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Post by contender on Mar 1, 2020 21:05:19 GMT -5
Well, yesterday,, I saw a groundhog casually munching away on the new growth at my gun range parking area,, next to my old barn. We were in Miss Penny's caddy,, and I didn't have a chuck gun with me,, plus she didn't stop. We got home,, and I went back to the range,, to cast some bullets & do an oil change in her caddy. As I was sitting in the doorway of my range house,, casting away,, I happened to look over & see that dern whistlepig back out in the parking area,, munching away again. My pistola was in the caddy. That was one lucky groundhog for sure. But,, I knew his days were numbered. I don't let them take up residence here. So,, today,, I had another handgun class scheduled for the afternoon,, so I headed over to the range. THIS time,, I was prepared. I'd laid my Ruger MKII Competition Target .22 in my lap, just in case. Well, as I was getting close to the gate,, there he was,, munching away,, oblivious to the world. I drove past the gate,, slipped the truck over,,, left it running,, and eased out. I crossed the road,, and slipped back to my gate area. He'd gotten close to slipping under the barn,, but,,,,,,,, too late,, the Ruger spoke to him with authority. First one of the season.  |
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Post by jfs on Mar 1, 2020 21:47:32 GMT -5
The first and not the last..... 
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Post by x101airborne on Mar 2, 2020 7:38:25 GMT -5
As our Rangemasters used to say.. "Targets coming up; knock em down!"
Good shooting!
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Post by magman on Mar 2, 2020 8:23:11 GMT -5
Congrats. With warmer temps coming I have a few on my land that need liquidating.
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Post by contender on Mar 2, 2020 10:12:47 GMT -5
I enjoy shooting these buggers when I can. In my business,, I trap a lot of them. And my .22,, is a constant truck gun. A few years back,, I impressed a neighbor by shooting a crow out of a tree at about 50 yds with it. He STILL talks about that shot. He has no clue how many thousands of rounds that gun & I have burnt up! That .22 is a wicked critter getter!
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Post by willicd on Mar 2, 2020 13:07:46 GMT -5
How do they taste? The groundhog, not the crow!
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Post by bushog on Mar 2, 2020 15:32:32 GMT -5
So much more satisfying than a prarie dog.
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Post by willicd on Mar 2, 2020 22:25:07 GMT -5
I would never try a prarie dog but I'm genuinely interested in what eating one of these is like.
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Post by contender on Mar 2, 2020 23:29:34 GMT -5
Eating groundhogs is like most wild game. Properly killed & cleaned,, followed by correct cooking & it can be very delicious.
Now,, younger ones are better than old ones. Mid to late spring,, the meat can get a strong taste due to the abundance of spring onions in their diet. Many folks skin,, par-boil, then slow cook in BBQ sauce that's been cut with water in a slow cooker. The pigs have some fat that many feel the need to par-boil away. I prefer to just clean the excess fat while skinning & just slow cook them.
I didn't keep this one to eat,, as Miss Penny refuses to try it. And has "frowned" upon the idea of using her crock pot to cook one. But it was a perfect one for eating!
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bamagreg
.327 Meteor
Woodstock, GA
Posts: 852
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Post by bamagreg on Mar 3, 2020 6:57:46 GMT -5
When I was in my late teens my brother and I would ride around in the afternoon shooting Groundhogs out of the local farmers soybean fields. They would pay us $5.00 for each dead Groundhog. We didn't eat them but would take them to a guy who did. He slow cooked them in a crock pot in barbecue sauce. I tried it once. Not bad.
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Post by crazycarl on Mar 4, 2020 0:55:43 GMT -5
I'd love to try groundhog. Raised on squirrel & recently experienced nutria, which was amazing.
I'd be up for hunting & eating capybara if I could afford the trip to Argentina.
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Post by willicd on Mar 4, 2020 14:33:14 GMT -5
I'd love to try groundhog. Raised on squirrel & recently experienced nutria, which was amazing. I'd be up for hunting & eating capybara if I could afford the trip to Argentina. Carl...... you're crazy! Actually, I'd have no issue eating a nutria. What was the flavor like? |
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Post by crazycarl on Mar 4, 2020 14:44:07 GMT -5
A little like beef actually. Texture similar to flank steak, IMO. I had the nutria kebabs, cooked on the grill & it was amazing. Tender & juicy, with just a hint of pink on the inside. Might hafta drive down to some of our state game lands down on the coast & try to bag a few.
The NCSU student wildlife club puts on an annual Wild Foods dinner every year & bear, beaver, bobcat & moose were on the menu, along with the usual venison, feral hog & game bird dishes. There was another table with the competition entries that I didn't even see, so I missed out on the moose & "Cajun smothered" nutria.
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Post by Markbo on Mar 4, 2020 19:52:07 GMT -5
We don't have them where I'm from but I'd sure like to try my hand at 'em!
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Post by contender on Mar 5, 2020 10:03:28 GMT -5
In general,, groundhogs are an easy bread & butter critter for me in my business. Easy to trap,, and makes me good money w/o much work. But,, shooting them is fun,, when you can find a place to hunt them. Just yesterday,, while driving to a few jobs,, we saw 2 different homes where they were living under the homes. Watched them run & dive into their hidey hole. Maybe I shoulda stopped & left a business card.
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