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Hunting & Fishing Strictly Chuckin'
- Thread starter coldboremiracle
- Start date
Those are some fine Chucks fellas, we managed to get a few more today as well. Me and goathead1096 took the boys with us and headed for the highline, the summer heat made its way to 9500FT pretty quickly today. But we waded on through the biting flies, and the summer dust to the quiet and freshly accessed back country that until this trip, had been blocked by snow.
The birds were singing, the mountain streams giving what was left of the melting snow, and then puttering out into the dry canyons and draws below. We took position on a cliff, overlooking a beautiful valley some 600yds wide. The bottom was filled with massive granite boulder's that once upon a time, fell from the very cliffs we stood upon. Broken and gnarled pine trees growing upward in all directions, as well as aspens lay on their side, from winter's avalanches but growing still. We scanned the rocks, all their nooks and crannies, looking for that little brown and yellow patch of fur that we love to see so much. Time passed, but none of us complained, the beauty that surrounded us kept our eyes and thoughts occupied.
As though I'd been called, my eyes were drawn to a rock pile, I'd glassed it several times with the Swarovski with no sightings, but just as I settled the rangefinder into the saddle of my tripod, I noticed a lonely figure stretched across the top of the pile. The Chuck alarm was sounded, and the team moved into place like clockwork. The camera was positioned, and I rested my SRS over the edge of the jagged cliff. I wrapped my arm through the sling, not to steady for the shot, but to insure that my prized and favorite rifle would not slip down and off the edge of the steep precipice. The angle was very steep, 77* according to my ACI, I lay there, sprawled over the edge, ready to take the shot. The 265yds between us and the furry tipped rock pile seemed much further since it was almost straight down. When I was cleared by the camera operator to fire, I let my lungs relax to an empty state, then leaned into the shot, steadied the reticle of my SS 5-20X50 on the target, and broke the trigger.
The 140 gr Barnes Match Burner found its mark, a little left of my intended POI, but well within the minute of chuck margin of error. His body flipped over the edge, and he slid down the smooth and sloped off side of the boulder he once reigned as king.
We moved further down the ridge line, and found another good shooting nest. Goathead1096 managed to drill another large chuck there, shooting his custom .308. Hoping for more spectacular terminal performance, he brought a bigger gun than his typical chuck-gun. The 178 A-max homed in on the stern torpedo tube, and continued right on through the boiler room of this, our latest victim. The impact was not as spectacular as we'd both hoped, clearly a kill shot, but not the acrobatic antics we are accustomed to with .308 family cartridges. Upon closer inspection however, it was evident that the A-max had evacuated all but the residue of entrails in this little guy. so we felt better about it then.
A beautiful day, was only made better by some successful chucking. Hope you all enjoyed the ride as much as we did living it.
I dont always vaporize Marmot's, but when I do, it's with a .260 remington. Stay thirsty for blood my friends.
Please enjoy this tasteful pic of a large chuck doing the airborne moonwalk:
The birds were singing, the mountain streams giving what was left of the melting snow, and then puttering out into the dry canyons and draws below. We took position on a cliff, overlooking a beautiful valley some 600yds wide. The bottom was filled with massive granite boulder's that once upon a time, fell from the very cliffs we stood upon. Broken and gnarled pine trees growing upward in all directions, as well as aspens lay on their side, from winter's avalanches but growing still. We scanned the rocks, all their nooks and crannies, looking for that little brown and yellow patch of fur that we love to see so much. Time passed, but none of us complained, the beauty that surrounded us kept our eyes and thoughts occupied.
As though I'd been called, my eyes were drawn to a rock pile, I'd glassed it several times with the Swarovski with no sightings, but just as I settled the rangefinder into the saddle of my tripod, I noticed a lonely figure stretched across the top of the pile. The Chuck alarm was sounded, and the team moved into place like clockwork. The camera was positioned, and I rested my SRS over the edge of the jagged cliff. I wrapped my arm through the sling, not to steady for the shot, but to insure that my prized and favorite rifle would not slip down and off the edge of the steep precipice. The angle was very steep, 77* according to my ACI, I lay there, sprawled over the edge, ready to take the shot. The 265yds between us and the furry tipped rock pile seemed much further since it was almost straight down. When I was cleared by the camera operator to fire, I let my lungs relax to an empty state, then leaned into the shot, steadied the reticle of my SS 5-20X50 on the target, and broke the trigger.
The 140 gr Barnes Match Burner found its mark, a little left of my intended POI, but well within the minute of chuck margin of error. His body flipped over the edge, and he slid down the smooth and sloped off side of the boulder he once reigned as king.
