Information on working terriers, dogs, natural history, hunting, and the environment, with occasional political commentary as I see fit. This web log is associated with the Terrierman.com web site.
They weigh 10-15 pounds as adults, losing about a third of their weight during winter hiberation. This is about typical for this time of year -- not a large one, for sure.
Presentation is important. Groundhogs, as you know have indistinct bodies, short legs, no neck, are a drab brown, with almost no ears and bullet shaped heads. It's hard for humans to make sense of them visually when they are lying on the ground tucked under like a shot rabbit. The best way to show their true size is to hang them as we do with a rabbit. If you do that, gravity stretches the body to its true length, and the body is silhouetted against green or sky. Now we see the animal as we see rabbits and fox when shot, and the mind can compare. Of course, for me, a shot like this is a function of the fact that I so often dig alone. Who else is gonig to hold the criter except the shovel? The dogs, of course, are no damn help at all after a dig ;) I do not think any groundhog I have ever dug has cleared much beyond 15 pounds or so. Of course, most of the "giant" red fox in my yard and those I have dug in the field are the same size or smaller. A fox that looks as big as a coyote in a photograph may be all of 12 or 13 pounds on a scale. Nothing keeps you honest like a tape measure and a scale.
True that, there is saying over here in the Netherlands: "Meten is Weten" which translates to "Measuring is Knowing".
I know very little about hunting, and nothing about terrier work. Do the dogs kill the hog or do you dig the dog out while its holding the critter and kill it.
9 comments:
Hi,
is this a typical size? how much did this one weigh?
They weigh 10-15 pounds as adults, losing about a third of their weight during winter hiberation. This is about typical for this time of year -- not a large one, for sure.
P
ok looks whole lot bigger then 15 pounds to me. How much do your dogs weigh?
(btw, judging from the photos, they look fit for a long season ;)
One dog is 10 pounds and the 12 pounds. They are both running a little fat at the moment.
P.
Might be the picture - but this looked like a big pig to me as well. Always good to see pictures of you guys out in the field.
D.
Presentation is important. Groundhogs, as you know have indistinct bodies, short legs, no neck, are a drab brown, with almost no ears and bullet shaped heads. It's hard for humans to make sense of them visually when they are lying on the ground tucked under like a shot rabbit. The best way to show their true size is to hang them as we do with a rabbit. If you do that, gravity stretches the body to its true length, and the body is silhouetted against green or sky. Now we see the animal as we see rabbits and fox when shot, and the mind can compare. Of course, for me, a shot like this is a function of the fact that I so often dig alone. Who else is gonig to hold the criter except the shovel? The dogs, of course, are no damn help at all after a dig ;) I do not think any groundhog I have ever dug has cleared much beyond 15 pounds or so. Of course, most of the "giant" red fox in my yard and those I have dug in the field are the same size or smaller. A fox that looks as big as a coyote in a photograph may be all of 12 or 13 pounds on a scale. Nothing keeps you honest like a tape measure and a scale.
Patrick
True that, there is saying over here in the Netherlands: "Meten is Weten" which translates to "Measuring is Knowing".
I know very little about hunting, and nothing about terrier work. Do the dogs kill the hog or do you dig the dog out while its holding the critter and kill it.
The dogs locate and I dispatch (or kill if you prefer). Union rules. See the main web site for mechanics of terrier work :: www.terrierman.com
P
Cheers ill take a look.
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