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Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 1:42 pm
by Sir Henry
I think I have a woodchuck problem. No not the baseball team from Wausau although I might have a baseball problem too. I’ve gone to 27 games so far this year but that’s a different thread.
I’m getting big holes in the ground with piles of dirt around them. They look similar to the groundhog holes I’ve seen in Montana. I called the Department of Wildlife and they told me they aren’t protected and I can trap or shoot them without a license or permit on my own property.
This is the main entrance.
- IMG_9991.jpeg (7.02 MiB) Viewed 1263 times
These next two pictures are where the tunnels have surfaced. The entrance holes are smaller where they just surface.
- IMG_9990.jpeg (4.29 MiB) Viewed 1263 times
- IMG_9992.jpeg (6.86 MiB) Viewed 1263 times
This hole is about a foot across and is behind my gongs on the range.
- IMG_9989.jpeg (2.78 MiB) Viewed 1263 times
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 2:13 pm
by Cofisher
That last one looks badger size. Beware!
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 3:06 pm
by daytime dave
Be careful mowing.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 3:22 pm
by Mags
Sir Henry wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 1:42 pm
I think I have a woodchuck problem. ..
This hole is about a foot across and is behind my gongs on the range.
ah, more target for the range.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 3:39 pm
by Sir Henry
Cofisher wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 2:13 pm
That last one looks badger size. Beware!
Funny you mention that because that thought had also occurred to me.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 4:17 pm
by HenryFan
There was an instructional video released some years back about gopher control. I think it was called Caddyshack.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 4:23 pm
by Sir Henry
Gophers I can shoot. Badgers are protected in Wisconsin and I dont golf.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2026 5:17 pm
by markiver54
Mags wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 3:22 pm
Sir Henry wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 1:42 pm
I think I have a woodchuck problem. ..
This hole is about a foot across and is behind my gongs on the range.
ah, more target for the range.
My thoughts exactly.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2026 10:51 am
by Hatchdog
HenryFan wrote: ↑Fri Jul 24, 2026 4:17 pm
There was an instructional video released some years back about gopher control. I think it was called Caddyshack.
Well done!
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 12:27 am
by BrokenolMarine
MANY years ago, when I was in high school in VA, my best friend's family had a horse farm outside Metro Richmond. They had a groundhog problem. His sisters rode in shows, both Western and English, and they won... a lot. Needless to say the horses were high dollar horse flesh. The mother had also rescued a couple horses from the Racetrack. Not Kentucky Derby Winners by any means, but not cheap either.
If one of the horses were to step into a Groundhog Hole and break a leg... well it wouldn't be good. We were given a bounty of $25 a head on the little rascals. Shoot them, trap them, Blow them up... she didn't care. Oh, fill in every hole we saw. $10 a hole. She trusted us... we were honor students and she considered us family.
We would lay on the dam around the pond, or on the roof of an outbuilding and scope the field and grounds. One shooter, one spotter. If we saw movement, the spotter would whistle. Up popped the head... boom. Movie Money.
Horses were just a bit safer.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 9:36 am
by Hatchdog
BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑Sat Aug 01, 2026 12:27 am
MANY years ago, when I was in high school in VA, my best friend's family had a horse farm outside Metro Richmond. They had a groundhog problem. His sisters rode in shows, both Western and English, and they won... a lot. Needless to say the horses were high dollar horse flesh. The mother had also rescued a couple horses from the Racetrack. Not Kentucky Derby Winners by any means, but not cheap either.
If one of the horses were to step into a Groundhog Hole and break a leg... well it wouldn't be good. We were given a bounty of $25 a head on the little rascals. Shoot them, trap them, Blow them up... she didn't care. Oh, fill in every hole we saw. $10 a hole. She trusted us... we were honor students and she considered us family.
We would lay on the dam around the pond, or on the roof of an outbuilding and scope the field and grounds. One shooter, one spotter. If we saw movement, the spotter would whistle. Up popped the head... boom. Movie Money.
Horses were just a bit safer.
Definitely a pay for play event.
Re: Woodchuck Nuisance Problem
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 9:39 am
by Sir Henry
BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑Sat Aug 01, 2026 12:27 am
MANY years ago, when I was in high school in VA, my best friend's family had a horse farm outside Metro Richmond. They had a groundhog problem. His sisters rode in shows, both Western and English, and they won... a lot. Needless to say the horses were high dollar horse flesh. The mother had also rescued a couple horses from the Racetrack. Not Kentucky Derby Winners by any means, but not cheap either.
If one of the horses were to step into a Groundhog Hole and break a leg... well it wouldn't be good. We were given a bounty of $25 a head on the little rascals. Shoot them, trap them, Blow them up... she didn't care. Oh, fill in every hole we saw. $10 a hole. She trusted us... we were honor students and she considered us family.
We would lay on the dam around the pond, or on the roof of an outbuilding and scope the field and grounds. One shooter, one spotter. If we saw movement, the spotter would whistle. Up popped the head... boom. Movie Money.
Horses were just a bit safer.
They had prairie dog towns in Montana where a 40 acre field would be completely destroyed by them. We would go out and when they were active you might see a couple dozen at a time. It was like shooting them on a video game. Farmers wouldn’t pay us but allowed us on their land. I was never told no.
Well done!