Post by Burnston on Sept 23, 2020 22:24:39 GMT -5
My work guns all begin with the number 4. When on the ranch, one of my .44s or .45s are always on my hip, not because I have anything against other options, but because these are what I've come to excel with. While i sincerely like guns, I do not care for change, and cannot always chance it given the situations I periodically find myself in while working. Case in point......
Last evening, my wife, eight month old son, and I were driving across the ranch we call home/the office when I spotted an arched spine just above the tall grass about 120 yards off. Knowing who she married, my wife patiently opened her book and sat in the truck with our son while I stalked closer to the lone boar indulging himself on our planted and fertilized Bermuda. He caught my scent at 59 yards, so I was forced to take him on the run where I broke his spine. His rear was immobilized so he used his front legs to make it to the tree line.
I fully advocate a clean kill. If this doesn't happen, track it and kill it. However, going after a wounded boar on foot in close quarters is a risky proposition, and quite dangerous. He became very aggressive and violent, understandably. It was a close Donnybrook affair until he finally succumbed to his injuries. By the end of the stand-off I had put seven slugs into him. It should now be noted that I was shooting a .357; 160gr lswc over 1*gr H110. I do not typically use this pistol or this load on large hogs, (he weighed 288,) and do not intend to do so again. Still, when your business is cattle and hay, you do not pass a rooting hog, .357 not withstanding. The m28 happened to be in my glove box, while all pistols beginning with 4 remained inconveniently at home. I know better than this, yet still made the mistake. He is dead, dressed, and frozen, but it was not a clean, safe, or ethical kill. This simply goes to emphasize the need for practice, shot placement, and familiarity/comfort with your firearm. The 28 is a fine pistol and the .357 a fine caliber, but neither are my personal best foot.
On a more positive note, I'll say that the Cold Steel Ranch Boss II is a nice little blade for a person on a budget. Typically I am a Benchmade fellow as far as folders go, but my son "bought" me this for my birthday and it held its sharp edge splendidly during the laborious dressing of this beast. For anyone unwilling to spend more than $50 on a folder, I think this will fill your needs.
As a final note, there are a few things those who have never hunted hogs, or are perhaps considering it, may find interesting.
1. Yes, there is a hard, calloused section of skin along both shoulders that some erroneously refer to as an "armor plate," but it is easily penetrated by a reasonably charged bullet. Even a .22 would penetrate it, though I would not recommend this.
2. Wounded or healthy, hogs will fight. As with bovine critters, the females are often more aggressive than the males, especially where their offspring are involved.
3. Shot placement
4. Shot placement
Last evening, my wife, eight month old son, and I were driving across the ranch we call home/the office when I spotted an arched spine just above the tall grass about 120 yards off. Knowing who she married, my wife patiently opened her book and sat in the truck with our son while I stalked closer to the lone boar indulging himself on our planted and fertilized Bermuda. He caught my scent at 59 yards, so I was forced to take him on the run where I broke his spine. His rear was immobilized so he used his front legs to make it to the tree line.
I fully advocate a clean kill. If this doesn't happen, track it and kill it. However, going after a wounded boar on foot in close quarters is a risky proposition, and quite dangerous. He became very aggressive and violent, understandably. It was a close Donnybrook affair until he finally succumbed to his injuries. By the end of the stand-off I had put seven slugs into him. It should now be noted that I was shooting a .357; 160gr lswc over 1*gr H110. I do not typically use this pistol or this load on large hogs, (he weighed 288,) and do not intend to do so again. Still, when your business is cattle and hay, you do not pass a rooting hog, .357 not withstanding. The m28 happened to be in my glove box, while all pistols beginning with 4 remained inconveniently at home. I know better than this, yet still made the mistake. He is dead, dressed, and frozen, but it was not a clean, safe, or ethical kill. This simply goes to emphasize the need for practice, shot placement, and familiarity/comfort with your firearm. The 28 is a fine pistol and the .357 a fine caliber, but neither are my personal best foot.
On a more positive note, I'll say that the Cold Steel Ranch Boss II is a nice little blade for a person on a budget. Typically I am a Benchmade fellow as far as folders go, but my son "bought" me this for my birthday and it held its sharp edge splendidly during the laborious dressing of this beast. For anyone unwilling to spend more than $50 on a folder, I think this will fill your needs.
As a final note, there are a few things those who have never hunted hogs, or are perhaps considering it, may find interesting.
1. Yes, there is a hard, calloused section of skin along both shoulders that some erroneously refer to as an "armor plate," but it is easily penetrated by a reasonably charged bullet. Even a .22 would penetrate it, though I would not recommend this.
2. Wounded or healthy, hogs will fight. As with bovine critters, the females are often more aggressive than the males, especially where their offspring are involved.
3. Shot placement
4. Shot placement