| We started in a swamp buggy with two dogs caged in the back. The main guide explained the gun parts and safety button to Matt. He is also familiar with me having guns and knows how to hold and be responsible with them. We both ended up using a 243 Rifle. The main guide then let Matt take a few practice shots. He has shot a gun before and done well with the boy scouts. So, off we go and the decision is made that if we see tusks, I shoot, and if we don't, Matt shoots. Well, we didn't see anything, so released the dogs and they were on a boar rather quickly, but they were in some real thick swamp brush. My only and major complaint is that the one dog would NOT get off the boar and I would NOT shoot while he was so close. Safety on, safety off, safety on, safety off. Damn Dawg . . . Stupid Dawg . . . I eventually got off a shot, but a poor one (hit the boar in the leg) and the boar ran out of the swamp weeds and into a clearing where he gave me a perfect broadside shot, except for Brownie, the dang dawg. Finally, when he (the dawg) was far enough away, I took my second shot, the hog hunched up, ran about 10 feet and fell on his side. Matt's turn . . . We rode around in the swamp and brush and wooded area looking in the shade because by now it was hot and figured that they, the hogs, would be looking for some cool cover. Nothing, so once again, the dogs were let loose. They quickly came upon a few differnt hogs, so Matt attempted the closest, which was in about 6 feet of real thin swamp grass. His first shot was a neck shot and she squeeled and squeeled but did not run. The two other guides got off the swamp buggy and had to physically pull the dogs off, before Matt could finish off his sow. The main guide guessed my boar to be at 140-150 and Matt's sow to be around 130, although I think he was being just a little generous. A great hunt for both Matt and I. I am very proud of Matt's FIRST kill. He handled the gun in a safe manner, and he did not hesitate to shoot when told it was ok to do so. |
The Hunt . . .
Ms Grit and son Matt's Florida Hog Hunt 08/16/08
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