Tuesday was my last opportunity to hunt since the NJ season ended yesterday. Hunted the golf course for three hours. All three nines were closed till 10 and one nine was closed all day for maintenance. The whole course is isolated and each nine is mostly islolated from each other. So the hunting is safe as long as I'm careful. Anyway, decided to take the Marlin 60 semi-auto in 22 long rifle because it's quieter than the 204 or 22-250. All ten kills were head shots between 40 and 60 yards. Six that ran off were beyond that distance and even though I hit em, they're so tough they didn't go down. Not going to post all ten, but will post a couple plus a one black one. Anyone ever see a black one? If you want to see the rest let me know.

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What kind of ammo were you using? Did you have the chance to get some follow up shots in?

If I have to use .22 LR, I try to use a semi-auto and if they don't go down hard, I quickly add as many follow up shots as needed until they stop moving. Woodchucks can be tough.

I've been very happy with .22 magnum. The farmer of the small Orange County NY that I hunt, I think is pleased that I don't make a lot of noise. The CCI 30 gr V-Max loads group 5 shots within a 1 inch square at 100 yds from my Sako Quad.



So far only 1 chuck "needed" a follow up shot with the .22 mag. In retrospect, I gave it to him, because I thought I missed on the first shot. Post mortem indicated I had spun him with my first shot. He didn't turn and run from the shot.

So there are others from NJ who Varmint hunt. I thought perhaps I was the only one. Guess I could still be the only one actually hunting in NJ. Maybe we should join forces?

I was using hollow points. I forget which brand. Bees or something? Only the first one required a follow up shot. The other confirmed kills all went down with one to the head. The ones that got away all jumped or spun around and then headed for their holes.

That 22 magnum does shoot well!

Finally got my Savage 12 in 22-250 back from the factory. They replaced the barrel that had a bad spot in it. Can't wait to get to the range and get her sighted in again so I'm ready for either FL this Winter or NJ in the Spring.

Here's a few more from the golf course.

That black one is cool! We have marmots out on the West coast and I've never seen an all black one. I think I'd of skinned that one and tanned it. Good shooting.

We're probably the only two Varminters in NJ.

The CCI V-Max are the only rounds that will shoot well through the Sako at 100 yds. All else look like a shotgun pattern. I've not tried other plastic tipped rounds from Hornady, Win or Rem because I've not found them in the store yet. I've read that the Hornady and CCI are the same, but that's just what I've read.

I've got a bunch of some HV HP Aguila .22 LR that is pretty accurate at 50 yds. I'll send you a box to try if you like. AMMOe gave me the heads up on it some time ago, and I've found his recommendations to be spot on.

I favor full camo when hunting groundhogs, even though I mostly sit and wait in my chair. Sometimes in a open field, sometimes just in front of cover. I find that if you are camo'ed up and don't move about, you can be within 50 yds and take shots easily.

Yeah, that black one was unique. If you look closely the hair is much longer than normal. I wish now I had kept it. Just didn't occur to me at the time. Once in a lifetime???

Actually, there is another NJ hunter on this forum that goes by PPYFC.

Thanks for the offer of the ammo, but I don't really use the 22 for hunting. This was the only time and for special circumstances.

Cammo is a good idea. I read that groundhogs and see colors and blue especially is a no no.

PPYFC checking in and saying just WOW to the shooting .
I know where Dogbone is from.
Songdog 1 where are you in NJ
I am in Bergen Cty
Are we the only 3 varmint/predator hunters in NJ ?????????????
However I do not hunt NJ as like Dogbone who left to hide in FL for the winter.
He appers to have a shooting /golf /social membership at his local country club that appears to have been infested with the criters.
They should be paying him for solving their problem

Not gone yet. We leave on Sunday.

Thanks for the shooting compliment. That Marlin is one accurate rifle and it's good to have the extra semi-auto rounds when needed.

Actually, the golf course is public and they were glad to have me helping to reduce their problem. And, although I don't get paid, I have negotiated for some free golf next year.

Bergen Cty also. Right now, I only have access to a 300+ dairy farm in Orange Cty NY. I did the Predator Masters Coyote Hunt 2008 in Globe, AZ. I have to say, it was a real blast. I haven't decided if I'm going in 2009, but I think I will.

I think we may be the only 3 varmint/predator hunters in NJ.

Dogbone should be getting a lot for what he is doing.

Bergen Cty also. Right now, I only have access to a 300+ dairy farm in Orange Cty NY. I did the Predator Masters Coyote Hunt 2008 in Globe, AZ. I have to say, it was a real blast. I haven't decided if I'm going in 2009, but I think I will.

I think we may be the only 3 varmint/predator hunters in NJ.

Dogbone should be getting a lot for what he is doing.


SORRY FOR THE LATE REPLY
BEEN BUSY AND NOT ABLE TO PAY THE SITE THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES
I LEAVE TOMORROW FOR WY ON AN ELK HUNT
I ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO SOME 300 NY ACRES BUT MOSTLY WOODED WITH SOME CLOVER FIELDS
HAVE NOT SEEN TOO MANY HOGS
I AM GOING TO OHIO IN JULY 09 TO SHOOT HOGS WITH A SUPER HOG GUIDE /OUTFITTER
HE COMES WELL RECOMMENDED AND VERY CONFIDENT.
HE TOOK APPROX 950 HOGS THIS YR SO FAR
500 MI RIDE FROM BERGEN CTY [ 8 HRS] AND A LITTLE PRICEY BUT SEEMS WORTH IT TO GET THAT KIND OF HOG SHOOTING .
EXCEPT THAT DOGBONE HAS A HONEY HOLE HERE IN NJ WITH AN INCREDIBLE HOG POPULATION
I AM GOING TO TRY AN INVESTIGATE SOME GOLF CLUBS I KNOW IF THEY NEED A HOGMINATOR
I CANNOT IMAGE ANY OF THE LOCAL BERGEN CLUBS ALLOWING ME TO FIRE A RIFLE ON THEIR GROUNDS
SOMEONE WILL CALL SWAT
I GO TO SD IN EARLY JUNE 09 FOR PD ALSO
GREAT SHOOTING TRIP AND GREAT PLACE
THIS WILL BE MY 5TH TRIP THERE [ BAD RIVER BIRDS AND BUCKS]
I ADDED THE HOG TRIP TO OHIO BECAUSE OF MY INABILITY TO FIND A GOOD HOG SHOOTING AREA LOCALLY
WE SHOULD COMMUNICATE TO SEE IF WE ARE COMPATABLE AS WE ARE LOCAL
I WOULD LIKE TO FIND A LOCAL COMPATABLE VARMINT PARTNER
DOGBONE MIGHT MAKE 3

We're in Myrtle Beach for a week and then on to Florida by Nov.1 We'll be back in NJ by the end of May.

Will contact you guys and see if we can put something together so we can meet and see it we want to hunt together somewhere.

PPYFC - Have a great time with your upcoming hunts. They sound like a blast.

Our son lives outside Columbus, OH. Depending on how your hog hunt turns out, maybe we could hook up while we are visiting him sometime.

Take care all.

Feel free to keep in touch.

Yes, I agree. We should see if we are compatible. I'm headed to Isabel, SD for pheasant in Nov.

No Elk success in WY this year
Last yr I took an elk on the first day at 425 yds
That is why it is called hunting and not killing .
TOOOOOOOOO hot
I sat on top of a Mountain at 9000 ft in a tee shirt all day
I had the legs but not the lungs for that altitude
I almost threw up my cookies climing up each day
No Elk movement as it was tooo warm [65 degrees]
Saw some cows and a few rat elk 3 points and spikes
Opted not to take a cow
I was not that hungry
However I finally got bored and in the late AM and early PM went to shoot PRAIRIE DOGS then came back to try for elk in the 3 -7 pm time frame
I took my Bushmaster Varminteer 223 with a Shepard Scope
I finally got the scope adjusted and it works
Ballistically compensated circles for a 55 gr 223 with hold points
I am now out to 625 yds with some regularity
Not toooo shabby for a 223
My guide took one at 725 with my gun
It took us each 4 rounds to walk it in
But once you have the wind and the distance doped it works fairly well[ surprisingly]
Yes we should consider communicating as possible the only 2 Bergen Varmint hunters in a county of approx 950,000 people
Larger population that 7 states in the union

How was/is SD
I normally go to Pierre SD for Birds and PD
Nice State /Place
Always enjoy going there
I belong to a private bird club in NY that I go to with my dog [ Brittany]
That is what holds me between seasons /hunts

I leave Friday 11/7 for SD, and will return 11/11.

Weather forecast is for low to mid 30s and clear. Should be good hunting.

Looks like I'm on the bottom rung of the traveling hunter ladder.

Too bad about your busted Elk hunt. Agree, that's while they call it hunting. But the time and expense issue would play on my psychy.

Make sure you share some pics of both your (PPYFC & Songdog 1) hunts.

Stay in touch.

Doug

Songdog flew into the SD and ND blizzard to shoot Pheasants last week in SD
I wounder how he did and the conditions
I would have blew the trip off with 4' of snow........
Heck 4" would have concerned me .,......

I remember thinking about him when I heard the weather report of the winter storm hitting SD last Friday.

I'll bet he'll have quite a tale to tell when he returns.

I got to Bismarck, ND on time, but my luggage did not. My original flight from Minneapolis was canceled but another was substituted for the same time, but my bag didn't make the flight.

Bismarck, ND had about a foot of snow on the ground, but they had things cleared as most northern cities usually do. We got picked up and driven down to SD, a three hour drive that normally takes two hours, but blowing snow made the plowed roads snow covered and the driver slowed down. Our ranch in SD had but a couple of inches of snow in most parts and drifts of a couple of feet at the highest points.

But it was cold. First day was in the 20s, second day in the 15s and the third day in the 20s with wind.

I was able to cobble together enough gear from my fellow hunters so I could hunt the first day. My bag showed up Sat PM, so I had my gear for the rest of the trip.

High numbers of birds. Sharptail grouse, ringneck pheasant and hungarian partridge in very large numbers. The group of 16 easily exceeded their daily and total limits. Experienced hunters remarked that they had never experienced the number, variety of species, or concentration of birds that we saw on this hunt. Speculation is that the storm had much to do with concentrating and holding the birds together, especially the Sharptail grouse that we were finding in groups of 5 and 10 at a time.

The general consensus from the experienced hunters was this was their best western bird hunting trip of their lifetime. As I have nothing to compare it to, I can only hear their words and have my fond memories.

When I saw the weather report for Nov 7 the day you were taking off, I was certain the trip was going to get busted. It only shows how wrong one can be. Even so, you were fortunate to experience the "hunt of a lifetime" with your group. Any pics?

What did you do with the birds you shot? Did you keep them, eat them, bring them home???

Good you made it back and thanks for sharing your experience!

Most were left with the outfitter. I had six pheasant shipped back. We will be having some tonight. I did not take any pics, there were pics taken, I will get copies and post some as they become available.

Old airline axiom:

If you have time to spare - go by air.....

I am amazed and pleased it worked out for you with such a horiffic weather forcast .
Sometimes you just have to be in it to win it.