Sonoma Pig Hunting Update (no pig)

[calihunter05]

Thanks for all those who replied regarding brining some hogs onto the property. Thought I would give you guys an update/story on the weekend, also open for advice/suggestions.

Note:Rookie hunter and still learning...ig-laughing:

Got to the property Friday night and made sure we were both quiet getting in. I woke up Saturday morning at sunrise to walk the property. Almost the entire property has been rooted and there is pig scat all over. Nothing doing in the back of the property so I worked my way to the front half of the property. As I come around the corner to a clearing near the entrance I spot a HUGE sow with three or four piglets but my attention is focused on the sow below me. I quickly get prone and set up my bipod on my .308. She is about 65 yards in front of me and doesnt notice my presence. I get her sighted in and put the crosshairs right behind her front legs. After moving to quick on a buck in A zone and missing high I wanted to get this perfect. The butt of the gun is mounted in my shoulder but I didnt feel it was steady enough so I tried to change shooting positions and rest the butt of the gun on my left hand to make it more stabe. I checked the scope once more and was finally ready to pull the trigger..(60 sec later) and got her in my sights again only for her to turn towards me and quickly turn and run the other way across the neighbors fence line piglets right behind her. :smiley_doh: No more pigs on the property for the next two days and came home empty handed. I did put out some black gold scent around different areas of the property and a trail cam that I will go up and get sometime soon.

....Lesson learned, I need to setup quicker and take the shot when I have it, be confident with my gear and setup.
I uploaded the video to youtube last night so you can take a look. Sorry about the grainy video quality, there was not enough sunlight yet to get a good video. (shot with gopro3)

http://youtu.be/NENpga2S47g

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

So close yet so far, can u say shaazaam! Yep wild pigs are are like cats sometimes they got nine lives....lol
Yeh u got to be quick with them sometimes as soon as they appear they dissappear just as quick and a sow with her little ones is on alert for any danger and quick to react. I have blown many opportunities just like that with a bow hunting pigs not reacting right away, any delay or second thoughts results in missed opportunities. Just a learning curve. U will figure it out and score eventually, good luck and don't think too hard and u will find success grasshopper. ..lol....tra
Cool video looks good size for being that far away, u did take too much time though for that nice broadside shot, but u got to do what feels right to u as a hunter on the shot u want to make knot what some else thinks u should of done.
Thanks for sharing! I bet they will be back in that spot agian what time of day though is another guess.....tra

 

[Bubblehide]

If I have the time, I like to take my time in shooting an animal, and wait until I am solid sure in my shot. That unfortunately does not always happen. But as Tra stated, your the one that needs to be comfortable in the shots you take. Those two pigs I posted about that I harvested a few days ago, I set up in 4 different places before I felt good about my position and ability to shoot well, The whole time they were feeding, and moving about, with no idea I was there. I was well above them, and not worried about them catching my scent. Actually about 200 yards away, so I was also not to worried about them seeing me, unless it was while I was moving to change positions.

Clearly you know you have pigs on the property, and now is the time to be hunting them. But while you hunting them, you may want to try to figure out where they are bedding. From there, try to figure out how/where they generally travel coming and going from their beds, and start setting up on those areas if you can put it all together. It can take some time soemtimes, so don't expect it to happen overnight. Otherwise, keep after them, and enjoy the hunt, harvest or not.

 

[Cal Sniper]

Keep at it. You will get them. Private property is only a matter of time. I've taken many awkward position shots. You take one that your comfortable with. There's always next time.

 

[calihunter05]

Thanks guys! Its only about 2 hours away from home (bayarea) so I will have other opportunities at them. Hopefully a Big Boar!