We moved further down the ridge line, and found another good shooting nest. Goathead1096 managed to drill another large chuck there, shooting his custom .308. Hoping for more spectacular terminal performance, he brought a bigger gun than his typical chuck-gun. The 178 A-max homed in on the stern torpedo tube, and continued right on through the boiler room of this, our latest victim. The impact was not as spectacular as we'd both hoped, clearly a kill shot, but not the acrobatic antics we are accustomed to with .308 family cartridges. Upon closer inspection however, it was evident that the A-max had evacuated all but the residue of entrails in this little guy. so we felt better about it then.
A beautiful day, was only made better by some successful chucking. Hope you all enjoyed the ride as much as we did living it.
I dont always vaporize Marmot's, but when I do, it's with a .260 remington. Stay thirsty for blood my friends.
Please enjoy this tasteful pic of a large chuck doing the airborne moonwalk:
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I took my kids camping yesterday, we had originally planned to go up to the spot I plan to elk hunt this year. But schedules interfered and things wouldn't work out, so I decided to take the kids camping up here above the house. No elk to be scouted, but there are chucks!
We did some riding, and some glassing last night, but no chucks were seen. The summer heat I believe has them a little more scarce, and not spending much time at their stony perch's. Only in the early morning hours when the mountain air is still crisp and thick do these little fellas come out to watch the sunrise.
My campspot, though not ideal, did give me the advantage of being in walking distance from some chucky valleys. So first thing this morning, me and the kids (9 and 6) went for a stroll. We sat upon a ridge line that overlooked a valley with beaver-ponds and pine trees, I wasted no time scouring the many different rock piles. I spotted something that looked extra chuckery, so I grabbed my rifle and looked through the scope. At 480yds I spied four chucks, crammed together on the edge of a rock, enjoying their morning sun. I scrambled to get my camera and gun into position, but after just a few seconds, they had moved about. They were in high gear, waddling around through the rocks and bushes, grazing I'm sure. I would catch a glimpse of them now and again through the waist high grass and shrubs, and they would tease me by jumping up on a rock, just long enough to steady on them, then back into the green sea of vegetation they'd jump. Finally one gave me a good shot, wandering out into a trail, cleared of any obstructions. I had my dope dialed for 480yds, and had accounted for the steep angle down into the valley. I fired a shot, and missed him by inches. He disappeared in a cloud of dust, the dry powdery soil of the trail covering him. He then shot out the cloud of dust, like a furry little rocket, leaving a dust trail behind him as he headed for cover. I tried, and tried, but I couldn't bring one of the little buggers down, they were too busy running around. Finally my patience waned, and the kids and I decided we'd go down into the valley to get a better shooting position. After riding down in there on the four-wheeler, we stopped plenty far enough away to not spook them, and we began a stalk. It felt to me like we were stalking something big, and majestic, with keen eyes and a very good defensive plan. But it was really just me trying to keep my daughter from stomping, and helping my son understand the importance of a quiet, and vigilant advance. Keeping his eyes ahead, watching where you step, keeping his gun pointed in a safe direction always. We moved slowly along the trail, keeping our eyes moving along the rock piles ahead. We came upon my bullet hole in the trail, so we knew we were close. As quietly as one can with a nine year old anxious to shoot boy, and a tea spooned bladder six year old diva, we moved to a high grassy point with some fallen pines, that would both conceal us, and give us a good position to engage the rock pile where the original four chucks were spotted.
No sooner had we crested the hilltop, than I looked at the rock pile, and saw the brown and tan colors of marmotry sitting at attention. A quick peak through the Swarofsky confirmed the distance, 120 yards. Not far at all for us big fellers, but CBM Jr shoots a Cricket EX17HMR. I knew it could be done, but it was going to have to be a good shot. I've seen far too many chucks make it down their hole with two foot a guts draggin behind em. They are tuff little animals, and deserve a vital shot same as any deer. I was explaining to Jr about the complicity of his situation, and the need to put the shot in, on, or near the mutha-f@ckin brain-stem, in order to subdue and recover this handsome chuck without a drilling rig or a backhoe. He was setup, rifle steadied on an old fallen pine tree, I whispered cunning counsel over his shoulder, you know, steady, easy does it, that kind a shit.
I had my video camera in hand, ready to start rolling when I got the command from the shooter.
