Drew Jaeger
Member
- Location
- Southern Tablelands, NSW, Australia
It was Saturday morning late November at 04:30 when I departed for a week long pig hunt out in western New South Wales. Rick was travelling up a few days later.
Arriving at the property around midday I called into the homestead for a social chat and was informed that 52mm of rain had fallen a few days earlier. Although there had been a number of warm days, the wheat moisture content was still too high for stripping (14%).
After getting established at the cottage, I decided to check out a tank with the 12G, a Breda Vega O/U. I was amazed at the height of the wheat crops and encompassing ground cover. I have not seen the country look so good since the late 90’s.
Loading the O/U with Rio Royal Buck 00s, I stalked through the scrub and long grass around the back of the tank coming across a mob of seven small pigs. Stalking to within 15m I fired both barrels, saw two pigs go down and charged off after the others, reloading and firing another four rounds missing the now fleeing pigs, noting the buckshot dust pattern around the pigs. Walking back to the sunset, I tried to locate the first two pigs in the long grass, but was mission impossible.
Typical groundcover
Driving back to camp another mob of a dozen small pigs crossed the track. Reaching for the 7mm-08, I got out, cycled the action and dispatched a sow with a 150gr Barnes TSX then unsuccessfully tried to follow the others that eventually vanished into the undergrowth. The light was failing and again I could not locate the pig in the long grass. Frustrating!
The tranquillity
Driving back to camp another dozen small pigs crossed the track in the headlights and a large boar crossed the track into the wheat crop. Spotlighting was not an option.
Sunday, I was up at 6:30, bummed around enjoyed a Rick style omelette and freshly brewed coffee then headed back out to the tank to search for bodies. I ended up walking a bit further than anticipated finding plenty of fresh rooting.
Pig diggings - old fence post for scale
I came across the skeletal remains of a Boar that would have been shot only a few weeks earlier. It had a good representative set of tusks for a western NSW Boar and would have been a fine trophy for the hunter.
7mm-08 for scale
Back at camp, I thought about the previous evening’s engagement thinking of the dust patterns around the pigs. Before coming up I intended to pattern the Rio Royal Buck 00s and compare them to the Winchester SG/00s, but just ran out of time. I had packed some 25m rapid fire pistol targets for patterning. Subsequently, I set up the targets at 25m and patterned each load in each barrel. The Winchester SG/00s had a well distributed patterns, whereas the Rio Royal Buck 00s patterns were very disappointing at 25m. I had twenty Winchesters SG/00s remaining.
Following a two hour sleep, I headed out again. A mob of three sows and a number of suckers trotted across the track. Nailed the rear sow with a 150gr TSX and proceeded to pursue the other pigs on foot. Approximately 10-15min later I caught up to the mob, now happily rooting the ground, lining up the two remaining sows for a double head shot. Touching off, I watch both pigs roll over and the five suckers dispersing into the long grass. The 150gr TSX accomplished the task exiting the second pig.
Where the double dropped
Marking the site with the GPS, I then walked back to the AWD. I couldn’t find the first pig dropped – yes lost another. When I drove up to the sows I noticed the suckers had returned. Grabbing the 12G and a few Rio 32g BBs, I walked in and cleaned up four of the five suckers.
Pork genocide
Monday, I was up at 5:00am, had cereal and walked from the cottage. Every gilgai had water in it and every puddle had a fresh wallow in it. I witnessed a beautiful sight with butterflies hatching from their cocoons on the tree - Bush Christmas Tree.
Bush Christmas Tree
Butterflies & cocoons
I heard the grunting of a lone boar in scrub and grass and followed the sound finding a tree bearing Bush Pears, a fruit I have not seen for a decade.
Bush Pears
After having my main feed at 4:00pm, I headed out to the gilgai paddock for a long walk. The long grass prevented any useful glassing, but there was plenty of fresh sign about. Having the urge, I unknowingly pissed on a Goanna’s head and we both received a massive fright!
