i had a hunt lined up with some hog doggers at a new place. i arrived early to scout the area, and a nice speed goat posed for some pics.
after dark some hogs entered the field and the largest laid down under the pivot in the wet peanuts while the others gathered at the center. i should have gone for the group kill, but i wanted the big one. shooting him first required me to swing over 90 degrees before reacquiring the runners, and I was only able to bring down two more.
i had another hog spotted two fields over. i could see him well, so at that distance i knew he was big. just as i began closing in, the doggers showed up. i flagged them down with a flashlight and told them where the hog was. the bay dogs jumped out of the truck and i jumped in. we only drove up a short distance before they stopped again and let out the pitbulls.
the hog moved into a corner that was a dump ground for abandoned equipment and trash, so it doesn't get shredded. we raced through weeds three feet tall, beams from the flashlights bouncing frantically between where your next step is vs looking for the hog and dogs. the commotion was just ahead, coming from the thickest brush; five foot weeds with scrap tin lying everywhere. squealing, barking, yelping, growling, and blood everywhere... it looked like a crime scene. i've never even come close to seeing anything like it before.
one guy jumped on the hog and another went in to stab it. i was surprised the hog didn't even flinch when the blade penetrated his heart. then, in the blink of an eye, he was up again and headed right for me, dragging dogs and hunters with him. luckily i was near the only tree for miles, so i turned and jumped for it. i hope i didn't scream, but i can't remember. right below me the guy jumped on the hog's back again and stabbed it on the other side.
talk about pumped. that was thrilling even for those guys. unfortunately, one bay dog had a hole in his windpipe and the other had enough of his neck ripped open his shoulder bone was sticking out. they required more attention than could be administered in the field, so they had to go back.
i continued on and came up on a good herd near a pivot center. the wind was right to use the tires for cover while i went in for the kill. i knew i was going to get several shots but didn't want to hit any sprinklers in the shooting spree. when the distance was right, i moved to the other side with my gun over my head to keep it out of the spray. now if they would just run back the same way they came in.
i started at the end and worked my way up from the back of the line. i know better than to "shoot into the covey", but there were so many i couldn't help it and aimed into the solid wall of pigs. i'm slinging lead but they aren't going down. finally i settle down and pick out specific targets. still, i found myself shooting at the same hogs several times. perhaps i was trying too hard rather than just letting it happen. i should have emptied the magazine and killed a dozen hogs. losing my focus after the first shot and then being overly deliberate afterwards cost me several hits. i did manage to get five though.