Best shot placement ever!

[MikenSoCo]

Hats off to two JHP'rs, BDB shot and killed the first hog he has ever seen by center punching the heart at 40 yds. stand by for his story and pics.... Speck stared down a 200 lbs Boar at thirty yds and passed on the shot as he felt it was out of his comfort zone with his recurve (although he shot dots in camp at 20yds). it was a pleasure to hunt with you guys.

 

[Speckmisser]

First of all, big kudos to BDB for a heck of a shot and his first hog!

Gotta say, Mike, you're the host with the most, man! I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate the opportunity to hunt up there with you guys.

For my part...

Well, it just wasn't that ol' boar's time to go. I followed him along that ridge forever (it seemed like). Every time I'd start to close in, he'd start feeding away from me again. Trying to be sneaky on that rice krispie ground was no mean feat either. Fortunately, he was making as much noise as I was. A couple of times I was so close I could hear his lips smacking on acorns, but his butt was to me most of the time (a SoCo lung shot?).

When he finally turned broadside at 30 yards, I thought long and hard, but the breeze decided for me. Of course I'll spend the next weeks going over the setup in my mind...mentally kicking myself for passing the shot. I'm fairly sure I could've hit him, but would my arrow have done what was required? Probably... arrgghh!!!

Oh well, it was great to get back to camp and hear Steve's success story. Mike's dinner was pretty awesome too.

This morning I bumped a herd of pigs out of bed, but it was too thick to see them or get a shot. Later, Mike bumped another herd (or maybe the same one). I could hear them breaking brush and rustling through the grass. It sounded like they were coming right to me, and I got comfortable and ready for the shot. Then all the noise kinda stopped. The danged pigs simply disappeared! We tried to push them up again, but no go. They'd left the building.

All in all, a great weekend, at an excellent spot, with awesome company. Mike, you need to get Mark to start following this list.

Oh, by the way Mike... those dots weren't gonna run down that canyon if I didn't get a clean hit.

 

[BDB]

I'd have to agree with you Speck, Mike was an awesome host. Invited us up to hunt, put us right on the animals, came and picked up the pig and I in the jeep and then cooked us dinner. Can't ask for anything more than that !!!!!

Excellent guys to hunt with and share a cocktail or two by the campfire.

This morning I kicked up a forky as I was stalking a flock of turkeys

Wasn't planning on shooting any but I have only been turkey hunting twice and didn't get into the birds so I figured I would follow them around for a bit and listen to the sounds and pick up some pointers for next season. The pic at the bottom is the surprised flock when I crept up over the ridge on them.

 

[fpscabs]

Mike
You da man

for being a great host. Speck, you made the right choice, when in doubt, don't pout. Takes more of a man to pass than it does to take a shot that might not have the effect that BDB's shot had.

 

[Orso]

Sounds great you guys. Congrats!! on the hog BDB. Speck I'm sure you did the right thing. Nick flock of turkeys, and I can't wait to see the pig.

Was this just a friendly invite, or was this a guided, paid hunt?

 

[DILPRXO]

Admirable showing of restraint Speck

 

[Speckmisser]

Thanks guys. It was a hard call, but I've lost game before and it's a sucky feeling to say the least. You learn the hard way to trust that first instinct... if you don't have confidence in the shot, you're already mentally defeated. I will be practicing some more 30 yard shots, though...just to see.

Orso, check out the "Saw my first pig..." post for Steve's pix.

It was a friendly invite, and it's hard to say just how appreciated it was. I don't get opportunities to hunt a property like that every day.

 

[BDB]

Speck, to me you made the right call. You can practice all you want but it is a mental game come shot time, and if you are not confident on the shot it will affect shot placement. Good call, and not easy to do when in that spot !!!! After hearing the story Mark told us around the fire about the 80 pound sow that attacked him, would you really want to be stalking a wounded and pissed off 200lb boar in the brush???

I haven't finished the little story yet but I did get a photo album up. Shows the camp, the hills, the turkeys and the pig. Even one of you and I after we finished skinning her. Thanks for the help skinning and removing the loins

Like you said, hard to say how much it's appreciated having the opportunity to hunt land like that with good people. Processing should be done in a couple of weeks, maybe a nice BBQ is in order

Here's the photo album:
http://home.pacbell.net/s1teve24/Pigpics/index.htm

 

[Orso]

All the photos turned out great. Beautiful country up there, that's for sure. Congrats! once again.

 

[MikenSoCo]

Nice job with the pics BDB, it's almost like we're there.

 

[One Track]

SWEET!

 

[havotec]

Nice shot and pig BDB. Speck, you did the right thing. Even if you shot that yardage ever day, there are times that the shot just does not feel right. Especially with the bow. Great choice.