Bad Day in the Field

[K22]

Perfect weather yesterday here in eastern PA. Farmer cut the hay about a week ago and it's about two inches high with new growth - perfect. No wind - perfect. This is the first time this year hunting this field - perfect - expect to see ghogs in abundance. Select my Rem 700 223 with a 26" Douglas heavy match barrel - 1/4 moa rifle - perfect.

Perfect conditions except the hunter isn't even close to being perfect.

The evening starts out well - first hog down at 168 yards. Second hog down at 109 yards. Not challenging shots but good start. Both crawlers.

Later see one at 217, frontal shot, not moving out of the tree line. Very make able shot with this rifle. Send the 55 Nolser BT - missed. It's early, 5;30 PM - figure he'll come out again - he doesn't. Made this shot many times in the past under worst conditions - go figure.

About 20 minutes later one pops out of the tree line and heads into the hay field. Crawler shot at 231 yards - make able. Wait for broadside shot then send the 55 Nolser BT. Shot feels bad, I dipped the rifle but I hit him. He's hit rolls over but then runs into the tree line. I gut shot him - confirmed later (details censored for the sensitive readers) - he made safely into hole - I hate to wound them - feeling bad - losing confidence - maybe I'll take up golf - no I tried that before and couldn't concentrate - kept looking for ghogs in the tree lines. Diminishing shooting skills - senior body and brain - not good.

About 10 minutes later I see one at 157 yards, crawler too - he sees me - spooks and runs back to tree line but stops at edge - I sent another 55 BT - hog down.

About 8:00 PM another one emerges from the tree line heads into the hay field, crawler at 188 yards. Sent another 55 Nolser BT - hog down.

Going back tomorrow - revenge hunt. Good I still get dinner even if I'm a lousy shot.

 

[CaptainMal]

Called hunting and not benchrest shooting, the target moves. In our minds we always make the perfect shot. In the field there's no bench, secure position and the target moves at guessing range.

You had more fun and a memorable experience. Compared to those that did not hunt but watched TV, you were a big winner.

 

[Dub]

sounds like a fun day in the field to me!

 

[JFW]

Sounds like great in the field. Hunting and not seeing anything beats a day working. My hog hunting buddy die 4yrs ago. Hard to find someone who likes to go like we did
Good luck tomorrow!

 

[Mark W]

Sounds better than my day at work!!!

 

[msinc]

That's why they call it "hunting" not "killing". Here is my idea of an absolutely perfect day in the field: it don't rain hard, my binos don't fog or mess up, it's not ridiculous sweltering hot, I have my favorite rifle by my side and I smoke a good cigar. Anything else, like seeing a deer or bear, hearing a coyote or calling back and forth to a barred owl and maybe getting a shot at a woodchuck is just a bonus.
This evening I saw two muskrats, the biggest blacksnake I have seen in 10 years and a pretty decent bass jump almost clear out of the water hitting something on the surface. I did see a woodchuck, but only long enough to watch him jump in his hole....that's okay, he'll be there next time.
"Bad day in the field"....I didn't know that could be done????? You killed 4 and hit a fifth one that will no doubt die and you had a bad day......dude....don't take up bowhunting!!!

 

[rebel]

My first trip out was last Sunday with a new rifle. Took a shot at 225 at one that spooked and was still moving - stupid. Buddy was batter up and got that one when it reemerged. Then took a shot at one way back in the trees, dark but climbing a tree and silhouetted. Hog flew off the tree, we were sure it was dead. No blood or any sign that it had been hit. Dammit - I'm better than this but then remember I'm shooting off a bog pod, in a field, feeling critters crawl up my leg ( snert's nightmare), while trying to figure the wind. Yeah, hunting ain't benchrest. I feel your pain.

 

[CT10ring]

5 for 6? batting .833. perfection is by definition, hard to achieve. have fun.

 

[Webster]

Sounds like great in the field. Hunting and not seeing anything beats a day working. My hog hunting buddy die 4yrs ago. Hard to find someone who likes to go like we did
Good luck tomorrow!

SENT PM

 

[pirate ammo]

.don't take up bowhunting!!!

that says it all..your outside,that's all that counts.

