Okay, I know I can get long winded so I'll try to make this shorter, but no guarantees.
Go back to the first time I went to the new 20 acre property of my friend and the three ghogs I shot that day. Now go to the location where I shot the first of those three. I'll come back there in a minute.
I go back to this farm with the intention of getting the one I missed from offhand that day cause my friend called and told me the hay was cut. I bring the 17 HMR and a mat I can use for a prone position on the top of a knoll that overlooks the whole. Only the hay was not cut all the way to the whole and I can't see for a good shot. Stayed there probably a half hour hoping something might happen. Nada.
So I decide to take a walk just to see what I can see. Big mistake, I left the gun on the knoll. I get down to the location of the first kill that first day, peek around the cedars and wouldn't you know it, there's a hog there. It sees me, but doesn't go down the hole. I back away, go get the gun, go to the otherside of the cedars to take a look, but no ghod.
I get down in a sitting position with the gun up, scope on the hole and wait. And wait. And wait some more until finally I see a nose. And still I wait. Then a head. And still I wait. I'm going to continue to wait until it comes out of the whole for a clean shot with no chance of losing it down the hole. It's not happening.
The ghog drops down. I think I see it, but I'm not sure. So I'm still waiting and waiting. Once again I can see the nose, then half a head and I'm tired of holding the same position for what seem like forever and shoot. Maybe 50 yards?
I go down to the hole and just what I was trying to avoid, no ghog. Not even down the hole. Pissed! I must have shot over its head.
Walk back up the hill for another chance at my first intended target, but it's just not going to work, so I decide to take another walk and just for the heck of it, I make my way over to a rise that overlooks my waterloo. It's been about 10 minutes. You guessed it, there it is walking from left to right, away from the hole toward the hedgerow and the neigbor's property.
It sees me at first, so I duck down while making my way to the edge of the rise and look up again. This time the ghog takes off running. I get down in a sitting position again, whistle (the first time I've ever tried this) and when it gets to the tall grass at the barbed wire fence, it stands up. I lower the gun, take a breath, put the scope on its chest and pull the trigger. The ghog disappears, but I'm pretty sure I heard a smack. Glass it at 85 yards. Could be my first kill from a sitting position ever?
Walk down to the spot and sure enough, one dead ghog and yet another female. Entrance right front shoulder and exit left rear shoulder. Little bit of mange on its back. Here is the DRT and the details. Moved it out of the tall grass for the pictures.
Story still not over. (So much for a shorter story)
I walk back to the house to leave, see the owner, chat for a couple of minutes, put everthing away, hop in the truck and drive down the driveway to the main road (rural country road) and there at the very front of the property is another ghog. I can't resist. While I'm getting the gun out of its case from the back seat, loading it with ammo and positioning it for a safe shot, the hog just sits there and watches. It's asking for it, so I oblige.
30 yds.
Only one picture from a distance cause I can't get over the barbed wire fence to get any details, but I can see, and I think you can see in the picture, that it's bleeding really good. Shot should have hit it right under the chin.
All in all a fun, frustrating and exciting evening. Sorry for the length, again. I tried. It's hard for me to be brief!