3 Reasons Why Deer Hunters Should Shoot More Groundhogs

by
posted on August 12, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
groundhog_hunting_f.jpg

Most of us who think we are serious shooters have a dirty little secret: We do not shoot enough. We talk about it and make a lot of grandiose plans but maybe spend a few hours on the bench all summer. The rut comes around in November, and we are no better prepared than last year. 

We need a better reason to get out there and shoot, something that will get us off that bench and away from the air conditioning. Deer hunters, I present to you the lowly groundhog.

The groundhog’s proper name is woodchuck (probably a Native American derivation); some also call it whistle pig. Groundhogs are found over much of the eastern U.S. and are usually seen around fields and farms in agricultural areas. Most farmers and cattlemen have no love for the groundhog and see it as a destructive pest. Groundhogs are voracious diggers, and their dens are considered a threat to livestock, machinery and the farmer’s general peace of mind. Here is where you come in.

undefinedYou can hunt groundhogs like you hunt deer.
This isn’t rocket science. Check the zero on your deer rifle and go groundhog hunting. Start early in the morning, and make a day of it. Find a good vantage point to begin glassing with a binocular. Open areas next to brushy fencerows, rocky protrusions in pastures and lush hay meadows are all good areas to find Mr. Groundhog. Try to relate everything to your deer game. Do you spot and stalk for whitetails? Groundhogs are great practice for this and a lot of fun to boot.

You can practice field positions—with live targets.
What is the shooting position you have the most trouble with in the deer woods? Standing offhand? Sitting? Work on that in the groundhog fields. This is the way to prepare for the woods of November. When you are consistently taking whistle pigs with your deer gun at 200 yards, you are going to be deadly in the whitetail woods.

You can test all your gear while hunting.
Think about it. Groundhog hunting lets you get all the kinks out of the system. Everything from sling swivels, shooting sticks, your bino and rangefinder, even your pack can be put to test against whistle pigs. You’ll also be able to confirm bullet drop and practice running your bolt gun. How adept are you at firing three quick, well-aimed shots with your rifle? A groundhog running at 75 yards is going to give you the answer. (As with any hunting or shooting, always be sure your bullet has a suitable backstop and you know what is beyond the target.)

Once upon a time I traveled with some pretty fast company in the varmint-shooting world. These guys shot heavy custom rifles with scopes almost as long as the barrel. They could shoot a gnat’s left wing off at 300 yards with some consistency. This is not what we are talking about here. Hunting groundhogs with the rifle and gear that you will carry in deer season is going to get you ready for this fall.

Did I mention this can be heck of a lot of fun? If you get the groundhog bug you are going to be shooting and hunting all summer long. Wasn’t that our goal from the start?

undefined

Latest

True Shooting Doves
True Shooting Doves

A Shotgun for All Seasons: Savage Renegauge in Argentina

If you want to test a shotgun’s reliability and recoil control, you take it on a high-volume hunt. If you want that trial to more resemble torture than test, you make that a high-volume Argentina dove hunt. Read on to find out how the Savage Renegauge performed.

NRA Names Kyle Lamb as Brand Ambassador for America’s Rifle Challenge

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) proudly announces Sergeant Major (Ret.) Kyle Lamb as a Brand Ambassador for the NRA America’s Rifle Challenge (ARC), an innovative training and competition program built around the safe and effective use of the AR-15 platform.

#SundayGunday: Banish 46-V2

On this week's #SundayGunday, we're talking about suppressors, specifically the Banish 46-V2, capable of taming nearly every gun in your safe, up to and including the big boys like .338 Lapua.

KelTec Named Official Stage Sponsor for 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is proud to announce KelTec as an official sponsor of the 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship, returning to Camp Atterbury, Ind., from September 30 to October 4, 2025.

Thompson/Center Arms Celebrating 60th Anniversary

Thompson/Center Arms is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. Since 1965, T/C Arms has built a legacy rooted in the pioneering spirit of American hunters.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors: Lucy Evans from Georgia and John Bruner from Pennsylvania.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.