slim_shady
LSB Active Member
LSB TURKEY BUZZARD PRESERVATION SOCIETY
SUS VENATOR CLUB
LoneStarBoars Supporter
On my way out Friday to do some spotting I setup a game cam, pointing at a fence where there had been some heavy traffic. I picked up the chip sat night just after work. Wouldn't ya know it 4 different times after 3 am, single or groups of hogs crossed right up till 6:30 am. I decided thats it. Im going to go to bed when I get home and set the alarm for 3 am.
I actually woke up just after 2, used the restroom and laid back down, but decided I wasn't going to wait, and made a cup of coffee. After a few min I gathered up my gear and hit the door.
Once in the gate, the two mile drive down the gravel road felt like it took an hour. I couldn't get to the spot fast enough, but didnt want to make so much road noise that I would scare anything off that might be out already.
I stopped several points along the way to do spot checks, and didn't see a thing along the way. Once in position within minutes I spotted a lone boar several hundred yards into the hay field, and it looked as if he was moving away. I stalked in about 3oo yards checking along the way, but he must have spotted me and disappeared into the tree line. Back to the truck I went.
A couple hours clicked by. I spotted a few deer in the hay field, and a couple of young raccoons made there way past me. I moved from standing looking over the hood of the truck to the roof, and back to looking over the hood, when from right to left a small group of hogs appeared. It was just light enough I could make them out, and clicked on the thermal. Yep, one big sow, & a few 60ish pounders. I took aim at the first one, expecting the rest to do a u turn and pulled. One down, now onto the big one. After 5 or so running shots she was down. Wahooooo in a safe shooting situation this semi-auto is the bomb!
After waiting a few min, I grabbed the tripod and left the truck to investigate. Not locating the First small hog, I approached the sow, to once again discover she was moving. One more to the head, and it was over. Id guess the first shot she took blew out a front leg as a bone was half hanging out when I rolled her over not to mention she was running very slowly after the first shot at her. I did end up finding the 60ish lb boar 10 ft from where I shot him with a nice lung shot.
Once back to the truck, I caught my breath from the excitement, and just got calmed down when all of a sudden, 2 more hogs crossing the field. They were moving at a fast pace, and thought they were going to cross 200 yards or so south. I grabbed the sticks and started making tracks. I stopped after about 50 yards to check, and sure enough they had already reached the road. I took aim and pulled just after the 2nd hog crossed the road. Thud. Ya! But nothing to be found. I'll check back later today to see if the buzzards are flying in that area. Off to the truck again.
After a few min I decided this spot was done, but I wasn't. It wasn't even 6 am. I decided to head to the bottom and watch the 100 acres next to the river. Sitting at the top of the field, about 500 yards away from the river I was at a high point I could see most of the area. This field isn't as flat as Id like, but I've seen the most activity in this one field then all of the others combined. I hadn't been sitting 15 min when Holy Buckets its a whole Sounder! Dang there in the lower right corner of the field about to cross into the corn. I hop into the drivers seat, start the truck and start hauling my back side towards them with my foot mashed to the floor. Thank God, we've had the Irrigation running for the last few days. The big block Chevy with strait pipes was roaring in the background, so Im not sure they even heard me. I stopped 200 yards give or take away, and jumped out. They were nearly at the fence, I knew I was too far away and half jogging made an approach. I didn't take the time to grab the tripod and figured Id take a knee.
Just as the first one was about to hit the fence I dropped down to watch the whole group disappear behind a high spot in the field. Dang Dang Dang. I stood up, took aim and pulled the trigger. Ok this Is the point I decided I need to get the video recorder working with this scope. On your mark, get ready. Bang. were off to the races. Hogs are running in all directions. After taking a few shots at a group that bunched up together as a single running mass, I noticed a single hog was running up the fence line strait towards me. I focused my attention on her. After about 5 shots I got a solid spine shot and watched her do a flip, what I didn't know she landed about 15 yards from where I was standing. I can't say the same would have happened if I had been using my bolt gun. But I sure was glad to have 25 extra rounds in the mag for this baby popping sow!
