The last year that I had a veggie garden before this year, I had a ground hog eat all of my sweet potatoes. I was so mad, Then this spring, well late winter I noticed a ground hog jump in his hole (right near where my garden is) so I went and got my pistol, and a pail of cold water (it was only about 25 degrees out that day) I dumped the water down the hole and was gong to shot it as it came out. It jumped out and ran off and stood there and let me shot him. This year my sweet potatoes are doing great!
this picture was taken in June. Sweet potatoes picture from July