The three of us (my brother, myself and my bud Jeff) went out with Avila guides... I know it's a lot of money but as a first timer, I really wanted to see/learn what the process of a harvest was...I figured I'm paying for a lesson from someone who does it almost every week... In terms of hog hunting, all i know is what ive seen on tv/web and stories from friends...tv/web makes it seem really easy and glamorizes the process..its definitely not easy, it's much harder work.. it made me truly appreciate the labor behind it..I realized if i were to do this on my own, id really have to enjoy the idea of working for it..even with that change of my expectations, it was still amazing and worth it and i plan on hunting hogs again
As for the fun part..the hunt....
We were split into two groups and we were out trying to spot them right around sunrise (they were out and about feeding)... the land we were in was prime feeding for them..tons of barley, easy water sources
Our guide knew where to go (its his family land after all) and within our 3rd glassing spot, we spotted 2 adults and about 4 piglets just munching through a field..(about 250yds away)... We suspected they spotted us quick because they were already making their way over the hill. In the distance there was a huge pig 3 hills away.. my brother and his guide was closer to it and start heading towards the larger one in the distance...as they approached he ended up being spooked and ran...luckily there was a smaller pig ignoring the big boar and that ended up being target #1...
we made our way towards that pig and my brother and guide went to set up for a shot (guessing about 80-90yds)...he got around 3 shots off to take that bugger down, first shot hit the pig in what it seems is her nasal cavity, which pissed her off and she started to bolt..second shot in the body, stunned her...and took a final killing shot to put her out of her misery... she ended up being about a 100lbs..our first nab..
we haul over to next hill to see if we can get those pig that went over the hill and we happen to see a boar in the next valley below (target #2), it seems to be curious with whats happening with all the shooting and is looking away from us..we approach and I'm probably 50-60yds away and i set up for a shot, aiming for his heart..i had an opportunity for a quick shot, but i hesitate slightly and the boar notices us and get spooked and turns to run as im firing and i end up getting him in the hip...he ends up hauling ass, and we didnt want to let an injured pig get away, so our guide lets a few dogs loose to track down the pig...they end up cornering the pig in a lil gully, we get close, i set up for a head shot... our guide calls the dog away and down goes piggy #2 (the boar is about 150lbs)..if it werent for those dogs, sadly, that pig wouldve gotten away injured..ended up being a bad shot..a lil disappointed in myself..if i was on my own in similar situation again, i dont think ill take that shot..but anyhoo we got the pig in the end..just gonna chalk it up as a learning experience..
our final pig was the best shot of the morning...we search around for a while and we end up glassing this one hill side...we see a group of pig bedded in a pair of small caves they dug out... see two snouts sticking out on the right cave and a bigger pig booty on sticking out on the left, we get a lil closer and find a good spot to set up...we ranged it at 250yds.. my friend has pig hunted many times before and is a MUCH better shooter than I am. He knows he can make that shot. As he sets up...2 larger pig make their way out about 15 yds to the left of the caves...my bud shifts over sets up, takes a moment....and thwap! head shot!, down rolls the piggy, down the hill...(biggest one about 170lbs)
i'll save you the boredom of the hard part but our guide was amazing and did all the heavy lifting...showed me how to hang, skin and get the pig clean for hauling home..
in the end we saw a total of about 15 pigs...5 worth shooting, and the rest were lil weiners... truly loved the experience..
.
I have the 650t as well as the 64S. Neither one of them have gone dead on me in the field. Most of the time they are in stand by mode.