Well, nature threw us a hell of a curve ball, as the two of us hunkered over the dead tree, whispering. Not more than ten feet to my 10 o'clock, my eye caught movement. My heart stopped as I saw the little eyes of a chuck, climb his way to the top of a rock, right in front of us. So close, I was afraid to breathe, or speak, for fear of spookin the little guy. I tapped my son's shoulder, and whispered as quiet as a dead man. I told him to slow as possible, swing his rifle left, and bring it on the new target. Our quiet stalk had paid off, we had gotten to within feet of another chucks burrow without alerting anyone.
CBM Jr kept his cool, he responded with perfect precision. Steadily moving his little rifle into the new direction, I backed off his 3-9 from 7 down to 3, because at 10ft, he was having trouble seeing more than hair. Just as I figured it was squeeze time, a second chuck, with curiosity rivaling any cat, rose into view behind the first. I knew we had seconds before they scattered, they had us busted dead rights. I pressed the record button on the camera as the second chuck rose to his feet, and whistled the alarm.
Jr broke the trigger and chuck went flying, he'd shot the first chuck and his little .17 pummeled the furry little critter. The other one disappeared just as fast, and it was over just like that.
Jr and I high fived, and hugged. He had tried so many times to get into a firing position, but they were always too far away, or never gave him enough time to get on it. Well today he finally sealed the deal. He said; "Now I'm a Major League Chucker too Dad!" Hahahahahaha we laughed it up for a moment, and then recovered my son's prize. Obviously a young one, and probably the only reason he stuck around long enough to get "seventeened". But that didnt matter to us, we were successful, and had a chuck in hand to show. I couldn't get that chuck away from him for a while, but he finally yielded for some pictures, taken by his little sister.
Took this shot with my phone, right before the shot broke:
We shot some other stuff too, plenty of ground squirrels running around when the chucks are all sacked out:
I got some awesome frame by frame pics of my .260 making friends with a big chubby ground squirrel:
We did some riding, and some glassing last night, but no chucks were seen. The summer heat I believe has them a little more scarce, and not spending much time at their stony perch's. Only in the early morning hours when the mountain air is still crisp and thick do these little fellas come out to watch the sunrise.
My campspot, though not ideal, did give me the advantage of being in walking distance from some chucky valleys. So first thing this morning, me and the kids (9 and 6) went for a stroll. We sat upon a ridge line that overlooked a valley with beaver-ponds and pine trees, I wasted no time scouring the many different rock piles. I spotted something that looked extra chuckery, so I grabbed my rifle and looked through the scope. At 480yds I spied four chucks, crammed together on the edge of a rock, enjoying their morning sun. I scrambled to get my camera and gun into position, but after just a few seconds, they had moved about. They were in high gear, waddling around through the rocks and bushes, grazing I'm sure. I would catch a glimpse of them now and again through the waist high grass and shrubs, and they would tease me by jumping up on a rock, just long enough to steady on them, then back into the green sea of vegetation they'd jump. Finally one gave me a good shot, wandering out into a trail, cleared of any obstructions. I had my dope dialed for 480yds, and had accounted for the steep angle down into the valley. I fired a shot, and missed him by inches. He disappeared in a cloud of dust, the dry powdery soil of the trail covering him. He then shot out the cloud of dust, like a furry little rocket, leaving a dust trail behind him as he headed for cover. I tried, and tried, but I couldn't bring one of the little buggers down, they were too busy running around. Finally my patience waned, and the kids and I decided we'd go down into the valley to get a better shooting position. After riding down in there on the four-wheeler, we stopped plenty far enough away to not spook them, and we began a stalk. It felt to me like we were stalking something big, and majestic, with keen eyes and a very good defensive plan. But it was really just me trying to keep my daughter from stomping, and helping my son understand the importance of a quiet, and vigilant advance. Keeping his eyes ahead, watching where you step, keeping his gun pointed in a safe direction always. We moved slowly along the trail, keeping our eyes moving along the rock piles ahead. We came upon my bullet hole in the trail, so we knew we were close. As quietly as one can with a nine year old anxious to shoot boy, and a tea spooned bladder six year old diva, we moved to a high grassy point with some fallen pines, that would both conceal us, and give us a good position to engage the rock pile where the original four chucks were spotted.
