My daddy used to take me out on Groundhog Day for the same purpose. The Blue Rudge mountains were a lot colder that time of year and the varmints weren't out and about. So we'd drink some homemade apple brandy and sit and talk.I learnt a lot about my dad and life. I'm his eldest daughter and he'd check me out of high school. I will always have a special place in my heart for groundhogs!

To MJC: "Many years ago I realized that I was a fool, and would always be a fool, and since then I have been happier than any man has a right to be."--Alistair Sim

That's quite the crew. You run into interesting people doing interesting things. That tripod reminds me of the ones used to hold up old military spotting scopes.

This also reminds me of something else - a guy at a local gun shop said his favorite groundhog round is a .358 Win with a .35 cal HP pistol bullet. The bullets scream and fragment, and the groundhogs don't feel a thing. Been thinking of trying that with my .35 Whelen.

can't believe you were fraternizing with an Outdoor Life writer. what would Lefty say? (just kidding, I know you and Jim are friends.)

nice to see the old guy again. now, if we could only bring back Bob Brister and Finn Aagard... but obviously that's asking too much.

here's to more summers spent shooting varmints with accurate rifles in the company of friends.

Just kidding, I still want the Shaw rifle.

Looks like a good way to spend a summer day.

I've hunted groundhogs with a 30-30 Winchester (110 gr Speer hollowpoints over a max load of powder) and a 22 LR and stalking them. If you can sneak up on a groundhog you can sneak up on anything! Excellent practice, as well as 100yd 22LR shooting, altho it usually was more like 20 yds when I shot them with the 22.
The 30-30 literally turns them inside out too! Best hit was about 250 yds with the 30-30, after a couple of ranging shots, the little rat ran from the dirt flying up but kept coming back out as he never saw what was making it fly! Was his last mistake.

Round here, we pick of cotten-tails with 22's. The farther you let the critter get before helping control the population, the more you get to brag! HA! We used to throw rocks at them just to get them to run because a sitting rabbit was just to easy.

I can't imagine DEP owning a rifle that “…would be embarrassing to take to a dump and shoot rats.” Be that as it may, that is one fine looking varmit rig, from what I can make out in the picture. How about a close up?

I've seen the old fart to the left of you that owns the rifle. Can't place the face...hmmm.
Good to see Jim gets out and retired for want not reason.

Pbhead,
Around here there was a two store, one house place in the road that on Sunday mornings men would come and bring in the game they had trapped during the preceding week, body guts and all. As the men would deposit their take on a pyramid of animals they would be issued a tag for the money they should get for their take. That was quite a site and experience for a young boy just coming back from church.

Dave, YOU are the guy with the dream job (see prior post). Yeah, yeah, you have deadlines, advertisers, and screwy editors to deal with. Suck it up, man!

That aside, that is the toughest accuracy standard I've ever heard of a rifle being expected to handle. Even one that weighs fifteen pounds.

Old Blood and Guts. General Patton tribute?

I can't believe Jim would let you shoot something less than a .220 Swift.

Hey Dave , let those critters get out a little farther the next time, they look awful close... Just kidding...

Delightful post...I live in the Old Dominion, and have found it a great place to live. I hear shooting all year 'round, and it only bothers the folks who move here from the cities 'Nawth' of us.

Sounds like a great vacation---hope you can write it off as a 'working' vacation. Try to look miserable when you return to the office, but I doubt you will fool anyone. Loved the Sims quote, and your own repetition early on.

It's interesting what an old gun scribe will do when it comes to a 'favorite' rifle. I'll bet Old B&G could tell a few tales. I have a couple, myself, but with skinnier barrels.

You are something else, Petzal. Power to you.

Blue

Y'all come on back now, hear?

Carmichael needs to be back home in Jonesborough scouting Wapiti for that one permit that's for sale... why haven't you talked F&S into it Dave? You've got a guide and I'll bet he wouldn't shoot rats in a dump with your .338 either.

To be out in the wide open space is a thrill hunting anything or just plinking. We hav many groundhogs and I use Marlin 22 WM with a 50mm scope. It does great out to l75 yds an maybe 200. If beyond that I use the 25-06. Always wanted a 223, but can;t have all of them. Just need to use what I got for the rmaining years I have left to hunt. AT 74, one never knows when his last hunt has come. I don;t live to far from where this Photo was made, just south of the Blue Ridge in N.C.Will miss the Rocky Mtn hunt this year as was not feeling up to par and never applied for any Rockie Mtn hunts. Will just hunt some o the many w-tails we got here. With our food plot and mineral blocks they continue to come each year. Last yr got a nice 9 and Son got two great 8's. Now will only shoot trophies, as Den wall full. Got a spotted deer on my place, I'd like a shot at him. Hopefully the poaches we got wan;t see him till I do. Shoot-um-straight and often.

Dave, That scenery look a little familiar. I spent several summers back in the late 60's walking the hills and shooting hogs in Albemarle County, Va. but that was before Rt. 64 cut the farm in half and ruined my hunting grounds.

Dave, i didn't realize that you paid so much attention to the blog, or that you were a smart-alek. Kudos. Sorry fo the double post. I never do that.

Mr Petzal...don't worry about the "short range shots"!
Take 'em where you get 'em!

Gunslinger, If you would like a .223, you should try the .204 Ruger...