Got home from work this afternoon and decided to make another afternoon G-hog hunt at the duck farm. I decided to take the .22 Talon this time so I grabbed a container of CPH's and headed for the farm. As I pulled up to my usual parking spot I saw a medium sized G-hog about 60 yards away and he was standing on top of his burrow looking at me. As soon as I got out of the truck he dove down into the hole, but I knew there were plenty more to hunt. I loaded a CPH into the Talon and started walking down to the woods that border the farm. I like to stay close to the woods and bushes and slowly move around the farm perimeter looking for target of opportunity. As I was walking past the burrow where that G-hog had been standing up looking at my truck I suddenly saw his head poking out staring at me. I was only 10 yards away and I couldn't believe he would be so reckless, but then again maybe he thought I didn't see him. Anyway,,,, I cranked the AO on the scope to 10 yards and shouldered the gun. I put the crosshairs on his eye and just looked at him through the scope. After a few seconds I put the Talon back down to my side, told the G-hog he better be more careful next time and I continued my trek to the tree line. I just couldn't shoot a G-hog that was that stupid,, no sport in it.
I got to the tree line and began my slow walk around the farm. I got 1/2 way around the farm and came to a large duck pen that hasn't had any ducks in it for a long time. The field is literally covered with lush knee high grass and the G-hogs in the area have moved in to this field and it's surrounding areas in large numbers. As I scanned the grass up ahead I saw 3 G-hogs who had spotted me racing through the grass towards their burrows. Figuring that I'd now have to leave the area for an hour or so to give the G-hogs time to calm down and come out again I started walking across the field. I had only taken 2 or 3 steps when I saw something about 20 yards up ahead in the grass that just didn't look right. I put the scope up and took a look. It was a young G-hog that had "frozen" in the grass hoping that I hadn't seen him. How wrong he was :)
I put the crosshairs on the sweet spot and pulled the trigger. The Talon fired, the CPH raced towards the target and slammed into the side of his head with that loud "POP" that many of us love to hear :) I walked up and retrieved my dinner :)
I stayed at the farm for another hour but the humidity was really taking it's toll on me so I decided to head back to the truck and head on home. I reached the truck, stowed my gear and as I was leaving the farm I drove past a field that had about 50 starlings in it feeding on the ground. The birds were 45 yards away but I knew the Talon was up to the task. I lowered the truck window, loaded a CPH, picked out a bird, took aim and and fired. The talon barked and the starling flopped over dead as a stone. God I love this Talon :)
Came home, cleaned my G-hog and fried him up for dinner,,, but I made sure I took a pic of the Talon and her kills first :)
Jeff
