My Last Evening Hunt for 2014

[civil82]

Today was more than likely the last chance that I'll have to make it out chuck hunting for 2014. Due to a hectic work schedule and uncooperative weather, I was unable to get out quite as much as I would have liked but did manage to shoot #36 and #37 for the year this evening.

More pleasurable than the hunt itself was the opportunity to spend it with a fellow forum-member, 40X Guy and his son. These two men are the epitome of what we shooters stand for. Honest, hard working, straight shooting guys!

40X Guy proved the worth of his fast-twist Swift and it's capabilities to accurately launch a 75gr. A-Max. It sure is a treat to see that classic caliber combined with modern heavy-for-caliber bullets and high energy powder. He put on quite the show for me by downing, (better described as lifting/spinning/flipping/exploding) three hogs with three rounds for the night. That little pill is one explosive projectile at the right (high) velocity.

I'm back on the 25-06AI/100gr. NBT combination in preparation for an upcoming Wyoming pronghorn hunt. Parker Otto Ackley's greatest gift to the wildcat lover hit two for two. I've been told that the massive energy dump gives a spectator something to look at when the Nosler strikes. Recoil is low due to an efficient brake making it easy to spot shots, but I never get to witness an uninterrupted connection of bullet to flesh.

Last but not least, the King of the Evening was 40X Guy's son. He hit three for four with his laser of a 22-250, and I still believe that he did hit the fourth but we were unable to find it. This young man doesn't play around; he spots them like a hawk (remember what your visual acuity was like at 14?), mentally focuses, squeezes the trigger of his "Salvage" and knocks chucks down! He whacked one last week at 350ish yards with pretty limited guidance on a wind call. (I couldn't manage to hit anything that night).

One couldn't ask for a better way to end the season. Now it's on to finalizing some last minute stand locations for the upcoming archery season and gathering items for the colder season small and big game hunting.

I'll get some pictures up from the year when I have some time to resize and upload. Good luck to all!

 

[Nomad47]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

 

[MrMajestic]

Good stuff! No Archery for this "Old Boy" and most of the "Honey Do" list is done so hope to get back out soon!

 

[CaptainMal]

Stories like yours have me longing for my hog hunting days in Pa. Good luck out West.

 

[WyleWD]

Oh MAN! Great story and great shooters too apparently. Those kinds of evenings and outings are what wonderful memories are made of.

I have met a BUNCH of really nice fellas shooting competition and enjoy it immensely but..... my heart is still with 'chuckin, calling coyotes, and especially squirrel hunting with a really good accurate 22. And if you've got a good friend or a young fellow to take along it is even better. And you had both.

Good luck on your trip, have a safe travel, and good on you for taking those two along with ya on your last evening hunt of the year. :-D

Let us know how you do out west too. WD

 

[dtucker]

Great story and good times. It always is a bummer to see a season end when you enjoy something so much. I have had the chance to meet up with Frank twice and he is a great fellow for sure. Never met his son but sure he is a chip off the old block.

 

[40X Guy]

For sure we had a bunch of fun the other night! We took turns shooting, and while one shot the other 2 spotted and were treated to the show when the bullet hit the bone... Dave's 25-06AI is no slouch and its a beautiful rifle that weighs between 9-10 pounds and is his walking varminter/pronghorn rifle. He was getting some quality trigger time in with it before his trip out west with his dad. Dave is an active member of the National Guard and I'm glad to know him! I thought I was a pretty avid chuck hunter until I met Dave. And my son is having a ball as well. I think he has shot 29 or 30 chucks this year.

PS.. I had a brake put on my Swift when it was built just so I could see the hits, but recoil still knocks me off target momentarily but from what I heard the show was spectacular!

Frank

 

[civil82]

Thanks for the kind words, Frank. It's truly a pleasure to have connected with some good folks from Accurateshooter!

My father-in-law and I ran down to Sparty this evening to check zeros before we leave. I figured out why couldn't hit anything with the 243AI a few weeks back....I won't get into that here. The ol' Quarterbore was spot-on out to 500.

As we were packing up for the night, a whistle pig darted out from the treeline right behind the 300 yard berm. He did make it into the beans, and as if to show off he stood up with a mouthful of soybean leaves. The 100gr. NBT put another one to sleep, #38.

I'll work on some pictures tonight.

-Dave

 

[K22]

Enjoyed reading.

I missed the entire month of August and most of September due to health issues. On Friday I went out, first trip to the field since July 30 - oh how I missed it. Still wasn't feeling to great but couldn't resist the perfect weather we were having.

Farmer had made the final cut on the hay field and the corn was down exposing two trees lines that usually housed a few ghogs. At around 4:00 I saw a large hog standing at the edge of the tree line to my right. I ranged him at 189 yards. Before I could bring my 223 Weatherby Supervarmint Master into position off my shooting cross sticks, the ghog began crawling around the edge of the tree line next to some high uncut grass. Once I was into position I waited until he turned broadside then I sent the 55 grain Nosler. He spun around and ran into the high grass to the right.
I normally don't miss at that range but as you all well know, anything can happen when hunting. I wasn't sure if I missed or wounded him. So I waited to see if he would reemerge. Around 5:30 I wasn't seeing anything and was bored so I walked to where I had shot at the ghog to see if there was any blood. I search the area in the hay grass and there he laid. He was a quite large male, the shot was a little far back of the shoulder, appeared to be in the lungs because the blood in his mouth was full if air bubbles. One ghog down. Felt better, hate to wound them - would rather miss.

Around 6:30 one emerge from the tree line directly in front of me. Range it a 222 yards. A crawler working his way alone the edge of the tree line. I got the Weatherby into position, placed the cross hairs on the shoulder and sent another 55 Nosler. He dropped immediately, the tail went up and did the classic death dance then dropped. Upon inspection, the shot placement was near perfect and produced an immediate kill.

This was probably my last ghog hunt of this season since deer-archery starts end of next week. It was good to end the season on a positive note after a trying summer. Hoping for a better 2015.