In March we talked about some cool accessories for ground squirrel hunting, namely the Horizon Optimizer.

    In case you’ve been in a coma or maybe you just have a cruel oppressive boss that hasn’t let you sneak out lately, you better get out fast and shoot some whistle pigs before they go under for the year.

    Whichever the case, tomorrow is Memorial Day. Hopefully you’re off and maybe you’re even wondering what to do. Let me help you out. Right now bear hunting is in full swing, crappie fishing is good — if you’re in the right spot — and it is also quickly approaching the end of whistle pig season, a.k.a. Townsend Ground Squirrels season.

    With so many choices, what’s a guy to do? I have heard it said that simple minds are easily amused (confused). But regardless, shooting whistle pigs is one of the high spots of my year. It’s a blast. You get to do some high-speed shooting, the weather is nice and you don’t have to be quiet. You can even take a thermos of coffee and a backpack full of snacks.

    If you have a kid that wants to get into hunting, there is no better time than now. I have no clue how many kids I have taken whistle pig hunting, but it’s a great way to introduce kids to hunting.

    All kids want to shoot. This is the perfect opportunity. There’s no better way to go out and bond with them. Another good thing is that it doesn’t take a boatload of money to get into it. My favorite whistle pig smoker is a Ruger 10/22. Throw on a 3x9 Bushnell, grab a 25-shot Butler Creek clip and you’re good to go.

    Granted, .22 bullets are hard to get find right now, but surely you can scrounge up some. Can’t you? Hollow points have the best visual effect. Another good choice for a rifle is a .22 mag or the wildly popular .17 HMR. Then of course there is a whole plethora of AR’s that have stormed the market. They have the best visual effects and are a blast to shoot. I have a Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 4.5x14 on my AR, which is perfect for scoping in on the little buggers while they hide in a clump of grass eating.

    Also, you’ll want a good pair of binoculars. It constantly amazes me how many I can spot in an area after I have looked with my bare eyes and not seen a single one. Since you’ll be sitting, you can carry a bigger pair of binoculars so you can really check out an area.

    In most good spots there will be a ton of badger holes, so it’s smart to throw a handyman jack in the back of your truck and a shovel. I can’t name how many times I’ve run off in a badger hole and got stuck and had to jack up my truck and fill in the hole so I could drive out.

    So as we wrap up, let’s make sure you’re well-armed. While the above guns are the most popular, I’ve seen people shoot at whistle pigs with pistols, shotguns, 25-06’s, .243’s and I’ve even stuck them with my bow. So whatever your choice of a weapon, don’t sit around on Memorial Day. Get out and enjoy the day. And if times get much tougher, you may want to experiment and figure out a good way to BBQ your day’s bag.

    Don’t invite me over for dinner though. Things aren’t that tough at my house yet.