Still Smiling - 1st Boar

Between the two of us my mate Owen and I had a run of luck only 'ReMington' Martin could trump in the run our trip further West in search of my first boar. Whilst many mortal men would have stayed at home for fear of further misfortune we laughed in the face of it and headed down to make our own luck. In contrast to the washout of a weekend it was a lovely sunny day with a light breeze and this if nothing else was a positive sign as we headed down the M5. We stopped off at a roadside café and enjoyed a good breakfast to stand us for the highseat session we had to come and listened to the locals as they discussed some pretty horrendous poaching activity in the local... 17 heads left in a layby I seem to remember with the perpetrators known to the police yet untouched and brazen enough to walk down the local highstreet with longdogs and machetes in the belts. Beggar's belief if true.
Anyway - boar was hopefully on the menu for us at the same place where Owen got 3 the other day. As he may have already eluded to I had been invited on that day of days but stood him up ..... the ungrateful, supercilious ba$tard that I am but he was good enough to offer me another chance and I didn't need asking twice.
We arrived at the farm and met up with the farmer who wanted some reassurance of our capabilities with a couple of shots on paper which was very sensible as you don't want an angry one of these with a hole in it ripping up the locals. Owen - being fortunate enough to have grassed a few took me through their behaviour on the way to the seat - if any arrived around the bait it would most likely be the wieners first - whilst these were alert they were nothing compared to the bigger, darker boar which were properly tuned in and if an individual sounded an alarm the whole group would bugger off smartish and you may as well go home.
On paper it was a big ask - we were after 3 again, a wiener for me for Christmas, and two bigguns, one for Owen and one for the Farmer. As the wieners were often the first to turn up it was decided that Owen would take the tiddler leaving me the rest of the day to get my first boar. Things got off to a great start and not ten minutes into the session a group arrived and Owen wasted no time in nailing it with the .308. The farmer heard the shot and offered to come and pick it up with his quad and chuck a few pig nuts out at the same time to try and entice some bigger ones out. Half an hour later a dark shape cautiously made its way through the brush and eventually joined the throng of tiddlers jostling about the bait. There were that many of them it was infuriating as it was a job to get the boar safe without the thread to the others.. my heart had been going MoBot pace for 15 minutes when curtain of wieners finally parted and I nailed the boar in the side of the head with the 6.5x55. Wasting no time I cycled the bolt and got the bead back on it encase it decided it wasn't dead but was happy.. and smug enough to claim a perfect brain shot. Get In!

Back came the farmer with his quad and put the lump of a boar on the back - I descended the seat and went up the way to get a few pics and try not to disturb the area further and when I came back Owen very generously said I could shoot his boar as well. I declined on the principle but when Owen insisted I admit I didn't put up as much as a fight as I could have and we settled down to wait again.
The wieners eventually came back and proceeded to wolf down every last remaining crumb of bait and I for one was thinking I'd had my sport when this massive f****r appeared. It was a lot more mobile that the other large one had been but was very cautious and was using the cover to move from left to right, pausing behind thick bits to test the air. The opportunity was a long time coming, Owen was watching though the bins and kept inadvertently jolting when he expected me to pull the trigger... then she put her head up beautifully and whack, back of the head and down she went kicking in the mud.

I was pretty happy with myself on that one and Owen's firm hand shake confirmed he was as relieved as I was the boar had gone down and we didn't have a follow up in the fading light to worry about.
Weighing them in as Owen has said the Wiener went just over 40lb, the next 130lb and the biggun 200lb.


Would like to say a massive thanks to Owen for a organising great day(for the second time) and his generosity on the second (and best as it turned out) boar of the day. A cracking day out for which I hope to return the favour.

 

[blunderbust]

Great write up mate and well done. I will tell you what though, if that is you standing next to the big one hanging up, you need to try and get some sort of mask as you are one ugly bugger.

