Evening...it's been an interesting day. This afternoon while G'nad was gone to a National Wild Turkey Federation youth event with the 2 oldest kids, I took thenewboy out with me (he was in the stroller) to check for eggs and water the chickens. I notice the guineas up in the lot chasing something. So, I park the stroller and run up to see what it is. Now, it's running from me and the guineas. It goes up a tree (about 22 feet) and is looking at me...I'm thinking, "where is my gun?"... I've got a .357, but I didn't want to use that. So I grabbed g'nad's .22 Colt Challenger, but I brought along the .357 just in case it came after me. Long story short, it was still up the tree when I got back, and I shot it 3 times before it fell, then I pumped 2 more into it when it hit the ground. It wasn't moving, but I wasn't taking any chances...and it looked like a ground hog to me.
When g'nad got home, I showed him my handy work, and he said it was a groundhog... I had thought that was what it was, but I've never heard of a groundhog climbing a tree, and neither had g'nad. But it was a groundhog, and it was up a tree... the operative word here being "was"... I was surprised it was still there when I got back.
I know this isn't as dramatic as impailing or gassing a varmint, but it wasn't too messy and much easier than pulling out the mower...maybe next time we'll try it with the brush hawg.
winmag: as for the Colt Challenger, G'nad's uncle left it to him. He has the box and original mag and cleaning kit.