Posted By: TxAggie10
Lots of hogs, broad daylight - 02/28/15 06:56 PM
Cabin fever is setting in. Figured I would share the excitement I had last weekend.
I made a spur of the moment decision last Saturday to get away from the metro-mess before the winter weather set in. I arrived in Hamilton County around 4pm. Fiddled around the house and loaded my gear into the farm truck. I set out for an afternoon excursion.
I started around the 650 acre property in a manner to look for hogs. Came into areas the back way hoping to jump something that would be unsuspecting. I've grown up on this property so I know where to keep my eyes peeled. I was a few hundred yards away, across a ravine, and behind two tree lines when I saw the sight that can get any hunter's blood pumping. I could see the backs and ears of several black objects moving at a steady pace towards an open field. It was ON!
Bounced through the ravine in farm truck, plowed over a small tree line, caught some air over a terrace, and was headed for the next hole in the tree line. Turned through the tree line and started snapping photos with one hand while steering with the other.
There were three times as many hogs than the photos indicate. You can see how fast I was gaining ground. I did my best to cut off the hogs from the thick mesquite patch and do some slaying. I'll leave that open for some interpretation. The one hog with my AR was one that fell nearer the open pasture.
I cleared this area and went on to my "honey hole" for hog hunting. Snuck over the pond dam on foot. Mallards on the water were startled and flew up in every direction. The hogs were just beyond the mallards and were just as startled. The hogs were gone by the time my AR was shouldered.
Moved on for the evening. Went to another property in a neighboring county. Saw dozens of deer but nothing exciting was illuminated by the spotlight. Back to Hamilton county. Started around the property again. Found hogs again just a few hundred yards behind the house but the brush was too thick to get a shot. Couple hundred more yards and hogs go in every direction. Gun fire lit the quiet of the night. Circled back trying to find the others but they had apparently beat me to the tree line.
The next morning as I was leaving, I saw a sow and an entire litter of newborn piglets right off the county road. The hogs were everywhere I'm tellin' ya!
And now I'm snowed in for the third day this week. Ready to get back in the woods!
I made a spur of the moment decision last Saturday to get away from the metro-mess before the winter weather set in. I arrived in Hamilton County around 4pm. Fiddled around the house and loaded my gear into the farm truck. I set out for an afternoon excursion.
I started around the 650 acre property in a manner to look for hogs. Came into areas the back way hoping to jump something that would be unsuspecting. I've grown up on this property so I know where to keep my eyes peeled. I was a few hundred yards away, across a ravine, and behind two tree lines when I saw the sight that can get any hunter's blood pumping. I could see the backs and ears of several black objects moving at a steady pace towards an open field. It was ON!
Bounced through the ravine in farm truck, plowed over a small tree line, caught some air over a terrace, and was headed for the next hole in the tree line. Turned through the tree line and started snapping photos with one hand while steering with the other.
There were three times as many hogs than the photos indicate. You can see how fast I was gaining ground. I did my best to cut off the hogs from the thick mesquite patch and do some slaying. I'll leave that open for some interpretation. The one hog with my AR was one that fell nearer the open pasture.
I cleared this area and went on to my "honey hole" for hog hunting. Snuck over the pond dam on foot. Mallards on the water were startled and flew up in every direction. The hogs were just beyond the mallards and were just as startled. The hogs were gone by the time my AR was shouldered.
Moved on for the evening. Went to another property in a neighboring county. Saw dozens of deer but nothing exciting was illuminated by the spotlight. Back to Hamilton county. Started around the property again. Found hogs again just a few hundred yards behind the house but the brush was too thick to get a shot. Couple hundred more yards and hogs go in every direction. Gun fire lit the quiet of the night. Circled back trying to find the others but they had apparently beat me to the tree line.
The next morning as I was leaving, I saw a sow and an entire litter of newborn piglets right off the county road. The hogs were everywhere I'm tellin' ya!
And now I'm snowed in for the third day this week. Ready to get back in the woods!
