The heat wave finally eased a bit and I got out to the fields. There was about a week's growth of alfalfa on one of the farms where I hunt - a perfect setup for hunting ghogs.
After sitting for two hours watching a tree line and seeing nothing, I moved to another field accessing it though a patch of woods so I could remain undetected if any hog boys were out for their evening dinner in this next field. As I poked my head out of the trees I saw a monster hog feeding along the tree line, 178 yards away. I quickly unfolded my portable sportsman's chair, sat down and placed my 223 Model 7 Remmy in my home made shooting cross sticks. So far I was undetected. He was milling around, crawling from one clump of alfalfa to another. When he turned side ways I placed the cross hairs on his shoulder and sent the 50 grain Nosler. The minute I fired I knew it was a bad shot, I heeled the rifles shooting high. He ran into the tree line and disappeared. This is not a difficult shot for me and I should have made it but I got sloppy. I wasn't too happy.
Although nothing is absolute when it comes to hunting, from experience I've learned that when I shoot over them they will usually come out again if they were on the front end of their meal. Even though this was not the ideal position that I had wanted to watch this new tree line, I decided to just sit and wait.
Twenty minutes later I saw a head peak out of the weeds in the tree line at the same approximate location. The hog boy sat there for about five minutes surveying the area then eased out turning broadside to me. This time I concentrated on my technique and sent another 50 grain Nosler at him. He fell over and his tail starting doing the death dance.
He was a large male, the largest one I've gotten this year to date. The shot was perfect, just behind the shoulder, exactly where I had aimed. I felt better
It doesn't always work, but if you shoot over them, don't give up, you just may get another chance if you're patient.
PS: Got three more that evening, 138, 181, 154, yards - all one shot kills from that tree line. It was a good day after all!
After sitting for two hours watching a tree line and seeing nothing, I moved to another field accessing it though a patch of woods so I could remain undetected if any hog boys were out for their evening dinner in this next field. As I poked my head out of the trees I saw a monster hog feeding along the tree line, 178 yards away. I quickly unfolded my portable sportsman's chair, sat down and placed my 223 Model 7 Remmy in my home made shooting cross sticks. So far I was undetected. He was milling around, crawling from one clump of alfalfa to another. When he turned side ways I placed the cross hairs on his shoulder and sent the 50 grain Nosler. The minute I fired I knew it was a bad shot, I heeled the rifles shooting high. He ran into the tree line and disappeared. This is not a difficult shot for me and I should have made it but I got sloppy. I wasn't too happy.
Although nothing is absolute when it comes to hunting, from experience I've learned that when I shoot over them they will usually come out again if they were on the front end of their meal. Even though this was not the ideal position that I had wanted to watch this new tree line, I decided to just sit and wait.
Twenty minutes later I saw a head peak out of the weeds in the tree line at the same approximate location. The hog boy sat there for about five minutes surveying the area then eased out turning broadside to me. This time I concentrated on my technique and sent another 50 grain Nosler at him. He fell over and his tail starting doing the death dance.
He was a large male, the largest one I've gotten this year to date. The shot was perfect, just behind the shoulder, exactly where I had aimed. I felt better
It doesn't always work, but if you shoot over them, don't give up, you just may get another chance if you're patient.
PS: Got three more that evening, 138, 181, 154, yards - all one shot kills from that tree line. It was a good day after all!
