2 milestones in 1 year

WV Hitman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2020
Messages
231
Location
eastern WV
I have been an exclusive handgun hunter since 1978. My true passions are Africa, groundhogs and deer. This year I accomplished 2 milestones I think very few, if any, have achieved.
First, I dearly love hunting my WV groundhogs. They are challenging and allow me to test many of my handguns. Unfortunately, I've taken so many of these that I've expanded to ID rockchucks, a close cousin to my WV friends. I now include both in my yearly and lifetime totals in the records I've kept since 1975.
This year I reached a new number using my .22-250 XPR and 40 gr. BTs. My 6 year rockchuck total is now 1905 of this total.
Second, I also have a passion for deer hunting. I get enormous amounts of summer deer permits in WV. I clean them by myself (7 1/2-8 minutes). All deer is given to elderly, poor, or prior patients.
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My old skin doesn't like being scratched by briars, branches, thorns, so I use my BIG Guns ( .375/.284 XP, .325 WSM, .338 JDJ Mag Encore) for most of my work less than 350 yds. Beyond that I use my 6.5/.284 XP and .308 HS.
This deer was taken at 191 yards with my .325 WSM and 180 gr. Nosler Ballistic SilverTip. She dropped.
I hope to continue my passions for some while. I think it keeps me "young"!
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Two unbelievable records. Congrats!!

The most groundhogs that I've taken in a single day was 23. I thought that was quite an achievement at the time. LOL

I've gotta move out your way because the PA groundhogs that I've been shooting for the last 46 years have all but vanished. A slow decline over about 10 years has made them very hard to find. Hunting didn't do it but I'm not sure what did. Could have been disease, predators, spring sickness; who knows?
 
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