A friend loaned me a book to read: Bell of Africa. This book is autobiographical by Mr. W.D.M. Bell who was an elephant hunter in Africa some hundred or so years ago. Very good.
The book has lots of observations about bullet construction and shot placement. Here’s a quote from page 36. The context is elephant hunting and shot placement for the big pachyderm, but this bit of wisdom has a place in the toolkit of all hunters.
The natural inclination of most men is to fire too quickly at the beast anywhere. This must be resisted at all costs. If you can force yourself to wait until you have counted ten slowly the animal is yours. When you are in this state of mind…
As you can see, Mr. Bell is encouraging us to slow down. On any hunt, the excitement can be overwhelming. This will be especially true for those of you who have planned for months to come and to pursue our wild hogs. You have made innumerable preparations, and the day has finally arrived. You are out in the pasture, it’s your turn to shoot a pig, and there it is. This is your moment.
I know this because I have done this myself. The first time I hunted at Manx Farm, I was overwhelmed. Targets were everywhere. I was compelled to start shooting, and I shot quickly and haphazardly.
This was not good.
The proper thing to do is to follow Bell’s advice to “force yourself to wait.”
This is difficult.
However, this urge to rush your shot is not new or unique. Bell saw it in hunters a century ago.
This excitement is one of the reasons for the hunt. Enjoy the excitement, but don’t let it rule the day. Take a moment and wait for the good shot.
Of course, the optimal feral hog shot is broadside through the neck. When you pace yourself and take the good shot, the hog will fall. This is good. (Chasing after a wounded hog is not fun…I know.)
In response to the advice offered above, a combat veteran offered this from his experience: I might add that maintaining focus in the heat of the moment is a skill that should be practiced before the hunt.
There are many details that contribute to a successful hunt: marksmanship, shooting practice, knowledge of your game animal, proper gear, proper rifle and caliber, and getting your mind right (calm, timing, focus).
Porcus Hogrelius
Make Yourself a Better Hog Hunter
