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djones
Guest
rain was heavy enough that i had to position the truck so i could keep an eye on the hogs without my equipment getting too wet. i was just going to have to enjoy the lightning show and wait it out. went ahead and adjusted my scope to lawdawg’s settings, changing some of the numbers quite a bit. i had high expectations this would give me just the edge to go double digit on these hogs. the rain eased up but then the hail started. didn’t seem to bother the hogs, so it didn’t bother me. several times i thought it was over and got out, only to jump back in for another episode. after several false starts, i decided enough was enough. i held my rifle over my head for protection and moved in. a few fingers got smashed but the trigger finger was spared.
i normally don’t approach from this direction, but it was necessary this time. i staged up behind the last bit of cover and planned my attack. after a little repositioning i settled on the close ones, waiting for two to line up. after the first shot, i expected them to run left, parading right in front of me. no countdown, just fire when ready.... bam! hog down. bam! hog d..... wait a minute. where’d they go? did my scope just shut off? holy crap. the recoil bounced the lens cover over the front lens. a few seconds later i was back in business, but that’s all it takes for an educated herd to vacate.
they double crossed me and ran right. i hoped some might be confused and come back, but they circled wide. i took a couple of hail marys but decided to hold fire and maybe they wouldn’t leave the county.
i wanted the larger ones at the back, but a couple wanderers blocked my approach. finally they got in the turnrow and headed away. i followed them until i was well inside 100 yards to the group. had to keep an eye on a small pig in the grass to make sure he didn’t spook and take the others. turns out it was a coyote. you gotta feel pretty good about your approach when you sneak up on a coyote!
unfortunately, the biggest hog was still the farthest. pretty sure i could have taken him, but i could get on the others more quickly if he was closer. then one strayed in my direction. he got so close i didn’t want to shoot the others without him in my view. so... change of plans. i’d better get him out of the way first and then start hammering on the big one in the back. closer... closer. quick security sweep in case he’s a decoy drawing my attention while the saber tooth circles around for a charge. nope, all safe. there’s just something about a hog walking right at you. when he had enough crosshair time i squeezed her off. click. yea. check it at 1:03:09. and no i didn’t jerk the trigger. that’s a slight movement from the hammer falling
. reaction... oh crap. what happened.failed primer... or perhaps when i had unloaded the weapon for the photo on the previous hunt maybe i forgot to chamber a round. i’d have to sacrifice the close kill and chamber a round, hoping the big one would still give me time to recover and nail him. only, i couldn’t open the bolt. what now, jam? i ducked down and let the scout finish making his rounds, getting within whisper range of me. then i headed back for maintenance. the truck was 450 yards away, so i just left my shooting sticks there to shed some baggage.
turns out the chamber was dirty and the bolt froze just out of battery. if you shoot suppressed then you know dirty it gets. i usually keep that in check by feeling how hard the bolt is to open when i unload it, but stuff happens. a little oil off the dip stick and i’m back in business. quick survey before heading back and... there they are again. the same two pigs back in the road, between me and my sticks! i’ll just sneak up and maybe they’ll wander off again. nope, they keep coming and get close enough that i have to take cover. now hiding in the grass, i’m watching until they’re so close their faces are out of focus. at this range, free hand didn’t matter. crosshairs were full of faaaaaace!!!!! shooting while sitting on the ground was a little different, hard to twist around. took a few extra shots to settle the second one down.
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