but there was a 3d one that moved out of my property believe it or not! He had some nerve abandoning my beautiful tool shed
I had the big Wheeping Willow Tree cut down and removed on Friday, and Saturday morning at 10am I watched a young G-hog come out of the tool shed. He did not stop to eat but walked straight down my lawn about 45-50yds away from the tool shed, then made a right turn and crossed the road where he went out of sight! All the machinery must have scared the crap out of it the day before, and he decided he wanted to live somewhere more quiet. I have posted some pics of the huge tree getting cut down (4.5ft in diameter!) and I can now see the other side of my property again. I can't really shoot down that 60-65yd stretch because of the houses across the street and the neighbor's on the left, but it's nice to have an open area with no branches and thousands of Willow leaves constantly falling to the ground. This tree had dumped 2 huge branches the size of large trees since the big snow storm in February, and another big one hanging down, so it was time for it to go. I will miss the shade and the crows I have shot or could have shot from that tree, but I think I made the right choice (it took me to the bank too!! hehe).
So I thought the last young G-hog was gone, but that same day Sat. afternoon I spotted another young one come out of the bushes 17-18yds behind the tool shed, where the lawn starts. He fed and then went under the shed, explored a little, came out 5-10min. later and disappeared into the trees beyond the lawn where he came from. So now I know there were 3 little ones, and not 2 as I thought. I watched him all day Sunday, and took Jeff's advice to let him be for a while to attract other G-hogs (targets) but today I just couldn't hold out any longer
He came out of the brush again around 10:30am and proceeded to feed moving towards the tool shed. He got within 5yds of the tool shed and then turned and started going towards the rocks by the neighbor's house. He had his back to me and kept standing up to look around.
He had reached the 30yd mark and was moving away and to the right where the shed was going to block my view. It was still facing away from me when I decided to switch from the Diana 36 .177 to the Condor .25 and shoot it in the back of the skull when he stands up again. The young G-hog made its routine check again by standing up, and I put the crosshairs in the back of its head as it stood there with its back to me. I squeezed the Condor's trigger and the G-hog went down. I reloaded quickly and then saw the G-hog's tail go from left to right which means he still has a little bit left in him. The young G-hog all of a sudden pushed forward a couple of feet with its head down, and almost went out of sight because the shed was blocking my view. It looked like it stopped and I could only see the rear half of its body and took a quartering shot. There was no movement. It had to be dead before I took that 2nd shot. It did not survive the .25cal JSB King to the head for more than 5secs.
I pushed some fur aside and found the POI right in the middle of the back of its skull. The 2nd shot which was not needed, had gone through the abdominal area on both sides. The little G-hogs are usually pretty tough and in many cases muster strength to push forward with their hind legs for a couple of seconds. I 'm not sure if that is a reflex or if they are doing it on their own to get away. It has happened to most of the younger ones I have shot but don't move for more than a couple of feet and expire. Whereas the big ones just drop and don't go anywhere. Probably because it is easier for the pellet to find their larger brain cavity.
Here is why the other G-hog took off!
