Another day, another garden varmint

[daytime dave]

I had been noticing that the systematic destruction (eating) of the broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage in the garden for about a week. No rabbits at night, but something was definitely gorging on the large leaves of these plants. I suspected the resident ground hog from the barn. The damage looked like he was going from plant to plant and then row to row.
I looked for him this morning just after sun up, not there. Just before I left for errands, there he was. He was big and broadside. I hurriedly retrieved my Browning T-bolt. The shot would be 60 yds or so, right out the back door. One shot anchored him to where he was. A head shot with my 2" model 63 finished him for sure.
He was heavy, and no wonder. He had decimated three rows of produce. No more salad bar for him.

[Sir Henry]

Nice shot!

[BigAl52]

Ground Hog stew Dave?

[daytime dave]

Ground Hog stew Dave?

Probably not, but I have a recipe or two I think.

[Vaquero]

Good shooting.

RP

[North Country Gal]

That is definitely a well-fed groundhog. Good work, Dave.

[Ozarkwoodswalker]

Good shot. Well done!

[rickhem]

Nice! And a 60 yard shot is far enough away that you get to hear the bullet hit too.
I almost hate to admit it, but I get a little pumped when a new groundhog starts taking up residence under the one garage. I have a couple traps out for them, and I'll relocate them to way out in the woods if I catch one, but if one is caught out free-ranging, I do what you did. Getting trapped is by far their best option. Some of them are pretty good at the whole escape and evade thing too.

[Hatchdog]

Nice shooting Dave and a great selection of firearms to complete the task!

[daytime dave]

Nice! And a 60 yard shot is far enough away that you get to hear the bullet hit too.
I almost hate to admit it, but I get a little pumped when a new groundhog starts taking up residence under the one garage. I have a couple traps out for them, and I'll relocate them to way out in the woods if I catch one, but if one is caught out free-ranging, I do what you did. Getting trapped is by far their best option. Some of them are pretty good at the whole escape and evade thing too.

Yes, I heard the thump of the strike and funny thing, his tail went up when he was hit. It went down with the coup de grace. He never moved at all except his tail.

I tried the garden without fencing last year and it worked ok. This year, not really. The fencing is hard to mow and weed around. I'll see about a happy balance next year.
Since I live in the countryside, shooting varmints who damage the garden is what happens. I don't shoot the varmints just because, as that old fat whistle pig will attest to. I'm pretty sure he lived in the barn before I moved here. I won't be looking for a new Tennant though.