No sooner had we crested the hilltop, than I looked at the rock pile, and saw the brown and tan colors of marmotry sitting at attention. A quick peak through the Swarofsky confirmed the distance, 120 yards. Not far at all for us big fellers, but CBM Jr shoots a Cricket EX17HMR. I knew it could be done, but it was going to have to be a good shot. I've seen far too many chucks make it down their hole with two foot a guts draggin behind em. They are tuff little animals, and deserve a vital shot same as any deer. I was explaining to Jr about the complicity of his situation, and the need to put the shot in, on, or near the mutha-f@ckin brain-stem, in order to subdue and recover this handsome chuck without a drilling rig or a backhoe. He was setup, rifle steadied on an old fallen pine tree, I whispered cunning counsel over his shoulder, you know, steady, easy does it, that kind a shit.
I had my video camera in hand, ready to start rolling when I got the command from the shooter.
Well, nature threw us a hell of a curve ball, as the two of us hunkered over the dead tree, whispering. Not more than ten feet to my 10 o'clock, my eye caught movement. My heart stopped as I saw the little eyes of a chuck, climb his way to the top of a rock, right in front of us. So close, I was afraid to breathe, or speak, for fear of spookin the little guy. I tapped my son's shoulder, and whispered as quiet as a dead man. I told him to slow as possible, swing his rifle left, and bring it on the new target. Our quiet stalk had paid off, we had gotten to within feet of another chucks burrow without alerting anyone.
CBM Jr kept his cool, he responded with perfect precision. Steadily moving his little rifle into the new direction, I backed off his 3-9 from 7 down to 3, because at 10ft, he was having trouble seeing more than hair. Just as I figured it was squeeze time, a second chuck, with curiosity rivaling any cat, rose into view behind the first. I knew we had seconds before they scattered, they had us busted dead rights. I pressed the record button on the camera as the second chuck rose to his feet, and whistled the alarm.
Jr broke the trigger and chuck went flying, he'd shot the first chuck and his little .17 pummeled the furry little critter. The other one disappeared just as fast, and it was over just like that.
Jr and I high fived, and hugged. He had tried so many times to get into a firing position, but they were always too far away, or never gave him enough time to get on it. Well today he finally sealed the deal. He said; "Now I'm a Major League Chucker too Dad!" Hahahahahaha we laughed it up for a moment, and then recovered my son's prize. Obviously a young one, and probably the only reason he stuck around long enough to get "seventeened". But that didnt matter to us, we were successful, and had a chuck in hand to show. I couldn't get that chuck away from him for a while, but he finally yielded for some pictures, taken by his little sister.
Took this shot with my phone, right before the shot broke:
We shot some other stuff too, plenty of ground squirrels running around when the chucks are all sacked out:
I got some awesome frame by frame pics of my .260 making friends with a big chubby ground squirrel:
I really enjoy this thread. Thanks for taking the time to post all this.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of all the public land you have access to, and weather that actually allows you to enjoy it. Here in South Alabama, everything is private owned, and it is enjoyable to be outside about four weeks per year. I would kill to be able to go tent camping in July without sleeping in a puddle of sweat.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of all the public land you have access to, and weather that actually allows you to enjoy it. Here in South Alabama, everything is private owned, and it is enjoyable to be outside about four weeks per year. I would kill to be able to go tent camping in July without sleeping in a puddle of sweat.
Ya, you really can't beat Utah for public land. Coldbore and myself are about 10 minutes from 1000 yard + shooting, and we aren't even close to living rural.
I've had two unbelievable days shooting whistle pigs back home in Pa. Mid 70's both nights a bit breezy on Thursday, but dead calm on Friday. 2 for 3 Thursday and 7 for 7 on Friday, but only able to recover 4 carcasses. I'm running my CZ 452 22LR with Silencerco Sparrow and Vortex Viper 6.5-20x. Shots have range from 35yds to 195yds (58, 35, 74, 123, 75, 109, 75, 119, 195). I've been doing spot and stalk using the hay bales as cover. It's been chucking Nirvana!!
This thread is full of awesome!!!! Here in south Louisiana we don't have anything like this. Thanks for posting pics with the stories!!!!
And in response to that super chuckery cluster of photos, I submit to you gentlemen, Major League Chucker's 3. The third installment in the MLC franchise of films 
D) Starring Myself, Goathead1096, and CBM Jr. Watch for CBM Jr's 9yd center punch in there.
As always, enjoy in 1080p for the full effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPvbN0MT924
D) Starring Myself, Goathead1096, and CBM Jr. Watch for CBM Jr's 9yd center punch in there.As always, enjoy in 1080p for the full effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPvbN0MT924
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NICE VID!!! Love the mountain-scape to shoot in, makes for a cool 'chuck safari!!!
Had a fun weekend with the 'chucks up at the farm. Fields had been cut in the last week or so, was able to get some fireforming done for the .22-243AI. Runnin' 75Amaxs with RL-22 to blow the case shoulders forward, and blow holes in a couple 'chucks...
