Woodchuck Problem

[photogpat]

So, those who know me -- picture me gleefully rubbing my hands together while laughing.

My father in law tasked me to deal with a woodchuck who's taken up residence under the screen porch at their cabin - and before someone says it, its a varmint doing damage to the structure and I'll call the CO when I'm done. Now I've taken pot shots at a chuck before, but never deliberately been responsible for exterminating a particular specimen. This one has evaded three attempts at live trapping.

Here are a few key points:

1) My background is clear (woods and upward slope)
2) The chuck has an entrance hole under the wooden stoop directly in front of the main screen door entrance into the porch. He's outside only when it's quiet for a period of time. They've heard him rooting around under the porch probably 10-12 feet back from the entrance hole.
3) The deer flies are redonkulous
4) I have plenty of firepower to bring to bear (including a new to me .30-06 thanks to RobD - it'll get sighted in first), and I wanna make sure that I "get" him on the first try. If he's wounded, crawls back under the porch and dies...I'm in for hell for the remainder of my in-laws natural lives.
5) I'll have an un-interupted block of time for waiting, and a cooler for cold beverages next to me.

What do I need to know? Any bait they like better than others? Caliber suggestions that aren't ridiculous? Should I just forgoe shooting him and buy/rent/borrow a bigger live trap?

Pat

[JJ]

Find mutt dog that has terrier in him.

Wait until chuck comes out.

Release dog.

Watch dog catch and shake the damn thing to death.

Problem solved. Always worked for my folks.

[photogpat]

Find mutt dog that has terrier in him.

Wait until chuck comes out.

Release dog.

Watch dog catch and shake the damn thing to death.

Problem solved. Always worked for my folks.

Labradors don't seem to have that ability...although they're always happy to chase, and then roll around in the decomposing remains.

[JJ]

Find mutt dog that has terrier in him.

Wait until chuck comes out.

Release dog.

Watch dog catch and shake the damn thing to death.

Problem solved. Always worked for my folks.

Labradors don't seem to have that ability...although they're always happy to chase, and then roll around in the decomposing remains.

Hence my emphasis on terrier in the first line.

It's pretty viscous to see a 30lb dog take on a 15lb chuck and go from family dog to crazed wildman.

Reminds ya that dogs can snap and do a ton of damage in no time.

[photogpat]

I read it, smiling at the vision in my head of a little dog taking on a chuck.

But unfortunately, all I have access to, canine-wise, are 2 labs and a fat elderly beagle (who's pretty darn worthless).

[rugersol]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_351/products_id/89120/New+England+SS1-M22+SPORTSTER+22MAG+20IN

When you're done, ya can sell it for close to what ya paid!

[photogpat]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_351/products_id/89120/New+England+SS1-M22+SPORTSTER+22MAG+20IN

When you're done, ya can sell it for close to what ya paid!

While I always appreciate an excuse to buy more firearms...this isn't one of them. I'm currently leaning towards using the 77/44 carbine as it'll be a short shot, and were I to miss the headshot, I have no desire for him to limp back into the burrow to die.

[rugersol]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_351/products_id/89120/New+England+SS1-M22+SPORTSTER+22MAG+20IN

When you're done, ya can sell it for close to what ya paid!

While I always appreciate an excuse to buy more firearms...this isn't one of them. I'm currently leaning towards using the 77/44 carbine as it'll be a short shot, and were I to miss the headshot, I have no desire for him to limp back into the burrow to die.

If ya think ya'd be more accurate with the .44, and it'd expand on impact better than the .22 WMR, then that'd obviously be the better choice!

[photogpat]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_351/products_id/89120/New+England+SS1-M22+SPORTSTER+22MAG+20IN

When you're done, ya can sell it for close to what ya paid!

While I always appreciate an excuse to buy more firearms...this isn't one of them. I'm currently leaning towards using the 77/44 carbine as it'll be a short shot, and were I to miss the headshot, I have no desire for him to limp back into the burrow to die.

If ya think ya'd be more accurate with the .44, and it'd expand on impact better than the .22 WMR, then that'd obviously be the better choice!

I'm thinking more about the impact power, granted the .22 mag is traveling faster.

.44 Rem Mag 240gr JHP Federal Factory load @ 25yds gives me 730 ft/lbs
.22 Mag 50gr JHP Federal @ 25yds gives me ~ 230 ft/lbs

[Keith]

I've killed about 15 of them on my property here in the last couple years without trying hard at all. All with a .22 LR. CCI Quik Shok drops 'em in their tracks with one shot. I've been using the subsonic version as I am only 2 miles from the county courthouse. Shot one last Sunday morning actually. I saw him run across the lawn and dive into his hole under my old shed. I just sat there with the rifle pointed at the hole (at about 5 feet) for a couple of minutes till he stuck his head out. (kinda reminded me of Caddyshack)

The 44 does sound fun though.

[photogpat]

The .22 report would be less objectionable to the mother-in-law though...hmmm....

[rugersol]

.44 Rem Mag 240gr JHP Federal Factory load @ 25yds gives me 730 ft/lbs
.22 Mag 50gr JHP Federal @ 25yds gives me ~ 230 ft/lbs

No .45-70?!

[photogpat]

No .45-70?!

I wonder what Strad is doing this weekend...

[rugersol]

Trapdoor?!


... he didn't trade it for a crate of Mosins, did he?!

[photogpat]

Trapdoor?!


... he didn't trade it for a crate of Mosins, did he?!

Strad's the only .45-70 owning person I know....yet....


although I'm not that good of a shot with his trapdoor