This hunt was a series of fortuitous events that all strung together nicely. I was one field over and looking for hogs when I spied cattle(?) in the next field where there had been no cattle previously. Of course, they weren't cattle at all, but hogs. I drove down the several hundred yards to the property with the "cattle" and could see the hogs through the gate, moving in a line from right to left. I hurriedly got myself over the fence and then worked my gear over and started my stalk toward the hogs when I realized that they had turned direction slightly and were quartered toward me. More over, at least one hog had stopped to look in my direction and I figured I was busted. I got on my sticks with my rifle and was surprised to see that no alarm had been given and the hogs were continuing on as they had been. I picked the big white (in my scope, indicating it was cool, undoubtedly wet) hog first and dropped it and then methodically chose targets of opportunity. While this could have been one of those times where a higher volume of fire might have been productive, I am happy with the result of a lower volume of fire and and a higher percentage of good hits. All the hogs dropped quickly but one and it was summarily dropped with a second shot.
Finally, the field was clear of living hogs and I proceeded to locate the downed hogs in the dips and rolls of the terrain and knee high grass. I was using a phone app to mark the locations of downed hogs and scanning with my handheld with another group of hogs came in, apparently following the same line as the previous group. I managed to shoot a couple of them as well. By this time, I had lost track of how many hogs had been shot and I located those that I could and my buddy from up the road came in and helped me drag them to my truck (nice guy). It was only after getting home and reviewing the video that I realized I was short two hogs and had to return the next day and locate them. Dragging hogs is unpleasant. It is really unpleasant under the furnace of the summer sun. The closest hog was dragged just over 120 yards. The second GPS said was 263 yards. Never mind that they were getting bloated in the sun and did not want to drag through the grass, their outstretched and stiff legs catching in the vegetation as I went along. Still, I was super pleased by the over all result...9 shots with 8 hits on 7 hogs and 7 hogs recovered.
Here is the video. There is a necropsy of the 330 lb boar's wound after the credits. Images may not be be work or family friendly, FYI.
Finally, the field was clear of living hogs and I proceeded to locate the downed hogs in the dips and rolls of the terrain and knee high grass. I was using a phone app to mark the locations of downed hogs and scanning with my handheld with another group of hogs came in, apparently following the same line as the previous group. I managed to shoot a couple of them as well. By this time, I had lost track of how many hogs had been shot and I located those that I could and my buddy from up the road came in and helped me drag them to my truck (nice guy). It was only after getting home and reviewing the video that I realized I was short two hogs and had to return the next day and locate them. Dragging hogs is unpleasant. It is really unpleasant under the furnace of the summer sun. The closest hog was dragged just over 120 yards. The second GPS said was 263 yards. Never mind that they were getting bloated in the sun and did not want to drag through the grass, their outstretched and stiff legs catching in the vegetation as I went along. Still, I was super pleased by the over all result...9 shots with 8 hits on 7 hogs and 7 hogs recovered.
Here is the video. There is a necropsy of the 330 lb boar's wound after the credits. Images may not be be work or family friendly, FYI.
