patocazador
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2012
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Turkeys and hogs are legal to hunt right now so I went to some unrestricted public land. Right at daybreak I saw 2 small hogs (~50lbs. each) 150 yards down a sandy road. I had a shotgun with <a href='/tags/5' rel='nofollow' title='See all tagged subjects with: #5'>#5</a> shot but thought it would work if I got close enough. I tried to be quiet but the wind wasn't ideal and they spooked when I got to 60 yards. I followed them into a palmetto jungle but they weren't laying low, they were gone. STRIKE 1
I came back out to the road and looked back towards where I had started and there were 2 bigger hogs down there. I should have stayed where I was. Anyway, they spotted me as soon as I stepped out and they were gone. STRIKE 2
I walked along looking for hogs when I heard a flopping noise about 30 yards back. It was a roosted turkey bailing out of a tree. I tried to make out whether it was a gobbler or hen and by the time I saw his 5" beard, he was out of range. STRIKE 3
Doggedly, I continued along until I heard grunting off to my left. I pushed through some brush and there was a huge ~220 lb. boar glaring at me with all the hair on his back standing straight up. I didn't attempt to shoot him with # 5 shot at 40 yards because he could have torn me up. Luckily, he busted through some thick willows and was out of sight in a heartbeat. My heart was really beating, I tell you. STRIKE 4
I left the road and walked west down a dim trail for 1/2 mile when I came to a narrow place where two marshes joined. I started slogging across the boggy gumbo and jumped a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks followed by a drake wood duck. I bogged down in 15" mud so I turned around and made my way back to the truck. This was not Strike 5 since duck season is closed.
Within 100 yards of the truck I saw a turkey feeding in a grassy area. I made a good stalk and got within 25 yards when it turned and I could see it was a hen. STRIKE 5
Although I came away empty-handed, it was the most game I have seen in a morning's hunt in several years so I didn't feel cheated. But I did feel like the guy who brought a knife to a gunfight. Next week I'm going back with a rifle and sit on that road with a rest. My luck will be that nothing will show up. :Questuon:
I came back out to the road and looked back towards where I had started and there were 2 bigger hogs down there. I should have stayed where I was. Anyway, they spotted me as soon as I stepped out and they were gone. STRIKE 2
I walked along looking for hogs when I heard a flopping noise about 30 yards back. It was a roosted turkey bailing out of a tree. I tried to make out whether it was a gobbler or hen and by the time I saw his 5" beard, he was out of range. STRIKE 3
Doggedly, I continued along until I heard grunting off to my left. I pushed through some brush and there was a huge ~220 lb. boar glaring at me with all the hair on his back standing straight up. I didn't attempt to shoot him with # 5 shot at 40 yards because he could have torn me up. Luckily, he busted through some thick willows and was out of sight in a heartbeat. My heart was really beating, I tell you. STRIKE 4
I left the road and walked west down a dim trail for 1/2 mile when I came to a narrow place where two marshes joined. I started slogging across the boggy gumbo and jumped a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks followed by a drake wood duck. I bogged down in 15" mud so I turned around and made my way back to the truck. This was not Strike 5 since duck season is closed.
Within 100 yards of the truck I saw a turkey feeding in a grassy area. I made a good stalk and got within 25 yards when it turned and I could see it was a hen. STRIKE 5
Although I came away empty-handed, it was the most game I have seen in a morning's hunt in several years so I didn't feel cheated. But I did feel like the guy who brought a knife to a gunfight. Next week I'm going back with a rifle and sit on that road with a rest. My luck will be that nothing will show up. :Questuon:
