This one starts with a not-good story. Last week I was out and nailed a sow with the thermal, but cameras showed no further activity for 4-5 days, then they were back this Weds & Thurs nights at the same time--10-10:30. So out I went for another sit. As usual, covered up with deer---7 does and fawns, for the first 2 hours. Some activity in the pasture across the fence to the west, but not like my last sit. Finally had a good-sized boar off in that direction but on my side of the fence show up. He headed towards the feeder and I tracked him thru the brush with the thermal monocular.

Deer alerted and I was ready, but he kept on going benind the feeder at a steady trot, in to the light breeze from the north. Guess the northern corn smelled better (or he smelled a girlfriend). About an hour later, I see him thru the trees, cautiously approaching the feeder---deer took off. Finally came into the clear and I switched on the thermal scope and started waiting for him to turn broadside, which he did several times. At last he settled down and I put the dot at the base of his ear and touched it off---he sort of staggered and ran off. Brush is so thick in that area I couldn't track him. Waited about 10 minutes, and walked up to the feeder. No blood and no sign of any hotbody in the brush. Walked the brush for the next 30 minutes and no pig, so I walked over to the west property line and watched a couple of hogs across the fence and a bunch of 'coons. Had to detour around a skunk on the way, and tossed a couple of limbs at it which semi-spooked the hogs. When I got to the fence and leaned up against a big pecan trunk just to watch things. Must have been 20 'coons working around that I could see-- Pigs never offered to come to my side of the fence so I went back to the truck and called it a night, detouring around another coon enroute.

I have 5 50-lb sacks of wet molded soybean/corn mix given to me by a buddy so I'm gonna bait the fenceline Fri/Sat/Sun and then give 'em a chance to come visit---report to follow.

Shall be looking for it.

Driving across town the other night I just
about ran over a coon crossing the main road.
Don't see many around here and for sure not
in town. Golf course on S, ditch and more
park on the N. Figures to be a good area for
them once I thought about it.

George

Put down the first of several "treatments" to lure the neighbor's hogs to my side of the fence, then went to check cameras at my bow hunting spot about a mile down the road--here's the visitors in the last several days, not including the 'coons and squirrels.


Ugly One--Target #1


Does & fawn



Coyote



Hoover Hog = armadillo



Grey Fox



If the bucks don't show up in the next 2 weeks, one of fatter does may get poked. I'm going out next north wind night and sit to shoot that ugly hog.

Good collection of animals.

Thanks for sharing, interesting to see.

Get that ugly thing, then some up close
pics of it. Many like that around there?

George

In the seat leaned against a big pecan waiting—so far 2 skunks and a coyote.

In the late 80s, I had built a blind on my lease. I was using my S+W model 57 in 41 mags. LOng story short I shot an 8 point buck at a close enough range that I overshot the heart + severed the spine. (was I shaking? most likely yes. When you quit its time to quit hunting).Anyway, when I went to the buck he was still alive + he had the most distinct look of FEAR in his eyes. I put him down immediately but I will never forget that look; he couldn't move but death was right there. Quick was kind. I still hunt but I haven't handgun hunted since. My issue + mine alone.REAL hunters in my opinion, truly love the animals they hunt. Kill, fine but I never want to be the harbinger before the fact that would give anyone such fear before demise. Yes, it affected me + I hope that was a rememberence of my humanity.

Pigs across the fence to the west got within 50 yds but eventually wandered off to the west and never crossed to my side. About 30 minutes later I am scanning and see a bunch about 75 yds to the east of me--not where I expected them to come from. They gradually worked their way to the bait corn in front of me, about 60 - 70 yds away. I got one sideways in the clear and hammered him--down and dead. The rest scattered but stopped about 125 yds away and looked back--mistake. I put the lighted reticle dot on one and smacked her--but hit far back and spined her. walked over and administered the kill shot and called it a night--

My plan worked, except it didn't involve the pigs from the west pasture, but a dead pig is a dead pig, and between me and the neighbors, this is 110+ from this creek drainage this year.

Norm:

That's how I feel too.
I sure don't want anything to suffer due to
my doings.

George

RS you have a good heart and act accordingly. I think you were raised quite well. The right way. I wish to be back in TX hunting hogs again one day. Good to see guys doing it in my absence. Be Well, Packy.

Two more boar shoats in the trap today, and my buddy killed another large boar last week--

Got a report from my land-owner pig murderin' partner---12 in the trap and a solo boar this past week--

This makes 259 for the year for us--and we still have 7 wks to go. We may yet make it to 300.

And--Ken reported another largish boar down--260
is the count now