Need ideas on ground hog removal
So I went out to the pole barn and noticed a hole under the cement. I have a 6x8 area with no cement for a future small bathroom. It dug right under the corner inside corner.
There were 2 additional holes under the pressure treated base board & cement dug from under the over hang that runs the length of the barn.
So the options I came up with were:
1- put out a live trap with a slice of apple. Tried that a few years ago when we last had the issue, ended up shooting them as the didn’t go for the apple. But hey, it’s a new batch!
2- put out the trail cam to check for The times they come and go, then sit out and wait to pick them off.
3- open the Doors at each end of the barn on a breezy day, put a hose as far in the hole as possible, connect the other end to the tractor exhaust. Wait by the other holes (outside) with some number 5 shot.
4- ? Looking for ideas...
P.S. the concrete inside is in good shape, so as funny as a flying groundhog would be, no explosives! (That was a good one yesterday chme!)
-
Sounds like your ideas should work Bob. I have never found any kind of bait that a groundhog would be tempted into a trap. In the past I have just waited them out with my high powered pellet rifle loaded and ready. I could not use anything else at the location the hog was burrowing.
I was successful and the memories of the kills are actually quite pleasant!0 -
5 Natural Ways To Get Rid of Groundhogs (Without Harming Them)
by Farmers' Almanac Staff | Posted In: Home and Garden
5 Natural Ways To Get Rid of Groundhogs
- Epsom salts sprinkled near or around the burrow entrances or exits will keep the groundhog away. If your plants are being eaten, try placing a tin pie plate filled with the salts near the plants. Replace after a rain.
- Castor oil poured in and around the burrow holes can be an effective way to discourage them (they hate the smell) but apply only when you know they’re not there, otherwise, they’ll just stay burrowed. You’ll have to keep vigil to see when they head out to find food.
- Human hair clippings from your local barber or hairdresser can also work well because they dislike the scent of humans. Sprinkle clippings around areas where the groundhog frequents. Or to avoid it blowing away in the wind, place clippings in a fine mesh bag and secure it to a stake near the groundhog’s dwelling.
- Soiled kitty litter poured around one of the den holes (but not the other) is also effective as it smells like a predator. Leaving one exit hole scent-free allows them to escape rather than stay burrowed.
- Offensive Scents: There are certain smells groundhogs absolutely detest. If you can ensure these smells are present near their burrows and around the garden, you may be able to send them packing:
- Cayenne pepper – Our Farmers’ Almanac readers swear by this method: Simply pour cayenne pepper close to the groundhog’s holes. Buy a large container (bulk size) so you can create a small pile. When it rains or is windy, you’ll have to reapply. It’s actually the smell and the heat they don’t like. You can also spray tender plants with a mixture of 2 teaspoons cayenne with one quart of water to deter them from nibbling.
- Garlic – Crush some garlic cloves and spread the paste around areas of the garden you want groundhogs to avoid. Their sensitive noses can’t handle the pungent smell.
- Lavender – Try planting some lavender around the garden. While it smells lovely to us, groundhogs find it offensive and avoid the areas where it is. They also dislike the smell of these herbs: basil, chives, lemon balm, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.
I have used the epson salt and kitty litter at my mom's place and it seemed to work and if you don't have pets lime around the hole will get rid of them it burns their feet0 -
Option #2.
My favorite hunting when in High School was Groundhog hunting. Some shots at long range. (.243) If you are patient and quiet, you will get them. Most shots with a .22 mag over the top of my 20 ga. Savage 24. (We'd get $5 per for getting them out of farmers fields.) Wait for a few to come out in a freshly mown hayfield, everyone pick a different target. 3-2-1.
0 -
Ammonia worked very well in getting rid of the skunks under my barn floor. Pour a 1/2 gallon down the hole and see if that don't do the trick. 3 -
Making them, just go away, they will just dig another hole/burrow not to far away.
Choot em'.
If/when I have mice in my house, I don't just catch them and throw them outside, to come back in. (Same way they got in, in the first place.)
0 -
I have tried the listed suggestions above, .....and they all failed!
They are usually out first thing in the morning, and late afternoon. they will be within 20 or so feet of the hole, and very wary, and yes, they can see behind them. I had that problem around my pole building, and still do, every year, as there is a shed located nearby, butted up against the fenced in vegetable garden. You need something at the far end corner of the shop to slide behind and if possible, have just enough of a hole to poke a barrel through, and shoot them from there. That worked the best for me. If there are young with it, shoot the adult first, the remainder are not as smart yet and can be removed over the next few days.0 -
Ruger 77/17, Hornady 17hmr, and a little patience. Bullet goes in, blows up and groundhog falls over dead. I leave it where it lies and the fox, coyote, buzzard population takes care of disposal within 2 days. Everything else I've tried just made them dig a hole somewhere else. It is a little early in the year but I imagine I'll start seeing a few in the next couple of weeks. Bob 0 -
BikerBob said:So I went out to the pole barn and noticed a hole under the cement. I have a 6x8 area with no cement for a future small bathroom. It dug right under the corner inside corner.
There were 2 additional holes under the pressure treated base board & cement dug from under the over hang that runs the length of the barn.
So the options I came up with were:
1- put out a live trap with a slice of apple. Tried that a few years ago when we last had the issue, ended up shooting them as the didn’t go for the apple. But hey, it’s a new batch!
