Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Get a coffee, it's a bit of a long one We headed off to Croatia once more last week, my third trip, the last two hadn't been that lucky for me. They are unpredictable so even having a 'hot' peg doesn't mean you will get into them. On the first drive this time, I was to be placed, but due to a mix up may mate got my peg once I worked out what was going on I grabbed the next one thinking I would be there or there abouts so it wasn't too put out. The drive started with the beaters coming in from seemed like a mile away, you wait in total silence, so when the first shot is fired it never fails to make you jump, and your heart starts to speed up. I heard what sounded like my mate on the next peg blazing away and thought there go 'my' pigs. All went quiet again and then I heard leaves being crunched by something much bigger than a dog and it was heading my way. Out of nowhere this black shape appeared running about 50 yards in front of me and heading to me left very quickly. Luckily it got to a tiny clearing and I got a shot off to which it reacted, then it ran even faster across the ride to my left and I tried to get another shot into it and clearly missed it, to say I was annoyed would be putting it mildly. This was the track. There was no way I could leave my peg to see if it was down and had to wait until the end of the drive some 20 odd minutes later. When the drive finished and the beaters back with us I pointed to where I thought it ran, they couldn't find anything. Long story cut short, a good amount of blood was found further down the track about 70 yards or so, but still we couldn't find it, I was gutted. We headed back for a bit of food with the other guns, collected my mate on the way past grinning like a Cheshire cat as he had whacked 2 which were being dragged up the bank. When I told him the peg mix up story he roared out laughing as any mate would Did the next drive and I didn't see or shoot anything, but when we got back the camp fire the beaters and our host called me over to a boar that one of them had shot in the head with a pistol as it had attacked a dog. It turned out to be my hog, so I had strange mix of feelings, happy to have shot one, but unhappy it wasn't a clean shot. As I aimed at it head and the bullet strike was in the back leg plenty of lead is needed on quick pigs at that range. The good news was the beaters and shooting ground owners gave a stick from the wood that they all signed. The bad news I had to be whacked with it whilst laying over my first pig You can't go against traditions it just isn't cricket. Day 2, those who had not seen pigs were placed on slightly better pegs, despite how I felt about it I still had the biggest pig of day 1 to may name so I was placed as an end stop. Thick cover all arround but with a promising track to my left, I thought if anything was coming my way it would be there. We were told this would be another long drive, over 2 hours, so I cleared all the leaves up and down the track so I could move left and right quietly. Again the noise started miles away but ahead of any shots I heard heavy rustling behind me, about 30 yrds away in really thick cover I saw this huge shadow trotting toward the track to my left, safety off and already looking through the scope I knew i wasn't to have any time at all. Then it appeared, bang, and it was gone. First though, honestly, was here we go again. I was allowed to move from this peg as there was no one to my left, so I reloaded and headed off down the track looking right all the time. I couldn't believe when I saw what looked like a monster pig laying in the scrub, the speed of it heading down the hill meant it had carried froward a good few yards. It was hit hard but it's back leg was twitching slightly so I put another shot into it's head (turned out later that wasn't necessary at all, but I didn't want a repeat of day one) My new, slightly smelly, best friend that brought me my pig. At the end of the drive our host walked back up the track towards me with the shooting ground top man so I went down to meet them at the spot, both he and the man couldn't have been happier for me as conditions weren't good, and this they then revealed was a something of nothing peg, that just made it even better. We collected Mungler on the way back up the hill who was as happy as larry as 6 beaters were dragging his pig up the hill, and they were struggling at that We had a bit of a play with a humane dispatch revolver while we had a wind down beer before heading off to the lodge (and that beer can died ) Back at the lodge the result of the days work was lined up, including our males, which if anything looked even bigger now. They estimated mine at 180kgs and possibly mid bronze tusks but is TBA, I need to get them measured. If I am honest I don't care about the size and the potential trophy status that is just a nice bonus, I was just so glad to have whacked one cleanly, under such difficult conditions, and with the trusty 6.5 which is more than up to the task - despite what the armchair experts might say. For me this was first pig, but I didn't say anything at the time, as I didn't need another cherry popping beating over a hog thanks all the same... To round the trip off nicely, the last day was the quietest day of the three, with only 4 pigs shot, and I shot one of those So a bit like buses you waiit two years and, well you know the rest.... Great trip, great company, and SAFE guns, I may have to change my mind about not going back and doing something different next year I will dig out some other, random pictures and stick them in here once they have been uploaded to photobucket. 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guss109 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Good read sounds like fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev 1 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 looks like you had a great time, brilliant write up,and piccies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Think that last picture has the benefit of perspective, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 'There is more than one way to skin a boar' This is one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Taking blood for the vet to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 The males heads ready for boiling down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Good write up Stuart, glad you got your piggy For those of you thinking, Jesus that pigs a monster it should be said that Stuart is only diddy SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 A typical view from a more open peg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagsy Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Excellent write up Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Good read that, I'm very jealous of all these shooting trips posted on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Magic Really pleased for you ! Those 6.5`s eh ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 It's all the gun we will ever need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 The long drag home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Green with envy sounds like a great trip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz2381 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Nice write up , Looks like a great place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 The big fella's tusks, with 50cal, sorry 6.5x55 cartridge for scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 The look sweet, but they have a use and aren't afraid of pigs, so you just know they have a 'side' to them 2,000 Euros if you accidentally shoot one, so it pays to think before you shoot, as an Artemis gun is probably thinking about now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 2,000 Euros if you accidentally shoot one, so it pays to think before you shoot, as an Artemis gun is probably thinking about now... Ouch ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Sounds like you had an excellent trip Not knowing much about riffle shooting, what sort of distance do these rounds travel, as you said you had beaters out in front and do they give some sort of signal when they are getting close to you, or do the Boars just run in the opposite direction of any noise being made etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Sounds and looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullbore Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Sounds like you had an excellent trip Not knowing much about riffle shooting, what sort of distance do these rounds travel, as you said you had beaters out in front and do they give some sort of signal when they are getting close to you, or do the Boars just run in the opposite direction of any noise being made etc If the boars ran towards the noise, you wouldn't need beaters Don't you worry about them Croatians, they can shrug off a riffle shot no bother Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 Well Done Stu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem223 Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 Great write up and cracking photos. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blaser Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 Great hunt and great report you have...... And the picture Olsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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