This story seems a bit fishy to me. There are a few inconsistencies that jump out at me.
First:I realized afterwards that it had actually been much closer than I had initially thought. It's large size fooled me into thinking that it was further away.
This seems to be backwards. Wouldn't a larger animal make you think it was closer than what it really was?
Second: Why does the story say that the hog was estimated at 600 - 650, but the caption to the picture states that it is 750?
Third: Why didn't anyone else see this pig? He states that he used pictures to get an estimate. If it were me, I would have taken the hog to the busiest place I could to show it off.
Fourth: I went back out the next morning with a flexible tape measure and my camera.
Why did he leave it out in the field overnight? The only reason I leave an animal in the field is if I was unable to track it and needed some help. Up here, if you leave your kill out overnight, the wolves will have had a feast before morning.
I hope the story is true and that the reporting agency just screwed up, but with all the phony stories nowadays you've got to be cautious. I would love to think I could see something that size through my scope soon.
RW