Nice pig and factory ammo

[markc]

Friday just before noon, I was in the woods at my local lease.  I intended to clean up the trail I made a while back, way back in the woods that leads to a new stand I hung earlier in the summer.  I was carrying my Marlin 1894 Limited with Factory Winchester  240 gr SP's, Tasco 2.5X shotgun scope.  It shoots those rounds really well. I was slowly walking the trail after crossing the shallow spot on Walnut creek.  I was snipping some new vines across my trail with a cheap pair of hand held prunning shears.  I had traveled about 40 yds when I heard a loud and deep growl/grunt.  Kinda caught me off guard as I figured I was making enough  noise as I went to scatter any animls in the woods.  

I turned towards the sound and saw movement across a small rise in the usually underwater patch of woods. It was large.  Another grunt/growl and I realized it was a really large hog.  It moved left to right and was heading towards the creek I had crossed.  I began to inch forward when I saw a large, white, pig trotting to catch up to the larger hog.  

Now I lost sight of them and before moving attempted to determine which direction the wind was blowing before attempting to close the distance.

Before I made a move I realized the two hogs were moving my direction.  I tossed my light colored hat onto the ground and looked for some brush to hide behind so as not to be detected too quickly.  I pulled back the hammer on the Marlin and without a good spot of brush to hide behind, I stood still and waited.  I didn't wait long though.  I was hopeful that the large hog would come into view.  I was almost disappointed to see the white hog pushing through the brush coming my way.  The hog finally cleared the thickest stuff and was coming through some youpon when I was spotted, I think.  The hog froze in her tracks.

I had already shouldered the rifle and since the hog was standing close by and facing forward, I took the only shot I had available, right between the eyes.  At the shot, the white hog dropped and the brush behind her came alive.  The bigger  hog headed back the way he came,  but growled as he went.  I went after him but he kept his distance, disappearing into the thickest of piney woods.

Turns out the white hog was bigger than I thought and was a dry sow.  The factory ammo passed though her noggin between the eyes, but a quarter inch low and exited her chest area behind the shoulders.  She was close to a 200# pig, although by my guess was around 170#-190#.  Almost killed me just draggin her out of the woods.  Those ham steaks are gonna be good eating.  Sorry no picture though.

Gotta love an unexpected hunt like that.
 :lol: markc

[shooter444002]

Good story, I also killed a nice sow Friday in the pasture in shephard. Was riding around looking for them as they are out every evening when I saw them on top of the pond dam. There was about 20 in the bunch counting hogs and pigs. They went behind the dam and I took off running across the pasture and got up to the dam and snuck quietly to the top. The hogs were rooting behind the dam and I took the first good sow that I saw, shot her at about 40yds with the Marlin 1895SS. Hit her behind the shoulder with a 405gr cast bullet over 42.5gr of IMR 3031(good mild load with velocity around 1500fps) she dropped on the spot with a squeal and hogs went every where. Had a small boar bluff charge me but I chased him and some of the others off as I only wanted to have to clean one. I can find them there every day so there is no need to be greedy. That cast bullet sure ripped a hole on the exit with a 4-5" rip  in the muscle and should blade, hit her behind the shoulder on the on side and through the top off the shoulder coming out. Eating a little of the strap tonight, wife is fixin it right now.

[jaberegg]

I know what you mean. I stopped at the property after work to shoot my pistol with new loads. Got there before 7 pm and had about 12 to 15 young one's out about 150 yards away. I started shooting at the steel plate at 37 yards to sight in the pistol. The little one's finally left an about 5 minutes later a big ( figure close to 250 pounds ) brown one comes out about 200 yards walking straight at me until it comes to the 100 yard back stop then heads back into the brush........ an all I had was a 9 mm! Would have liked to get one of the small one's but........ not enough gun.

[shooter444002]

thats where the old reliable truck gun comes in handy, always there for when you need it. Would have needed a good close head shot with the 9 in my hands at least to attempt that, though I have killed a few smaller hogs with a DW357 loaded with 38 158rn while cruising timber. But they were close and were in the 30lb range. Thought about shooting an old boar one day with the glock 17 while working but thought better of it as he wasnt a little hog.

[jaberegg]

The past month they haven't been coming out until about 8:15 pm. All I wanted to do was sight in the pistol then check on the feeder. Wasn't planning on doing any hunting or thought I'd even see one that early. They are coming to the pond but, have no idea when they are coming in, I think it's late at night. We'll have to hang out this weekend to see about getting one of the small one's for eating.

[markc]

nicely done.  Know what you mean about only wanting to clean one.  Last trap full I had was a total of 11 medium to small pigs.  My back hurt just looking at all those critters.   I tell the guys on my lease to never go to the woods unarmed in some manner.  Funny that many still do and then come back and report that they saw hogs, or worse, feral dogs.  Some times I find myself with the wrong gun,  but never with no gun at all.

Jaberegg, that would have been soe feat to bag one of those pigs with the 9mm.   :-)
markc

[WyoHunter]

Good story.. Nice shot!  :wink:
 I'll be making my annual bowhunting hog/exotic trip to Texas the end of this year.  Wish we had a few of those feral hogs here in Wyoming!

[les hemby]

i would agree markc. i may not have the right gun for situation, but will have 1 of some kind

[jaberegg]

I never worried about having a gun, even when I go out there in the evening just to relax I take my 4" 38 Diamondback. However, everyone here keeps telling me a 38 isn't enough in case you run into a "upset" hog. So I now have a Sig P 239 in 9 mm, and they say that's not enough so I have a S&W Sigma 40 caliber on it's way. I'm not out walking through the brush or anything just sitting by the pond or the shooting range screwing off. I've shot a few small one's ( not with the 38 ) but once you get one over 200 pounds........ even riding up to it on the 4-wheeler gives you that feeling after it's sat there for 20 minutes that, what if his buddy comes out. No, I won't be in Texas out in the woods without something, I've seen enough copperheads.

[markc]

if you wait a bit longer you likely will have hogs in Wyoming.  If they keep reproducing and spreading across the country at the rate they are now, all 50 states will have hogs soon.   As good  as they are to eat, and as much as they add huntable game and are an all year round hunting opportunity, they are so destructive to the woods here.  They will and do run the deer off as well.   It has been a number of years since I could go to the woods in my part of Texas and not see hogs,  or the sign that they were around somewhere.  
markc :-)