Another Good Weekend “Social Distancing”

Second weekend in a row headed up to the to feed the cows and get away from CV19 folks. Went out Friday night to the Meadow and set up in the box waiting on a hog. About 8:00 the alarm went off for the north end of the field and I turned on the thermal and there was a sow and a pack of piglets under the feeder. She was off to the side and wouldn’t come in and finally left and the little ones followed her into the woods. About an hour later a boar came in the south end of the field and headed towards the feeder. He waded into the mud hole under the feeder and so I watched him for a long time because I didn’t want to pop him and have to get a canoe to get him out. So I snapped a pic of him when he was on the edge of the mud hole and only hock deep.

So I waited a bit more and he backed out and I lined up between his ear hole and shoulder and squeezed one off. He flopped straight down and I was busy congratulating myself at the execution of a perfect plan when he kicked both rear legs-twice- and went out of sight into the deepest realms of the mud hole. Crud. For some reason the scope didn’t record the video- which was probably good since it would just inflame me every time I saw it. Went over to retrieve him around 10 and the only dry exposed part of his body was a left ear. Yes, I’m getting older but I dragged his butt out of the pit by the ear.
In place:


And after extraction:


So Saturday night I go to the big field and set up again. Nothing but raccoons until the “last time I’m going to scan” and the sow and piglets from the night before show up at the 180 yard feeder. Agin, problems with the video for some reason but I popped the sow and she took off across the wheat field and piled up after about 50 yards. So I go back to the feeder and pick out one piglet about 15 yards behind the feeder in the woods. Got him, then the others scattered. 2 stopped at the edge of the wheat (210 yards) and I got the first one, then a “Texas Heart Shot” on the 3rd one.
Video of the piglets

Video of the last one
Called it a night and gathered up the victims with the 4 wheeler. The sow was big- probably close to 160 and the little ones were around 40-50 pounds each.


Good weekend and didn’t get closer than 20’ to anyone but the Missus.
Was using a Daniel Defense 6.8SPC, FLIR PTS536, and Hornady 120SSTs.

Oooh, Mud Monster! Yeah, if it had been me the video of the hog kicking itself into the mud would have been R-Rated (for language), at least!

Nice assortment of pork there!

Well done, sir!

Great job!!

A very nice couple of night's haul! Good job!! Having had a few mudders in my time, I have taken to carrying a light chain and a grappling hook. And for the smaller ones, closer to the edge of the mud pits, I have a gaff that I used to use when blue water fishing, and it works very well. Grab 'em under the chin and haul away!

They're nasty animals. Good job

Nicely done.

Just popped another boar in the mudhole. Dang it. Pictures later after I call it. Cold night he was out early. Glad I didn’t take the heater out of the blind yet- it’s 40 and gusty north wind.

Nice shooting!