Close Encounter

    Not to brag or anything, but I live a somewhat eventful life here on my small farm. Today was an experience that I never want to have again in any form. While Taylor laid down to take her usual nap I took the baby monitor down with me to feed the goats. Nothing was out of the ordinary and I went about my business. 

    I was setting out some fresh hay when I got a nose full of something NASTY! It was wild, raw, and wet. I looked around in the smaller fenced in area and there was no gaps in the siding. This is a very small area 60ft by 84ft where we keep our babies as they are being weened or need special attention. I got to the gate and looked up into the tree line and there it was glaring. 

    Its ridge along its back was standing straight up and I could tell that he wasn't afraid of me. Wild animals usually run when they see us, so he must have some experiences with a feed pile and human contact. Today, I was glad I had my pistol in my fanny pack. He was a massive wild hog. I grew up in a household where hunting was king, so I'm really good at guessing weight. He was an older bore with a slight silver ridge down in back and a massive hump on this shoulders. I pull my gun out easily and took off the safety. There was no way I could make it back in the fenced in area or in one of the new metal chicken coops made from a dog kennel. 

    I put all 8 bullets in him without hesitation. I didn't miss a beat as he charged down the hill at me in a funny run. He stopped about 6 feet away from me and I buried my last bullet in his head. His screams were terrifying and I was able to sprint back in with the baby goats behind the tall fence. There I quickly put in my extra clip in my Glock and aimed to fire again. He staggered back up the mountain occasionally screaming out. He left a blood trail behind him and I'm more than confident that I hit him all 8 shots. Sometimes, adrenaline keeps them moving beyond what their bodies are capable of doing. 

    Tonight, I will probably relive this over and over again as my mind stresses out. I could have had Taylor down there with me. I could have been seriously injured or killed. Someone near by must have a bait pile feeding them. I have never witnessed a loan hog before. Where is the rest of his family? His tusks alone must have been over 5 inches and he was mud fat. I have hunted out of tress stands many times, but being on the ground with one charging at you is life altering. I want a bigger gun now. I would hate to carry a rifle down there during each feeding, but I might just do it. 

    It was a waste of meat. I had no one here to help and I'm not going after him alone with a toddler in tow. My hounds in the yard have been barking all morning, so now I assume that they smelled him. Where there is one there are many. 


    I will be setting up trail cams around the farm and I turned the outer hot fence up to bear mode. They don't usually like electric fences. There is panels and electric to double protect the goats.   

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