2- put out the trail cam to check for The times they come and go, then sit out and wait to pick them off.
3- open the Doors at each end of the barn on a breezy day, put a hose as far in the hole as possible, connect the other end to the tractor exhaust. Wait by the other holes (outside) with some number 5 shot.
4- ? Looking for ideas...
P.S. the concrete inside is in good shape, so as funny as a flying groundhog would be, no explosives! (That was a good one yesterday chme!)
Hire some folks with dogs bred to weed them out.0 -
17HMR if you have the time.
A can of caustic soda drain cleaner if you don't.0 -
Im having the same problem. I put a half box of moth balls and half gallon of ammonia in each of two holes. It failed to bother the rascal. I have two traps set now, a 220 conibear over one hole and a jump trap down the other. No action yet. They are smart and hard to get a shot at. I need to get him before my potatoes and kale come up. He mows it off as fast as it grows. I hesitate to use poison. for fear of the neighbors pets. They must be his buddies. 0 -
I sprinkled some cayenne pepper around the hole under our sheds. They didn't come back. 0 -
I've shot groundhogs with a few different rifles but most of the time I just use a .22lr for what you are describing. If you are going to shoot long range it takes a rifle that can do that but groundhogs aren't hard to kill. Other then ones I shot for a buddy that were digging under his barn I haven't shot one in years. I noticesd there just wasn't as many of them as there used to be and thought they could use a break. When the coyotes moved in here in the 70' and 80's they were hard on groundhogs. I've noticed there seems to be more of them the last few years, maybe they adapted to the coyotes. 0 -
25/06 0 -
Give a call to "Bill Murray" 0 -
just put up a sign, no groundhogs allowed......... 3 -
Had a whistle pig problem a few years ago. Planted a garden near the wood pile, big pile. Bean rows started to get shortened. Figured it was a "pig" as there were many dens around here.Broke out the trusty 243 smithed by Mike Davis, one holer for sure. Went about 200 yards, run out of distance, from the wood pile and in about 5 minutes things started happening. Popped one and called it done. Just out of curiosity went back the next day, 4 more off the same wood pile. Beans aplenty at end of season.Hot lead is as good a cure as I know of. Had to be quite around the wife, we have had them as house pets over the years.
0 -
AR with ab Acog 0 -
Why the box?
Gonna mail it somewhere?
3 -
Some bodies got to do it.How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?
0 -
A little wire snare will make short work of them. Killed a ton that way. Better than live traps. Not as fun as shooting......but you don't have to wait.
0 -
Do you put the snare in the entrance hole? How big a loop? Ill try almost anything. Live traps I agree are not the whole answer. They wise up to them in a hurry. 0 -
Would be willing to bet that a few guys on this forum are needing target practice, Leave your location here and wait for the offers! 0 -
A good dog. 0 -
Yes, my issue is the time. Supposed to be nice this weekend, but going to open the trap range for some properly social distanced practice Saturday. Maybe I can sit out with a chair and a .17 on Sunday pm a bit.
Was hoping to chase them out on my time vs. being patient. I guess I can try sniping it before I try to gas them out and then use Oakie’s cayenne on the perimeter to try to keep them away.
Thanks for the suggestions.
0 -
JimmyJack: 31539232380699/comments/31539238048923
Do you put the snare in the entrance hole? How big a loop? Ill try almost anything. Live traps I agree are not the whole answer. They wise up to them in a hurry.You should be able to find some cheap snares online. They'll have stiff, thin wire that makes a good loop, and a cinch to make it tighten (one way - like a zip tie). Place it at the hole at night and anchor the snare to something secure. Loop should be big enough that the groundhog can't go around it, but small enough that it catches on him when he passes through. Try not to handle the snare with your bare hands - don't want him to smell it when he gets to it.
Here is an example of snares...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G4MR5LM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DvnQEbQAJ678Q
Here is a clip of a guy setting up a groundhog snare.....with success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=839yItmqSMYHope that helps. Good luck!
Frog
🐸
0 -
Bob, Try some Juicy Fruit gum at the upwind side of one of their known/recently used holes. I will guarantee the critter in question will present a shot, just a matter of timing. They also like the smell of black licorice.
0 -
Thanks Frog, thats the next thing Ill try. No activity the first day I put my traps in, but he will get hungary especially if the sun ever shines here. 0 -
I never tried this but a buddy told me about it back around 1975. I don’t recommend it near buildings you want to keep.
5 gallons of water
1 gallon of gasoline
1 disposable torch
2 people with shotguns
pour the water down one of the holes
pour the gas in the same hole
from a safe distance, light the torch and toss it in
ground hogs will either die in the burrow or come running out one or both of the holes where you’re waiting with the shotgun.
0 -
Yep, but if ya can't find any at the store, just go to a school, there is tons of it stored under the desks.Flying Clay Disk said:
Do they still sell Juicy Fruit gum?Gregor62 said:Bob, Try some Juicy Fruit gum at the upwind side of one of their known/recently used holes. I will guarantee the critter in question will present a shot, just a matter of timing. They also like the smell of black licorice.
0 -
If legal in your state:
Size 2 coil spring trap set near the hole and staked deep. Cover with dirt, no bait.
Bait will draw crows.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
51 comments