Groundhogs. These rodents that look like giant squirrels can be devastating in your garden. Controlling them using air rifles is a feasible option many people are turning to. But, will an air rifle kill a groundhog?
As a whole, an air rifle will kill a groundhog if you took a well-placed shot in the side of the head or chest area. To be specific on the caliber size, a .22 caliber would be your minimum choice given you may need over 25 ft./lbs. of energy to kill it. Good heavy hunting pellets are a must-have.
It’s not easy to kill a groundhog clean with a low-powered air rifle. There is no room for misplacing the shot or else the animal will walk back into its hole with festering wounds as you gaze.
If you want to know much more about this topic, let’s dive further and you will definitely find out some interesting stuff.
Will an Air Rifle Kill a Groundhog?
The prospect of killing a groundhog with an air rifle is not a bad idea. However, groundhogs can be a bit tough to crack.
You want to make sure that you’ve made enough efforts as far as having the right air rifle in place can go. Not all air rifles have the stopping power to drop these farm pests in a clean, humane manner.
Some people think that groundhogs can be killed by the same air rifle caliber you use for smaller pests like squirrels and co. That’s not far from the truth but groundhogs may not fall for low-powered caliber air rifles.
They are slightly larger than most small game. In other words, they could easily be classified as medium-sized.
What this means is that you need a proper air rifle that comes with sufficient power and velocity. Looking at that, it means you want a gun that can produce between 25-30 foot-pounds of muzzle energy if you expect to get a clean kill.
The other thing is the kind of pellets you need. Avoid the lightweight pellets that move with lightning speed but cannot impose any serious damage. Look for heavier hollowpoint-style pellets that carry a lot of energy downrange.
In addition, your marksmanship skill must come into play when giving a shot. If you don’t feel comfortable leading to a badly taken shot, you will definitely hit in the wrong area. So aim carefully before firing.
Groundhogs are really slow in their movements. So, in case you miss your first shot, you have a chance to fire a follow-up shot, then even another depending on how far away it is from its hole.
If you are not a good shot, try to get as close to it as possible. Your chances of hitting the pellet exactly where it’s supposed to go are higher with a shorter range.
Is It Legal to Shoot a Groundhog?
Generally, groundhogs are protected by law in the United States and other parts of the world. But what happens if they become a serious nuisance and you want to get rid of them on your property?
Is it legal to shoot a groundhog? Or do you need a hunting license in order to shoot groundhogs?
If the groundhogs are becoming a real thorn in your flesh, digging up your home’s foundation, or making up ankle-twisting holes in your yard, you are permitted to shoot them. Only but, you need to find out with your local authorities what the law states about discharging an air rifle in that area.
Just make sure that you are not causing a disruption in the neighborhood by shooting your air rifle. If the pellets happen to misfire into your neighbor’s property, you may face some serious problems with the law.
You need to kill the groundhog before it escapes with injuries and die on your neighbor’s property. That can also be a real issue there when they decide to call the police over the matter.
Can a .177 Pellet Gun Kill a Groundhog?
Among the most lethal ways of killing a groundhog is shooting with an air rifle. There are several pellet gun calibers on the market; the lowest caliber being a .177 and the largest being .50.
Can a .177 pellet gun kill a groundhog? Generally, a .177 pellet gun is not your perfect hunting tool for groundhogs because it doesn’t have enough muzzle energy for a clean instant kill.
Only for the experts giving their targets a flawless aim will down a groundhog from close range using heavier pellets on a .177 caliber pellet gun. Usually, the head is targeted if you would ever stand a chance of knocking it down. Perhaps you may try the Gamo Wildcat Whisper Air Rifle 
(View on Amazon) that packs some interesting capability if used well.
Nevertheless, under ordinary circumstances, it’s not easy to hit and kill a groundhog with a shot from a .177 pellet gun. First, the pellet gun doesn’t have the power to kill. And second, its pellets are extremely light to wield serious damage on a tough-headed groundhog.
What Air Rifle Will Kill a Groundhog?
The thick-skinned giant squirrel is not the routine small pest you can take out using a simple air rifle. So, no comfort in a .177 caliber air rifle that is not going to generate at least 25 foot-pounds of energy.
As noted earlier, about 25-30 foot-pounds of muzzle energy are needed to have the groundhog killed. To that effect, you need at minimum a .22 air rifle for hunting this pest.
Even so, shot placement still matters a great deal. Having a powerful air rifle is just not enough, if your marksmanship skill is not top-notch, you will end up missing the target altogether.
In that regard, this Crosman air rifle (View on Amazon) in .22 caliber is your perfect place to start hunting groundhogs. This is not just about its excruciating power but also the near-perfect accuracy you get thanks to the high-quality 4x magnification scope.
Crosman air rifle is a single-shot break barrel that offers plenty of awesome features for the shooter. You will love the timeless classic wooden stock that not only improves looks but also comes in as a highly ergonomic stock for your comfortable hold and handling.
Where to Shoot a Groundhog with a 22 Pellet Gun?
The objective of shooting a groundhog is very clear – you shoot to kill. Unfortunately, that’s not what always happens most of the time.
So, for you to shoot to kill, where you send the pellet is a serious point to consider. You may have the right pellet gun like the .22 caliber but still, miss out on the target or hit the animal although in the wrong spot.
When you are hunting groundhog, you need to ensure your aim is in the head or lung/chest area. Once the pellet penetrates the head or lungs, you can be guaranteed it will fall dead in an instant in what we would call a clean kill.
In the event the shot miscues to hit the abdomen or elsewhere, there’s limited opportunity to have it down. It will run off with the wounds and probably succumb to them after it’s infected. The reason why you must know where to shoot is to avoid scenarios where you are making the animal experience a painful death.
With every jurisdiction having its by-laws, it’s important to seek a permit if you know your neighborhood won’t be happy with your groundhog hunting activity in the backyard. You need to stay on the side of the law always.
Which is Better: .25 Vs .22 for Groundhogs?
The need for an air rifle to use for clearing groundhogs is a common option for most homeowners. While there are a dozen ways to eliminate these pests, it seems air rifles are becoming serious favorites.
Most often than not, a lot of people ask which is better between a .25 vs .22 air rifle for groundhogs? Both air rifle calibers are great choices. They are powerful to take out groundhogs as long as the shooter takes up their responsibility of proper shot placement well.
The .22 caliber such as this Hatsan 125 Vortex air rifle (View on Amazon) will kill a groundhog but you need to have taken your shot without any room for error. As for a .25 air rifle, one well-taken shot with a gun like Benjamin Trail NP XL air rifle (View on Amazon) in the head or chest will send the groundhog down.
Most .25 caliber air rifles produce over 30 foot-pounds of muzzle energy on average. Compared to the 20-25 foot-pounds you get from .22 air rifle; these herbivores would crumble more easily for the .25 air rifle.
However, take note that both air rifle calibers offer a clean humane kill. The only difference is that one caliber comes as a more lethal option than another. (Also read: Which is Better: .22 or .177 Air Rifle?)
Final Thoughts: Will an Air Rifle Kill a Groundhog?
Generally, an air rifle will kill a groundhog if it’s the right caliber size and the shooter aims the shot in the right kill zone area. If well hit in the head or chest/lung area, a groundhog will drop dead.
There are low-powered air rifles like the .177 calibers that require an expertly taken shot from close range to knock down a groundhog. They are not ideal choices if your aim is to have a clean kill.
