Went out yesterday with my shooting buddy John and his friend Jody.This was Jody's first time hunting ground hogs so we wanted him to do most of the shooting. We were all to meet at the local Food Lion parking lot but John was running late so we decided that Jody would ride with me and John would meet us at the field we planned on hunting.
When we pulled into the field,I started glassing and within a minute I spotted one about 100yds. to our right making it's way from a rock break towards the railroad tracks. By the time I got my gear out of the Suburban,it was already at the tracks and running beside the tracks away from us up a hill.It stopped at about 200yds. and "WHACK". One down and we haven't even started the hunt. I had to shoot since Jody was going to use John's 22-250 but John was still on his way.
John showed just as I was getting up from busting the hog and asked if I got one already and Jody said "Yep"!!
After John got Jody his gear,we set off to the knoll we wanted to shoot from.Started glassing and we spotted one on the tracks looking in our direction.After ranging it and John instructing Jody where to hold,he connected on his first ghog. Shot was about 240yds.
After a bit more glassing,John spots one to our left feeding just off a fence row at 515yds.Jody tried for it but we could not see a bullet impact due to the grass.The hog ran to the fence and I kept glassing when I spotted another.I yelled"ghog 250yds. straight ahead". They both started looking for it and there it was doing a belly crawl going to our right. Jody got on it and squeezed one off and shot went just over it's back. It froze allowing Jody to chamber another round and his next shot went right in front of it's nose.By that time I had already got my rifle set up in case it was needed.John said "Dave,take it", and I did just that.
After talking about what just happened for a few minutes,we returned to our chairs and started glassing again.Was quiet for a while when I spotted one in a field on the other side of the tracks. Distance was 491yds.I asked Jody if he wanted a crack at it but he said no,you try it. Got set up behind the rifle and touched one off and saw the impact just over the top of it's head. It took off for the hole never to be seen again.
Glassed for a bit when Jody stood up and glassed a rock break behind us and spotted peeking over a boulder looking right at us. Jody got on it and sent it to that big pasture in the sky.
Soon after Jody had to leave and he thanked us for a great day.He is already wanting to get a varmint rifle and was asking us for suggestions.
When we pulled into the field,I started glassing and within a minute I spotted one about 100yds. to our right making it's way from a rock break towards the railroad tracks. By the time I got my gear out of the Suburban,it was already at the tracks and running beside the tracks away from us up a hill.It stopped at about 200yds. and "WHACK". One down and we haven't even started the hunt. I had to shoot since Jody was going to use John's 22-250 but John was still on his way.
John showed just as I was getting up from busting the hog and asked if I got one already and Jody said "Yep"!!
After John got Jody his gear,we set off to the knoll we wanted to shoot from.Started glassing and we spotted one on the tracks looking in our direction.After ranging it and John instructing Jody where to hold,he connected on his first ghog. Shot was about 240yds.
After a bit more glassing,John spots one to our left feeding just off a fence row at 515yds.Jody tried for it but we could not see a bullet impact due to the grass.The hog ran to the fence and I kept glassing when I spotted another.I yelled"ghog 250yds. straight ahead". They both started looking for it and there it was doing a belly crawl going to our right. Jody got on it and squeezed one off and shot went just over it's back. It froze allowing Jody to chamber another round and his next shot went right in front of it's nose.By that time I had already got my rifle set up in case it was needed.John said "Dave,take it", and I did just that.
After talking about what just happened for a few minutes,we returned to our chairs and started glassing again.Was quiet for a while when I spotted one in a field on the other side of the tracks. Distance was 491yds.I asked Jody if he wanted a crack at it but he said no,you try it. Got set up behind the rifle and touched one off and saw the impact just over the top of it's head. It took off for the hole never to be seen again.
Glassed for a bit when Jody stood up and glassed a rock break behind us and spotted peeking over a boulder looking right at us. Jody got on it and sent it to that big pasture in the sky.
Soon after Jody had to leave and he thanked us for a great day.He is already wanting to get a varmint rifle and was asking us for suggestions.
