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Gigem
03-20-2011, 08:41 AM
Steve Grams, the Director for Marketing and PR for the Texas Trophy Hunters Association, decided to trade his PR duties in for a little R&R....Tactical style! Steve and a couple of friends, Elizabeth and John, came down last week to have a little fun....and that's what we did!





After getting everyone set up with night vision goggles and familiarizing them with the night scopes and thermal sights, we loaded up in the Land Rover and set out, in search of pork. The search didn't take very long either....we might've gotten 200 yards from the truck when Jed spotted the first group of hogs and the stalk was on. We circled around downwind and stalked to within about 50 yards. After a quick 3-2-1 countdown, 3 porkers got a one-way ticket to Hog Heaven!





http://www.tacticalhogcontrol.com/clark/first3.JPG





Hunts are supposed to be fun, but they can also be educational. Two of the three hogs that Steve's crew killed were "mule-footed"....ie. they had a single hoof of each foot, like a mule or horse, rather than the normal split-hoof. We don't normally see many of these crittters but the ranch manager said that they are common on that property.





http://www.tacticalhogcontrol.com/clark/mulefoot.JPG





After the anatomy lesson was over, we were back to the hunt. A half-hour later, I spotted a large ,single hog off in the distance but it was on the neighboring property. We've got about 100,000 acres to hunt on but you still have to respect the boundaries! Our disappointment didn't last long because a couple of minutes later, we spotted a pasture poodle....and this wiley coyote had dinner in his mouth. I could see that he had something in his mouth as he trotted across the pasture but I thought that it was a rabbit. After Steve anchored him with a single .308 round, we discovered that we weren't the only ones hog hunting that night!....A 2 'fer!





http://www.tacticalhogcontrol.com/clark/yoteandpig.JPG








Thirty minutes later, we're back on the pork! After a long stalk across open country, Steve and friends cut loose on another large sounder. When the smoke cleared, 8 more rooters had met their maker. Good Shootin'


http://www.tacticalhogcontrol.com/clark/sevenmore.JPG





The stars must've been aligned that night because we ran into another group a few minutes later....and they were heading straight at us. We waited until they got close and then Steve, Elizabeth and John went to work. They took 5 out of that group!....the total of dead hogs is up to 17.





http://www.tacticalhogcontrol.com/clark/fivemore.JPG





As we made our way back to the trucks, we had one last treat. Remember that lone hog on the neighbor's place? Well, he decided that the grass was greener on our side of the fence....either that or he wanted to come visit his friends. Either way, he wound up on the receiving end of 3 lead injections. I didn't get a picture of him, but he brought the final count for the night up to 18 hogs and a coyote.





We had a ball and I think Steve and his friends did too! Maybe we'll get to read his version of it in an upcoming issue of the TTHA magazine!

riverhog
03-21-2011, 12:58 AM
nice hogs, good hunt

Hogdude1234
03-21-2011, 02:55 AM
That's awesome Clark!!! Great write up Bro!!!

txbhunter1
03-21-2011, 10:05 AM
Way to go Clark!!!!!!!! Dougepoo actually shot a "Mulefooted" hog the last time at their place east of Centerville a few miles.

Gigem
03-22-2011, 02:50 AM
Gary,



That hunt was outside of Buffalo, almost to Oakwood. (not too far from Doug's place) We rarely see a mule-footed hog down around Madisonville but they're pretty common in that neck of the woods. There must be something in the water in Keechi Creek!....(that might explain some of Mike's "issues" too. LOL!)

ARhoghunter
03-22-2011, 06:23 AM
Nice hunt. Really enjoyed reading it. Makes we want night vision & thermal imaging equipment even more!

txbhunter1
03-23-2011, 04:27 PM
Kind of one of those things that makes you go "Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm" LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

ARhoghunter
04-20-2011, 07:39 AM
Question for the Pros: If I want to buy 1 piece of specialized night equipment that we can both use, what would you recommend? Thermal? Goggles? My wife & I both have good scopes that use moonlight well, Sniper Hog Lights, & a military grade laser. I am leaning toward something thermal. Ideas???

Gigem
04-20-2011, 03:22 PM
I would base my decision on the answers to a couple of factors. One is obviously your budget..... How much are you willing to invest? The other big issue is your intended use.... Are you looking for a "viewing" device (like goggles or a monocular) or do you want a weapon sight?



Your budget will probably make the decision between night vision and thermal a lot easier. Thermal is great, but it is expensive. A good Gen 3 night vision weapon sight will retail in the $4500-5000 range....but a thermal scope is going to start in the $12000 range. (for one that will hold zero anyway)



Your intended use can make a lot of difference too. Monoculars will be cheaper than PVS7 goggles....there's less to them. Weapon sights cost a little more because of the bigger optics and windage/elevation controls. The aviator style goggles cost more because there are 2 image intensifier tubes, rather than one.



Let me know what you're trying to do and I'll gladly help you make a good choice.

ARhoghunter
04-24-2011, 03:19 PM
We want to be able to scan the darkness to see what is around us. Is that a monocular? What brand, price, & dealer would you recommend?

Gigem
04-26-2011, 04:00 PM
ARHH,



Sorry...I should've been clearer. First, you've got two main types of systems.....night vision and thermal. Night vision amplifies available light whereas thermal systems look for heat. Night vision is a lot cheaper then thermal, but thermal works on a bright night, a dark night and even in the daylight.



You can also divide these devices into different categories...weapon sights and "viewers". Obviously, weapon sights have crosshairs in them and are designed to be mounted on a gun. Viewers are designed for "viewing" and are usually monoculars or binoculars. Everyone is familiar with binoculars....monoculars are simply 1/2 of a set of binoculars...you look through one eye instead of two. Since night vision binoculars have two sets of lenses and image intensifiers, they cost about twice as much as monoculars.



What you buy depends on what you want to do. Are you looking for something to "look" through or do you want a scope, to mount on your gun, to "shoot" through?



I know it's confusing, but we'll get it figured out! LOL.

ARhoghunter
05-01-2011, 03:18 AM
What would you recomend for view scanning an area affordable gen 2 or 3 what manufactuers

Gigem
05-01-2011, 06:59 AM
First, I wouldn't recommend anything other than Gen 3. Anything less isn't going to work worth a flip unless you have a good moon or an illuminator.



If you're just wanting to view an area, a monocular like the PVS-14 would do the trick. It's a small handheld device that would fit easily in your pocket. It can be used with a headgear or helmet, so you can wear it like a set of goggles....in case you were driving or walking. If you had a gun equipped with a laser (IR, red or green), you could also use it as a viewer, to shoot with. Some folks mount the behind halographic sight, like an Eotech, but the sight needs to have a night vision mode (super dim). Several manufacturers make the housings for these monoculars but the image intensifier tube is probably going to be ITT or Litton. A good PVS-14 is going to run $2800-3500.

ARhoghunter
05-17-2011, 05:57 AM
Thanks for the advice. We need to save up to get it!