Fireform load, and full house ICBM round, 75Amax @ 2.780"...
Keep after 'em, guys!
Had a fun weekend with the 'chucks up at the farm. Fields had been cut in the last week or so, was able to get some fireforming done for the .22-243AI. Runnin' 75Amaxs with RL-22 to blow the case shoulders forward, and blow holes in a couple 'chucks...
Fireform load, and full house ICBM round, 75Amax @ 2.780"...
Keep after 'em, guys!
Awesome video CBM! Good shooting by CBM Jr. Start them young and hopefully they will be a shooter and sportsman all their lives. I'm going to try and video some next week. What camera are you using out of curiosity?
Well the weather moved in late Saturday and we've had cooler temps and plenty of rain. We had a brief break this afternoon from ~3-5pm and I decided to take a walk on the Farm to see if anything was out. I popped the little guy first at 100yds along the fence line then found the big guy about an hour and 500yds later sitting on the edge of his hole.
Well the weather moved in late Saturday and we've had cooler temps and plenty of rain. We had a brief break this afternoon from ~3-5pm and I decided to take a walk on the Farm to see if anything was out. I popped the little guy first at 100yds along the fence line then found the big guy about an hour and 500yds later sitting on the edge of his hole.
Very nice, bunsen! And you're sniping them with a suppressed .22, cool stuff!
What ammo are you runnin'?
What ammo are you runnin'?
I'm running SK Jagd standard plus, which is just a straight 36gr lead bullet target ammo. I'm also using a laser range finder, and have great DOPE from 25-200yds. Although I try to close the distance to max 125yds whenever possible. I've got lots of hale bales for cover and do a lot of spot and stalk at this location.
I use a JVC Everio, it has been a surprisingly good little camera. It is quite simple, and not a lot of bells and whistles, but as you can see, it takes fantastic video, even 1,000 yds away.
A few of this week's kills. Thursday was another wack-a-pig night. They just kept popping up everywhere!
I was back in NC this weekend for the DMM and decided to bring the 6.5Creedmoor back to Pa to take out a few piggies I'd been seeing, but couldn't easily get to with the suppressed 22LR. We had some heavy rain in the past 24 hours and a late afternoon thunderstorm so most of the ground hogs didn't make an appearance until late evening. I got one with the 22 WMR that popped up behind my shooting position at 106yds then proceeded to perforate three at 325, 352, and 362 yds. I was only able to recover 3 of the 4 as the one at 325yds crawled back in his hole after being hit and doing the tail in the air I'm dead thing. The one hog was an old big 'un!
Excellent! That one on the right is a real honker!!!
Chalk one more up for the .22-243AI, the 75Amax at full tilt is nasty...
Chalk one more up for the .22-243AI, the 75Amax at full tilt is nasty...
Love the chuck hunting pictures. We used to do a lot of it in SW VA. Unfortunately, most of the places we hunted have now been turned into subdivisions for summer homes or horse sanctuaries.
Range Day
I like this thread! These little critters have moved into our range facility. They have brought new meaning to our range training days. They were both hit with 308 cal, 168 gr, Hornady A-Max rounds. Both shots were pretty close. The one hog was shot through the side at 135 yards. The other was even closer at about 75 yards. Quartering away shot. About split him in two halves. Lifted him up into the air and spun him sideways. This is the first wood chuck hunting we have done. We are all addicted now. All we need is a willing farmer to open up his property to us.
I like this thread! These little critters have moved into our range facility. They have brought new meaning to our range training days. They were both hit with 308 cal, 168 gr, Hornady A-Max rounds. Both shots were pretty close. The one hog was shot through the side at 135 yards. The other was even closer at about 75 yards. Quartering away shot. About split him in two halves. Lifted him up into the air and spun him sideways. This is the first wood chuck hunting we have done. We are all addicted now. All we need is a willing farmer to open up his property to us.
We've had some cooler but beautiful weather in in western Pa the last 48 hours and tonight was pretty good although a touch breezy at times. I took out two chucks with the 6.5 Creedmoor (352 and 245yds) and brought out the 6.5 SAUM for the last part of the evening (255yds). Let's just say the SAUM made some "ground chuck". The one at 352yds was another big 'un. I wish the local sport shot still had there biggest ground hog contest, as it would have been a contender!
6.5 SAUM plus Berger Target Hybrid equals "ground chuck"
6.5 SAUM plus Berger Target Hybrid equals "ground chuck"
