It's a varmints nightmare!

[DT Fan]

Saw a mink in the old corn crib yesterday, kind of a rare sighting. He saw me and got hid.

Much like a fox or bull snake, he probably does more good than harm so I leave such things alone.

[Sledgehammer]

I saw 4 snakes today at different times. Kinda strange. One was a normal chicken snake. One was a blue racer. The others were just crossing the road. 

[stronger800]

Were the snakes  crossing the road before or after after the chicken?

I gotta Google that woodchuck virus.  I’ve been picking them up by whatever part isn’t bloody and carrying them out of the field my whole life.  When I switched from .22 to .223 snd then 150g .270 30 years ago….sometimes it takes two hands to move them 

[MacAR]

The woodchuck virus is a new one on me... I've eaten many of them over the years. Maybe ought to stop that now!

[yellowrosefarm]

On 6/3/2025 at 8:08 AM, Michigan No Till said:

Powassan Virus! 

Never touch a Chuck. 

Use big channel lock pliers to get them out of the #220

When shot they lay right there 

Buzzards got to eat too. 

 

First I've heard of that.  Another tick borne terror to worry about.

[iowaboy1965]

A tour around the yard just a bit ago revealed 3 coons in a cotton wood and a deer under the apple tree. Garden eating varmints! Oh and a rabbit as well. 🤦‍♂️

[MacAR]

15 minutes ago, iowaboy1965 said:

A tour around the yard just a bit ago revealed 3 coons in a cotton wood and a deer under the apple tree. Garden eating varmints! Oh and a rabbit as well. 🤦‍♂️

Are they still in the tree? 

[iowaboy1965]

13 minutes ago, MacAR said:

Are they still in the tree? 

Yes but at least one or more is not feeling  so well

[MacAR]

Excellent!

[DT Fan]

Saw my first chipmunk of the year the other day, haven't had time, (or maybe ambition) to hunt him yet. 

[DT Fan]

Spotted a young squinney right by the house yesterday, tried to stomp on it but missed. Going to have to get the .22 out and start hunting these things in earnest. Worst thing about them is the badger that thinks he can eat them. Don't know if they ever actually catch one but dig about a million holes trying. Kind of reminds me of the coyote and road runner. 

[iowaboy1965]

Did some test and tune the other night and discovered the 22 was several inches low and to the left of where I was aiming. No wonder I was missing some fairly easy targets! I'm not all that steady anymore either. 😔

[B.B.]

4 hours ago, iowaboy1965 said:

Did some test and tune the other night and discovered the 22 was several inches low and to the left of where I was aiming. No wonder I was missing some fairly easy targets! I'm not all that steady anymore either. 😔

Different ammo can have a dramatic effect on point of impact.  Whatever ammo you sighted in with might be very different from what you are using now.    

[Michigan No Till]

Been busy, had a dozen buzzards for two days. 

Ballist Trajectory calculator and new range finder has increased my percentages.

[DT Fan]

Whistle pig down! This guy had been around here since the frost went out, maybe longer. Who knows? Hadn't seen him for a couple months, until today. When I identified him, (was cooking lunch at the time) ran for the .22 Mag. He was going behind a pile of firewood, I yanked the trigger and hopped. Saw a foot go up and quiver, yes! Had a fire going in the burn barrel, he's now roasting nicely.

[DT Fan]

Now if the little A-hole masked bandit that has been raiding the sweetcorn would show himself.....

[stronger800]

Looky how healthy this one Was…

I’ve been all .270 for 30 years, but I keep liking my tiny .17 more and more.  

[MacAR]

58 minutes ago, stronger800 said:

Looky how healthy this one Was…

I’ve been all .270 for 30 years, but I keep liking my tiny .17 more and more.  

That is one fat 'chuck! 

If you like the 17, try a 222 or 243 on one sometime; it's very "educational". 

[MacAR]

To add to my post above, here are my two patio varmint rigs: 

The one on the left is a Ruger American 22lr carbine, great for things up close. The one on the right is a Winchester Model 70 in 222 Remington, wearing a Redfield 4-12x40 AO scope.... it's really, really mean to groundhogs and other such varmints that like digging up my hayfield! 

[stronger800]

I had a 243, but 270 shells were always cheaper and easier to find. Traded the 243 shoulda kept it 

[MacAR]

27 minutes ago, stronger800 said:

I had a 243, but 270 shells were always cheaper and easier to find. Traded the 243 shoulda kept it 

Really? I woulda thought both would've been common. Of course, in different parts of the country I suppose that's not the case. The "big four" here are the 30-06, 270, 30-30, and 243. You can find ammo for those anywhere around here; other things maybe not so much (rimfires excepted). 

[DT Fan]

Got another squinney today. Need to get a better trigger in that 10/22! Almost missed the little S.O.B.!

[B.B.]

On 8/14/2025 at 8:21 PM, DT Fan said:

Got another squinney today. Need to get a better trigger in that 10/22! Almost missed the little S.O.B.!

Ruger BX trigger isn't bad at all for the price.   

[DT Fan]

Not sure how many squinney's (aka 13 line ground squirrel) I've shot this year but added another to the tally yesterday. That should save 10-12 holes the badger would dig trying to eat the little S.O.B.! What I've learned about these things is that when you see one, go get the gun. They seem to have different home areas and move from one to the next. If there is one out and working, and you're patient, you'll get a shot. Thought about taking a picture but it was pretty graphic.

[Sledgehammer]

Spotted this groundhog yesterday afternoon on the run. He went in the hole and got curious. I grabbed a rifle and he stuck his head only out the hole. 57 yds with .22 hornet