First kill with Zeus 3X 75mm, & #2 & #3 kill with Grendel

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • customcutter
    Warrior
    • Dec 2014
    • 452

    First kill with Zeus 3X 75mm, & #2 & #3 kill with Grendel

    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.
  • Kendoist4162
    Bloodstained
    • Jun 2015
    • 38

    #2
    Congrats!! Sounds like leaving the DVR ft was a good luck charm. ;-)

    Comment

    • Double Naught Spy
      Chieftain
      • Sep 2013
      • 2560

      #3
      DVR woes, we all got them, but the primary job was well done!
      Kill a hog. Save the planet.
      My videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

      Comment

      • BluntForceTrauma
        Administrator
        • Feb 2011
        • 3897

        #4
        Were the strange heat signatures bedded deer? But then, you'd think they'd be up and about at night?
        :: 6.5 GRENDEL Deer and Targets :: 6mmARC Targets and Varmints and Deer :: 22 ARC Varmints and Targets

        :: I Drank the Water :: Revelation 21:6 ::

        Comment

        • customcutter
          Warrior
          • Dec 2014
          • 452

          #5
          I was able to crop one of the images enough to upload it.

          As far as the DVR. I found one of the cables was disconnected, I'll take another look at it, and see if I find anything else.

          As far as the heat signatures, it had been so long since I had used the Zeus, I had forgotten how "white" living critters are. The first coyote that I thought I saw was actually just a different type of vegetation, that was hotter and looked like it had ears and a nose at distance. The second heat sources were probably rotting vegetation. The property owner feeds discarded produce, another family member does tree work and landscaping and dumps yard waste and clean up. All the heat sigs were hotter than the surrounding vegetation and area, but it was obvious when the pigs showed up that the previous heat sigs weren't living critters. They were hot, but not as hot as the hogs. I should have realized they weren't showing up as hot enough, but it's been almost six months since I've used the Zeus.
          Attached Files

          Comment

          • Double Naught Spy
            Chieftain
            • Sep 2013
            • 2560

            #6
            Originally posted by BluntForceTrauma View Post
            Were the strange heat signatures bedded deer? But then, you'd think they'd be up and about at night?
            I show bedded deer at night in my videos on occasion. It isn't an uncommon sight at all.

            For example, see at about 40 seconds into the video here... https://youtu.be/EvAHYvWqiiA
            Kill a hog. Save the planet.
            My videos - https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

            Comment

            • customcutter
              Warrior
              • Dec 2014
              • 452

              #7
              Went back this evening to try and get some yotes on the pig remains. The first thing that I noticed was that the strange heat sigs that I thought was pigs the night before was large protein tubs that were radiating heat. LOL.

              As I parked and got out of the truck I glassed the perimeter and saw several hogs in the neighbors pasture. They were moving quite a bit so I watched them for a little while to see if they might come over into the pasture I was in. Then I see the headlights and hear the 4 wheeler coming around the corner, the neighbor pulls up to where the hogs were and stops for about 10 minutes and leaves. I glass back over in that area and there's a lot more hogs and it looks like he must have dumped out several bags of corn for them. I started walking to the back pastures and about 10 minutes later I hear him turn the dogs out. They made a short run and things went quiet, I don't know if they caught the hog, lost the trail or what...

              I made it to the back pasture glassed it, no sign of coyotes, so I made a short series of calls. I glassed again, and there were 2 coyotes at the southeast corner in the neighbors pasture headed my way. I knew they would never come out if I was on the south fence line so I headed toward the northwest corner. The pig remains were on the north fence line so that was why I was on the south side. I called a few more times over 20-30 minutes and finally saw one again almost 200 yards away, but couldn't get him to come any closer.

              I finally gave up and headed back to the truck, glassing the pastures as I was walking. I was almost back to where I shot the 2 hogs the night before when I saw several through the trees along the creek. I stalked within 100 yds all were sows no boars, 2 were 200#+, then there were 4 around 100-125# each, and a sow with 8-10 pigs she was probably 175#. I texted my son, and a friend from Church to see if they could help me with butchering. No one was game, and this old man was too danged tired and sore from the night before. I hate to say that I turned down a shot on hogs, but they will be there later this week. I'm trying to get enough pork for a cookout for our Church and another Church. I'll have one of those hoist that slips in the tow hitch made in a day or two, or buy one....

              Comment

              • Drift
                Warrior
                • Nov 2014
                • 509

                #8
                Cool!

                Comment

                Working...
                X