I finally went back to the small ranch tonight to try my luck. Pulled the Vortex off, and put the 3X 75mm Zeus back on changed out the batteries. Tried mashing all the batteries to get it to come on and finally realized where the on switch was, and I was in business. I couldn't get my DVR to operate, and I was running late so I said the heck with it I won't need it any way.
I pulled into the property, and as soon as I got to the first pasture I turned the truck back to the east so that I could glass for critters. I'd been seeing rabbits in the past and thought it would be a good place to start looking for coyotes. Sure enough, I spotted something 2-300yds off that looked like a coyote watching me. I turned the truck off, eased out of the truck, slipped in a mag, and chambered a round. He was still standing there watching so I said well lets see if I can close the distance on him a little he's obviously pretty stupid. I closed up about 50 yds and realized he still wasn't moving so I decided I had better zoom in on him. It wasn't a coyote, but it was definitely giving off a strange heat signature.
I decided to walk on back to the back pastures from there and had gone maybe 200 yards stopping and scanning every 50-75yds when I picked up another heat signature that looked like it might be 3 hogs rooting. I started trying to stalk in on them, and had closed to within about 150 yds, but realized they weren't moving either.
Then while I'm watching the 3 heat signatures that aren't moving 2 heat signatures start coming up the hill from the left. These are blazing white hot, (I haven't used the Zeus in almost 6 months), so I'm trying to make sure what they are. They look like hogs, but they're coming straight at me. Finally they got to about 150yds and turned broadside, YES! definitely HOGS! I tried turning on the DVR again for the 10th time but still no go. They turn back toward me, so I flipped the safety off and just let them keep coming. Finally at around 75 yds the larger hog turned broadside again still walking I settled on the center of neck where it joined the shoulder. Bang and I actually heard the bullet strike. Down DRT. I located the second hog it walking quickly away but not running, settled on the center of the shoulder. Bang, and again I actually heard the bullet strike. Down DRT.
123SST's are lethal on hogs. First hog was 200#+sow, bullet impacted exactly where I aimed. When field dressed on the ground it was obvious the bullet took out the spine, part of the backstrap, and the off side shoulder was bloodshot. Bullet was not recovered, but I may find it when I finish dressing the shoulder out tomorrow. The second hog was 150#+sow. Bullet impact was about 2-3 inches left of where I was aiming as hog was moving to the right. Complete pass through and appeared to have taken out both lungs as there was a lot of frothy blood. Both animals were butchered on the ground. Hams, shoulders, and backstraps. The rest was left for coyotes and the Buzzard Preservation Society.
I will get pics posted tomorrow or it didn't happen. Sorry the DVR wasn't working.
I pulled into the property, and as soon as I got to the first pasture I turned the truck back to the east so that I could glass for critters. I'd been seeing rabbits in the past and thought it would be a good place to start looking for coyotes. Sure enough, I spotted something 2-300yds off that looked like a coyote watching me. I turned the truck off, eased out of the truck, slipped in a mag, and chambered a round. He was still standing there watching so I said well lets see if I can close the distance on him a little he's obviously pretty stupid. I closed up about 50 yds and realized he still wasn't moving so I decided I had better zoom in on him. It wasn't a coyote, but it was definitely giving off a strange heat signature.
I decided to walk on back to the back pastures from there and had gone maybe 200 yards stopping and scanning every 50-75yds when I picked up another heat signature that looked like it might be 3 hogs rooting. I started trying to stalk in on them, and had closed to within about 150 yds, but realized they weren't moving either.
Then while I'm watching the 3 heat signatures that aren't moving 2 heat signatures start coming up the hill from the left. These are blazing white hot, (I haven't used the Zeus in almost 6 months), so I'm trying to make sure what they are. They look like hogs, but they're coming straight at me. Finally they got to about 150yds and turned broadside, YES! definitely HOGS! I tried turning on the DVR again for the 10th time but still no go. They turn back toward me, so I flipped the safety off and just let them keep coming. Finally at around 75 yds the larger hog turned broadside again still walking I settled on the center of neck where it joined the shoulder. Bang and I actually heard the bullet strike. Down DRT. I located the second hog it walking quickly away but not running, settled on the center of the shoulder. Bang, and again I actually heard the bullet strike. Down DRT.
123SST's are lethal on hogs. First hog was 200#+sow, bullet impacted exactly where I aimed. When field dressed on the ground it was obvious the bullet took out the spine, part of the backstrap, and the off side shoulder was bloodshot. Bullet was not recovered, but I may find it when I finish dressing the shoulder out tomorrow. The second hog was 150#+sow. Bullet impact was about 2-3 inches left of where I was aiming as hog was moving to the right. Complete pass through and appeared to have taken out both lungs as there was a lot of frothy blood. Both animals were butchered on the ground. Hams, shoulders, and backstraps. The rest was left for coyotes and the Buzzard Preservation Society.
I will get pics posted tomorrow or it didn't happen. Sorry the DVR wasn't working.
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