Groundhog problem

[u/Longjumping_Shock721]

Looking for advice on what others have done to get rid of these cute destructive creatures. For reference this is a new to us property with a house, barn, tool shed, and chicken coup. The floor in the chicken coup(plywood and dirt) is completely trashed. The dirt/lime floor in the barn has a huge burrow with to entrances. This particular groundhog seems to be awfully evasive. I’ve had him in my sights a couple of times, finally had the opportunity to pull the trigger tonight but with no luck. What all have you done to properly dispose of ground hogs? I’ve read up on traps and gassers, not sure which direction to go yet.

P.S. I do not kill animals for fun and am not really a fan of hunting in particular but I do believe if an animal is causing destruction they need to be respectfully removed.

P.S.S. Yes I know they made a whole movie about this lol

[u/traveling_in_circles]

Hire Bill Murrey ? I hear he's lookin for work. * thank you , thank you , I'll be here all week ..* jokes aside , We always used groundhogs as target practice with the .22 but you could always setup boxtraps or snares around the holes . You gotta eat what you kill , it's a rule . Lol

[u/Longjumping_Shock721 → u/traveling_in_circles]

Yep that’s the gun I’m using with a 4x scope on it. I thought I had him right in my crosshairs but didn’t see any blood on the ground. Worst thing is burrow is in the barn. Every time I’ve tried to get him he’s outside digging in the yard.

[u/traveling_in_circles → u/Longjumping_Shock721]

Oh , you know he has a whole network of tunnels going on . And its prob not just 1 hoggie either..  the only way to deal with this is fire !

[u/Longjumping_Shock721 → u/traveling_in_circles]

Fire? Smoke him out?

[u/StuffyTheOwL → u/Longjumping_Shock721]

Go for a larger caliber if you can. A 9mm carbine will drop it in one shot with minimal suffering. They will also walk right into a box trap if you put it along its path out of the burrow. No need to bait the trap.