Went out on Wednesday - weather ok, high 60's, no rain, sunny in late evening, light wind - all good.
Hay is knee high, other fields are plowed removing most feed for my ghog boys - all bad. But it's a nice afternoon and its better than sitting home watching John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies which I've seen a 100 times.
Sat on a tree line from 3:00 to 5:00 - no hogs seen - there are active holes for sure but they ain't coming out. Got bored so I decided to take a hike. Put my 26" heavy 223 Varminter in the truck and pull out the light Model 7 Rem, 223, 20" barrel - my go to walking around ghog rifle.
Hiked over to an adjacent farm. Field conditions are the same but I saw one a 253 yards about 10 yards from a treeline. Too far for me with the Model 7 so I tried to stalk closer through a high hay field hoping I don't get bit by a tick carrying Lyme's disease. I think the high hay concealed a lot of my movement. I got to within 219 yards and set up with my shooting stick. The hog hadn't seen me. I sent a 50 Nosler BT at him and it connected - one hog down.
I decided to sit in this field hoping this might be a hot field. Twenty minutes later I saw one poke his head out of a hole on a bank, 184 yards away. I don't like to take head/ shoulder shots on the hole - prefer a full profile shot away from hole. I wait -10 - 20 - 30 minutes. This guy isn't coming out.
There are other areas I want to check so when he shows himself - full frontal on hole I decided to take the shot. I take my time and sent another 50 Nosler - he disappears into the hole. The shot felt good but... I have to know so I walk down the slope to the hole. Perfect shot in the chest. Second hog down. But it's a grueling walk back up the hill for an old fart like me. But hey - if I'm going to die of a heart attack I can't think of a better place than a hay field.
Hike back to the other field. It's about 7:00 PM now. I hug a treeline trying to conceal my approach. I see one at 211 yards at another tree line. I slowly set up but he's in high brush along the treeline - can't get a clear profile for shot. So I wait - and I wait. He disappears. I decide to wait a little longer then a little more longer. Finally he appears at the edge - slightly obscure profile but I can make him out - a crawler. I sent another 50 Nosler and hear the "classic" thump. Third hog down. He's a monster class hog - large male.
Good day but field conditions bad. Better than Safari No. 6 two weeks ago when I went 2 for 2 missing one at 139 yards (standing) and another at 215 (crawler) w/ my super accurate 26" heavy but making more difficult shots that day at 229 and 230. Go figure.
Planning Safari No. 8 tomorrow - another farm - first visit of the 2019 campaign. I'm addicted!
Hay is knee high, other fields are plowed removing most feed for my ghog boys - all bad. But it's a nice afternoon and its better than sitting home watching John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies which I've seen a 100 times.
Sat on a tree line from 3:00 to 5:00 - no hogs seen - there are active holes for sure but they ain't coming out. Got bored so I decided to take a hike. Put my 26" heavy 223 Varminter in the truck and pull out the light Model 7 Rem, 223, 20" barrel - my go to walking around ghog rifle.
Hiked over to an adjacent farm. Field conditions are the same but I saw one a 253 yards about 10 yards from a treeline. Too far for me with the Model 7 so I tried to stalk closer through a high hay field hoping I don't get bit by a tick carrying Lyme's disease. I think the high hay concealed a lot of my movement. I got to within 219 yards and set up with my shooting stick. The hog hadn't seen me. I sent a 50 Nosler BT at him and it connected - one hog down.
I decided to sit in this field hoping this might be a hot field. Twenty minutes later I saw one poke his head out of a hole on a bank, 184 yards away. I don't like to take head/ shoulder shots on the hole - prefer a full profile shot away from hole. I wait -10 - 20 - 30 minutes. This guy isn't coming out.
There are other areas I want to check so when he shows himself - full frontal on hole I decided to take the shot. I take my time and sent another 50 Nosler - he disappears into the hole. The shot felt good but... I have to know so I walk down the slope to the hole. Perfect shot in the chest. Second hog down. But it's a grueling walk back up the hill for an old fart like me. But hey - if I'm going to die of a heart attack I can't think of a better place than a hay field.Hike back to the other field. It's about 7:00 PM now. I hug a treeline trying to conceal my approach. I see one at 211 yards at another tree line. I slowly set up but he's in high brush along the treeline - can't get a clear profile for shot. So I wait - and I wait. He disappears. I decide to wait a little longer then a little more longer. Finally he appears at the edge - slightly obscure profile but I can make him out - a crawler. I sent another 50 Nosler and hear the "classic" thump. Third hog down.
He's a monster class hog - large male.Good day but field conditions bad.
Better than Safari No. 6 two weeks ago when I went 2 for 2 missing one at 139 yards (standing) and another at 215 (crawler) w/ my super accurate 26" heavy but making more difficult shots that day at 229 and 230. Go figure.Planning Safari No. 8 tomorrow - another farm - first visit of the 2019 campaign. I'm addicted!
