G-Hog Triple Header

[longislandhunter]

Finished work at 3 pm this afternoon and had to get rid of some stress soI  raced home, grabbed the B26-2 .177, the tomahawk pellets it loves so much and headed for the duck farm.  

Arrived at the duck farm, parked my truck in the usual spot, popped a pellet in the B26-2 and started still hunting around the edges of the farm.  I had worked my way 1/2 way around the perimeter of the farm, staying in the shadows and undergrowth as much as possible, when I spotted a large woodchuck greedily gulping down duck feed from a grain feeder 50 yards in front of me.   Keeping in the shadows and moving only when the G-hogs head was buried inside the feeder I managed to close the distance to 35 yards.  I adjusted the AO on the Golden Antler to 35 yards, put the crosshairs on his head and waited for him to remove his head from the feeder to scan the area.  After what seemed like an eternity he finally pulled his head out of the feeder and starting scanning the area.  I put the crosshairs between his eye and ear and squeezed.  A second later heard the "POP" as the tomahawk slammed home.  He fell off the ledge of the feeder, hit the ground, quivered for about 10 seconds then expired.  I walked over to retrieve my trophy and discovered that "he" was actually a large "she" and probably one of the heaviest G-hogs I've taken this year.  I put the G-hog in a shady spot for pick up at the end of the hunt and resumed my still hunt around the farm.

About 30 minutes later I spotted a small G-hog sitting up on one of the  earth mounds near his burrow.  He was about 100 yards away and hadn't seen me yet, so I decided to do a stalk.  There was no way I could approach him from the front as the area was wide open with no cover,,, but if I circled around I could get to a small open area between 2 large barns and come up from behind the G-hog.  It would be a long walk but it would get me directly behind the G-hogs burrow without being seen and a large piece of farm equipment would provide me cover once I emerged from the buildings behind the burrow.  

The stalk went perfectly and 20 minutes later I had worked my way into a shooting position 25 yards from the burrow with the piece of farm equipment behind the burrow keeping the G-hog from spotting me.  I kept my position for about 2 or 3 minutes and the little G-hog finally waddled into the open and provided me with a head shot.  The tomahawk pellet raced towards it's target and slammed home.  The little G-hog went down for the count immediately.  I placed the critter in the shade under my truck and went looking for G-hog #3.

As I was slowly working my way across a large grassy field I spotted another small G-hog sitting on top of his burrow mound.  I got down and crawled within 20 yards without the G-hog noticing me.  I sat up just enough to get a clear sight picture and put the crosshairs between his eye and ear.  The gun fired and the tomahawk slammed home hard.  The little G-hog flipped on his back and started thrashing around.  I popped in another pellet, aimed and fired, this time getting a good body shot.  The hog quivered for a few seconds then layed still.  As I walked up to the critter he must've summoned up his last bit of strength because he suddenly managed to pull himself into his burrow.  There was a huge amount of blood all over the burrow mound and the grass, and I know that little G-hog was hit with a fatal shot, but I really felt bad that he managed to make it back into his burrow before he died.  I layed down on the ground and peered into the burrow as best I could and I was pretty sure I could see him lying motionless inside there, but it was about an arm length reach and I wasn't sticking my arm down there just in case he had had enough life left to chomp on my fingers.  I tried pulling him out with a large stick, but it just would work. I even thought about getting the shovel out of my truck and digging him out, but the burrow angled down pretty steeply and it would've been a tough job to dig him out, so I left him for the foxes.  

On the way back to the truck I managed to nail a starling that made the mistake of providing me a 30 yard shot.  I took a couple of pics of the 2 G-hogs I retrieved and the starling.  All in all it was a great hunt and by the time I finished and headed home I had forgotten all about the stress from work.  Hope you enjoy the pics.

Jeff

Wow !!! that is a big one. I have heard that they are good eating. Going to try and bag one myself as soon as I get done the rifle that I am working on.

[Gene_SC]

Great shootin Jeff, And now we know that the B-26-2 can handle its fair share of the game..:) Fantastic shooting event always unvailed spectacular hunts by our one and only Longislandhunter..:) Sorry we missed you at the shootout buddy, but I do understand that, the Mrs. comes first..:) I personally missed seeing you and Ed but like I have said, there is always a next time..:) Glad to see you have not lost  your shooting form from your honeymoon Jeff..:)
That ground hog on the left is a biggin buddy. I guess you got them in the freezer by now..:)

Gene

[Big_Bill]

Great to have you back Jeff,

I knew you would be making up for missed time !

Great hunt Jeff, your one heck of a woodsman, and picture taker !

That third G-Hog performed his last Great act of Defiance !!! depriving you of dinner !

Good to have you posting again.

[PBJ]

Great hunting story, almost makes we want to import a breeding pair of ground hogs to the high desert, only problem is that the coyotes will eat them faster than they can breed.

[plateshooter]

Great shooting Jeff, that is one huge ghog.  The ducks can sleep well knowing you are there to protect their chow :)

Looking forward to reading your first adventure with your new CFX 22.

[shadow]

WOW Jeff look at that fatty!. That is a large g-hog buddy and that was a fine story and the pic's are fantastic. That's the .177 B-26 right, or the .22 and she look's so proud laying there with her harvest. I just got back into town myself and been shootin the new CFX.22, she's going to be a wonderful hunter and the Predator's work super in mine. Again buddy, great shootin as alway's and super pic's. Ed

[kirby999]

Great shooting and story ; I have always thought the .177 could hold it's own in the hunting field . Thanks for the proof. kirby

[longislandhunter]

Thanks guys, I had a great time on yesterdays hunt.  As I hunted yesterday I saw several new G-hog holes so it appears the last batch of young ones are now out on their own.  A new batch of G-hogs to hunt  :)

Gene you are correct,,,, yesterdays kills are resting comfortably in the freezer.  The big one is destined for the crock pot,,,, gonna make some G-hog pot roast.  I couldn't believe the amount of meat I got of that hog, but it definitely will need long,,, slow,,, moist cooking,,, so it's off to the crock pot.  :)    I've found that the real young ones are  tender enough to fry so he'll be headed for the frying pan for a future lunch.  Part of the reason I wanted to retrieve the 3rd one I shot was he was about the same size as the little one in the pic and he was perfect fryin size.

Gene, I was really glad to read how well the S.C. Shootout came off, that's great !!  I really missed being there, was really looking forward to meeting you, Bob and everyone else in person, but just couldn't work it out.  But I was with you guys in spirit  :)

I'm hoping to get the .22 CFX all set up in the next day or 2 and take her huntin.  I hope mine shoots as good as yours Ed, sounds like you got a winner there.  Those P-dogs better watch out  :)

Jeff