Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

Guess it's time for an electric fence to try and keep the deer out of my garden. But, the deer aren't the only critters getting a free meal.

While I was on my porch swing last evening, I saw no less than three cottontails enter the garden. Right before dusk, a ground hog made the mistake of trying to get in the garden. Unfortunately for him, I had one of my ARs close by. 5.56 at 100 yards makes quick work of those chubby little guys. I need to stake out the garden again this evening in case he has any friends in the area. I thought I had rid my property of ground hogs last year but they obviously have found their way back.

I usually get one groundhog a year in my garden. The one last year took a Barnes Varmit grenade at 42 yards. I noticed Wednesday there was a rabbit scoping things out in it. If he's in the front yard eating the wifes flowers thats one thing but in the garden he's gotta go.

I really miss living out in the country. I wonder how a Gamo Whisper VH air rifle would work on those pesky critters?. I would be a lot quieter than the AR

Vahunter wrote:I usually get one groundhog a year in my garden. The one last year took a Barnes Varmit grenade at 42 yards. I noticed Wednesday there was a rabbit scoping things out in it. If he's in the front yard eating the wifes flowers thats one thing but in the garden he's gotta go.

I've got a metric ton of rabbits on my property. I may have to thin the herd a little. I used to have a couple of foxes that would keep them in check but I haven't seen those guys in a good while. Guess maybe the 'yotes have moved them out.

OakRidgeStars wrote:I really miss living out in the country. I wonder how a Gamo Whisper VH air rifle would work on those pesky critters?. I would be a lot quieter than the AR

Yeah, it's certainly nice being in the country. I have one neighbor close by but he doesn't mind the gun fire. I try to be respectful and only shoot during reasonable hours and never rapid fire. The back of my property is a big knoll that provides a natural back stop. I can set up my shooting bench on my back patio and have about a 200 yard range to work with. I'd like to buy the property behind mine and be able to set up a 500+ yard range. It sure is nice walking out the back door to the shooting range!

Nathan wrote:It sure is nice walking out the back door to the shooting range!

Bah! Braggart!

OK, so what exactly is the law for county residence? Unfortunatly I live within town limits so there is no shooting out the back door for me UNLESS .......... Guess maybe I need to make nice with some outoftowners!

I believe each county has it's own laws concerning that. In this county there are none. Iv'e pulled the trigger out of my front door, back door and patio door. My range is 23 yards from my front porch.

My small garden is right close to my back deck so I keep a loaded 22 right next to the door. I don't have too many deer problems, I guess they are scared to get that close to the house, but the rabbits and crows are bad this year.

I don't know why there are so many rabbits this year, but I'm pretty sneaky, I can slide that door open and pop them off.

Nathan you can try something that I do at night, put an old portable radio in a plastic bag and put it in your garden. I try to get a talk radio station on that seems to work ok. The plastic bag is for water to keep the radio dry.

What I call the big garden I can't see from the house, but most of the stuff I plant in it is vine type plants that spread and I don't have much trouble with them. pumpkins, mellons , etc. Today I did plant 10 rows, 45 foot long of Hickory King, roasting corn, it should be ready in Sept. if the crows don't get it. I didn't do a standard row, I put them 36 inches apart.

I'm the same as Vahunter, there are no firearms laws here, I shoot from the house all the time, I think the only law in Campbell County is no shooting from the road, you have to be on the other side of the ditch.

Hey Nathan that radio might help with your deer problems, I know it works on rabbits.

Dragonfly wrote:OK, so what exactly is the law for county residence? Unfortunatly I live within town limits so there is no shooting out the back door for me UNLESS .......... Guess maybe I need to make nice with some outoftowners!

Maybe you've seen this already, maybe not, but check out the links below for some hunting regs in VA.

General: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... eneral.asp
Counties with special: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/re ... nances.pdf

General, if it's on your property, there isn't much to worry about. However, there are some things you should check on.

You can find more information on other regulations on that site as well.

Thanks. Based on that site, Nottoway follows state regs only.

Bob wrote:My small garden is right close to my back deck so I keep a loaded 22 right next to the door. I don't have too many deer problems, I guess they are scared to get that close to the house, but the rabbits and crows are bad this year.

I've got a 22wmr with 500 rounds just itching to be sent downrange

I hear ya but that 22 LR does everything I need to do. Thanks for the offer.

Hell you would more than likely get bored, I'm lucky if I fire more than one or two shots a week.

I don't like to wast ammo. When I shoot I expect to see something dead.

No problem. I'd give almost anything to be able to sit on my back porch, sip iced tea, n plink for fun.

zephyp wrote:No problem. I'd give almost anything to be able to sit on my back porch, sip iced tea, n plink for fun.

I'm gonna do that around noon. I have a friend on the way down from NOVA with a few of his new toys to try out, like a Sig556, Mini 30 and others. Obama has him so scared he's spent over 10K in the past few months on firearms.

Hope you guys have fun. And yes, I've also spent some serious cash too, but mainly on ammo and reloading supplies. My next buy is a shotgun since I don't have a decent one for defense. There still seems to be adequate ammo in my favorite 12ga 00 and 000.

Hope you folks had a good Memorial Day weekend. I did end up taking out a few rabbits... have to preserve my own food supply. I took the opportunity to scope my 10/22. It was almost too easy. CCI Stingers move out pretty good. 10/22 + Green Mountain bull barrel + 3x9-40 Nikon + CCI = not so many hoppers in my garden.