Pennsylvania Game News - May 2011 - 8

The author’s rifles were custom built by champion benchrest shooter and gunsmith Clarence Hammond of Red Lion, PA (717244-7879). Determined to get just one more and after checking three different farms without a sighting, I stopped at one of my favorite, although more heavily shot-out, hayfields for one last try before lunch at home. After carefully glassing the field with my Zeiss 10x40 binoculars, I spotted one out eating. I quickly verified the distance with my Leica rangefinder to be 263 yards, which would be “smack-on” for my CHeetah. Getting prone and using my 45-year-old wooden shooting sticks, I settled the dot reticle on the groundhog’s shoulder. When everything looked good and steady, I applied pressure to the 2-ounce Jewell trigger and planted a 53-grain hollow point bullet into my 400th groundhog of the summer. I gave thanks and enjoyed the moment; but was, honestly, relieved to have accomplished my goal. After doing so much shooting that summer, and with more hunting days

left in September, I had to return to the reloading bench to replenish my ammo. One of my largest farms had all the soybeans harvested early, which opened up some more hunting opportunities. I was able to continue finding more groundhogs and ended the great summer of 2010 with a terrific evening hunt on September 29 with nine kills. This brought my 4-month summer’s total to 432 groundhogs; my best ever, and beyond all my expectations. It would be improper to end my story on statistics without acknowledging what made them all possible. Utmost thanks to God for granting me the health and longevity to enjoy my passion for nature and hunting. I have been blessed with a wonderful and supportive family who accept and understand my obsession for groundhog hunting. And thanks to all the farmers and other property owners who have trusted me and granted me permission and the privilege of hunting on their land. I have felt welcomed and truly blessed by all of you. By the way, what really made the summer special was the birth of my first grandchild, a beautiful baby girl, Rhea, born to my daughter, Rebekah, and her husband, Nathan, on July 11, 2010. Yes, oh what a summer. 

Trapper’s Tips… Firearms on the trapline:

By Dan Lynch

Many trappers carry a firearm with them to dispatch furbearers while on the trapline. By law this firearm must be a manually operated 22-caliber or smaller rimfire rifle or handgun during deer season and in Special Regulation Areas. There is no general restrictions on caliber of firearms to dispatch furbearers outside of deer seasons and Special Regulations Areas. Trappers under 12 may only use a manually operated 22-caliber or smaller rifle and only when accompanied by an adult. One safety tip here would be to carry these firearms unloaded until needed. Trappers work in some muddy, steep, dark and sometimes icy wet conditions that could lead to safety issues if they were also carrying a loaded firearm. Most of the animals trappers encounter will be solidly held in a trap when they arrive anyway.
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Pennsylvania Game News - May 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - May 2011