kill em is our motto' .
Picking up the trap with a skunk is always a treat.
 
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rc51stierhoff

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36 gr. IMR 4064 topped with a 55gr Sierra spitzer in a .22-250. Rem Mod 700 Varmint Special. Pushing 4k fps at muzzle.

Got ~100 per year years ago. Longest poke was almost 600 yards.

Most in a day was 11.
That’s a sweet rifle you have…my older brother has one just like yours in 22-250. I experimented with a couple cans of 4064 in pursuit of ultimate accuracy, but I could not find the right load to improve on either of my swifts…3031 is what has worked best for me in my .220 swift (I have one in ruger M77 26” heavy barrel / laminated stock with the beaver tail fore end, and one in ruger number 1 falling block .220 swift varminter heavy barrel).
 
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cthomas

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In the pole shed pissed in the holes, poured ammonia and DEF fluid in the holes also. Don't know what worked but they are gone.
 
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DaveFromMi

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Apr 14, 2021
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I used Hornady 75 gr .223 soft points for some of mine. Makes a nice pink cloud.
 
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Elliott in GA

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If you decide to use traps, I would suggest Bridger over Duke. Bridgers are just a couple of dollars more per trap, but they are much better made (Duke - China, Bridger - Taiwan). MB traps are the best (USA), but they are expensive for occasional use.

I used Bridger #3 foot traps to wipe out a beaver family (mama and papa - both about 40 lbs. and two 2 year olds - both about 15 lbs.) and the three replacement beavers that came afterwards.
 
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Motion

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I've had problems with armadillos, when I find the entrance and I can get close enough I have a 15- foot length of 2-inch flexible metallic conduit, stick in the entrance, stuff a burlap sack around the pipe, slip the other end onto the tractor exhaust pipe and give it 15 minutes.
 

Yooper

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Those critters are very destructive! Wiped out half of the wife’s garden in one afternoon. Will tunnel over 20 feet under concrete slabs. Live trap followed by lead heart attacks here. They are the easiest thing I ever trapped. Seems like any veggie works
 

arml

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36 gr. IMR 4064 topped with a 55gr Sierra spitzer in a .22-250. Rem Mod 700 Varmint Special. Pushing 4k fps at muzzle.

Got ~100 per year years ago. Longest poke was almost 600 yards.

Most in a day was 11.
22.250.jpg
22.250.jpg
 
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