We hunted two days, a few hours in the morning and at the end of the day until dark.

Day one we got to our nice roomy elevated blind just before sunrise and all was quiet. There was feeder ahead and slightly left and downhill at 80 yards or so and one ahead and a little right at about 115 yards.
There were some clear patches scattered here and there with a cleared swath through the mesquites several hundred yards straight ahead.
First up were some jakes and a few hens at the right feeder then some whitetails came to both feeders and more turkeys including some decent Toms and a few jakes and we had pretty much the same action at the evening hunt out of the same stand.
No sight of any hogs yet, but I was never bored because Randall kept me occupied with good conversation including sharing his knowledge on hogs and such. It was a very good day.
Day two was a bit different and could only be described by one word/ more.
Back to the stand early and the action pretty much doubled and most of the deer had short antlers, turkeys were showing up nearly non-stop and before the morning was over, Randall got a glimpse of a Coyote cruising through at an angle behind the left feeder. Several big Toms showed up and we saw beards 12 inches plus and one of them gave us a good display of his plumage and his beard was so long it appeared to be dragging the ground. He was a big fella with a fine fan on him.
Then around 8 o'clock or so I spotted movement at the far end of the 100 yard wide center swath and even with just my eye glasses I could see the fat sow taking the lead followed by some young ones and immediately thereafter, another bigger sow who was followed by more piglets. I got right on them with the VX-III and we decided to hold off thinking that they would swing down to the feeder. We didn't get the chance so they were apparently just passing through. Those were some big sows. Things were looking up.

All 3 hunts at this blind worked out with no rain and the wind in our face until the last half hour of that last hunt where it shifted to the back of our heads. So, we decided on a another mesquite blind with the wind in our faces for the evening and last hunt.
So, having used a borrowed gun thus far (because I only had 3 rounds for my gun), I decided to take my single shot for the last evening hunt in our open stand about a half mile across the way from the blind we had used for the other 3 hunts. Our stand was at the edge of the mesquites facing a feeder 80 yards upwind from the edge of the mesquites. Other than another coyote hauling butt across afield to our right as we drove a road en route to the blind, action was slow at first except for more turkeys coming from the right grass field then catty cornering away from us and and a racoon that was hanging out right in the tall grass at the edge of the feeder for a good 45 minutes. Then around 8 PM some does came out of the woods to the feeder for about a minute then seemed disturbed by something and moved away from the woods into the field another 30 yards or so. Shortly thereafter, Randall says we got a hog coming out shortly. I got the gun up pushed the cocking button forward and asked if he was getting close to the feeder. No, he's already there past the feeder next to a dead branch at the edge of the woods. I got right on him and asked "Want me to take him'? answer- Let him come out for a nice broadside shot. "I can take him now". Well if you feel confident, then go ahead. All I could see was his head and the top of his right leg and he was looking right at us. So, I put the cross hairs right between the eyes and anticipated the downstroke of my heart beat and the trigger tripped right when I expected it to. I barely got to take breath and Randall got all happy saying you got him, he went straight down! You piled him up on the spot! Good one! Handshakes were exchanged and I paced it off to the hog and counted 140 steps. So, we figure it was about a 130 yard shot. At 130 pounds gut's in, it's a nice meat hog. Had some backstrap medallions for breakfast today. Very tender.
Well, here he is. I think he nosed up when I shot and took the bullet through the right nostril. Randall found the bullet jacket at the front end of the left backstrap. I hope he finds the lead core after he butcher's the hog (minus the backstraps) for a local family in need.






pic upload

Great story, and congrats on the hog.

And yea...I think you are completely hooked now on hog hunting. I look forward to reading about your next hunt.

Good story, nice shot. Beautiful rifle, what is it?

Thanks Bobby. I am hooked on 'em for sure.

Larry, The rifle is my K1 Merkel in 7X57R with a Kahles 3-9X42.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Thanks Bobby. I am hooked on 'em for sure.

Larry, The rifle is my K1 Merkel in 7X57R with a Kahles 3-9X42.

