Grades: A: Strategy, F: All Else.

[K22]

Went on a hogging recon trip yesterday just to check the status of hay fields. It's knee high and they still have not cut the alfalfa. The weather was not great, low 50's, windy, overcast, a day I would almost never choose to go hogging. However having cabin fever, I need to get out.

One field has a long tree line with a long embarkment in front of it. I setup, not expecting much but hoping to catch one on or crossing the embankment to access to the alfalfa. After over two hours of no action, I decided to head home. One last time I scanned the alfalfa in front of the embankment. I saw one feeding. It was well obscured, no way to take an ethical shot so I waited. When his belly was full, he headed up the embankment giving me a clear shot, 242 yards, very makable with my Weatherby Super Varmint Master, 223 Rem.

He stopped near the top, providing a safe backstop so I sent a 50 Nosler BT. He rolled down the embankment into the high alfalfa out of sight. But the shot didn't feel right, it felt like I dipped the rifle on the sticks shooting low (First mistake!) but nevertheless the hog "seemed" done it. Second mistake! I decided to stay having some "success" focusing on the other side of the tree line. Third mistake!

About 15 minutes later I glanced over to the far side of the tree line where I had shot previously and saw a hog climbing the embankment. By the time I got into position, he was over the top. Upon inspection, I found a blood trail leading over the embankment into the tree line. I tracked the blood trail to his hole in the tree line - no hog visible. I hate to wound them and kicked myself for the stupid mistakes; first a poor shot, second, assuming the hog was done it, and third, not periodically watching that side of the embankment prepared to make a follow up shot. For a veteran varmint hunter - I made rookie mistakes. Shame on me. Maybe it's time for a new hobby, baiting and shooting flies at the range off the bench.

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Hey buddy, sometimes chit happens, and happens to all of us at one time or another.
You get 'man points' for admitting your error(s), and now you can have forgiveness from another who's been there.

Flies off the bench is always fun, but get back out to the field when the next WX window is favorable. I know I would.

 

[snert]

Oh, the old self-burial...

Sometimes it happens. However, it is good to always remid ourselves of our imperfections and try better next time. don't beat yourself up.

And get back out there! There be groundhogs needing kilt!

 

[Mcrider55]

Here in the south, hunting "hawgs" with a 223 is a pretty ballsy move. The bullet is just too small to ensure kills. I use my 450 Bushmaster AR for hawg hunting. I swear that round will kill a werewolf!

Them SOB's are hard to take down but damn tasty on the grill!

 

[Hal]

Two different breeds of hogs/hawgs.
He is talking ground hogs and your thinking squealers.

Hal

 

[Gary in MD]

K22, at least you got out.
I haven’t really got out, with all the rain, now everything is too high to see much of anything.

 

[K22]

K22, at least you got out.
I haven’t really got out, with all the rain, now everything is too high to see much of anything.

Even an old dog can be taught new tricks. I always shied away from hunting when the alfalfa was that high. But the exposed embankment provided an opportunity or at least I suspected as much because I knew the holes were in the tree line and the ghogs would have to cross the embankment to reach the alfalfa. Thus the "A" grade for strategy.

So, needing some outdoor time, I decided to set and just see what would happen. I got my chance but blew it which sometimes happens in the shooting sports. Thus the "F" grade for performance and tactics.

If you have exposed fields adjoining alfalfa fields, there is a chance you might get a shot opportunity if the ghog has to cross the exposed field to reach the goodies. Granted it is if far from ideal and I am eagerly awaiting the first cut but getting outdoors was a better option for me than watching re-runs of Gunsmoke which I have seen a hundred times so much so I can anticipate the dialogue before it is spoken.

 

[Mcrider55]

Two different breeds of hogs/hawgs.
He is talking ground hogs and your thinking squealers.

Hal

Lol..I guess we are!!!!

Yankees are some funny people sometimes.

C'mon down south and hunt some real hogs. Our state record is almost one thousand pounds!

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Now you see why I hunt with a gun that'll kill a werewolf?

 

[K22]

Lol..I guess we are!!!!

Yankees are some funny people sometimes.

C'mon down south and hunt some real hogs. Our state record is almost one thousand pounds!

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Now you see why I hunt with a gun that'll kill a werewolf?

I had a friend that lived in South Caroline and hunted wild pigs in the swamps. After seeing the gash in his leg, I think I'll past. I can't run or move fast if I miss.  In my younger more foolish days I would probably be very interested.

PS: He also lost a dog to one - they must be nasty critters.

 

[akajun]

Here in the south, hunting "hawgs" with a 223 is a pretty ballsy move. The bullet is just too small to ensure kills. I use my 450 Bushmaster AR for hawg hunting. I swear that round will kill a werewolf!

Them SOB's are hard to take down but damn tasty on the grill!

maybe try shooting them better, we trap them all the time and put them down with .22lr pistols. Also on public land in LA you cant carry anything bigger than a.22wmr so lots down here are killed with a 17 or 22mag.

 

[Mcrider55]

I had a friend that lived in South Caroline and hunted wild pigs in the swamps. After seeing the gash in his leg, I think I'll past. I can't run or move fast if I miss.  In my younger more foolish days I would probably be very interested.

PS: He also lost a dog to one - they must be nasty critters.

They are vicious and incredibly unpredictable. It's amazing how fast, and quick they are in the brush. One always has this feeling on the back of their neck of just who is hunting who.

 

[akajun]

They are vicious and incredibly unpredictable. It's amazing how fast, and quick they are in the brush. One always has this feeling on the back of their neck of just who is hunting who.

They' re really not that bad, Everyone I ever see in the woods, no matter the size, is more concerned with getting the hell away from me so Im not sure where you get the whose hunting who part. If I dig around enough I could probably find pics of my cousin with his hog dogs catching them alive and holding them by the back legs and walking them around like a wheelbarrow race. Im sure if you corner one or wound it I might try to hurt you but I know people who've been kicked by deer that were wounded too.