Yesterday (Wednesday) was an absolutely perfect weather day here in eastern PA and that meant, with wifey's approval, a ground hog safari. 
Had a couple of farms in mind, first one was out - cutting corn. Second one out - planting ground cover over a cut corn field. Third one - good - no farming activity.
Got into the field at 4:00 PM, set up on top of a hill over looking three tree lines and a large beautiful freshly cut hay field. There are four active holes that I know of - expect a great hunt but the unexpected happens!
Not there more than 10 minutes and see a monster to my right emerge out of the tree line. Range it a 198 yards - crawler - very makable shot for my Rem 700 223 with a 26" heavy varmint match Douglas barrel. Sent a 50 Nosler - hog down. Bonus hog - didn't expect one over there.
It's now 6:15 and I haven't seen any hogs at the four active holes - go figure - weather perfect - hay about 2" high - good eating but no hogs.
Field goes cold. About 45 minutes of day light remaining - decide to move to another area of the farm. As I start to pack up I see a brown spot at the top of the adjacent field at the edge of the hay field. With the binoculars I still can't tell if it's a hog. Finally I see the head move. Range at 272 yards. Too far for me off the shooting stick and it's an uphill shot - hard to get a good position sitting on my portable sportsmen's chair using the shooting stick and beside, I can only see his head.
I move down the tree line and get to about 250 yards from the hog. It's as close as I'm going to get because if I walk out I'll probably spook him. So I set up - still an up hill shot at a bad angle - still can only see the head - then he starts bobbing up and down - poor profile for a shot. It getting late - sun is setting.
I got a cramp in my neck from watching this guy through the 16X scope at up hill angle. Finally he stands up and remains so. It's now or never - hate a standing shot at that distance - a slight movement right or left and I'll miss or worse wound him. But this is a 1/4 moa rifle - time to be great!
My drop card says - 3" of drop at this distance. I take aim placing the cross hair on his nose. Clearly he's sitting on his hole since he isn't bobbing any more. I send the 50 Nosler. He disappears. Shot felt good - really good BUT it's the most difficult (not longest) shot I've ever attempted given the angle and distance plus, he isn't a monster size either.
I begin the long walk down the hill then up the other side almost straight up wondering if I'm going to get a heart attack from the climb - but I can't think of a better place to go than in a hay field. I begin preparing myself for a miss. I finally reach the top of the hill - no heart attack. Search around - he laying there, on his hole - perfect shot in the chest - about a two year old hog small to medium size. Most difficult shot I ever made - probably more luck than skill.
I'm addicted to hog hunting.
Had a couple of farms in mind, first one was out - cutting corn. Second one out - planting ground cover over a cut corn field. Third one - good - no farming activity.
Got into the field at 4:00 PM, set up on top of a hill over looking three tree lines and a large beautiful freshly cut hay field. There are four active holes that I know of - expect a great hunt but the unexpected happens!
Not there more than 10 minutes and see a monster to my right emerge out of the tree line. Range it a 198 yards - crawler - very makable shot for my Rem 700 223 with a 26" heavy varmint match Douglas barrel. Sent a 50 Nosler - hog down. Bonus hog - didn't expect one over there.
It's now 6:15 and I haven't seen any hogs at the four active holes - go figure - weather perfect - hay about 2" high - good eating but no hogs.
Field goes cold. About 45 minutes of day light remaining - decide to move to another area of the farm. As I start to pack up I see a brown spot at the top of the adjacent field at the edge of the hay field. With the binoculars I still can't tell if it's a hog. Finally I see the head move. Range at 272 yards. Too far for me off the shooting stick and it's an uphill shot - hard to get a good position sitting on my portable sportsmen's chair using the shooting stick and beside, I can only see his head.
I move down the tree line and get to about 250 yards from the hog. It's as close as I'm going to get because if I walk out I'll probably spook him. So I set up - still an up hill shot at a bad angle - still can only see the head - then he starts bobbing up and down - poor profile for a shot. It getting late - sun is setting.
I got a cramp in my neck from watching this guy through the 16X scope at up hill angle. Finally he stands up and remains so. It's now or never - hate a standing shot at that distance - a slight movement right or left and I'll miss or worse wound him. But this is a 1/4 moa rifle - time to be great!
My drop card says - 3" of drop at this distance. I take aim placing the cross hair on his nose. Clearly he's sitting on his hole since he isn't bobbing any more. I send the 50 Nosler. He disappears. Shot felt good - really good BUT it's the most difficult (not longest) shot I've ever attempted given the angle and distance plus, he isn't a monster size either.I begin the long walk down the hill then up the other side almost straight up wondering if I'm going to get a heart attack from the climb - but I can't think of a better place to go than in a hay field.
I begin preparing myself for a miss. I finally reach the top of the hill - no heart attack. Search around - he laying there, on his hole - perfect shot in the chest - about a two year old hog small to medium size. Most difficult shot I ever made - probably more luck than skill. I'm addicted to hog hunting.
