Posted by Billy NY on June 09, 2014 at 21:52:46 from (66.67.105.23):
Since as long as I can remember, woodchucks have been a persistent pain in the you know what on this hill, good and bad, you just can't get rid of them around here. I've always said, they as a species certainly don't bother me, for some strange reason, its just how it is, and I've shot my share of them, trapped and relocated many of them too where they won't bother anyone. I've even made friends with one, for 8 years and I enjoyed every bit of having him around, he was truly a faithful old friend, that never bothered much at all, more entertaining than not, he "woody" was just something else, its a story and memory I'll never forget. On saturday afternoons, you could set your watch by his arrival on the front porch, and one afternoon, he came right to the door, stood up and folded his arms, as if to say, where the heck are you, you're late ! Its because of that and I hate a tyrant, a bully, always look at it from the reverse angle, how would I like to be on the other end of it, when dealing with them. I'll still do what I must, but I do try and work around them, but they sure don't give up, friend or foe, and I've experienced both.
So I see one just moved in under my woodshed, and I just happened to watch her pass, then came a young one, and I heard that whistle, sounds like a bird. Well I just can't have that under the shed, so I got a leg trap, placed 2z4's on edge to make a funnel, even tossed a few packs of firecrackers under there, no go she would not come out even with the noised and smoke, no hole yet, she just started today. While I was working I heard it go off,the trap and she was whistling. I took the high road, got the welders gloves on, pulled her out, painstakingly got that trap off her leg and got her into a steel garbage can you see in the photo, she'll go to an abandoned field tomorrow, one far enough away from anyone else to bother, I would not do that otherwise, luckily I have a good drop off point.
I caught one in a tree,(see photos) was face to face, it was not happy, but I put some leaves on the end of a stick, darned thing was like, give me that, and bring some more, I'm not sure who's nuts here or what, me feeding a woodchuck while in a tree, over my corn patch or what. Guess I'd better get the field cut, they have too much cover !
So here's some photos, one in the can, one in the tree and my good buddy "Woody", you know he used to keep the others out and I never had any around the house, not sure what in heck happened, but I'm going to put a scope on the 22 WMR, and take a few once the field is cut, smoke bombs next if they keep pressuring me, I've just never seen so many, 2 years back I got rid of 7, some lived, some did not. There are times when I can do something nice, but the havahart trap, meticulously set was not working they're wise to it. That leg grab was only on for a few minutes and I've handled dozens of them with thick gloves on, so I know how they are, have to clinch them behind the head, around the shoulders, and under the arms and they will submit, but never trust or let up on that grip, or put yourself in danger, I had to pull her out too, the trap was too close to the hole, she was dug in and anchored. I did have a .22 on me, in case it was not going my way, thankfully it did and I feel better that way, sometimes its the other way around, but I do try my best knowing if the roles were reversed someone would give me a break. I checked her leg, might be bruised but, not broke or any visible damage, so as much as I hate those traps, right size is not bad if you can get to them soon. I was nearby and knew I would be. That young one will be on it in the am I am sure, 2 went in there, but one came out. I saw scat moved out from under the shed, she did that while I was taking the trap off, they are good housekeepers, the young one moved it out,trademark habit and it was not there before. Another way to tell they are around is the flies that follow them, tell tale sign one is nearby or hidden close to you, those flies are a dead give away.
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