.45 Colt good pig medicin
Posted: 10 Mar 2018 22:08
“Sshhh!” Johnny Thompson, our guide, spoke softly with the authority of 20 plus years as a wild boar houndsman. “They’ve got one bayed!” With those words our hunt began on this snow clad, 20 degree, Feb. morning.
Our hunting party was nine. Four were long time friends. The four new friends were friends and family of the former, 3 of which had never boar hunted before. Without much thought it was decided the new guys should get the first chance at the pigs. Reflecting, it probably wasn’t the best plan. Not knowing what to expect, the newbies hesitated, giving the 300 pound boar the opportunity to break through the dogs. He charged at our group. Johnny swung around a large white oak to safety. Two newbies took similar protection.
I was the cameraman for this outing and was in the open. With a big boar headed straight at me, I released the camera to swing from its strap. My Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt was out of my shoulder holster just as the big pig did a 90 degree turn at 12 yards out.
The boar separated himself from the dogs and the other 3 hogs in group. He didn’t get to be that big by being stupid. (But, he did make a mistake that afternoon. Brian put him down with one shot from his T/C .35 Remington.)
Adrenaline was pumping through out the group. As the organizer of this hunt, Tom took charged of coaching the newbies. “When the dogs bay a hog, follow Johnny and do as he says. And, always look for a tree to jump behind.” It was decided that Gene would take the first boar.
“They’ve bayed in Pennycuff (a section of the farm).” Johnny announce. We were off on a 1/2 mile march.
Gene broke the ice taking a 200 pound Russian sow. Jake followed with another 200 pound boar with his bow. All in all, the nine of us harvested 10 wild boar. Tom, is an over achiever. He took 2 pigs; one with Ruger .44 magnum rifle and one with a perfect shot from his .45 Colt Blackhawk. All the pigs were in the 200 pound range, except for Brian’s 300 pounder.
My Rossi 92 cambered in a .45 Colt was in my hand instead of a camera for our afternoon hunt. The dogs bayed in the same location were the big Russian had been that morning. No one else seemed to be moving up for a shot so I eased my way to the front of the pack. OK, I might have pushed a couple people into the mud to get there. It was a personal thing with that big fella. But, he was with this group of four.
The pigs where moving about in the tangle of Mountain Laurel. One turned left crossing a small shooting lane. The second one was the largest of the group. When he follow the first pig through the shooting lane, I was ready. It was a slightly quartering away shot. My crosshairs found a spot 4 inches behind it's shoulder. The 300 grain XTP magnum existed the far shoulder. The pig dropped.
We hike over 10 mile (by a step counter) up and down east Tennessee mountains. Man, was it fun! With nearly 1000 acre at Clarkrange Hunting Lodge, it is definitively not a “pen hunt.” For those interested in a less strenuous hunt, they offer stand hunts. Tom took his second pig from a ground blind that evening.
Here's the link for Clarkrange Hunting Lodge. They're good people.
http://www.clarkrangehuntinglodge.com/
Note the Weaver K4 on my Rossi. Thanks Ranch Dog for all your help with the scope project. I love it.
Our hunting party was nine. Four were long time friends. The four new friends were friends and family of the former, 3 of which had never boar hunted before. Without much thought it was decided the new guys should get the first chance at the pigs. Reflecting, it probably wasn’t the best plan. Not knowing what to expect, the newbies hesitated, giving the 300 pound boar the opportunity to break through the dogs. He charged at our group. Johnny swung around a large white oak to safety. Two newbies took similar protection.
I was the cameraman for this outing and was in the open. With a big boar headed straight at me, I released the camera to swing from its strap. My Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt was out of my shoulder holster just as the big pig did a 90 degree turn at 12 yards out.
The boar separated himself from the dogs and the other 3 hogs in group. He didn’t get to be that big by being stupid. (But, he did make a mistake that afternoon. Brian put him down with one shot from his T/C .35 Remington.)
Adrenaline was pumping through out the group. As the organizer of this hunt, Tom took charged of coaching the newbies. “When the dogs bay a hog, follow Johnny and do as he says. And, always look for a tree to jump behind.” It was decided that Gene would take the first boar.
“They’ve bayed in Pennycuff (a section of the farm).” Johnny announce. We were off on a 1/2 mile march.
Gene broke the ice taking a 200 pound Russian sow. Jake followed with another 200 pound boar with his bow. All in all, the nine of us harvested 10 wild boar. Tom, is an over achiever. He took 2 pigs; one with Ruger .44 magnum rifle and one with a perfect shot from his .45 Colt Blackhawk. All the pigs were in the 200 pound range, except for Brian’s 300 pounder.
My Rossi 92 cambered in a .45 Colt was in my hand instead of a camera for our afternoon hunt. The dogs bayed in the same location were the big Russian had been that morning. No one else seemed to be moving up for a shot so I eased my way to the front of the pack. OK, I might have pushed a couple people into the mud to get there. It was a personal thing with that big fella. But, he was with this group of four.
The pigs where moving about in the tangle of Mountain Laurel. One turned left crossing a small shooting lane. The second one was the largest of the group. When he follow the first pig through the shooting lane, I was ready. It was a slightly quartering away shot. My crosshairs found a spot 4 inches behind it's shoulder. The 300 grain XTP magnum existed the far shoulder. The pig dropped.
We hike over 10 mile (by a step counter) up and down east Tennessee mountains. Man, was it fun! With nearly 1000 acre at Clarkrange Hunting Lodge, it is definitively not a “pen hunt.” For those interested in a less strenuous hunt, they offer stand hunts. Tom took his second pig from a ground blind that evening.
Here's the link for Clarkrange Hunting Lodge. They're good people.
http://www.clarkrangehuntinglodge.com/
Note the Weaver K4 on my Rossi. Thanks Ranch Dog for all your help with the scope project. I love it.