Groundhogs & FoxPro

cngerms

cngerms

New member
A quick question for you fine Eastern varminters, please......

FoxPro has a groundhog in distress call on their sound menu. Has anyone ever tried this sound (or another) for actually calling groundhogs; to see if maybe a groundhog would pop up to investigate if it heard a neighbor in distress? Thanks!
 
Dont know about actually calling them in but if you just need them to stand up.. All you have to do is whistle.

Ever heard them called "Whistlepigs"?
 
NO, I have never tried that, and I don't think that was the intention of the FoxPro Staff when the sound was developed. Go ahead and try it though, let us know the results. If it works, I will load it on my FX5 again, I saved it on the hard drive of my computer for now though.

Where about in the Valley are you located?
 
Yes, I'm familiar with the whistle technique for having them stand. I appreciate the info. However, I probably should have clarified that I'm looking for a sound that will bring them out of their dens or, at least, get them to poke their head out enough for a high speed lobotomy.
 
Ten minutes west of Staunton at the edge of the Geo. Washington National Forest; Buffalo Gap/Swoope area to be exact.

I'm definitely going to try it and I'll report back. I'm just wondering if the distress sound might make them hunker down even more until the coast is clear.
 
From my experience replicating their sounds by mouth, they will surprisingly pop up at your feet when you least expect it. You'll definately want to be ready if you try it. I use it on missed hogs and it works about 50% of the time. Welcome aboard, I hunt near you for whistle pigs, around the Cale Springs Rd. Pretty country out there for sure.
 
Thank you, ARCOREY! HA! Your groundhog tales provided a good chuckle. I'll certainly try it and, yes, I'll be ready. I've already got local farmers calling me with sightings and wanting to know my whereabouts. It ought to be a fun year.
 
i grew up shooting whistle pigs and the only way I know to get them out of their hole is to wait them out. Whistling works 50% of the time to get them to stand up, as someone else pointed out. Good luck...
 
I got a ground squirrel out the back door. Saw it Run into a brush pile, played Sage Rat on my FX5, and the thing popped back up to look. Pellet hit it in the head after that.

t/c223encore.
 
I have a number of books written back in the 40's and 50's about woodchuck shooting. These were written by some of the classic and most famous writers of the time (not the hacks in todays Guns and Blammo).

One of the tips they passed on was using bird calls.

The reason was when a chuck is scared, they jump down the hole and wait for danger to pass.
They know when the danger was passed when the tweetie birds get back to chirping.

Now... I'm not saying that it'll work, cuz I have never tried it.

But it does kinda make sense.

The whistle works if they are mowing the grass with their front teeth, and you need to get them to stand up for a shot - but it better be quick, cuz they will probably run for their hole in a few seconds.


.
 
I done it last spring and they definetely would look toward the sound but never came toward the sound. I was seeing what would happen, I use to shoot them but since we have coyotes here now you hardly see one.
 
I heard using a coon squaller will sometimes bring them out of their hole but never tried it. Soybean in distress works every time though . /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I called one tonight with the sound of a .22-250. It made him rollover and stick all four legs in the air. He was my first kill this year and my first kill with my new Sako 75 Varmint....
Sako75a.jpg


They are active and mating here in the Shenandoah Valley now; lots of activity and new dens popping up everywhere. Love is in the air.
 
I get the impression our coyotes aren't targeting groundhogs very much here. I think the groundhogs put up too much of a fight and are just too vicious. Most of the locals here complain of the coyotes targeting deer and turkeys for the most part. I'm sure cottontails are big on their menu, too.

I'm going to try the coon squaller though. Thanks for the info.
 
I've tried a mouse squeaker with about a 50% success rate of bringing them closer &/ or making them stand up.. a whistle or a "hey" will get their nose in trouble...It sure is pretty on your side of the hill. I occasionly hunt in the Middlebrook area with a super friend of mine... it's a special place for me as it's where I have made my longest shot to date. That's a nice looking 22-250 there! One of my favorite chamberings.
 
Thanks for your comments, Popper. I appreciate it very much. I dig your call sign!

Yes, I'm going to test every sound I can think of from this point forward. I've never had a problem getting them to stand, but I'm on a mission to find some sound to actually bring 'em out to investigate. This is going to be a year of trial & error for me.

Tell us about your long shot in Middlebrook. Details, please.....
 
It's my buddies place that we call the swamp... we sit up on a ridge and can see out at least 1200 yards, its 500 to the first fence and 335 from the 1st to the second... well I had a 243Ackley Improved built to get me into the 500 yard club... 10 twist and I shoot the 70 grain blitzking as fast and as hard as it'll go... this thing is a laser beam! I'd been making hits at 375,425 & 480 yards with some reqularity. SO there we are in this cool place looking for long range groundhogs.. were having fun but the long-hogs aren't cooperating this day, plenty of short ones and we're able to warm the barrels up a bit...so Dan busts my chops and says ...well how long ya gonna let that bird sit on that fencepost out there..I look at the first fence ...nada.. I say where ya looking man???? He says check out the second fence, 5th post from the left... I look at Dan with a disgusting $%^*%^ grin, are you serious? I say what's the range? we check and get the readings... check it 3 times... I get out my click chart and dial up the scope for 890 yards. I hold off to the right about 4 feet for the wind and tell him I'm ready, so watch & tell me where the bullet strikes and I'll click to it...pow the trigger breaks , the shot is on it's way and then in utter amazement, the feathered varmint FALLS OFF THE POST! Dan who doesn't usually use foul language says.... [beeep] SAM!!! I'm dumbfounded as well and that shot will forever be burned into my memory. 1 LUCKY shot 1 kill with a VHA witness. So there it is... that rifle still shoots about .75" groups at 325 yards.. when I burn that barrel out, I'll definitely build another one! Sam
 
Wow, that is amazing. ONE extraordinary shot like that makes all of the hard work involved in gun customization and handloading worth the effort. Just owning that ONE rifle that is a laser and that'll never be for sale is the best feeling in the world for us gun nuts.

Congratulations on owning such a fine rifle. After many attempts, I think I've finally got my laser; at least, it's the most accurate rifle I've owned to date. It's surprised me on at least two occasions now. It's surprised me especially since it's an out-of-the-box rifle.
 
Here's the proof!!!! Total for today:
P3150133-1.jpg


Earlier in the day:


P3150128-1.jpg


The FX5 calls 'em right out of the hole!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

F1
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top