Almost every year after Christmas, my wife and I go hunting on public land in the national forests in East Texas, usually at Bannister WMA. Although we've killed a few nice bucks there over the years (and I missed getting a shot at a REALLY nice one), for me this is more about getting back to my hunting roots, as most of my earliest hunting experiences were in the "piney woods".

Over the years hunting at Bannister, we've watched feral hogs numbers increase. Although these are tons of fun to hunt, and we both really like to eat them, they are really destructive to the native habitat, both plants and animals. So we take extra pleasure in removing these guys from the population any chance we get.

This year, I was sitting on stand when 5 hogs burst from the underbrush (spooked by something). Only one gave me a shot, a big sow. I had to contort around and find a hole in the brush, and consequently didn't manage a solid cheek weld on my rifle and my scope gave me a bit of kiss on the forehead when I sent a 300 grain A-frame on its way from my 9.3x74R Encore. The bullet must have clipped a twig en route, because the entry hole was a neat keyhole rather a clean .366 diameter circle, but at only 25 yards, it was a complete pass through and she piled up after a 30 yard dash back into the brush. I'd estimate her live weight at around 250 pounds - I quartered her out and packed the meat out on my back rather than drag her the 1 1/4 miles back to the nearest road. Now I just have to find somebody locally that can make me some tamales!

Yea, the hunting experiences of my youth were in the piney woods of Georgia, which looks much like it is in your picture. Back then there were few hogs, but it's different now. I sure would like to be hunting there over the holidays.

Congrats on a fine hunt and great results. BTW, I like your rifle, especially the wood.

KB

rifle made with the reamer I got from you . . . which I sold to another guy on here that made a 9.3x74R for his wife . . .

I'm very happy to see you enjoying your rifle. That reamer went the way all good reamers should go. Spread the joy. That way we get the use of it without having the cost sit on a shelf forever.

KB