Josey thought this might just be the night he could cross paths with the erratic lone boar.
Chapter 2
Josey was winching the culled hogs from the new landowner’s trap onto our trailer, when the Jager Pro app sounded off again. A thousand miles away I looked, hoping it was a different trap filling with a sounder we have been conditioning. This time it was the same erratic boar we have been seeing occasionally meander through a wooded bait site between 2 peanut fields 2 counties to the West.
This hog is what Josey refers to as a “Summertime Boar”. He passes through areas sporadically, never committing to a single bait site or pattern. He has been seen sniffing after a single sow with 3 young on one occasion, but otherwise alone.
We have scouted for this boar for weeks, across the woods and through the peanut fields. Sites have been baited heavily with peanuts, corn, and Texas Hog Bait to slow him down. In addition to his lack of a pattern of movement, he never stays in one area longer than 6 minutes. This is typical of a summertime boar.
Experience has shown that many times a solo boar will require other tactics to eliminate. Seeing him between peanut fields twice in one night was the opportunity Josey was looking for. As he was wrapping up the hogs on the trailer, we spoke about the boar’s appearance. He was already thinking of scanning the peanut fields with the thermal scope, and the re-appearance made up his mind. Josey began the 40- mile drive to the peanut farm.
Arriving at the edge of the farm, Josey silenced the truck’s engine and his phone. With rifle and thermal scope in hand he began scanning the fields for a boar size heat signature. Working his way along the edge of the field toward the direction of the Jager Pro ICE camera bait site, he appreciated the warm still air. The calm keeping the few deer in the field from bolting and sending up an alert.
Through the woods he listened for the grunt or snuffle, smelling the air for the distinct odor of boar. Passing through to the next field, Josey questioned if he missed his target.
Finally, there it was. The boar was nose down, enjoying the harvest leavings. Strolling near the woods in the next peanut field without a care in the world. Until a single shot brought his wanderings to an end.
At this point, I heard nothing from Josey since his arrival at the farm. While I am watching the cameras at night, we frequently communicate when he is in the field. Partly to communicate hog behavior in or around the active trap, and partly due to my nature as a worrier when he is in the field alone. Unbelievably, I saw another boar lighting up the Jager Pro feed once again. Whether it was due to the start of rifle deer season in Georgia, or the farmers harvest, the single boars were on the move.
I sent Josey a text in the hope it would not sour his chances at the peanut field. “Boar in the Bigfoot trap!” When my phone began to ring in response I cringed. Thinking to myself Josey forgot to silence his phone and I blew it for him. As I answer he whispers excitedly “I got him, he is down.” My reply was only a whispered, “Wanna drop another one?”
The media included is the great thermal footage from Josey’s drop using the Pulsar Thermion XM50. I have also attached ICE camera footage of the boar’s travels and of course his demise in the peanut field.
Stay tuned for Chapter 3 of the 12 hour night.
