TXwhtlHNTR
03-01-2009, 10:52 PM
:)
Well here goes. I recently decided to try something new to me and got a crossbow! Figured I wouldn't know what they were like without trying one. Everything considered, I basically prefer some longbows I've picked up, but the TenPoint crossbow I purchased is a nice piece of equipment.
A bit heavy and noisy compared to a longbow or recurve, but I felt like it could have some applications. Well, I put it to use in the field Friday night.
A friend has an area that is suffering from hogs. They've been coming at night and rooting up pasture, wallowing in and sullying the pond, and even going into the open-sided shed trying to scavenge feed. This is inside the city limits, so firearms are verboten. After clearing with it the local gendarmes, I figured the crossbow would be perfect. Friday evening my son and I settled in next to the steer's (destined for the livestock show) stall and sat quiet. :eek: And I thought I had gastrointestinal issues.
Almost left, but at 8:45, some hogs came out in the pasture. It took about an hour for them to feed across, but finally one was in good range. Whap! The shot seemed off :redface:, but he ran about 70 yrds. out into the field, stopped, and after wobbling a bit laid down.
The other hogs bolted, but stopped and milled a bit about 50-60 yrds. away. A couple went over and sniffed around at the one on the ground, then they all trotted to the right down into the pond and begin rooting and wallowing in the mud.
I started bellycrawling across the pasture, and made about 80 yards, to within 30 yrds. of the pond, before they begin leaving. Most exited to left rear, about 45 yards away. One large sow however crossed diagonally leaving the pond from the close end on my right. She started quickly walking across the pasture at about 20 yards; I rolled and swung quick trying to line her up. Whap! An arcing 25 yrd. run and she collapsed thrashing.
After crossing back to the feed shed where my son had watched, we got the truck from near the gate entrance, packed up at the shed, and drove across the pasture to where the second hog lay. A 125 gr. Thunderhead through the jugular vein leaves a massive blood spray.
191783
She went about 225#. (And stank! :oh:)
191784
After pulling her fom the edge of some trees and snapping a couple shots, we started to walk the 60 -70 yrds. out into the pasture where the first hog was piled up. About 20 yrds from him, he rose and trotted (walked) to the fence. He staggered as he went under the wire, but (about 40 min. after being shot) disappeared into the weeds.
We were clear to follow, but I told my son we wanted to let him lay a while. After taking the sow to my friend's house for cleaning and quartering, the three of us returned. Knowing where he crossed the fence, it didn't take long to find him. It was a liver hit and he fell for good about 25 yrds. inside the fence.
Sadly, in the aproximately 2 1/2 hrs. we were gone, the 'yotes had already been at him. On a 120-30# hog, they had completely devoured the top hind quarter, eaten half way through the hind quarter on the ground side, and eaten the flank, belly, and loin/back, up to the rear of the ribs. We left them the remains, and checked back about 11:00 Sat. morning. Everything, including hide and bones, was gone except for blood smears and about 18" of large intestine drug over about ten feet. Sort of gorily impressive.
Finished butchering, and wrapping the sow Sat. evening. Wound up with about 60# of sausage and prime cuts split between me and my friend. Think I'll try again in about a week. :rolleyes:
Well here goes. I recently decided to try something new to me and got a crossbow! Figured I wouldn't know what they were like without trying one. Everything considered, I basically prefer some longbows I've picked up, but the TenPoint crossbow I purchased is a nice piece of equipment.
A bit heavy and noisy compared to a longbow or recurve, but I felt like it could have some applications. Well, I put it to use in the field Friday night.
A friend has an area that is suffering from hogs. They've been coming at night and rooting up pasture, wallowing in and sullying the pond, and even going into the open-sided shed trying to scavenge feed. This is inside the city limits, so firearms are verboten. After clearing with it the local gendarmes, I figured the crossbow would be perfect. Friday evening my son and I settled in next to the steer's (destined for the livestock show) stall and sat quiet. :eek: And I thought I had gastrointestinal issues.
Almost left, but at 8:45, some hogs came out in the pasture. It took about an hour for them to feed across, but finally one was in good range. Whap! The shot seemed off :redface:, but he ran about 70 yrds. out into the field, stopped, and after wobbling a bit laid down.
The other hogs bolted, but stopped and milled a bit about 50-60 yrds. away. A couple went over and sniffed around at the one on the ground, then they all trotted to the right down into the pond and begin rooting and wallowing in the mud.
I started bellycrawling across the pasture, and made about 80 yards, to within 30 yrds. of the pond, before they begin leaving. Most exited to left rear, about 45 yards away. One large sow however crossed diagonally leaving the pond from the close end on my right. She started quickly walking across the pasture at about 20 yards; I rolled and swung quick trying to line her up. Whap! An arcing 25 yrd. run and she collapsed thrashing.
After crossing back to the feed shed where my son had watched, we got the truck from near the gate entrance, packed up at the shed, and drove across the pasture to where the second hog lay. A 125 gr. Thunderhead through the jugular vein leaves a massive blood spray.
191783
She went about 225#. (And stank! :oh:)
191784
After pulling her fom the edge of some trees and snapping a couple shots, we started to walk the 60 -70 yrds. out into the pasture where the first hog was piled up. About 20 yrds from him, he rose and trotted (walked) to the fence. He staggered as he went under the wire, but (about 40 min. after being shot) disappeared into the weeds.
We were clear to follow, but I told my son we wanted to let him lay a while. After taking the sow to my friend's house for cleaning and quartering, the three of us returned. Knowing where he crossed the fence, it didn't take long to find him. It was a liver hit and he fell for good about 25 yrds. inside the fence.
Sadly, in the aproximately 2 1/2 hrs. we were gone, the 'yotes had already been at him. On a 120-30# hog, they had completely devoured the top hind quarter, eaten half way through the hind quarter on the ground side, and eaten the flank, belly, and loin/back, up to the rear of the ribs. We left them the remains, and checked back about 11:00 Sat. morning. Everything, including hide and bones, was gone except for blood smears and about 18" of large intestine drug over about ten feet. Sort of gorily impressive.
Finished butchering, and wrapping the sow Sat. evening. Wound up with about 60# of sausage and prime cuts split between me and my friend. Think I'll try again in about a week. :rolleyes: