Wild Hog Smackdown - 10/3/09

Finally got a chance to put the .338 Federal  TC Encore Pro Hunter Pistol to the test on some Sonoma County hogs.  Had a last minute opportunity to hunt the afternoon at my friend's property near the headwaters of Austin creek.  I was able to stalk up on a nice group of hogs and put the hurt on two of them, both nice eating size.  The sow was probably in the 80# range and the boar was larger, maybe 120 or 130# range.

This windy weather was great for spot and stalk but you really had to use your eyes.  Stalked up on lots of deer and these piggys were hanging out near a group of deer that sort of acted as my indicator that some pigs were around the corner.  They got mildly spooked by me and headed one direction, but the presence of these pigs caused the deer to come back and take off the other direction.  The deer in turn, got the pigs on their feet and moving around just enough to present themselves to me.  After I popped the first one, there were several other flying everywhere, including one that ran up hill right past me at about 20 yards...  you never saw a guy look harder for the next bullet than me.  After I got another round chambered, the boar came up over the hill and I was able to knock him down too.  Both shots were around 50 yards.

Suffice it to say, the .338 Federal is like a piggy sledge hammer.  It was great fun to get it broken in in the field.  The shot went all the way through the sow, but stopped in the hide on the opposite side on the boar.  The sow was shot right in the heart, which of course caused the old song by Bon Jovi "Shot through the heart... but you're too late..."  to be stuck in our feelbe caveman minds all night.  Had both pigs skun and boned out by 9:00PM and was home by 11.

Nice boar-gore!  Congrats.   

Hog jerky!    Congrat on the sucessful hunt.  Hope you still have room in the freezer 

looks like you put the smackdown on those two porkers!  what scope are you using?  scope mounts and rings?  I have a Stainless T/C Encore Pro Hunter also but in .22-250.  it will be used for a backup squeak (Squirrel) gun.  I bought a Bushnell variable pistol scope and Tally one piece mounts but the pistol scope won't fit in the one piece scope mounts...........
was that a guided hunt you went on ?  

Nice shot from the 50yards EK. Big congrats on the boar.

Jedmo

Excellent Eric! You still want to get one with the bow?

SWEET!!!! Nice shoot'n and great pics to go with the great story.

Congrats! Hellaofa couple shots with the hand cannon. Mmmmm homesmoked bacon.....

looks like you put the smackdown on those two porkers!  what scope are you using?  scope mounts and rings?  I have a Stainless T/C Encore Pro Hunter also but in .22-250.  it will be used for a backup squeak (Squirrel) gun.  I bought a Bushnell variable pistol scope and Tally one piece mounts but the pistol scope won't fit in the one piece scope mounts...........
was that a guided hunt you went on ?  

I have the Burris 2-7X handgun scope with Burris Signature universal rings.  The plastic inserts make for a really good grip on the scope and they come in differerent thicknesses so you can align the scope without using shims.  It's been a nice system and nothing has come loose on it yet.  I also did the BellmTC trigger upgrade... BellmTC sells spring sets to change the pull on the trigger.  My trigger is at about 2 to 3# pull...nice and light.  Makes a world of difference in accuracy. 

No guides... I have a friend with a nice piece of pig property that I can hunt a couple times per year. 

Excellent Eric! You still want to get one with the bow?

Definitely... these are insurance pigs... takes the pressure off of me actually delivering with the bow.  Looking forward to Bow season.

EK

Nice work EK, let me know when the bbq is.   

Hey, that's my truffle-rootin' pig!     J/K   

Nice shots, EK.  Delish, that's gonna be. If you have a chance, how 'bout some cooking or on-the-plate pics? 

I've never eaten wild boar, but I'm jealous! Those pigs would be a fine addition to my new chest freezer!

Nice shooting and great harvest . I've hunted spenceville a couple hundred times trying to find those and to this day have never shot one . I have a Rugger .338 smag. but I would love to get one with a bow. Good luck archery hunting .

Nice hunting. Pistol no less. Bravo. Excellent. Hope you get lot's of great eating them for months to come.