roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 1
Hello Group,
I have had no luck wild pig hunting, here in FL, until Sunday evening. My wife, Storm and I were near Crystal River on the W. coast of FL. This is a fair chase hunt with no fenced in pigs. Capt. Billy Henderson of Crystal River is the guide who gets us deep into the privately owned jungle to hunt.
As we drove in the jungle trails in Billy's electric buggy, we saw numerous spots where pigs had rooted up the ground and torn into palm trees, along with pig droppings. I got into my treestand at 3:00 P.M. The weather was cold but only somewhat overcast, with wind coming from the west, off the Gulf of Mexico.
I settled in to wait for my chance. I heard rustling and a large Armadilla sauntered up to my tree, rooting as he moved forward. I had seen many Armadilla, but I passed the time watching him. Suddenly there was a flurry of action and I saw that the Armadilla was attacking a five foot black snake! The fight went on for maybe thirty seconds and appeared to be a draw, as the Armadilla did not appear able to get the snake near enough to his head, to prevent the snake from biting his face. The snake left and Armadilla appeared much disheartened by missing his dinner.
Shortly two different groups of turkey passed by at about fifty yards and I had fun glassing them and especially the Toms!
Right at 4:55 P.M., eight pigs came trotting down the path and clearing that I was watching. From practice, I felt the Browning Stainless Stalker in .280Rem., snug into my shoulder and had a short time to pick my pig. The largest was an old sow, with breast nearly dragging the ground. I estimate that she went 250 lbs. on the hoof. Somehow, I instantly decided not to take her and shifted the scope to the next largest pig, which turned out to be an adolescent boar, about 150 lbs. dressed out. As he trotted, the 140 grain Nosler AB took him midway in the left side of his neck, and exited forward, in the right side of his neck. He dropped in place and the rest of the pigs were gone, long before I could get a second shot at them. Plus, I was holding on my downed pig to make certain that he did not attempt to rise. He only kicked feeblely a few times with his hind leg.
Since I still had nearly two hours of shooting light (pigs can legally be shot even after dark), I climded down with my rifle at the ready and dragged my pig back to the cover near my stand, in hopes that more would run down the trail. By full dark, no more had showed up and Billy came by in his buggy with Storm,to pick me up.
Over the past month, this was my second outing wth Billy. I can recommend him as being a good guy with lots of fine equipment to get you onto pigs. He has multiple trail cameras with modem, with which he can monitor stands from home or truck, 24 hours a day. The only down side was, that Storm and I were unlucky in not seeing more pigs after 2 1/2 days of hunting and only bagging one pig. I cannot blame Billy for the lack of kills and/or sightings. The pigs are there, but we just did not have the luck. Still a day in the woods is worth much more than a day in the cities!
Best,
Steven in DeLand, FLView attachment IMG_5939.JPG
I have had no luck wild pig hunting, here in FL, until Sunday evening. My wife, Storm and I were near Crystal River on the W. coast of FL. This is a fair chase hunt with no fenced in pigs. Capt. Billy Henderson of Crystal River is the guide who gets us deep into the privately owned jungle to hunt.
As we drove in the jungle trails in Billy's electric buggy, we saw numerous spots where pigs had rooted up the ground and torn into palm trees, along with pig droppings. I got into my treestand at 3:00 P.M. The weather was cold but only somewhat overcast, with wind coming from the west, off the Gulf of Mexico.
I settled in to wait for my chance. I heard rustling and a large Armadilla sauntered up to my tree, rooting as he moved forward. I had seen many Armadilla, but I passed the time watching him. Suddenly there was a flurry of action and I saw that the Armadilla was attacking a five foot black snake! The fight went on for maybe thirty seconds and appeared to be a draw, as the Armadilla did not appear able to get the snake near enough to his head, to prevent the snake from biting his face. The snake left and Armadilla appeared much disheartened by missing his dinner.
Shortly two different groups of turkey passed by at about fifty yards and I had fun glassing them and especially the Toms!
Right at 4:55 P.M., eight pigs came trotting down the path and clearing that I was watching. From practice, I felt the Browning Stainless Stalker in .280Rem., snug into my shoulder and had a short time to pick my pig. The largest was an old sow, with breast nearly dragging the ground. I estimate that she went 250 lbs. on the hoof. Somehow, I instantly decided not to take her and shifted the scope to the next largest pig, which turned out to be an adolescent boar, about 150 lbs. dressed out. As he trotted, the 140 grain Nosler AB took him midway in the left side of his neck, and exited forward, in the right side of his neck. He dropped in place and the rest of the pigs were gone, long before I could get a second shot at them. Plus, I was holding on my downed pig to make certain that he did not attempt to rise. He only kicked feeblely a few times with his hind leg.
Since I still had nearly two hours of shooting light (pigs can legally be shot even after dark), I climded down with my rifle at the ready and dragged my pig back to the cover near my stand, in hopes that more would run down the trail. By full dark, no more had showed up and Billy came by in his buggy with Storm,to pick me up.
Over the past month, this was my second outing wth Billy. I can recommend him as being a good guy with lots of fine equipment to get you onto pigs. He has multiple trail cameras with modem, with which he can monitor stands from home or truck, 24 hours a day. The only down side was, that Storm and I were unlucky in not seeing more pigs after 2 1/2 days of hunting and only bagging one pig. I cannot blame Billy for the lack of kills and/or sightings. The pigs are there, but we just did not have the luck. Still a day in the woods is worth much more than a day in the cities!
Best,
Steven in DeLand, FLView attachment IMG_5939.JPG
