This is one of my favorite game cam photos, for a couple of reasons.
(The tape marks on the poles are at two and three feet - from the bottom of the pole, not under the feeder).
First, it clearly demonstrates the challenge of managing deer feeders with hogs in the locale. Which, according to Billy Higginbotham (who should know), is over 80% of Texas.
It also reminds me of the first shot I ever took at a hog. I had just been (and was very nervous) to be invited to a group that had been hunting 30+ years on a property with virtually no outsiders.
The first time on the property, I took a tour with the manager, taking notes, photographs and GPS coordinates of landmarks, and boundaries.
On the second visit, the whole crew was there. After shooting the bull with them on the front porch, I decided to make a walking tour of the five feeders to make sure they were throwing properly and had good batteries.
I came off a trail and stepped into a small clearing; at the other side was a very large hog who presented the exact angle shown above.
Through the 3x scope at 50 yards, it looked like the back of a muddy Volkswagen. Unfortunately for me, the engine of a hog (unlike a Beetle) is located in the front compartment.
With pounding heart and trembling hands, I eased the 30.06 on the Trigger Stick and waited for him to turn at an angle so I could get the classic broadside or quartering shot shown - as seen in those damn videos.
And waited. Hard to tell how long I actually stood there. Probably for at least two minutes before the wind shifted and he moved nervously, starting to smell me.
The brush was only 10 feet away away; as he turned to move into it I shoved 180 grains into the slightly quartering shoulder. He staggered, then bolted into nearly impenetrable brush. ("Nearly" isn't quite accurate, as 50% of us could get through). No blood trail, but I had little inclination to try to follow him in.
Upon returning to the cabin, the boys (in surprisingly good faith) accepted a newbie's word and took out a hound to pick up the trail. She was unsuccessful. (I have since learned that is not unusual for a large hog to sustain a mortal with minimal blood loss).
Has anyone taken a Texas heart shot on a hog this size? Did a large caliber round make it from the exhaust pipe to the hood ornament?