Started with the landowner killing the big boar in the trap, and then last night I went for a sit with the thermal where a group of pregnant sows have been regulars. I got in my usual spot with the usual winds and checked that the new light I installed was working once it got dark--and it was. Turned around to scan the pasture behind me and the place to the east and spotted a "convoy" of hogs in line headed south -- 21 or more -- but on the other side of the fence. That place is off-limits.

About 9:45 I looked toward the feeder and it looked "different"---couldn't see the lighted space beneath--turned the thermal on, put the rifle on the shooting sticks and there they were--the fat sows. Took about 15-20 seconds for one to stick its head out of the mob and I squeezed it off. Too brushy for any running shots on the others. Pretty good sized sow--I'm estimating 160-170, and she had at least 3 piglets in the oven.



This morning I went to the other trap and had 3 shoats, so that makes 5 for the 24 hours.

Keep up the good work!

Great start.

George

Nice work! Tell us about the rifle/optic? Which brand of thermal? Sounds like fun!

Rifle is a Ruger Optics Ready AR in .223. Scope is a Pulsar Apex XQ50. I got it back in January and my first trip to the field on a cold night I could see skunks out about 250 yds and tell they were skunks. Pigs and cattle--600-800 easy.

It is taking some getting used to--for example, you can have the target/heat source in either black or white in the display and I had it on black for this trip. When 4-5 big ones show up at once under the feeder you can't tell a head from a tail, so I had to wait until one head was not embedded in the mass of pork. Next trip it will be heat= white to see if I can see ears and noses in the mass.

Scope is a 2.8-11.2X as I recall, but since I am shooting from a seat about 75 yds from the feeder, I keep it on 2.8X

Same stand, same armament--same result. Another large prego sow with 3 in the oven. #99 for the year.



This is a game cam picture which shows the sow in mid-fall(right of pic)--mighty timely.

and the dust the rest are making getting
the hell outta there.

good shot.

George