Near Success/Patience/Shot Placement

#0045

In my recent update from the tree farm, I was hoping to get a hog at the pig pipe.

Well, as I was hanging around the house after sunset (with the lights out) I would go outside from time to time and scan for any warm blooded animals. I thought I could see a heat signature through some brush. It would move slightly but not move into view.

I decided to gear up and try to move to see it. This was at about 2100.

Making a final scan before leaving the house, there they were – two pigs just east of the house in one of the food plots. I stepped off the porch and set up my tripod. Rifle equipped with night vision scope. It was about a 60 yard shot so I saw no need to move closer. All good so far.

Then, impatience kicked in.

This pig, as all pigs do, was moving about as it grazed. The proper technique would be to simply wait. They were unaware of my presence. The wind was in my favor. The best shot, as I have said repeatedly, is the broadside neck shot. Instead, I took the quartering on neck shot.

The hog squealed and ran off never to be seen again. No doubt, it died never to propagate again. However, the quick kill is the humane kill. It is the better way.

With the equipment on hand and the geography in front of me, I would get one shot at one hog. That shot had to count. Had I been more patient, I would have taken this pig. Get your mind right while hog hunting.

Porcus Hogrelius
Make Yourself a Better Hog Hunter