Back home from OH & PA. After unpacking I was out the door by 6:30 headed to the farm that had planted pumpkins several weeks ago. Before we left the plants were just sprouts. Two weeks later they've grown dramatically, but not enough to hide the little buggers that eat them. I hung around till 7:30, but nothing showed.
On the way in I checked a small patch of grass in front of the pole barn that holds several burrows, but nothing was there. On the way out I drove the truck slowly around the corner of the pole barn and sure enough, I spotted one playing peek a boo. It was about 40 yards away. All I had with me was the 22-250. I had to get it out of the case in the back seat of the truck, load it, find it in the sights and pull the trigger. Smack! Here it is. In the armpit and out the back. Good size exit wound.
From there I drove over to the adjacent property where the farmers market, greenhouses and out buildings are in the back. They close at 7 and the owner has given me permission to hunt there also. I've hunted there before and shot several, but not where the sheds are even though I'm told the employees see them there all the time.
Well, I guess I never stayed late enough until tonight. I was scanning the large field off to one side of the property hoping for a long shot, but seeing nothing. I just happened to glance over my left shoulder at one of the bigger sheds and thought I saw something. Turned more for a better look and sure enough there's one low to the ground right in front of the shed. Now I've got to get the gun out of the case again, load it and swing practically a 180 degrees inside the truck to get a shot. While I'm doing this I take another look, but it's gone. I finally get the gun almost in position and see the ghog peeking out from under the shed. It knows I'm there and it's not coming out. So I lay the crosshairs on its nose and put the trigger. Smack! 70 yds. Here she is. A big one too. 10 lbs 3 oz. Pretty sure it's the biggest I've ever shot in NJ. This one's got to be old and never hunted before. It's now 8:15. I figure I'm done for the night and pack up.
I drive around behind the shed to dipose of the body in some tall weeds. When I get back to the truck, holy cow, another one, this time at the back of the same shed where I just shot the other one not 10 minutes ago.
Again, I'm going to have to unpack the gun, load it, etc., etc. I can just see it around the corner of one of the other sheds I'm parked next to, so I decide to exit the truck, walk around to the other side to get the gun and get into position. Once the gun it ready I ease it up on to the hood of the truck, find the target and let her rip. Smack for the third time tonight. 30 yds. Here he is. Look at the size of that thing. This one weighed 10 lbs 7 oz. Another record!! I wonder how many other pigs that shed is holding???
I haven't seen one that big (other than the two I shot yesterday in PA) since I started shooting ghogs at the golf course four or five years ago. Guess it pays to stay late sometimes. It's now 8:30, getting dark and I'm done.
It's been two great days of shooting, back to back. Wonder what the future holds???
On the way in I checked a small patch of grass in front of the pole barn that holds several burrows, but nothing was there. On the way out I drove the truck slowly around the corner of the pole barn and sure enough, I spotted one playing peek a boo. It was about 40 yards away. All I had with me was the 22-250. I had to get it out of the case in the back seat of the truck, load it, find it in the sights and pull the trigger. Smack! Here it is. In the armpit and out the back. Good size exit wound.
From there I drove over to the adjacent property where the farmers market, greenhouses and out buildings are in the back. They close at 7 and the owner has given me permission to hunt there also. I've hunted there before and shot several, but not where the sheds are even though I'm told the employees see them there all the time.
Well, I guess I never stayed late enough until tonight. I was scanning the large field off to one side of the property hoping for a long shot, but seeing nothing. I just happened to glance over my left shoulder at one of the bigger sheds and thought I saw something. Turned more for a better look and sure enough there's one low to the ground right in front of the shed. Now I've got to get the gun out of the case again, load it and swing practically a 180 degrees inside the truck to get a shot. While I'm doing this I take another look, but it's gone. I finally get the gun almost in position and see the ghog peeking out from under the shed. It knows I'm there and it's not coming out. So I lay the crosshairs on its nose and put the trigger. Smack! 70 yds. Here she is. A big one too. 10 lbs 3 oz. Pretty sure it's the biggest I've ever shot in NJ. This one's got to be old and never hunted before. It's now 8:15. I figure I'm done for the night and pack up.
I drive around behind the shed to dipose of the body in some tall weeds. When I get back to the truck, holy cow, another one, this time at the back of the same shed where I just shot the other one not 10 minutes ago.
Again, I'm going to have to unpack the gun, load it, etc., etc. I can just see it around the corner of one of the other sheds I'm parked next to, so I decide to exit the truck, walk around to the other side to get the gun and get into position. Once the gun it ready I ease it up on to the hood of the truck, find the target and let her rip. Smack for the third time tonight. 30 yds. Here he is. Look at the size of that thing. This one weighed 10 lbs 7 oz. Another record!! I wonder how many other pigs that shed is holding???
I haven't seen one that big (other than the two I shot yesterday in PA) since I started shooting ghogs at the golf course four or five years ago. Guess it pays to stay late sometimes. It's now 8:30, getting dark and I'm done.
It's been two great days of shooting, back to back. Wonder what the future holds???
Some of the healthiest chucks I've seen for this time of year.
WD
