Hog Hunting in East Texas

[West Texan]

I had a chance over the Thanksgiving break to get out and do a little hunting. I was visiting my parents out in East Texas and they have a lease out by the Sabine River. Wednesday morning we got in the stand but a thick fog rolled in and visibility was so bad you could only hear the deer. So we called it good and made plans to go back that night. I decided to take my son with me that night so around 4pm we got to our stand and settled in. My dad told me that the stand we were going to be in that afternoon was perfect for hogs and to take out as many as I could. So around 5pm we starting seeing the deer move in to the feeders. At one point I saw a black/grey doe which is a first for me, found out later she is around 10 years old and is producing black fawns, which is really cool. So my son being 6 years old begins to get restless because we aren’t seeing any hogs and that is why we were there. Right before 6 pm while watching a couple of bucks swoon a doe in the field behind us we turn and see 16 hogs coming out of the woods. My son just about lost it. He said “Daddy get your gun, shoot one, shoot one.” So I picked out the biggest one put my scope on her and couldn’t hold the rifle still between my excitement and my sons I was shaking with adrenaline. I put the rifle back on safety and took a couple of deep breaths. My son being the clown he is asks “Are you going to shoot one or not?” I replied I was trying to catch my breath and he says “why you haven’t been running or anything” I leveled the rifle again found her in my scope, took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. I saw the muzzle blast through the scope and chambered another round, but couldn’t get another shot off before they ran into the woods. We climbed out the stand and went looking for the hog. After several minutes I texted my dad and said I guess I flinched and missed. He said mark the spot and we will take a look. While I was waiting for him we found some blood and followed the trail about 75 yards to the neighboring property. He showed up and we crossed the fence and found her right on the other side. She weighed 97 lbs and to hear my son tell the story he shot her, which is awesome because it was really cool him being there and spending that time with him. We had a blast and he can’t wait to do it again.

 

[powell&hyde]

Congrats on the hunt, hunting with your kids is something you will never forget.

 

[hoghunting]

That's perfect eating size, glad your son enjoyed it too.

 

[BP Hunter]

Congratulations. When I used to live oin S.Texas, my buddies and I would go out at night and hunt for hogs. I have always shot them in the head and never the chest. I hate tracking animals in the dark. Head shot wounds just fall on the spot. I'm glad you boy loved it.