There is the never ending saga of groundhogs under my front porch. I got a couple in the spring but, now that the soybeans are high and gave them cover, a couple have come out of the field and at least one, decided to live under my porch again. I must say, it's a dangerous place to live but they apparently don't know that.

About a month ago, I was up in my office with no gun and looked outside and was greeted by the sight of one groundhog out on my shooting range and another outside my office window. I was kind of marooned since the cleaning lady was here and the floor downstairs was wet. My wife, Sweetsums, would have been quite unhappy if I had walked on the wet floor or scared the cleaning lady so I had to hold my peace.

I took a shot at another one a couple of weeks later with a 22 LR and think I hit it but it made it down its hole so I can't be sure of that. Then a few days ago, there was another one outside my office window. This time, I was packing a S&W 357 Magnum and took a shot at it just as it was going under a tree and missed.

Well today, justice was served. It's a pleasant "porch day" in Ohio and I was on the porch packing my Glock 19 while talking to my daughter on the phone. After my conversation, I decided to check the end of the porch to see if there was any groundhog activity. There was; there was a groundhog out under a bush at the end of the porch that saw me and quick as a flash made it under the porch.

Groundhogs are in a way smart and in a way very stupid. When they want to be out they're quite persistent and will many times come back out of their holes even if they've been shot at. Since I thought there was a chance it would come out again, I stepped back two or three paces, unholstered the Glock and carefully approached the edge of the porch again.

By the time I got there, after just a few seconds, the groundhog was poking its head out of the hole again and then came all the way out of the hole; a fatal mistake. It was looking at me but my gun was already pointing at it and, since I was standing very still it must not have realized what I was. My cat, Alley, who likes to be with her "daddy" came up to my left at that point and I had to shoo her back with my left foot; fortunately she didn't meow at that insult.

At the shot, the groundhog started flopping around and made it halfway into its hole before it died.

I had about 13 more rounds down the pipe so really should have shot it again but I guess I was guilty of what some professional hunters call "admiring the shot." I'll have to work a bit harder to correct that tendency.

COOL! I got out of the shower today and looked out the window and one was in the back yard. Was late for my sons B-Day party so didn't even get to burn any powder but it will be back and I'll be ready. May try the long bow on this one; haven't decided yet.

God Bless, Louis

Nice! I don't think the African axiom of "pay the insurance..." applies to Marmots; but you can never tell when one might charge up the porch at you!



probably should have double tapped him, just because...

Rich

I'm jealous of those that can shoot from the comfort of their homes. Kinda populated here and I have to settle for quietly making the rounds of their holes after dark w/gas can in hand.