Immediatly after the shot is fired...

D

djonathang

New member
Hello All,

Back from a day of pig hunting.

I have a question. When I fired today, there was a group of about 15-20 pigs. I was sure I heard the bullet hit the animal, yet all the pigs scattered into the nearby cover. They looked like a covey of qauil. Suddenly, I was looking at an empty oat field (much like my quail hunting success - a connection - perhaps).

I walked over to the area in disbelief that I didn't drop an animal. Then, to my delight, I saw my pig about 20 yards from the inital point of impact.

This got me thinking that I'm probably not doing something right when shooting. I started thinking that I might want to fire, then lift my head away from the scope (as the sight picture is lost anyway) and watch the next events unfold - au natural.

What are your thoughts and/or actions once you've taken your shot?

Thanks.

DG
 
Follow your target. Focus like a laser beam. I hunt hogs too and have been in your situation many times. They're tough animals and can take a hit pretty well, it's your job to follow the right one.

You don't say where you're from but ours usually scuttle back into the palmetto/ swamp before expiring. You also don't mention what you're hunting them with. In tight brush I use a 12 GA with slugs, in more open but still inside of 100 yds. it's a .44. Down in Big Cypress Swamp the shots can be over 200 yds., there a 30-06 is called for.
 
Hey Swampghost.

Do you follow through your scope, or with the naked eye?

I'm shooting with a .270 with a 130 grain SP bullet, and lose the picture just long enough so the scurrying has me cofused which is which by the time my vision realigns.

Today was in a cut Oat Field. I was 200 yards away.

DG
 
After recoil,my head seems to recover to the same line of sight that I had through the scope. This lets me keep my eye on the game wile I cycle the bolt, and when I sholder the gun its on target for a second shot.
Unforunatly I have never been blesed with a field of game like that. I would think that It was rush and you were pumped. It sounds like you did just fine,and that hog was runnig dead.



.270 nice choice!!!!
 
Be on the lookout when approaching a downed hog. All too often an apparently dead hog will suddenly come alive after lying on the ground for a period of time. This is usually due to the wounded pig seeing a movement or hearing a human voice. If left undisturbed the hog will eventually die.

This happened to me again this spring when my hunting partner ran out of ammo. I approached the downed hog about 10 minutes after he shot it: My partner remained in his tree stand. Told him that I wanted to shoot the hog in the head. He said no the animal was dead. Suddenly the hog jumped up and hauled butt through the wheat field.
 
I have no dificulty following game with my eyes. A lot of people have problems locating game in their scopes and then locating them after fireing because the shoot the same way with open sights.

When using a scope, you should keep both eyes open. You locate game with your unscoped eye and then change focus to the scope..do not close one eye!

This method takes a little practice but you will get on the game quicker an your eyes stay adjusted to the light. It also helps with follow through on the shot if the game is moving.
 
Also, if you are using a variable scope, dial it back down a ways to give yourself a larger field of view. If you are cranked on max, your narrow field of view may prevent you from recovering from recoil and finding your target. I try to use the least power that I can and still get the crosshairs where I need them to be. That way, if I do my part, I can see the bullet strike and see where that varmit went. Hopefully it is straight down, but sometimes it aint always so.
 
Well,

It appears that this just might be a practice makes perfect situation.

I do shoot both eyes open. I just find the recoil of my .270 takes my picture away for a moment. Yesterday's shot was just over 200 yards. This distance, in combination with my desire to ensure a good quality hit, led me to zoom my variable scope from 3x to 9x. In the end, the shot was exactly where I wanted it (just behind the front leg up high) but I had to find the bugger in the field to discover that. I had no idea where it was.

I'm looking forward to the next outing. I'm going to work on marking the spot where the hit was made, and track from there. I think I fell into the trap of, somewhere in the field. Just not good enough. Make tracking your wounded animal extra difficult.

Thanks all.

DG
 
"...the pigs scattered into the nearby cover..." Most herd beasties will do that. Elephants do it too. Mind you, they'll come back to see what they can do about what happened and get even if they can. A pig isn't quite the same.
"...then lift my head away from the scope..." Quit doing that. It sounds like you may, I say again, may, be shooting at the herd and not one pig. Mind you, I'm guessing. No pigs up here. However, a target rich environment can cause confusion. Happens with flocks of ducks and geese. Instead of shooting at one bird, the whole flock gets shot at in the hope of hitting one.
"...find the recoil of my .270 takes my picture away for a moment..." That'll happen no matter what you do. There's no way to make it go away. Even with the best muzzle brake the rifle is going to move off target under recoil.
 
For hogs, Aim for right behind the leg and the LOWER half of torso. Their heart is basically laying on the sternum... A little lower and he woulda likely flopped DRT...
Brent
 
Immediately after the shot I...... re-load as quickly as possible and try to get back onto another moving target!!!!

Seriously, if you are confident in your shooting ability-STOP shooting hogs in/around the front shoulder area. Start aiming for the head or neck. A bullet placed 2-3" below & behind the ear, or anywhere in the neck (between the ears & FRONT of the shoulders) region will put them down instantly where they stand! There will be no running away with a head/neck shot.

I was shooting hogs in the shoulder, and even after taking their hearts apart, they would still run a good distance. I got tired of that crap, and now I just shoot them in the head/neck, re-load as quickly as I can and aim at one of his running brothers/sisters. I SUCK at running shots with a rifle though. I keep trying it, but have had no success at running targets yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top