Bearing towards a distant tank, I spotted a massive boar. Half of his body mass was above the grass! I stalked within 80m and fired striking the moving boar mid span with an emphatic thump from the connecting 150gr TSX. He arched up and ran awkwardly off into the long grass and scrub. There was no blood trail. While searching I heard squealing ~200m east of me. I did not think the wounded Boar would have made it that far. It turned out to be a couple of pigs makin’ bacon; subsequently I dropped the boar! He was not as big as the other Boar, but still a decent size. I’ll go back in a couple of days to see if the crows find the big fella. With darkness I heard pigs moving and squealing from a number of different locations.
Makin’ Bacon Boar
Back at camp there was a message from Rick stating his arrival will be delayed another 24hrs. The beetles, moths, locusts and mosquitoes were particularly thick that night around the diversionary light and the zapper was working overtime!
Biggus Mothus – not a Bogong
Tuesday, I left camp at 5am to check out a distant tank in the scrub. The location was lush green and water was everywhere. I did not find any sign of pig activity there, but there was plenty of sign around the gilgais in the scrub away from the inland sea.
Inland Sea
After having a chat with the property owner and resting in the afternoon, I headed out again at 6:30pm. While travelling out, eight small pigs came out of the grass and ran along the track, then disappearing into the foliage again.
Walking the same area as yesterday, I came across another mob of small pigs casually feeding. I lined up the two larger animals and accomplished another double head shot with a 150gr TSX.
Duo still twitching
Second double head duo
Following a short photo session, I proceeded to the tank to only have another half dozen small pigs of various colouring cross the track. At the Tank there was a flock of Plumed Whistling Ducks settling in for the evening. Plumed Whistling Ducks are a protected species in NSW and this is the first time I have seen them in the wild.
Plumed Whistling Ducks
Sunset Serenity
Wednesday, I was lacking motivation and decided to check out a number of tanks for a trophy goat. Rick called at 6:40am confirming he will be arriving on Thursday around midday. After brunch I headed out to a different tank to find the track cut by water from an overflow channel. I spotted a few goats and decided to practice my stalking with the 12G. When I was within 15m of a young Billy, a Nanny and couple of kids, a grunt emanated from a nearby Wilga tree followed by dash of movement in the scrub. Oh bloody ‘ell! I have never seen pigs or any activity at that particular tank before.
Being able to get around the boggy obstacle I pushed on along the track and came across wetlands which were totally impassable without a winch. The wetlands were alive with butterflies. There was a wallow in a wheel track too.
Track wetlands
Backtracking to another tank I was able to glass a few goats with a nice Billy with a wide spread. I stalked in with the 12G loaded with a BB/SG load combination. Unfortunately when I was ~30m from the goats the wind changed with them reacting accordingly.
Inquisitive fellow
Later that afternoon I came across a Boar testing the new ring-lock fencing. I observed him for 10min walking along and testing the tension every few metres. With the monotony of the show becoming boring, he was dispatched with a single 150gr TSX in the balls dropping him instantly. The projectile did not exit.
Ball Bashed Boar
A Dr Drew autopsy found the projectile travelled the full length of the pig causing massive internal damage (as expected) pulling up between the ribs forward of the lungs.
Recovered 150gr Barnes TSX
Waning Gibbous rising
Thursday, I was up at 4:45am had cereal and coffee and then headed out to the thin strip of wheat harvested. I glassed a massive boar and three small spotted pigs leave the thin 60m strip of harvested wheat from afar. They would have been only ~400m from camp!
With the threat of heavy rain on the weekend, the property owner got serious about the wheat harvest with two headers operating.
Rick arrived after midday. Rick still has issues with his shoulder and neck following the accident last year; subsequently we formulated a hunting plan suitable for his restrictions. We checked out a couple of known mobs of goats for any potential trophies, but nothing significant was seen. Rick tried to get a photo of a Gwardar (very venomous) slithering into the wheat.
Later that evening we headed out for a casual walk in the gilgai paddock. Rick’s nose located the missing big boar not far from where he was hit a few days earlier. Now a decomposing maggot riddled mess. At last light Rick belted a nice size sow with a 150gr Nosler BT from his 308. I was ~200m away and following the shot heard the grunting and snorting of a pig running my way. A Boar was promptly nailed on the run with a 150gr TSX from the 7mm-08 and position marked with the GPS.