 

[jpx2rk]

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed reading your story. While the day may not have been what you wanted/desired, you are still able to get out, go "hunting", and were successful.

And you got supper.

 

[284winner]

Perfect weather yesterday here in eastern PA. Farmer cut the hay about a week ago and it's about two inches high with new growth - perfect. No wind - perfect. This is the first time this year hunting this field - perfect - expect to see ghogs in abundance. Select my Rem 700 223 with a 26" Douglas heavy match barrel - 1/4 moa rifle - perfect.

Perfect conditions except the hunter isn't even close to being perfect.

The evening starts out well - first hog down at 168 yards. Second hog down at 109 yards. Not challenging shots but good start. Both crawlers.

Later see one at 217, frontal shot, not moving out of the tree line. Very make able shot with this rifle. Send the 55 Nolser BT - missed. It's early, 5;30 PM - figure he'll come out again - he doesn't. Made this shot many times in the past under worst conditions - go figure.

About 20 minutes later one pops out of the tree line and heads into the hay field. Crawler shot at 231 yards - make able. Wait for broadside shot then send the 55 Nolser BT. Shot feels bad, I dipped the rifle but I hit him. He's hit rolls over but then runs into the tree line. I gut shot him - confirmed later (details censored for the sensitive readers) - he made safely into hole - I hate to wound them - feeling bad - losing confidence - maybe I'll take up golf - no I tried that before and couldn't concentrate - kept looking for ghogs in the tree lines. Diminishing shooting skills - senior body and brain - not good.

About 10 minutes later I see one at 157 yards, crawler too - he sees me - spooks and runs back to tree line but stops at edge - I sent another 55 BT - hog down.

About 8:00 PM another one emerges from the tree line heads into the hay field, crawler at 188 yards. Sent another 55 Nolser BT - hog down.

Going back tomorrow - revenge hunt. Good I still get dinner even if I'm a lousy shot.

Keep golfing, just slide a 17HMR in your golf bag. While ice fishing I ALWAYS bring along my coyote rifle. Many times in the ice I see dogs cross the lake about 1/4 mile from me. They don't make it across anymore.

 

[K22]

Update - Revenge Hunt on Friday, 5/24. Same Rifle. Back to the same field - 10 to 20 mph cross winds, gusting to 25 - not great but it's a beautiful day otherwise.

At 5:30 one rolls out of the tree line to my right (this field has a "L" shaped tree line). Crawler - range him at 151 yards - wait for the wind to ease - send a 55 Nosler BT - hog down. Good start.

Farmer shows up - we chat - thanks me (The Ground Hog Man as I'm known in these parts) for recycling the ground hogs - they worked over his soybeans last year - Tell him I'm glad to be of service. Farmer departs.

About 6:15 one peeks out of the tree line in front of me - same location as the one I missed on Wednesday at 217. This time I get smarter - I wait until he crosses the plowed strip and enters the lush alfalfa so I can get a good profile shot - range him again - now at 184 yards - but wind gusting - wait for wind to ease - crawler aim a little to right to compensate for cross wind - send a 55 Nosler BT - hog down. Later confirm - the hold off worked - hit just behind the front shoulder.

Field goes cold. It's 7.30. I know there's an active hole to my rear in the open alfalfa field but even so I don't like sitting on one hole but what the hell, nothing happening in front of me. So I reverse field to other side about 200 to 230 yards away. At about 8:00 the hog emerges from hole for a night snack. Wind is has died down to a soft breeze at most. Range the hog - 216 yards. Sent another 55 Nosler BT - hog down. Farmer will be real happy with this recycled hog - his hole has a mass of rock around it and is huge. Monster size hog - Los Angles Class or is that term used to describe large submarines

You guys are right - it's never a bad day when you're in the field - I was rounding up for drama - Also you guys are right too - it's ain't target shooting - especially shooting off my shooting stick.

Another nice day here on Saturday but the wifey gave me a jaundice eye when I meekly suggested going hogging again. When the sun came out I forget I had promised to take her to dinner tonight - date night. Oh well, I can't complain she's put up with my craziness for over 40 years.