Ever since there've been dogs running the farm, hogs have been sparse to say the least. Could solve the dog problem in its entirety but did my best - not seen in a couple of months now. Anyway, driving in on a neighbors place the population seems to be doing ok.

This dude and I have met a couple of times before. A couple of months ago he rounded a tree I was set up next to, well after dark. 10 yards and we stared at each other. Hunted him many times and in retrospect somehow he knew I was there, wind aside. He has even eluded my feeder camera...he moves out of its range most of the time or too slow to trigger it. But I figured he was living nearby as he was showing around or just after dark. So last weekend I got to where I go early and as I passed the barn in my car i saw him under the feeder, he looked up, and noped out of there. I stashed the vehicle out of sight and posted much farther but in eyesight of the feeder. About 20 min. later he came back and looked right in my direction. He knew something was up. I took a shot and missed - I was only 150 yards but I think I went over his back thinking I was farther.

Last night , I stashed my vehicle out of sight suspecting he would see it (how many times I wonder?) and posted in a different spot about 120 yards out, well concealed and backstopped. 830 he came out, walked the treeline, and never stopped. Wind came up but I had picked a good location , but 30 minutes went by and I wondered if he winded me. About 900 PM he snuck in to the feeder (it was on the far right of my lane) from the right. He was quartered away. I prefer the neck area but alas, behind the shoulder it was.

Went to where he ran and nothing. No blood, nothing? Confidence sunk as I searched for about 10 minutes. Went to where the hanging feeder is and saw some blood spots. The first 20 yards of his run had some very sparse blood spots on the weeds. Then the blood ran out. Searched and found him another 30 yards out. It took nearly 30 minutes to find him. No exit wound. .308 175 gr. BTHP

Glad you got him.

I always park my truck well away from the area where I will be hunting deer or hogs and walk to my stand. And unless I need it for work or maintenance purposes, my ATV stays parked in the barn until there is meat on the ground. Heck, I even try to be quiet when unlocking and opening the gate.

Funny its never been a problem before. I've had many 5 minute hunts driving up and seeing them. This is the first hog I've suspected of sensing my presence just because (wind aside). I know hes been hitting the feeder far more than it shows on camera. Pretty suspect hes been about when I've been posted up in the last few months without seeing him. Last night he certainly made rounds downwind for 30 minutes before coming in to feed. I have hunted the place for 6 years now and they are certainly not as lackadaisical as when I started.

I've killed five since March by just sitting in my tripod that's near a tank and walking the pastures late in the evening just before dark. The landowner asked I not use feeders so in addition to hunting near the tank, I look for areas where rooting is fresh. Killed one that had been rooting near the barn while I was sitting inside the door. Yes, I would say finding fresh signs of rooting is my most reliable and productive way of killing them.

Good job, I enjoyed reading the story, I know what you mean by him knowing you were there, I hunted a sow for several months one time, wind in my face, camo, and quiet but she somehow sensed I was there and would booger.

Sweet story, thanks for sharing

That dang cigarette smoke will bust you every time

IN all honesty, you have to remember these are still wild animals. What we perceive as an animal "sensing" we are there is nothing more than a wild animal being smart about its survival. They don't get old by being stupid....

But I don't smoke When they know they know. There's been a lot of em' that didn't know

Thanks for the write up and the killin Keep on em.