Got another woodchuck the hard way!

[Gaffer]

The things that happen when you don't think them through. I had a woodchuck living under my tool shed and decided to try and trap him. Put a trap where he entered and left and made the mistake of allowing too much chain and he pulled the trap way under the shed and I could not pull him out. He apparently moved enough dirt between himself and the outside that I could not pull him through it. Had to clean out that portion of the shed floor, saw a square between the floor 2 x 8's and then shoot him with my Contender .17HMR. Made for an interesting afternoon and taught me to leave a short chain the next time. Sheesh!

 

[gman51]

Don't underestimate the intelligence of wild critters. Good thing you got it out before it died under there and started stinking.

 

[Alpo]

Huh. Maybe Florida's, "leg holds are illegal, got to use a live trap" law ain't such a bad idea. I would like to see your woodchuck drag a live trap underneath the shed.

 

[Onomea]

Mano a chucko! Score one for the Gaffer!

(At least he wasn’t under your kitchen floor.)

 

[ladder13]

Whatever it takes to remove vermin.

 

[Warren Sear]

Poor woodchuck. That would be a hell of a way to die.

 

[Rudi]

Sorry, but how much wood did he chuck??

 

[Gundalow]

Rodent Control K-9 Style

Chance is a good candidate for “sensitivity training” when it comes to coexisting with rodents/vermin. Below photo shows the results of one of his encounters with a fairly large woodchuck, which he dispatched in well under a New York minute.

He has learned how to kill skunks without getting sprayed. His first skunk got him in the face, after which he modified his assault tactics. The skunks he has killed were likely rabid, based on their behavior. One bit him, which really got him annoyed, and resulted in a trip to the vet for a pre-cautionary rabies booster shot.

While the skunks get buried, Chance enjoys carrying the dead woodchucks during the remainder of our morning walk, sort of like showing off his trophy. However, as NH is being infested with folks from states such as Massachusetts and NJ, I try to avoid encountering them while Chance has a trophy, as they would likely view me and my pal as a threat to either them or their ankle biter, and complain to the local animal control officer or police. (Fortunately, most NH folks still view rodents as vermin and are impressed with Chance’s skill.)

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

As a kid of about 10 and my brother was about 15 we had the dogs after a ground hog that had burrowed between layers of sandstone. He could go back or left or right but not up or down. It took our 2 dogs 3 hours of digging to finally pull the groundhog out in the open and for the dogs to then finish it off. The dogs acted like it was just another day for fun!

Ivan

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I was gonna ask if you ate it.....but on second thought, the adrenaline rush of being trapped under a shed for hours in a leg hold trap would probably make it taste like merde. We have te same issue with armadillos down here. Harmless but they can destroy footings and foundations of sheds/houses not to mention what they can do to a lawn

 

[dockmurgw]

Anonymity is a wonderful thing. I know a couple Maine Game Wardens, and they would be drooling over this one.

 

[Wise_A]

My poodles caught a woodchuck once. Given that they weigh 14 and 7 pounds, they had not the slightest idea how to kill it. Got it flipped over, but found its neck was too big to snap (not like the bunnies at all). They got pulled off, more worried about the thing injuring them.

Idiot woodchuck went back to living under the shed, in the fenced-in yard.

 

[Minorcan]

Sorry, but how much wood did he chuck??

Sounds like he chucked part of a shed floor ... LOL

 

[Texas Star]

I was gonna ask if you ate it.....but on second thought, the adrenaline rush of being trapped under a shed for hours in a leg hold trap would probably make it taste like merde. We have te same issue with armadillos down here. Harmless but they can destroy footings and foundations of sheds/houses not to mention what they can do to a lawn

And they may carry leprosy! I'd shoot them, but not handle them.

 

[gman51]

My little dog has caught and killed several moles. I see her digging and the dirt flying. She gets so deep sometimes I can barely see her head.
I can't hardly stick a pick into this hard clay but she just digs it out like it was sand.

 

[Chubbs103]

Anonymity is a wonderful thing. I know a couple Maine Game Wardens, and they would be drooling over this one.

Maine Revised Statutes
Title 12: CONSERVATION
Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
Subpart 4: FISH AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 921: WILDLIFE CAUSING DAMAGE OR NUISANCE

I'm not a Game Warden and could be completely wrong, but this tells me there might not be as much drooling as you think.

 

[dockmurgw]

Maine Revised Statutes
Title 12: CONSERVATION
Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
Subpart 4: FISH AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 921: WILDLIFE CAUSING DAMAGE OR NUISANCE

I'm not a Game Warden and could be completely wrong, but this tells me there might not be as much drooling as you think.

Did you read it? It only apples to the following:
Attacking domestic animals or destroying property (the only property destroyed was by the OP)
Damage to crops or orchards
Damage to motor vehicles
It then list's specific animals, which woodchucks are not listed, which would mean they would be controlled by legal means during an open season, which would not include leg hold traps in June.
Maine takes their F&W laws VERRRY seriously. And yup, they would be drooling.

 

[Chubbs103]

I did read it:

"Except as provided in sections 12402 and 12404, a person may lawfully kill, or cause to be killed, any wild animal or wild turkey, night or day, found in the act of attacking, worrying or wounding that person's domestic animals or domestic birds or destroying that person's property."

Seems woodchucks would be considered "any wild animal." The specific animals listed in 12404 provide additional regulation for those animals listed (that's the except as provided part). Maine trapping regulations refer you back here for trapping during the closed season. I've seen woodchucks cause plenty of damage. I'm not doubting the OPs reasoning for controlling a nuisance animal on his own property.

Edited to add:
Listed for woodchuck in Maine 2019-2020 Hunting Seasons - "No closed season for hunting."

 

[Recusant]

Anonymity is a wonderful thing. I know a couple Maine Game Wardens, and they would be drooling over this one.

Where are groundhogs protected?? In Virginia a person can shoot groundhogs 7 days a week all year long. But copperheads and rattle snakes are protected. Go figure

 

[squidsix]

If you decide to cook Woodchuck (and I eat them from time to time) be sure to remove the glands under the arms. I believe it is four per side and they are some horrible skunky if not removed.
Chucks have the same diet as rabbits. Subsequently, they taste quite similar, but are a lot more meat per critter.