My shooting buddy John and I went out yesterday for an all day ghog hunt. A few days before, our friend Steve texted me and asked if he and his son could tag along. Told him "sure,love to have you". Steve videos our hunts and is getting some video put together to make some episodes on one of the cable tv networks. Pretty cool!!
We met at John's house and after a quick stop at the local McDonald's,we were on our way. When we got to the field I planned on us hunting,we noticed that the field was only half cut and not even wind rowed. I told the guys that I had another field in mind and it was only 5 minutes away so we headed that way.
As we got close to the place we were going to park,I noticed a hog standing in the middle of the field about 220yds. out. We decided to try and get a shot but it disappeared. Told the guys to get geared up and we'll get to the spot we planned on shooting from before it reappeared.
Within 5 minutes after getting set up the hog popped back up but so did another one about 50yds. to it's left. John wasn't sure which one to take first but finally the one on the right gave him the best shot so he planted it.John stayed in position waiting for the other one and it was back out in just a couple minutes.Took some time for it to come completely out of it's hole but when it did,WHACK. 2 down.
Got back to glassing and was quiet for a while. Finally spotted on making it's way across the field from left to right.While I was getting set up for the shot,John ranged it. "468yds." he said. Knew exactly where to hold and touched the trigger off.Instantly heard the crack and saw the surrender flag come up.
Went back to glassing and finally spotted one coming out from one of the buildings to feed.John told me to take him and while I was getting to a spot to shoot from,it saw me and started making it's way back to the building.I hurried up to get in place and the hog stopped just short of the hole and I was able to get a shot off. Bang flop. #4 down.
Spotted another at 428yds. and John shot at it and missed.It came up a little later and I took a shot while it was standing up out of the hole.Looked good and heard the smack.When we got to the hole there was no ghog to be found.The hole went straight down for over 2 feet.We looked at the footage from the video camera and could see that I hit it but with no body,couldn't count it as a kill.
Bummed,we went back to glassing.Finally I got up out of my chair when I spotted one behind us about 150yds. feeding around a rock break.Told John he would have to do a belly crawl to get a shot and while he tried his best,the hog spotted him and disappeared.
We glassed for a bit more when I spotted one way out past the hog that was at 428yds. I asked John if he wanted to take a crack at it but he said "oh no". "That's a little far for me". Well,me being one that like a challenge,I grabbed the Leica to range it. Range was 557yds. Had to reposition the rifle and once set up,I sent one his way.Took a second for the bullet to get there but the pop of the bullet impact and the lifeless body of the ghog said it all. Steve yelled out "you got it!! Damn man you got it! Heck of a shot. I asked him if he got it on video and he said hell yeah!
After the congrats we got back to glassing when I spotted the one behind us again.John told me to try my hand at it.I had to belly crawl about 40yds. over fresh cut alfalfa. Man that stuff is like pungy sticks. My forearms are all cut up. Anyways, I finally got to a spot where I could shoot over a small crest in the field and smoked it. #6 on the ground.
We spotted some others but all were misses.Ranges were from about 275yds. out to 583yds.
Some pics of the days hunt.
Here is a pic of the 557yd. shot.It's hard to see but there is a dark strip of grass at about 2oclock close to where the field transitions from alfalfa to corn. The hog was about 130yds. back and slightly left of the strip.
Finally a pic John and myself with the days kills.
I don't think I could have asked for a better day.
Good shooting guys.
Immortal
We met at John's house and after a quick stop at the local McDonald's,we were on our way. When we got to the field I planned on us hunting,we noticed that the field was only half cut and not even wind rowed. I told the guys that I had another field in mind and it was only 5 minutes away so we headed that way.
As we got close to the place we were going to park,I noticed a hog standing in the middle of the field about 220yds. out. We decided to try and get a shot but it disappeared. Told the guys to get geared up and we'll get to the spot we planned on shooting from before it reappeared.
Within 5 minutes after getting set up the hog popped back up but so did another one about 50yds. to it's left. John wasn't sure which one to take first but finally the one on the right gave him the best shot so he planted it.John stayed in position waiting for the other one and it was back out in just a couple minutes.Took some time for it to come completely out of it's hole but when it did,WHACK. 2 down.
Got back to glassing and was quiet for a while. Finally spotted on making it's way across the field from left to right.While I was getting set up for the shot,John ranged it. "468yds." he said. Knew exactly where to hold and touched the trigger off.Instantly heard the crack and saw the surrender flag come up.
Went back to glassing and finally spotted one coming out from one of the buildings to feed.John told me to take him and while I was getting to a spot to shoot from,it saw me and started making it's way back to the building.I hurried up to get in place and the hog stopped just short of the hole and I was able to get a shot off. Bang flop. #4 down.
Spotted another at 428yds. and John shot at it and missed.It came up a little later and I took a shot while it was standing up out of the hole.Looked good and heard the smack.When we got to the hole there was no ghog to be found.The hole went straight down for over 2 feet.We looked at the footage from the video camera and could see that I hit it but with no body,couldn't count it as a kill.
Bummed,we went back to glassing.Finally I got up out of my chair when I spotted one behind us about 150yds. feeding around a rock break.Told John he would have to do a belly crawl to get a shot and while he tried his best,the hog spotted him and disappeared.
We glassed for a bit more when I spotted one way out past the hog that was at 428yds. I asked John if he wanted to take a crack at it but he said "oh no". "That's a little far for me". Well,me being one that like a challenge,I grabbed the Leica to range it. Range was 557yds. Had to reposition the rifle and once set up,I sent one his way.Took a second for the bullet to get there but the pop of the bullet impact and the lifeless body of the ghog said it all. Steve yelled out "you got it!! Damn man you got it! Heck of a shot. I asked him if he got it on video and he said hell yeah!
After the congrats we got back to glassing when I spotted the one behind us again.John told me to try my hand at it.I had to belly crawl about 40yds. over fresh cut alfalfa. Man that stuff is like pungy sticks. My forearms are all cut up. Anyways, I finally got to a spot where I could shoot over a small crest in the field and smoked it. #6 on the ground.
We spotted some others but all were misses.Ranges were from about 275yds. out to 583yds.
Some pics of the days hunt.
Here is a pic of the 557yd. shot.It's hard to see but there is a dark strip of grass at about 2oclock close to where the field transitions from alfalfa to corn. The hog was about 130yds. back and slightly left of the strip.
Finally a pic John and myself with the days kills.
I don't think I could have asked for a better day.
Good shooting guys.
Immortal
