Hog slayer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2011
- Messages
- 305
- Reaction score
- 3
[FONT="]Well I just bought a Marlin 45/70 cowboy action rifle. After a long search I located one in the cabelas gun library. The gun was used but in 99% condition. I enjoy hunting with open sights. I took an antelope with my 50/90 sharps, which was a fun hunt. I thought it would be fun to try to take a hog with the lever action. So I worked up some loads, lead and non-lead. Went out and did lot of shooting with the lever action, fun gun to shoot. For the hunt I took some Barnes 300 grain bullets. I spent a week trying to take a hog with the lever action rifle but just could not get the right set up on the hogs. I came really close one evening but I passed on the shot. I just didn’t feel comfortable enough to pull the trigger. Well after hunting hard for 6 days, I went home empty handed. Well went back up to the ranch on Sunday and saw several hogs but they just gave me the slip. Saw one down at the bottom of the canyon. After hunting hard that morning, I told my friend that I was going to post at the bottom of the canyon where I saw that hog last evening. So I made my way there and hoping to get a nap in but no time for napping. I saw 2 hogs 3 ridges over. My legs were beat from walking the hills that last 3 days. I sat there for a few and said lets do this. The first hill was a nightmare. So steep and I just kept sliding down. Well after 40 minutes I made it up. Hogs still their feeding down hill. I had to hurry. Made it to the second ridge. Hogs are now 160 yards away, no cover to hide behind. The hogs were feeding around a small brush pile. Well I crawled for about 50 yards. Something went wrong; the one hog got scared for some reason and took off. Well I figured I blew that. There were about 8 hogs total. The wind was very still. Not sure if they winded me but they were gone. So I went after the lower two. I have chased these hogs in this area one time before. I made my way up the hill. I looked to my left, one hog 50 yards away in the brush, no shot. So I made my way on the trail. I knew this area. So much brush, I figured I was screwed. This was the hogs safe haven area. Well to my surprise, I saw ears and tails just below me. There was a small clearing in the trail. I stepped up and saw 5 hogs feeding near the trail. I instantly shouldered the lever action and cock the hammer. One hog was facing away from me. The hog turned for a broad side shot. I put the bead right at the shoulder and fired. The 300-grain Barnes hit hard. So excited now. Well I picked up my brass casing and made my way to the trail where the hog was. No blood for the first 10 feet. I located a large spot of blood on the trail. It was an 8-inch diameter spot. So the tacking began. After about 50 yards and following the blood trail, I located the hog down the hill. A very nice sow. I guess about 200 lbs. Well now the work begins. I kicked the hog down the hill and started to gut her. While I had the hog on her back I noticed a large hole through the sternum. This looked like where the bullet exited. Now was the long walk back to the jeep. During the other day while driving on this road a tree blocked the road. I took a good look at the tree blocking the road. After an hour of work I was able to drive the jeep around the tree. I was able to pull the hog out of the ravine with my rope after 3 pulls and headed back to camp.[/FONT]
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[FONT="] Such a great trip. I kept telling myself be patient and a shot will come. While skinning the hog, I noticed 6 broken ribs on the left side of the hog. The hog was standing broad side to me before I shot. I think what happen was the hog must have moved just before I pulled the trigger. The round entered the rib cage while the hog was now probably quartering away from me. The hog also being below me the round must have exited at the sternum. A quick kill, the round also grazed the heart. My shot was at least 30 yards. I was happy about that. This hog should be very good eating with all the fat on her. Well it was a great hunt and I thank the lord for giving me some healthy legs to chase these critters.[/FONT]
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[FONT="] Such a great trip. I kept telling myself be patient and a shot will come. While skinning the hog, I noticed 6 broken ribs on the left side of the hog. The hog was standing broad side to me before I shot. I think what happen was the hog must have moved just before I pulled the trigger. The round entered the rib cage while the hog was now probably quartering away from me. The hog also being below me the round must have exited at the sternum. A quick kill, the round also grazed the heart. My shot was at least 30 yards. I was happy about that. This hog should be very good eating with all the fat on her. Well it was a great hunt and I thank the lord for giving me some healthy legs to chase these critters.[/FONT]
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