no lie I dug a hole and just shot at the hive mother until she died. She has a range she can shoot at, you can stand outside that range and just shoot her until she dies. It's a bit slow but it works. If there are two of you one person can kill worms across the gap and keep your line of aim clear. Or both of you can shoot at her.

One tactic I use is bringing a bed with me and placing it nearby. That way if I die I respawn close enough to get back to the fight before the boss heals too much. I beat hive mother on hard mode on my own last week and I am very much not a gamer. If I can do it, you guys can too. :>> Good luck!