“He’s coming, best get ready!” cautioned Tim Mariner.
I raised my .405 Winchester single-shot and held steady. Through the Zeiss scope I could see the raised bristles on the back of his neck. There was no doubt he meant business, deadly business. He was committed and within the next few adrenaline increased heart beats both he and I would know what we were truly made of.
The distance closed to about 35 yards at which point I dropped to one knee. It’s tough shooting a charging target, especially when you have to estimate the lead on a fast approaching animal. Too much of a lead and you miss all together. Too short a lead and bullet placement leaves much to be desired. By getting down to the same level, at least the chances of hitting your adversary are increased. But then too, much of his vital areas are protected by a hard as steel skull.
As I settled the crosshairs on the fast approaching behemoth I noticed his gleaming white tusks popping, honing against each other and sharpening his “cutters” to a razor’s edge. I also notice anger in his eyes. “How dare this mere mortal invade my territory?”
I watched as the entire sequence of events seemed to play in extreme slow motion, although the old boar was coming now at a rapid pace.
I glanced quickly to my side. Tim stood only a step or two behind me, his rifle slung across his shoulder. I remember thinking he seemed to be putting a lot of faith in my shooting ability. But then I nearly laughed out-loud when I remember him telling me as we started the stalk that he wasn’t too concerned about what might happen, because he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he could out run me and that was all he needed to do should be charged by an aggravated boar. Amazing the things one thinks about and all the things one thinks about when facing eminent danger.
The boar black as the black stripes on a zebra, save for his sizeable tusks which were gleaming white, came at a rapid pace. He soon cut the distance to about 25 yards. I’m sure Tim was thinking, “What is this idiot waiting for? Why doesn’t he shoot?”
But in those moments where the boar charged, my mind drifted to other hunts where shot placement and bullet performance were paramount. Hit in the “wrong” place or with the wrong bullet for the job and as had been the case in the past I could have easily ended up bear or boar dung, helping fertilize new spring growth. I wondered if the critter’s leavings of me would have helped push up beautiful flowers, or perhaps thistles and brambles. In spite of those “wonderings”, I truly had no desire to find out, well at least not yet.
“Now would be a good time to shoot!” I heard Tim say, something I’d heard him say a few times in the past under similar circumstances.
The boar slowed a bit, as if perfectly aligning his sights on me; no different than me doing he same on him.
The distance was a mere 10 or 12 yards when I knew for sure there was no turning back or stopping, at least not where my adversary was concerned. And at that distance I was glad I had a low variable scope on my rifle, because anything larger than 1.5 I had would have truly been a detriment. Even as it was, shooting with both eyes open was the only way I could truly see what I was shooting at.
As he came to consummate the charge and the deal, I pulled the trigger.
At the shot the black chunk of muscle and bone shuddered. For a moment I didn’t know exactly where I had hit him. Quickly as the boar slowed, I opened the Encore, pulled out the spent case and quickly seated another fresh round. By then the boar decided he wasn’t quite as tough as he had once imagined. As he turned to run I hit him solidly in the backside, then reloaded once again, all the while keeping one eye on the black hulk disappearing into a briar thicket. I hoped and prayed my shots had done the job and by the time we followed he would have expired.
“I thought you were going to see if that one had problem with his tonsils! What the heck were you waiting for?” questioned Tim.
A bit shaken I mumbles something I’m sue he couldn’t understand, because frankly I’m not sure what my answer was, or why I had waited so long to shoot.
“Load up and keep on handy. If he’s not done for, he’ll come find us when we get in there. You want to go first or do you want me up front?”
“Since I started this thing, seems like I should be in front. Back me up if you will. But remember I’m the one with the gun. I know you’ve accused me of looking like an old raggedly boar hog on occasion, but please remember who is who or what, OK?”
As we eased into the dense thicket of briar and lotebrush it brought back memories of stalking Cape buffalo in Zimbabwe, where any dark spot or movement would be considered a potential danger.
About five yards into the dense thicket I saw a black spot. I stopped in hopes of determining whether what I was looking at was indeed my boar, and even more importantly which way he was turned or facing. A step to the left and I could see his eyes, looking at me. In that same moment there was a loud squeal, the sound of brush breaking and I watched as the charge headed directly toward me! My rifle at half port came quickly to my shoulder and just as quickly the hammer was cocked and the trigger pulled, sending the bullet smashing into the oncoming creature. As I shot I stepped to the left, trying to keep from getting my feet tangled in the briar and falling. Last thing I wanted was to come face to face with an enraged boar, at his level.
Stepping to the side I broke open the Encore and seated another round and pointed it to the black boar which now lay literally at my feet breathing his last.
Just then I heard another loud squeal; teeth and brush popping, then spotted movement headed directly toward me…
As a special to readers of my column I offering my “Shot Placement and Deer Reaction with Larry Weishuhn” DVD. The cost of the DVD (which contains 18 whitetail hunts and 16 other big game animals; is 128 minutes in length) is $17.95, which includes appropriate taxes and shipping and handling. Please send check or money order made to Tin Lizzie, P.O. Box 1432, Uvalde, Texas 78801.
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