Wasted chance!!.

Fieldmor77 · #1 11-23-2009, 03:37 AM

Gentlemen, today i hang my head in shame, at 4.45 am this morning i made a mistake which i will regret for a very long time.
For the past six months a large Boar has been terrorizing the property i shoot on, so far he has evaded all efforts to dispatch him, killing a prized pig dog of another shooter during the last effort.

So this last weekend it was my turn to see if i could achieve where others had failed. The sun had barely lit the horizon when i headed off in the direction of the river bed, the cool morning air was a welcome prelude to the hot day which lay ahead. As the riverbed drew closer, i was struck with that anticipation of what may be waiting,as i edged ever closer, straining with every effort to make as little noise as possible.

The first day had been spent scouting the area, fresh pig sign was everywhere, so i knew that some pigs, maybe this rogue Boar, was in the vicinity. As i gently undid the wire loop holding the gate shut, i knew from this point on it was game on!, after passing through the gate i readied my weapon, my trusty no4 mk1 Lee-enfield.

It's at this point i made my biggest mistake, after loading a round into the chamber, instead of just putting on the safety. i decocked it, I had only walked about 30 meters when just to my left up on the bank was the largest Boar i have ever laid eyes on, offering a perfect broadside shot at 20 meters, and he had no clew i was there!. At this point i realised that i had to recock the action.....****, even though i tried to be as gentle as i could,i could not stop the dreaded double click as the action went live.

At this point the Boar instantly bolted, i have NEVER seen a pig run so fast, and it became immediately obvious how this pig had evaded death for so long. I never even got a bead on him, So there you go, a wasted chance which i doubt, but hope to get another crack at.........live and learn hey!.

Here are a few pics of where it all happened, and what i ended up with!.

pig country3.JPG

pig country2.JPG
rabbits.JPG

jesusgecko · #2 11-23-2009, 07:40 PM

Ah yes, the number of people I know who have done that!!! And it is ONLY ever with that once in a lifetime trophy as well, which makes it worse.

Can't see the pic's, so I'll just use my imagination.....

.....wow - a trophy sized giraffe!!! And the Swiss Bikini Model team!!!

Alboy · #3 11-23-2009, 08:48 PM

Bummer dude

They always show when you are not ready it seems.

Like the little pigy that ran accross the ranch road last weekend just after we had unloaded and cased all the rifles and not yet brought out the pistol we carry for emergencies.

gitano · #4 11-23-2009, 11:00 PM

I'll be relating a not too dis-similar story soon.

It just happens.

Paul

Fieldmor77 · #5 11-24-2009, 11:26 PM

Well i don't feel so bad now hearing of others having been in the same boat, a new development to come out of this, is that the old bloke who owns the place has invited me up in december for another crack at it, saying he will hold off letting in other shooters till after my visit!.

A little while back he had to come down to the big smoke for a few appointments with doctors etc, so i took the day off to drive him around saving him the worry of fighting traffic and such, so the old saying of what goes around comes around is true, sure pays to be nice to people and help out when you can.

Alboy · #6 11-25-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fieldmor77

Well i don't feel so bad now hearing of others having been in the same boat, a new development to come out of this, is that the old bloke who owns the place has invited me up in december for another crack at it, saying he will hold off letting in other shooters till after my visit!.

A little while back he had to come down to the big smoke for a few appointments with doctors etc, so i took the day off to drive him around saving him the worry of fighting traffic and such, so the old saying of what goes around comes around is true, sure pays to be nice to people and help out when you can.

Yes sir on that sentiment I fully agree.

Jorge in Oz · #7 12-01-2009, 10:36 PM

I did it with a red deer stag, I put it down to buck fever. Annoyed the **** out of my hunting buddy, so the invites became less frequent. I can sympathise with ya mate.

22hornet · #8 12-03-2009, 05:24 PM

Been there done that.

I know how you feel.

Anyway, at least you got out in the bush.

kombi1976 · #9 12-03-2009, 06:30 PM

Cheer up, mate.
You will get another shot at it.
I don't usually advocate this but maybe you should consider using the safety is it isn't too stiff.

jesusgecko · #10 12-03-2009, 07:37 PM

I'm a big fan of half cok (yes I know I spelt it wrong - but I didn't want those little asterisks to eat it) myself. Boy was I gutted when I found out my baby didn't have a half cok position!!!