Decided to head out this afternoon to see if I could find some whistle pigs with a death wish at a place that has been very productive in the past. Talked to the landowner and he said he had some under a couple of buildings so I set up in the shade and watched those for a while but nothing moved. But I did catch a glimpse of one with my binos on a kudzu bank about 300 yds away. I knew there was 3 or 4 dens on the bank but the weeds and kudzu made it hard to see so I moved to another shady spot about 100 yds from the bank and hoped I could see well enough if/when they came out.
I had been there about 20 minutes when the first one showed among the grass. Already had the tripod set up, got the target in the scope and let the .204 eat. I could hear the distinctive plop of the hit on the other end. Whet up to check it out and it was mama. Removed her from the bank and headed back to wait for the youngins to show up. Took about 30 minutes for the first little one to show up. Bang, plop! A few minutes later, #2 little one. Bang, plop! 3 shots, 3 whistle pigs out of commission.
What happened next made me do a double take as I had never seen it before....2 little ones appeared at one of the dens at the same time. Double check...yep, 2 of them. They were not lined up but I started figuring if I hit the one in front just right, I might get the 2nd one as collateral damage. Those 32 grain Hornady Vmax can make a mess of smaller targets as they explode on impact. At the shot, the plop was unmistakable. One of them fell down the bank and was hidden in the kudzu and it appeared the other one went straight down but I could not see it for the vegetation. One for sure, maybe 2. I will take it.
Waited a while longer and another one pops up at another den. Bang, plop! Waited another half hour and nothing else moved so I headed to the bank to check out the carnage. Got to the hole with the double first and retrieved the one that tumbled down in the kudzu. Could not see the second one but there was blood down the hole. Went ahead an recovered the others and they set out to find a green brier. Finally found one I thought might work and went fishing in the den hole. After a couple of failed attempts, I managed to get it tangled and pulled out the collateral damage. Yep, I had killed 2 with one shot! Might not ever get to do that again so I will take it!
I piled the 5 young ones up with mama for a family photo before heading back to the truck.
I eased back toward the back corner of the property and spotted another young one out in the open before it spotted me. Bang, plop!
Six shots and seven dead whistle pigs! Not a bad afternoon!
Mama taking a dirt nap.
posted image
And then posing with the little ones.
upload gif from url
And #7 by its lonesome.
picture host
Yep, the seal is broken. Groundhog season is open!
I had been there about 20 minutes when the first one showed among the grass. Already had the tripod set up, got the target in the scope and let the .204 eat. I could hear the distinctive plop of the hit on the other end. Whet up to check it out and it was mama. Removed her from the bank and headed back to wait for the youngins to show up. Took about 30 minutes for the first little one to show up. Bang, plop! A few minutes later, #2 little one. Bang, plop! 3 shots, 3 whistle pigs out of commission.
What happened next made me do a double take as I had never seen it before....2 little ones appeared at one of the dens at the same time. Double check...yep, 2 of them. They were not lined up but I started figuring if I hit the one in front just right, I might get the 2nd one as collateral damage. Those 32 grain Hornady Vmax can make a mess of smaller targets as they explode on impact. At the shot, the plop was unmistakable. One of them fell down the bank and was hidden in the kudzu and it appeared the other one went straight down but I could not see it for the vegetation. One for sure, maybe 2. I will take it.
Waited a while longer and another one pops up at another den. Bang, plop! Waited another half hour and nothing else moved so I headed to the bank to check out the carnage. Got to the hole with the double first and retrieved the one that tumbled down in the kudzu. Could not see the second one but there was blood down the hole. Went ahead an recovered the others and they set out to find a green brier. Finally found one I thought might work and went fishing in the den hole. After a couple of failed attempts, I managed to get it tangled and pulled out the collateral damage. Yep, I had killed 2 with one shot! Might not ever get to do that again so I will take it!
I piled the 5 young ones up with mama for a family photo before heading back to the truck.
I eased back toward the back corner of the property and spotted another young one out in the open before it spotted me. Bang, plop!
Six shots and seven dead whistle pigs! Not a bad afternoon!
Mama taking a dirt nap.
posted image
And then posing with the little ones.
upload gif from url
And #7 by its lonesome.
picture host
Yep, the seal is broken. Groundhog season is open!
Last edited: