B26-2 Bags a G-hog

[longislandhunter]

Around 3 pm I finally finished the last of my chores so I decided to do another duck farm hunt.  The .177 B26-2 performed so well yesterday I decided to let her have another hunt.  Grabbed my container of tomahawk pellets and pointed my truck towards the duck farm.  

There really weren't alot of birds there today.  This happens sometimes, not quite sure why, so I decided to still hunt around the farm and try to bag a woodchuck.  Earlier in the day my oldest daughter told me she really wanted to have some woodchuck for dinner.  I have quite a few in the freezer, but of course they're frozen, so  I was hoping I'd get a chance to bring home a fresh kill for the dinner table.  

As I was slowly working my way along the the stream that runs the length of the farm I suddenly saw a good sized G-hog emerge from the heavy plant cover on the stream edge and climb up on top of the 2 foot high chicken wire fence that encloses the duck pens.  I stopped moving and crouched down so the g-hog wouldn't see me.  He sat on top of the fence for about 3 or 4 minutes surveying the landscape for danger.  Finally, confident all was safe, he climbed down off the fence and ran quickly over to the nearest grain feeder which was about 50 yards away from him.  I let him reach the feeder and watched him practically crawl inside the thing to get at the duck feed.  Now that he was pre-occupied I could make my move.  There were several other feeders in the area so I made my stalk making sure I kept one of the large wooden feeders between me and the g-hog at all times.  The soft muddy ground made for a totally quiet approach so I was able to get with 20 yards of the feeder that the g-hog had his face stuffed into.  

As I moved to my left to get a clear view of the g-hog I clicked the safety off, shouldered the gun and looked through the scope.  As I cleared the feeder that had been providing me cover  I had a full sight picture of the g-hog stuffing his face with grain.  I had a perfect broadside shot. I Put the crosshairs on his furry brown head and squeezed the trigger.  The pellet streaked towards it's mark and slammed home with a loud "POP".  The g-hog flopped around for a few seconds and then it was all over.  

The G-hog was an adult female and was a good sized one.  I figured it might be a little tough when cooked, but the daughter wanted g-hog for dinner so that's what I was gonna make.  I picked up my kill and started walking toward my truck.  

I was almost back to my truck when I noticed a flock of pigeons feeding near a grain feeder  about 75 yards away.  I slowly walked to another feeder that was 50 yards away from the pigeons.  The B26-2 took out a crow yesterday at 50 yards and I felt confident I could make this shot.  Besides, it would either be  hit or a complete miss.  

I knelt down, put my left hand on the feeder and layed the rifle barrel on my arm.  I Put the crosshairs on the pigeons chest then raised the scope the appropriate amount.  Pulled the trigger and saw the pigeon fall onto it's side and start flopping around.  The rest of the flock flew off as I approached.   By the time I got there the pigeon had expired.    Pellet hit the bird right under the wind and penetrated deeply.  

Got back to the truck, stowed my gear and before I headed home I took some pics of the duck farm to include in this post.  They're not the best pics  but they show what the farm looks like.  The big boxes in the pens are of course the grain feeders.  You can see the thick woods that border the farm and the there is a large fresh water stream that flows just inside those woods.  The woods are filled with squirrels, some rabbits, foxes, raccoons, quail, and even some deer.  The freshwater stream, and the ponds in the woods, are a magnet for all kinds of waterfowl making for excellent duck and goose hunting during the seasons.  Anyway, I mention the duck farm so much I thought you might like to see some pics.  

I'm also attaching a couple of pics of the 2 squirrels I bagged this morning in my yard with one of my B-3's. I looked out at my feeders this morning when I got up and there were 4 squirrels out there attacking my bird feeders.  Had to do something bout that !!  2 shots with the trusty B-3 and half my squirrel problems were gone.  Hopefully I'll get the other 2 tree rats tomorrow morning.    Well, sorry this post is so long.  Hope you enjoy the pics.  

Jeff

[shadow]

Wow Jeff, another great hunt and story.....the pic's are fantastic and the ol g-hog look's like a fat one. I wonder what we could do if we teamed up on a hunt hehe. Again super shootin, story and pic's buddy. Ed

Its a pictureaplooza :)  Nice pics jeff. i sooo envy you for that duck farm. My sister has a farm with horeses and all that. She said there might be some possoms to get rid of. I shure hope so. Your storys of the farm is making me envious.

[Big_Bill]

Gosh Jeff,

I never dreamed that The Duck Farm was so big!! And so many ducks !!!

Great account as allways Jeff, and the photos are great, as usual also. No need to mention you ability in the area of shooting, the pictures tell the tail !!lol

Still hunting there can be a great feat in it's self, soooo much area !

And that B-3 of yours has turned out just fine, and looks real good also!

And your hunting account's just can't be toooo long !
 

Great hunting buddy !!!

[plateshooter]

Wow Jeff, that is alot of ducks!!  Do they ever get to quacking all at once and give away your position?  Big G-hog too.  And as usual, great clear pictures.  Thanks for posting your very enjoyable read.

[longislandhunter]

Thanks guys.  Actually, the farm is larger than the pics show.  There's another section to the farm that I didn't photo, and there's actually another duck farm a short walk down the dirt road that's shown in one of the pics.  My friends own the other farm also.  That farm is where the egg layers are kept and raised.  Those eggs are then brought over to the main farm, hatched, and provide the meat ducks that are raised in the outside pens.

I don't hunt much at the other farm, although I do at times.  Hunting there mostly involves hiding in and around buildings and picking birds off.  It's fun, but  I really like spending my time still hunting the open areas, woods and stream areas of the main farm, so I mostly just hunt there.

As for there being alot of ducks,, the farm is only at 1/2 capacity right now.  They're in the process of gearing up now for full production.  When they are in full production there are approx.  5000 ducks in each pen and I think there's like 8 or 9 pens.  That's when all the grain feeders are kept filled all the time, and that's when the bird shooting gets really intense.  

As for the ducks giving away my location,,,,,, it's never a problem.  Those ducks quack all day, seems like they never stop.  After awhile you don't even notice it anymore.  Now the smell,,,, that's something else  :)
With all those ducks the smell is rather intense, but after heavy rains the smell just kinda grags your nose and won't let go.  I've gotten used to the aroma after all this time, and with such fine shooting I can deal with even the smelliest days  :)

Jeff

Hey jeff if that your dodge ram in the pic? if so is it a cummins by chance? :)

[longislandhunter]

Hey Jason,

Yup, that's my Dodge Ram  :)  not a cummins though, it's a  2005 1500 4x4  and I had a custom bed cap installed right after I bought it.    Absolutely love that truck :)

Jeff