Yep, right IN the mud hole!
Didn't have to be that way, but that's how it worked out.
Game Cam from last night showed the boar on the bait about 7:30 p.m.
Wind today was much less and I figured it would 'lay' a bit after sunset, which it did. I got on stand early (5:15), settled in and waited for dark. There was a very bright full moon out and the whole area was so illuminated that I could actually see flying squirrels going from tree to tree. That was kind of a treat.
Hog showed up early (6:55) and immediately stepped into the mud hole! Don't know why he did that since there was corn spread out on the other side.
So I'm watching the boar through my scope waiting for him to exit and hopefully give me a broadside shot.
On evenings when I hunt this stand behind the house (about 400 yds. away) my
wife is NOT supposed to let our Dachshunds out in the back yard because they bark (Dachshunds ALWAYS bark) and can cause me trouble at times when hunting.
So....I'm watching the hog, all is well. He is getting near the shallow end of the mud hole and about to make an exit when what do I (we) hear,
BARKING!
The hog lifts his head high, turns straight towards me and the house behind and just freezes. Well...this isn't good. I don't know if he is going to bolt or stick it out.
Not wanting to chance it....I decided to take a frontal head shot. Generally I avoid taking head shots because its a relatively small target and the one area on a hog that is apt to be moving.
I made the shot alright....but as you'd expect it dropped the hog right in the mud hole. In the shallow end at least... but still a horrible mess. To make matters worse, its so wet down there right now....I can't drive to the hog with anything and not bury it to the axles. So I'll have to drag it by hand about 100 yds. (uphill) where I can get a cable on it and winch him out. Not sure this was worth it.
Mrs. Flintknapper said she heard me shoot a few seconds after the dogs barked and THEN 'remembered' they weren't supposed to be out.
In the morning when I go to retrieve the hog....I'm going to tell her she has to go with me and help. Pretty sure she's going to Veto that though.
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