Nice rifle, a good pig and good shooting.

Did not find the core, but I still believe it was the damnedest shot I have seen made on a pig.

I was watching thru my binoculars and one second the hog was looking at us, the gun went bang and the hog disappeared.

The parts that Ray left out was that thru various technical difficulties with the airlines, the rifle made it, but only three shells made it down here with the rifle.

I borrowed my bosses .308 Kimber, but he had not shot it in two years and when we checked it, we could not get it on the paper. That is one of the problems in carrying a rifle around all the time in the cab of a pickup and not checking it on a regular basis.

I got my .300 Weatherby out and took 6 shots to get it hitting where it needed to be, but I really wanted Ray to get a pig with his own rifle.

He felt like he could get the job done with one of the 3 shells he brought and I really hoped he could, because making a kill with your own rifle is much more satisfying than making a kill with another persons rifle.

Ray did a damn good job on that pig.

I appreciate the kind words hogfarmer, Larry, Bobby.
Especially you Randall. Thanks for the kind words.
You did pretty damn good yourself and well over and above what was anticipated. Very well done.

Maybe next time I'll get my tusker. I might even settle for one of those 300 pound plus sows that we saw at the top of the center strip. As soon as I get more of my favorite ammo, I'll start practicing on some long shots around 250 yards. Last time I shot at that distance, I only did 4-6 inches for 3 shots. Got to get better than that before I attempt any of those long shots.
By the way. The meat was still 3/4 frozen 14 hours later. Thanks for the tip. Good backstraps. Total weight = 4 pounds. Going to try my
{pink salt free} sugar cure on some shortly. Takes too long, hog burgers tomorrow night.
Well done Randall.

Good write up. Apparently a dandy shot too.
Sure made a bloody mess of things though.

Glad you guys had a good time, that's the most important part.

George

Yeah. Would have made a better picture without the splatter in that DRT pic. It was the only pic I had that had the gun laying on the hog. Had to include the rifle. Compliments appreciated.

Gun/hog pic now cleaned up a bit.

Mighty fine!

ya!


GWB

Thanks G. Like Randall had noted, the airline issue was a learning experience. I know I'll get scolded for this but here goes the 3 tries to where my rifle could be put on the flight. I guess my only excuse is that, this is my first time flying with a firearm.


1. I packed up my Al Lind Pre-64 custom in .270 into my Old Hoppe's aluminum rimmed hard plastic case and didn't trust those wimpy little locks. So, I duct taped all of them to protect them from the cargo handlers. Then I thought I better check size restrictions a lo and behold the total inches was 3 inches over the max for the standard rates of $50 total round trip. $400 round trip was out of the question for an oversized fee.

So, I put the rifle in a leather carry bag and stuffed it into a box at a total of 60 inches and made a handle out of duct tape and packed a roll of tape for the re-seal for the trip back from Dallas. At check in they checked it and charged $25, and checked in the big bag with the .270 ammo ... cool. The young lady said nice handle, what's in it? My rifle, heading to Texas to hunt. Is it in a hard case with a lock sir? Uh ........ no mam. Delta's site only listed size restrictions. Sorry. That has to have a hard case and a lock. After some spirited complaining I ran home and grabbed the Merkel K-1 and put it in my hard aluminum case with a small lock and zoomed back to the airport with 3 great shooting cartridges and 3/4 of a box of RWS loads in my pocket that don't shoot worth a hoot.
Then I got to the check in counter in no time and realized that I had NO RWS box in my pocket. Apparently, it had fallen out of my jacket pocket when I hopped back in the car. Oh well. Bag 2 was now ready. The 3 cartridges were put into the carry on and checked as baggage. Bag 3 - check. Got through security and went to the bathroom and they called boarding for our flight. Whew!

Onward to Atlanta then Dallas. Finally theairport shuttle took us to our Hertz rental unit and I had just realized that that I lost all my itinerary. I still think the check in person at Harrisburg PA looked at it and left it on the counter top & I forgot to ask for it back. Thinking no big deal, all the other times we rented a car all we needed was our driver's license. Not any more. Return itinerary and a credit check is also required. After about an hour, they finally got through to Delta to confirm our return flight. Finally.....except for giving us the wrong car. No big deal. Finally off to the hotel.

Outstanding. Always good to hear when members connect for a successful hunt.

Couldn't have done it without ol' eagle eye Crazyhorse Randall. Man that guy has some amazing eyesight and knows his area very well.

My eyesight is the main thing I am most grateful to God for.

In fact, I really do not know if I would want to live if I lost my eyesight.

I know so many folks that do not have good eyesight, including Lora and feel bad for them because they miss out on so much of the wonders this world has.

I hear that and do worry about my eyes. Health is another thing, too. I took mine for granted before a heart condition made me pass out cold. The drop to the ground woke me up. It took several years to get it back to normal.

Like my signature line says.........
.............

Custombolt:

You're sure right about that!
Seven years with this war so far.
Hope you're over your problems.

George

I wish you well George. Fight for it.
About doctors, if I had $100 for every doctor or senior ER physician that said, you're fine, your EKG EEG SCAN sonar, etc looks normal I'd be able to buy a nice custom rifle with the money. One specialist can make all the difference.

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Custombolt:

You're sure right about that!
Seven years with this war so far.
Hope you're over your problems.

George

custombolt. read your story. Can you say FUBAR? sounds like some of my trips. couple of years ago, drove clear to S> Dakota to shoot Pdogs and discovered I had left my ammo home. Fortunately had about a 100 rds left from 2007, still in the van. You live up in PA? I live down outside of Balmer.

Custombolt
What I'd like to collect is the difference between what's billed and what Medicare pays!!

So far since Nov '12 I've run up over $2.5mil and not anywhere near done yet.
Two knee's I hope the year, R in July I'm working on. 5-6 months later the other one.

Good luck with your end of things.
George

Yep, right here next to Harrisburg.
How's it going down there? Still wet?

I actually had a partial box of ammo in my pocket and it dropped out next to the console sometime on the return trip back to the airport. So, none of the flight issues were the airline's fault except for maybe hiding the regs for checked baggage. Some lessons learned cost more than others. Good thing I had 3 rounds. So, I did have some luck. I'm thankful that I dropped one hog. Next time, 250 plus tusker! I'll be ready time.

Had it been a p-dog hunt, things would have been different having only 3 rounds of 7X57R. Tough round to find.
You lucked out.

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
custombolt. read your story. Can you say FUBAR? sounds like some of my trips. couple of years ago, drove clear to S> Dakota to shoot Pdogs and discovered I had left my ammo home. Fortunately had about a 100 rds left from 2007, still in the van. You live up in PA? I live down outside of Balmer.

Good golly,

2.5 mil? Do you have any original parts left?
My farmer friend spent his whole life jumping down from a big John Deere tractor and doing repairs on a concrete slab and finally the knees went. He had both knee joints replaced and was back on the tractor in a few months. Knee replacements have come a long way, still need to watch out for clots as usual. Ken was so impressed with the operation, he was pumped up to have the second one done just 2 days after his first.
I know a little bit about Medicare. Some friends worked in part B near Harrisburg. Lot of hoops to jump through sometimes. Sorry, no advice there other than forms must be fully filled out, no blanks. Good luck to you as well.

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Custombolt
What I'd like to collect is the difference between what's billed and what Medicare pays!!

So far since Nov '12 I've run up over $2.5mil and not anywhere near done yet.
Two knee's I hope the year, R in July I'm working on. 5-6 months later the other one.

Good luck with your end of things.
George

I get up that way once in a while. if coming up, could give you a holler first, and maybe we could have a cup of coffee. George has had a lot of work done. Told him, he's working on being the real 6 million dollar man. going out to visit him asa I get my cars A/C fixed.

Sure. Stop on by my business. Either coffee or there's a sub shop right down the street that gets rolls from Philly fresh everyday.
Send me a PM right before you expect to be in the area.