Sow - 308
The mosquitoes were particularly vicious with Rick dancing around being eaten alive, while I was battling to get a couple of photos. Thankfully the GPS led us back to the Boar as it was getting quite dark.
Boar – 7mm-08
Friday, we headed out at 5am, each checking a wheat paddock for pigs. I walked over 5km circumnavigating and glassing the harvested strip of wheat with not a thing seen, but evidence of pigs tracks were present.
Morning delight
At midday we headed out to the tank I encountered the pig while stalking goats. I was very tempted to blast a Crow from a nearby tree and instead opted to shoot it with the camera. Rick stalked in with the wind to his advantage and nailed a 25” Billy at 80m. He was stoked!
Lucky Crow
25” Billy
Later that evening we walked a different part of the gilgai paddock. I almost tripped on a large Boar still bedded down at last light. Unfortunately, it all happen too fast to get an accurate bead for a fatal shot. Rick got stuck into a couple of small pigs with his 308.
The one and only night we went spotlighting around the property. We were out until 1am and did not see a thing for grass!
Saturday, Rick opted for a rest morning while I went out for a look around the wheat. I found a number of fresh prints including some from a large size boar, but no animals were seen.
Around 1pm we headed out to one of the goat hot spots for a second trophy animal. Late afternoon we saw a mob of twenty in a clearing ~300m away from the track and stalked to within ~75m of them. Rick dropped the dominant white Billy with a single 150gr Nosler BT. To say Rick was ecstatic would be an understatement; he had just scored a personal best trophy measuring 31”.
Personal best – 31” Billy
The 150gr Nosler BT had punched through the animal effortlessly and the clouds became very ominous while the head was being removed. We made it back to the 4WD just as the rain started. It rained for the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday, I woke at 4:30am to the sound of a storm and steady rain outside and decided to get another two hours of sleep instead of going for a hunt. By 9am we had packed up and the 21mm of overnight rain made for an interesting drive out of the property. After our departure the property received a further 26mm.
All up Rick and I had taken 19 pigs, 2 goats and a mouse (that ran over a mousetrap while getting away from Rick). With another welcoming invitation, we are already looking forward to a few hunts in 2011.
Arriving at the property around midday I called into the homestead for a social chat and was informed that 52mm of rain had fallen a few days earlier. Although there had been a number of warm days, the wheat moisture content was still too high for stripping (14%).
After getting established at the cottage, I decided to check out a tank with the 12G, a Breda Vega O/U. I was amazed at the height of the wheat crops and encompassing ground cover. I have not seen the country look so good since the late 90’s.
Loading the O/U with Rio Royal Buck 00s, I stalked through the scrub and long grass around the back of the tank coming across a mob of seven small pigs. Stalking to within 15m I fired both barrels, saw two pigs go down and charged off after the others, reloading and firing another four rounds missing the now fleeing pigs, noting the buckshot dust pattern around the pigs. Walking back to the sunset, I tried to locate the first two pigs in the long grass, but was mission impossible.
Typical groundcover
Driving back to camp another mob of a dozen small pigs crossed the track. Reaching for the 7mm-08, I got out, cycled the action and dispatched a sow with a 150gr Barnes TSX then unsuccessfully tried to follow the others that eventually vanished into the undergrowth. The light was failing and again I could not locate the pig in the long grass. Frustrating!
The tranquillity
Driving back to camp another dozen small pigs crossed the track in the headlights and a large boar crossed the track into the wheat crop. Spotlighting was not an option.
Sunday, I was up at 6:30, bummed around enjoyed a Rick style omelette and freshly brewed coffee then headed back out to the tank to search for bodies. I ended up walking a bit further than anticipated finding plenty of fresh rooting.
Pig diggings - old fence post for scale
I came across the skeletal remains of a Boar that would have been shot only a few weeks earlier. It had a good representative set of tusks for a western NSW Boar and would have been a fine trophy for the hunter.
