September 18, 2018, 09:26 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX
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JohnKSa: Sus Venator
I had the honor of taking JohnKSa hog hunting on Monday night. It was the 2nd time in several years that I have managed to get him to come hunt with me, the first time being a bust. I was bound and determined we would get him a hog on this trip.
We started off with a session at the range to get him familiar with the thermal weapon sight, dry and actual fire the rifle, verify zero, and shoot off of shooting sticks. When all was good, we grabbed some dinner and headed out to tour the properties that we would be hunting. Soon after dark, I spied a hog and despite starting from a location up wind of the hog, we managed to work around to being in a position with a slight cross wind, using distance (initially) and a big tree (close to target) to keep our approach as clandestine as possible. We came around from the backside of the tree and set up on our shooting sticks with the hog about 95 yards out. Then it became apparent that my instruction had been lacking and that we should have had a refresher after dark so that he could really get a sense for using a thermal scope in conditions where your normal eyesight is next to worthless. At the range in daylight, he could visually spot the target with his unaided eyes, point the rifle at the target area and quickly acquire the target. In the dark, he did not have that option of seeing the target before sighting on the target. This made it difficult for him to find the target. Usually when I introduce folks to thermal scopes, we are already working in low light or dark conditions and these sorts of issues resolve themselves as the new person learns to use the gear. I had inadvertently shortcut his instruction as a result. Well, when you are standing out in the open with a hog out in front of you, that is not the time to be learning new things. So I did the best I could to talk him onto target, then to make sure that he had the target properly identified and that what he was seeing in his scope matched what I was seeing through my scope. Once verified, we were good to go and John got his first hog. Here is the video... https://youtu.be/Gr2QR7l4U58 We spent the rest of the night trying to find more hogs, but never saw any on the properties that I hunt. Even so, mission accomplished and JohnKSa is now a sus venator.
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"If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange |
September 18, 2018, 09:56 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: January 6, 2008
Location: Northeast Colorado
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Looks like fun! Good shooting!
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September 19, 2018, 12:06 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: February 12, 2001
Location: DFW Area
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It was a night of firsts for me. First time hunting with a suppressor. First time shooting/hunting with thermal. First time hunting off sticks. First hog down.
I definitely had a problem getting on target with the thermal once I started using it in the dark. The problem was my inexperience compounded by my own issues getting the scope properly focused--also an issue of inexperience. DNS went to a lot of effort to make this hunt work out and provided the equipment as well opportunity for me to learn how to use it prior to dark. I thought I was good to go after accurately putting a couple of rounds on target in daylight, but my lack of experience with thermal left me unable to accurately assess my competence until I was on the spot in the dark and trying to find the hog in the scope. Fortunately the hog seemed pre-occupied with the local vegetation and that provided time enough to get on target. It got a little tense for awhile during the time I scanned around, finding a rabbit and a lot of monochrome scenery, but no hog. Many thanks to DNS for the work he put in providing a memorable experience!
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Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?
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September 19, 2018, 11:15 AM | #4 |
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Join Date: April 6, 2006
Location: Texas
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Nifty post. Glad it worked out and there is another resident in Hog Heaven.
DNS: From what I have read of your posts and seen in your videos, it looks like you alternately spot/stalk with your IR gun/spotting scopes. Have you ever considered or tried an image intensified or IR head/helmet-mount monocular to allow for some sort of night vision on the move? As far as target discernment, in a past career one of our leader-types would illuminate the target with an IR laser. Got sporty with several units & leaders in close proximity, but ought not be a big whoop for your situation.
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Regards, jfruser "Books and bullets have their own destinies."----Bob Ross |
September 19, 2018, 12:09 PM | #5 | ||
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Join Date: January 8, 2001
Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX
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Quote:
As seen in this video and shown in most others, I wear a thermal monocular around my neck that I use for spotting on the move. Quote:
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"If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange |
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September 19, 2018, 10:13 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: October 17, 2006
Location: East Texas
Posts: 334
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Good shootin ‘ that one won’t root no more.
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September 21, 2018, 06:39 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: April 28, 2009
Location: Central Texas
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Good shootin', Tex!
Regards, Tom |
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