A Roving Woodchuck Hunt

[WGI]

Despite the drizzle of rain I took a hike with the 22 Hornet in search of Woodchucks.

It wasn’t long after I entered the hay field the first Chucks was spotted. I normally being my shooting sticks but the ground was very wet to sit on so just the sling a tree or fence post wood have to do.

Fortunately as I snuck into range on the first Chuck there was a small tree island with in the field and I found this ideal tree with a Y to rest the old Winchester 22 hornet in.

This was my view for the shot.

* http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Bill1227/IMG_2134.jpg

Here is a look down the field from the same spot.

*http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Bill1227/IMG_2135.jpg

The Woodchuck only gave me a head shot and hence that is where it took the bullet. The “thawk” of the Hornady 45 grain Hornet bullet head impact was noticeable over the mild report of the 22 hornet. There was no doubt a dead Chuck would be where expected upon walking to the area. It was 98 paces and the Chuck took it through the ear.
Here is how it was found next to the hole.

*http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Bill1227/IMG_2136.jpg

A pose with the old Winchester Model 70 S.G. 22 Hornet / Redfield Widefield 4x Scope.


*http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Bill1227/IMG_2137.jpg

From there with my compact binoculars I spotted another about 400 hundred yards down the field. I headed to the hedge row and worked my way down attempting to get with in range of both the 22 Hornet and the mighty 4x scope (chuckle).

In the vicinity along the hedge row I found another tree to rest the rifle on and waited. Not long after the Chuck stood back towards me and I fired my best shot, which missed clean. Obviously, it was the tree’s fault (grin) it was not nearly as good as the last.

*http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Bill1227/IMG_2138.jpg

But, the mild muzzle blast of the 22 Hornet is a gift to the walking varmint hunter. I spotted the Chuck roving around again minutes latter but just would not present a good shot again. After the Chuck had disappeared for some time and I thought it had likely holed, I began to walk in from the hedgerow towards the dug up Chuck den area with in the hay field. There was a slight knoll rise between and as I went up it…………..there was the Chuck in plain sight and on all fours broadside at what turned out to be 52 paces. I froze upon sight of the Chuck, paused and then slowly went down and took one knee. It was from this position I placed the 45 grain soft point into the boiler room which anchored him on the spot.

* http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Bill1227/IMG_2140.jpg

I left for home after that nice little walk through the hay field. Shortly after that the sky opened up and it rained “cats & dogs”.

[deathwind II]

Good post, WGI. Probably my favorite 'hog hunting I do is right on what's left of the old family farm. Varied terrain, bisected by a creek, it offers perfect walk-around hunting opportunity. Cleaned out almost half-a-hundred last year, mainly with a .204 Ruger Rem. LVSF. Over the winter, in an attempt to recapture the past and to keep an inexpensive knock-around rifle on-site in the barn, I put together a Hornet Handi-Rifle and a low-end Chinese Bushnell 4-12 AO scope (still much better glass than the old 4X that granddad probably used.) Although now pretty thinned-out, I managed to get two at close range, 40 & 60 yds. last week. Then, while leaving saw one 225 yds. across a hayfield. Thinking of just trying a sighting shot, I aimed what I estimated to be about 8" over with the duplex reticle. Lo and behold, the grazing chuck stopped dead in his tracks. No tail-swirl that usually signals a fatal head shot, just stillness. When I found him, he had a hole in his mid-section, probably angled up to his heart from my slightly downhill position. Didn't expect this killing energy from the .22 Hornet at what's considered to be the max "humane" range. And there was a pretty stiff cross-to-headwind. Although the previous two kills were not this terminal with the Winchester 45 gr. soft points, I'm thinking now the victims were hit a little low because I failed to compensate for the close-range trajectory. All-in-all, still a pretty sweet little caliber for stalking and the occasional long-range shot. Safe and pretty quiet, too.
While long-range 'prarie dogging' of woodchucks is neat, sometimes this walk-around type of hunting/stalking can be both more challenging and relaxing.