7mm-08 for scale
Back at camp, I thought about the previous evening’s engagement thinking of the dust patterns around the pigs. Before coming up I intended to pattern the Rio Royal Buck 00s and compare them to the Winchester SG/00s, but just ran out of time. I had packed some 25m rapid fire pistol targets for patterning. Subsequently, I set up the targets at 25m and patterned each load in each barrel. The Winchester SG/00s had a well distributed patterns, whereas the Rio Royal Buck 00s patterns were very disappointing at 25m. I had twenty Winchesters SG/00s remaining.
Following a two hour sleep, I headed out again. A mob of three sows and a number of suckers trotted across the track. Nailed the rear sow with a 150gr TSX and proceeded to pursue the other pigs on foot. Approximately 10-15min later I caught up to the mob, now happily rooting the ground, lining up the two remaining sows for a double head shot. Touching off, I watch both pigs roll over and the five suckers dispersing into the long grass. The 150gr TSX accomplished the task exiting the second pig.
Where the double dropped
Marking the site with the GPS, I then walked back to the AWD. I couldn’t find the first pig dropped – yes lost another. When I drove up to the sows I noticed the suckers had returned. Grabbing the 12G and a few Rio 32g BBs, I walked in and cleaned up four of the five suckers.
Pork genocide
Monday, I was up at 5:00am, had cereal and walked from the cottage. Every gilgai had water in it and every puddle had a fresh wallow in it. I witnessed a beautiful sight with butterflies hatching from their cocoons on the tree - Bush Christmas Tree.
Bush Christmas Tree
Butterflies & cocoons
I heard the grunting of a lone boar in scrub and grass and followed the sound finding a tree bearing Bush Pears, a fruit I have not seen for a decade.
Bush Pears
After having my main feed at 4:00pm, I headed out to the gilgai paddock for a long walk. The long grass prevented any useful glassing, but there was plenty of fresh sign about. Having the urge, I unknowingly pissed on a Goanna’s head and we both received a massive fright!
Bearing towards a distant tank, I spotted a massive boar. Half of his body mass was above the grass! I stalked within 80m and fired striking the moving boar mid span with an emphatic thump from the connecting 150gr TSX. He arched up and ran awkwardly off into the long grass and scrub. There was no blood trail. While searching I heard squealing ~200m east of me. I did not think the wounded Boar would have made it that far. It turned out to be a couple of pigs makin’ bacon; subsequently I dropped the boar! He was not as big as the other Boar, but still a decent size. I’ll go back in a couple of days to see if the crows find the big fella. With darkness I heard pigs moving and squealing from a number of different locations.
Makin’ Bacon Boar
Back at camp there was a message from Rick stating his arrival will be delayed another 24hrs. The beetles, moths, locusts and mosquitoes were particularly thick that night around the diversionary light and the zapper was working overtime!
Biggus Mothus – not a Bogong
Tuesday, I left camp at 5am to check out a distant tank in the scrub. The location was lush green and water was everywhere. I did not find any sign of pig activity there, but there was plenty of sign around the gilgais in the scrub away from the inland sea.
Inland Sea
After having a chat with the property owner and resting in the afternoon, I headed out again at 6:30pm. While travelling out, eight small pigs came out of the grass and ran along the track, then disappearing into the foliage again.
Walking the same area as yesterday, I came across another mob of small pigs casually feeding. I lined up the two larger animals and accomplished another double head shot with a 150gr TSX.
Duo still twitching
Second double head duo
Following a short photo session, I proceeded to the tank to only have another half dozen small pigs of various colouring cross the track. At the Tank there was a flock of Plumed Whistling Ducks settling in for the evening. Plumed Whistling Ducks are a protected species in NSW and this is the first time I have seen them in the wild.
Plumed Whistling Ducks
Sunset Serenity
Wednesday, I was lacking motivation and decided to check out a number of tanks for a trophy goat. Rick called at 6:40am confirming he will be arriving on Thursday around midday. After brunch I headed out to a different tank to find the track cut by water from an overflow channel. I spotted a few goats and decided to practice my stalking with the 12G. When I was within 15m of a young Billy, a Nanny and couple of kids, a grunt emanated from a nearby Wilga tree followed by dash of movement in the scrub. Oh bloody ‘ell! I have never seen pigs or any activity at that particular tank before.
Being able to get around the boggy obstacle I pushed on along the track and came across wetlands which were totally impassable without a winch. The wetlands were alive with butterflies. There was a wallow in a wheel track too.
Track wetlands
Backtracking to another tank I was able to glass a few goats with a nice Billy with a wide spread. I stalked in with the 12G loaded with a BB/SG load combination. Unfortunately when I was ~30m from the goats the wind changed with them reacting accordingly.
Inquisitive fellow
Later that afternoon I came across a Boar testing the new ring-lock fencing. I observed him for 10min walking along and testing the tension every few metres. With the monotony of the show becoming boring, he was dispatched with a single 150gr TSX in the balls dropping him instantly. The projectile did not exit.
Ball Bashed Boar
A Dr Drew autopsy found the projectile travelled the full length of the pig causing massive internal damage (as expected) pulling up between the ribs forward of the lungs.
Recovered 150gr Barnes TSX
Waning Gibbous rising
Thursday, I was up at 4:45am had cereal and coffee and then headed out to the thin strip of wheat harvested. I glassed a massive boar and three small spotted pigs leave the thin 60m strip of harvested wheat from afar. They would have been only ~400m from camp!
With the threat of heavy rain on the weekend, the property owner got serious about the wheat harvest with two headers operating.
Rick arrived after midday. Rick still has issues with his shoulder and neck following the accident last year; subsequently we formulated a hunting plan suitable for his restrictions. We checked out a couple of known mobs of goats for any potential trophies, but nothing significant was seen. Rick tried to get a photo of a Gwardar (very venomous) slithering into the wheat.
Later that evening we headed out for a casual walk in the gilgai paddock. Rick’s nose located the missing big boar not far from where he was hit a few days earlier. Now a decomposing maggot riddled mess. At last light Rick belted a nice size sow with a 150gr Nosler BT from his 308. I was ~200m away and following the shot heard the grunting and snorting of a pig running my way. A Boar was promptly nailed on the run with a 150gr TSX from the 7mm-08 and position marked with the GPS.
Sow - 308
The mosquitoes were particularly vicious with Rick dancing around being eaten alive, while I was battling to get a couple of photos. Thankfully the GPS led us back to the Boar as it was getting quite dark.
Boar – 7mm-08
Friday, we headed out at 5am, each checking a wheat paddock for pigs. I walked over 5km circumnavigating and glassing the harvested strip of wheat with not a thing seen, but evidence of pigs tracks were present.
Morning delight
At midday we headed out to the tank I encountered the pig while stalking goats. I was very tempted to blast a Crow from a nearby tree and instead opted to shoot it with the camera. Rick stalked in with the wind to his advantage and nailed a 25” Billy at 80m. He was stoked!
Lucky Crow
25” Billy
Later that evening we walked a different part of the gilgai paddock. I almost tripped on a large Boar still bedded down at last light. Unfortunately, it all happen too fast to get an accurate bead for a fatal shot. Rick got stuck into a couple of small pigs with his 308.
The one and only night we went spotlighting around the property. We were out until 1am and did not see a thing for grass!
Saturday, Rick opted for a rest morning while I went out for a look around the wheat. I found a number of fresh prints including some from a large size boar, but no animals were seen.
Around 1pm we headed out to one of the goat hot spots for a second trophy animal. Late afternoon we saw a mob of twenty in a clearing ~300m away from the track and stalked to within ~75m of them. Rick dropped the dominant white Billy with a single 150gr Nosler BT. To say Rick was ecstatic would be an understatement; he had just scored a personal best trophy measuring 31”.
Personal best – 31” Billy
The 150gr Nosler BT had punched through the animal effortlessly and the clouds became very ominous while the head was being removed. We made it back to the 4WD just as the rain started. It rained for the rest of the afternoon.
Sunday, I woke at 4:30am to the sound of a storm and steady rain outside and decided to get another two hours of sleep instead of going for a hunt. By 9am we had packed up and the 21mm of overnight rain made for an interesting drive out of the property. After our departure the property received a further 26mm.
All up Rick and I had taken 19 pigs, 2 goats and a mouse (that ran over a mousetrap while getting away from Rick). With another welcoming invitation, we are already looking forward to a few hunts in 2011.
