Overdosed on Groundhogs

[bshadle 5]

Got a new permission last week - sixty acres of orchard surrounded by 150 acres of corn, beans and alfalfa. Owner said it was loaded with hogs, so hit it today for the first time. He wasn’t kidding. Stopped at his fruit stand to shoot the breeze, he suggested checking his cherry section first.

 

Got there and it was full of holes, too many to count. Multi-eye settes all over. Worked the first one not thirty feet from the truck. Dot bolted a hog from it, no digging required. Over the next couple hours we worked two more bolts with no digging and two that bolted when dug to. (Lurchers seem more and more attractive.) All within a hundred feet of the truck. Then…

 

It was starting to warm up so we moved over a few rows of trees to get into the shade. Came onto a multi-eye sette surrounding the base of a cherry tree. Dot lit up. In and baying, then out and into another hole and more baying. Saw the hog bolt from one hole to another and Dot in pursuit. Then it happens again – Groundhog Grand Central Station. I start blocking holes with dirt, bars, yohos, my pack and kneeling in front of one. Finally, at one point when she enters and settles I mark her at two feet and dig. Gotta see what’s going on.

 

Open to a four-way split in the tube. One’s the way Dot went in, one’s a den stop, two go off toward other holes. I can hear Dot working, and now the sound of clicking teeth. Dot finally pushes the hog to the hole I’ve dug; I thump it with the bar and pull it out. She’s still working. More clicking teeth. Dig a second hole to cut off escape. Tail out number two and thump it. Number three sticks its head out far enough for a quick dispatch with the bar, and it’s STILL not empty. Sink a third hole and tail out number four. While I’m thumping this one a fifth bolts past me, Dot comes boiling out in hot pursuit and grabs it by the butt just as it enters one of the holes I did have blocked until I needed the bar that was blocking it. I get there to tail it just as it breaks free from Dot’s grasp and it gets away.

 

By now I’m tired. We’ve been at it for six hours, three on this last sette. Tie out Dot, give her a drink and wash her eyes, then backfill the holes. Keep her on lead for the walk back to the truck ‘cause I don’t want her getting on another. When I tie her to the tailgate to put the pack and bar in the truck, another hog dives in a hole not thirty feet away. That one can wait ‘til the next time.

 

 

 

 

 

Diggin’ wasn’t bad for being on the break between clay and shale here. None of the holes were over two feet deep, most about a foot and a half, the last one only one foot. Not sure how you count for groundhogs. Was this a four, seven or ten hog day? No matter, it wasn’t bad for a rookie digger and an inexperienced barn jack. And we never got more than a hundred yards from the truck. We’ll be back.

[mussells 0]

nice job!

[billbo 0]

WELL DONE MATE

[Guest shay]

I'd say it was four,

 

Forgive me as i am not a frequent reader of your posts , but do you not use purse nets, lurchers or guns, I'm sure my landowners would kick me off within minutes if they saw me letting so many pests get away.

 

Regards

Shay

[bshadle 5]

I'd say it was four,

 

Forgive me as i am not a frequent reader of your posts , but do you not use purse nets, lurchers or guns, I'm sure my landowners would kick me off within minutes if they saw me letting so many pests get away.

 

Regards

Shay

No offense taken.

 

No lurcher, and this particular landowner doesn't want guns on that portion of his property. He has workers in the orchards and sometimes customers picking their own fruits so doesn't want the gunshots and possibly stray bullets. Additionally, it was pretty close to some neighboring houses and would have been illegal to shoot under our laws anyway. Tried setting a few nets, but obviously not too successfully. Pretty new at this and still learning the ropes.

 

Do have a few permissions where gunning is my primary method, but don't think I've ever posted about those trips. Mostly here for what I can learn about terrierwork. Most of my work with the dogs so far is primarily for sport with whatever pests removed just an added benefit for the landowner. The secret I've found is be sure to tell them how many you got, and NOT how many got away.

[bshadle 5]

How far are you from Deeeeeeeee-troit?? Am I invited if it's reasonable? :yes:

*&*....bet I can hook you up w/a lurcher & nets,w/out importing.

Wow. 520 miles, 9 hours driving time with no traffic jams, construction or rest stops.. If you want to make that kind of drive for groundhogs you're welcome, I sure wouldn't.

 

Have nets, just haven't quite worked out the art of setting 'em. Groundhogs seem a little better than fox at avoiding 'em. Have an offer of a lurcher pup already, but not enough room nor enough free time to do justice by one. I'm not fond of having a working dog that doesn't get to work to its ability. Thanks for the offer though.

[woolbr8stl 0]

Great Day Bshadle, something I wish we had all the time

[Guest Haggler]

bet I can hook you up w/a lurcher & nets,w/out importing.

 

Kate, can you hook him up with a lurcher that can catch like this?

 

 

I can send him there if that is what he wants and they are born in the U.S. of A.

 

Haggler

[thurso jack 3]

fantastic pic haggler, got anymore?

[Guest Haggler]

fantastic pic haggler, got anymore?

 

That picture and this one just moments after were taken by the breeder of all the dogs in the photos. He is in Idaho, USA and his kennel is designed to breed for Coyote coursing. He guarantees his dogs to fit the bill.

 

 

 

Haggler

Edited July 17, 2007 by Haggler

[Kye 77]

I'd sooner get a pup of the Coyote Haggler, if at 40lbs it could keep off FOUR dogs that top 85lbs...lol...i hope he gives you your money back if it dont do as it says on the label...you cant gurantee a dog on coyote...beleave me.

 

Kye,..

[roystoncrankted 1]

yehar im moving to la la la la america. do the groundhogs bite bad are there teeth fox like

[bshadle 5]

yehar im moving to la la la la america. do the groundhogs bite bad are there teeth fox like

Their teeth are more rat-like, sharp incisors up front. If you can imagine the teeth on a 10 - 20 pound (5 - 10 Kg) rat, which is the size they get. They can give the dog a bad slice if it doesn't know the biting end from the sh*tting end.