1st Annual Whistlepig Shoot

IdahoDawgBustr

IdahoDawgBustr

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1st Annual WHISTLEPIG SHOOT (ground squirrel)

The GSPHA 1st Annual Whistlepig Shoot will take place April 19, 2009. Here is all the information.

Date: April 19, 2009
Time: 6AM Check-In -- Weigh-In 6PM
Check-In Location: Behind Snake River Yamaha - Meridian
Registration Fees: $10.00 per member, $15.00 per non-member. Fees will be collected the morning of the shoot, or you may register early by sending a check or money order to:
GSPHA Pig Shoot
P. O. Box 1087
Emmett, ID. 83617

Shoot is open to the public.

2 Man Teams are the rule. Children, women, and new hunters are encouraged to enter, and can be counted as a non-shooter 3rd & 4th team members.

Each team will be given a garbage sack to collect their kills. These bags will be weighed to determine the winner.

There will be trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Places. There will be no cash awards given.

Bar-B-Que at the weigh-in. Cost of BBQ is $3.00 per person.

For more information please contact:
Director Matt Askew - 208-401-6802
VP Loren Lunsford - 208-398-7778 or 602-620-3606
Sec/Tres Gary Mathews - 208-365-7393
or by email:
Email - gspha@live.com
Email - gspha@yahoo.com
 
My buddy and I go to Emmett every spring when I'm on leave to shoot whistlepigs. We usually waste a brick and a half of 22 rounds a several hundred in various other calibers every time we go out. It is a fun time thats for sure. If I had enough leave, I would be there.
 
For those (like me) not in the know....

Whistlepig AKA:
The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as the woodchuck, land beaver or whistlepig, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae.

While we have them here in the Mid West, I have never heard them called that.

Sounds like fun and from what I have seen of our Mid West Ground Hogs, a challenging hunt.
Rick H...
 
timmy0283,

We are are going to have a good time, with a meet and greet, shooting, and then good BBQ Food, what more could a guy want. It is to bad that you are not going to have the time off.
The GSPHA is based in Emmett, but we try to do as much as we can in the Boise/Meridian area as a central location. I live in Emmett, and shoot squirrels out here all the time, from Emmett to Parma and south. Maybe next time you will have the time, and we can meet.

Rickh,

Whistlepig: Is what we call the ground squirrels that live in the sand hills here in SW Idaho and in the desert. There are several species of whistlepigs, or picketpins, if you like, here in Idaho. The ones that we shoot are about 6-8 tall when standing up. So to clairify, we are shooting ground squirrels, picketpins, whistlepins, not rockchucks this time.
Thank You for writing, so that I was able to explain it better.

Everyone is Invited and Welcome to attend.
Gary
 
Same with me.... I've always called ground hogs whistle pigs. I guess it all depends on the state. However, it sure sounds like a great time!
 
cjg-beef,

It must be a local thing. I have been calling them whistlepigs for 35 or so years, and everyone I know calls them that. Regional Name?

If I am wrong, please someone in the SW Idaho area speak up!

BTW! I am not the one that name the shoot - I am just the messanger - please don't shoot!!!!! LOL!

Thank You.
Gary
 
I'd re-name the event.

Most people are going to think you mean rock chucks. I sure did, until I read further and then I was very surprised. First time I've ever heard ground squirrels called Whistle Pigs. But I've heard rock chucks called Whistle Pigs many, many times - including lots of people in Idaho.

- DAA
 
DAA,

Thank You. I will talk to the man in charge of the shoot about renaming it.

Do any of you have any good ideas for a name?

Thank You.
Gary
Like I said, "I am just the messenger!"
 
you said that after the weigh-in is the BBQ. are you BBQing the ground squirrels ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif if so some might want to pack there dinner. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
icebox
 
I for one have never heard of a rock chuck called a whistlepig. I have called the little squirrels IdahoDawgBustr is talking about whistlepigs or picketpins. It must be an Idaho thing.

BTW IdahoDawgBustr I grew up North of Emmett in a little town called Council. I will be up there in October or November for deer and elk season. Maybe we can meet up then.
 
timmy0283,

Thank YOU!!!!! You are right! it must be an Idaho thing, because like I say, I and everyone I know that shoot them, call them whistlepigs, picketpins, gophers, diggers, etc.....

I only know rockchucks as just that - rockchucks.

I know Council, in my younger days, I spent alot of time in the Council area. The friend that I hung out with, had an Aunt and Uncle that lived in Goodrich, and some other friends that lived in McCall. We used to spend alot of time up Hornet Creek, and on Cutty Mt. We used to call coyotes in and around the Indian Valley area all the way to Emmett.
I also had friends that worked in the sawmill in Council. But it has been years since I have been there, and spent time, mostly passing through on the way to Riggins to fish, or to Brownlee or Hells Canyon.

I would like to meet you when you get time, this fall.

Gary
 
IdahoDawgBustr,

That is really cool. Do you happen to remember the Aunt and Uncles name. I'm sure I know them. Council is an Outdoor lovers paradise fishing year round if you don't mind a little drive and there is always something to hunt. I cant wait to move back there. I will look you up before I go on leave this fall. Maybe we can go hunt some yotes or wolves if we are lucky.

Tim
 
I've always called them whistle pigs as well since they whistle to each other all the time when they are out. They whistle then, it's time to crank up the scope and start searching the general area it came from. These don't have much of a tail, maybe an inch or two long.

whistlepig.jpg
 
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I always thought whistle pigs were rockchucks until I moved to Idaho and everybody was calling ground squirrels whistle pigs.
 
They good to eat? Well that's a dumb question...[beeep] dem coonass's done kill em all down here. I bet it take a bunch of em to make a mess.
 
timmy0283,

No I don't remember their names. It was way to long ago, last time I seen them was my senior year in high school, that was in 1979 - 30 years - WOW! Time sure flies when you are not watching it closely.
You are right about the Council area.

jspencer & broper,

Thank You guys for verifing the connection to the whistlepig & the Idaho recognition of the critter. I appreciate it, I knew I was not calling them the wrong name.

I will be talking to the organizer of this hunt, and I will ask him about the name of the shoot, I will let you know what he says about it.

I hope to meet and greet all you guys from the Treasure Valley & Idaho at the shoot.
Gary
 
Same here, I've heard rockchucks called whistlepigs, but not ground squirrels. Around here we usually call ground squirrels sage rats or just plain squirrels. Looks like a fun shoot anyway.
 
Up here (south cenral Alberta) we call them gophers (Richardson's Ground Squirrels) but my father-in-law calls them picketpins....just my 2cents. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Verminator2,

Everyone is "Welcome" to come and participate in the shoot. We are going to have a good time. All of our shoots are open to the public. Registration fees are: GSPHA Members $10.00, Non-members $15.00.

Trophies & Bragging Rights for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Places.
There will be NO cash prizes given. GSPHA is not responsible for any side bets made.
BBQ will cost $3.00 per person.

Your statement just verifies the name further, it seems to be a SW Idaho thing.

Thank You Verminator2.
Gary
 
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