Hunting
BY Herschel Smith
1 week, 3 days ago
Readers may have noticed that I’ve been out a bit lately. I’ve been busy on hunting trips.
The deer was an 8-pointer taken at Groton Plantation with a 6.5 Creedmoor. He was shot straight through the chest. He pivoted directly towards me and I knew it was take the shot or lose the chance on him forever. The hog was taken at Groton with .444 Marlin. He had tusks. I can’t say enough for the power of the .444 Marlin. If you ever wonder if you’re bringing enough cartridge for the game, you don’t have to wonder with the .444 Marlin. Recoil is a thing, but only when you’re sighting in the gun. When harvesting game, recoil is irrelevant. It may as well be a 22LR. You don’t feel a thing. Maybe next year I’ll use a 45-70 with a Marlin rifle to see how that compares and contrasts.
I would in fact recommend Hornady 265 grain jacketed, bonded flat point versus the Hornady Lever Revolution. I just like it better.
You know how sometimes a hog will roll over and the legs look like he’s swimming? That doesn’t happen when you’re using .444 Marlin. It’s a quick, ethical kill.
There is nothing more fun than southeastern quail hunting. The dog handler was extremely good, and the dogs were great.
“Trooper, Star, get over here and get on them birds. Trooper, find birds. Trooper, hunt birds. Trooper, you’re a lying dog. There’s no birds over here. Trooper, come here and get on birds. Trooper is staying. Trooper is locked up on point. He’s right, they’ve coveyed up. Whoa Trooper, hunters, get over here, Trooper and Star are both locked up on point. Hunters, get over here. Good shot, nice shot. Trooper, dead bird. Trooper, go get that bird.”
At which point I saw Trooper swim into a swamp and get my bird, and on to the next single, or pair, or covey, for two and a half miles. I harvested a total of a dozen quail.
If you have a problem son, or a son or grandson who is bored, or into trouble, there is no greater antidote than something like this. Who wouldn’t like to see deer, hogs, snapping turtles, lizards, turkeys and quail? And see fantastic sunrises in the morning as a testament to the creation God gave us as a token of His esteem? I saw turkey at virtually every sit, and a lizard visited me in every stand I sat.
In my last sit I saw six does and a 4-pointer and 6-pointer. As a disciplined deer hunter I had to let them walk. That 6-pointer had good genetics and was chasing does. I’ve seen 6-pointers that didn’t do that even during the rut, but this boy will be a nice 8-pointer next year, and if I don’t take him next year maybe he’ll be a 10-pointer the following year.
This is the perfect solution to the feminized, communist education camps we call schools. In schools the state believes they own the children. During hunting, you can make it clear that men can do men things and it’s okay. No one owns them. And it’s okay to study the difference between 6.5 Creedmoor and .444 Marlin. And it’s okay to harvest deer with your favorite AR-10, or a bolt action, or a lever action, or any rifle that works for you.
So, fathers and grandfathers, get busy. This is what you should be doing with your boys. They may have to shoot a 20 rather than 12 gauge.
On November 11, 2024 at 1:02 am, James said:
Damn….,good days/week hunt!
Are the turtles/lizards back ok in their homes?
This is definitely a road/learning curve for new folks to hunting.
On November 11, 2024 at 4:40 am, Joe Blow said:
Beautiful!! Thanks for sharing the pictures and your thoughts.
On November 11, 2024 at 7:05 am, jrg said:
Sounds like a great time and good memories were made. Thanks for sharing pictures of your hunts. I agree with your thoughts on taking our young out into the woods to experience Nature firsthand. Some thoughts and feelings can’t be experienced through a cell phone / TV screen.
On November 11, 2024 at 7:33 am, Heywood said:
VERY nice. Few things better than a romp in the woods or fields with a trusted firearm, a good dog and a good friend.
On November 11, 2024 at 8:57 am, X said:
Nice. Glad you enjoyed your hunts.
On November 11, 2024 at 9:17 am, Ken said:
We just leave hogs that size for the yotes and buzzards. Best eating is about a 35 pounds max. Feral pigs just destroyed our church cemetery. In one night 4 acres rooted. A church group of men and boys hunt them and provide the meat for those in need. State tried to stop us but our lawyer county judge and sheriff told them to to take a hike we were not selling the meat. BTW, remind men to try and include boys being raised by single mothers. They need guidance of strong men too. Our group has turned out some amazing young men.
On November 11, 2024 at 11:06 am, Echo Hotel said:
Well done, sir!
On November 11, 2024 at 11:19 am, Herschel Smith said:
@James,
Turtle relocated to its new home, where it will probably live out the rest of its life.
Lizards are wherever they choose to be right now. I always enjoy their visits.
On November 11, 2024 at 1:23 pm, Faramir said:
These are the reasons I cannot wait for deer season to open in Alabama. I’m planning to do some hog hunting as scouting in the national forests ahead of deer season as well. There is nothing like it for reconnecting with God through His Creation. We need to meet corporately, and I also maintain we need to spend time in the places He made that haven’t been developed and sterilized. Great results and lovely photos.
On November 11, 2024 at 6:37 pm, Abe Humbles said:
I’d love to take my boys hunting. I grew up outdoors in Colorado, but my father and uncles never took me hunting so I never really learned how it’s done. 20 years in the military made me comfortable for firearms of every type, but I have still never hunted or killed or harvested anything larger than a coyote, and don’t really know how to start with my pre-teen boys.
On November 11, 2024 at 9:25 pm, Ozark Redneck said:
Awesome! Thanks for sharing the pictures and stories! Last hog I shot was with a Marlin 45-70, dropped like a rock. Nothing wrong with those big bores!
On November 12, 2024 at 7:04 am, Bibby said:
@ Abe Humbles watch some hunting shows (there are plenty) learn the anatomy of the hunted animal. Practice good firearm discipline. By doing those, you are 80% of the way there.
Then find some hunting land and go do the thing safely. Be aware that may be difficult on public hunting land. But, if you ask around there are LOTS of people who will let you hunt their private land for free / for a share of the venison or a small fee.
On November 13, 2024 at 4:28 am, Lori G said:
That is a perfect pig, and you didn’t have to raise it! You are right, the wild is the cure for a corrupt society.