 

[shaun22/250]

nice read ans some nice boar, I was hopping for my first last weekend but no joy. Well done mate

 

[foxhunter]

Cracking boar Matt ......living the dream at the minute eh ? Red . Sika and now boar ...What next ?

 

[rogue trader]

Well done.

 

[THE STALKER]

Between the two of us my mate Owen and I had a run of luck only 'ReMington' Martin could trump in the run our trip further West in search of my first boar. Whilst many mortal men would have stayed at home for fear of further misfortune we laughed in the face of it and headed down to make our own luck. In contrast to the washout of a weekend it was a lovely sunny day with a light breeze and this if nothing else was a positive sign as we headed down the M5. We stopped off at a roadside café and enjoyed a good breakfast to stand us for the highseat session we had to come and listened to the locals as they discussed some pretty horrendous poaching activity in the local... 17 heads left in a layby I seem to remember with the perpetrators known to the police yet untouched and brazen enough to walk down the local highstreet with longdogs and machetes in the belts. Beggar's belief if true.
Anyway - boar was hopefully on the menu for us at the same place where Owen got 3 the other day. As he may have already eluded to I had been invited on that day of days but stood him up ..... the ungrateful, supercilious ba$tard that I am but he was good enough to offer me another chance and I didn't need asking twice.
We arrived at the farm and met up with the farmer who wanted some reassurance of our capabilities with a couple of shots on paper which was very sensible as you don't want an angry one of these with a hole in it ripping up the locals. Owen - being fortunate enough to have grassed a few took me through their behaviour on the way to the seat - if any arrived around the bait it would most likely be the wieners first - whilst these were alert they were nothing compared to the bigger, darker boar which were properly tuned in and if an individual sounded an alarm the whole group would bugger off smartish and you may as well go home.
On paper it was a big ask - we were after 3 again, a wiener for me for Christmas, and two bigguns, one for Owen and one for the Farmer. As the wieners were often the first to turn up it was decided that Owen would take the tiddler leaving me the rest of the day to get my first boar. Things got off to a great start and not ten minutes into the session a group arrived and Owen wasted no time in nailing it with the .308. The farmer heard the shot and offered to come and pick it up with his quad and chuck a few pig nuts out at the same time to try and entice some bigger ones out. Half an hour later a dark shape cautiously made its way through the brush and eventually joined the throng of tiddlers jostling about the bait. There were that many of them it was infuriating as it was a job to get the boar safe without the thread to the others.. my heart had been going MoBot pace for 15 minutes when curtain of wieners finally parted and I nailed the boar in the side of the head with the 6.5x55. Wasting no time I cycled the bolt and got the bead back on it encase it decided it wasn't dead but was happy.. and smug enough to claim a perfect brain shot. Get In!

Back came the farmer with his quad and put the lump of a boar on the back - I descended the seat and went up the way to get a few pics and try not to disturb the area further and when I came back Owen very generously said I could shoot his boar as well. I declined on the principle but when Owen insisted I admit I didn't put up as much as a fight as I could have and we settled down to wait again.
The wieners eventually came back and proceeded to wolf down every last remaining crumb of bait and I for one was thinking I'd had my sport when this massive f****r appeared. It was a lot more mobile that the other large one had been but was very cautious and was using the cover to move from left to right, pausing behind thick bits to test the air. The opportunity was a long time coming, Owen was watching though the bins and kept inadvertently jolting when he expected me to pull the trigger... then she put her head up beautifully and whack, back of the head and down she went kicking in the mud.

I was pretty happy with myself on that one and Owen's firm hand shake confirmed he was as relieved as I was the boar had gone down and we didn't have a follow up in the fading light to worry about.
Weighing them in as Owen has said the Wiener went just over 40lb, the next 130lb and the biggun 200lb.


Would like to say a massive thanks to Owen for a organising great day(for the second time) and his generosity on the second (and best as it turned out) boar of the day. A cracking day out for which I hope to return the favour.

The seventeen Heads were from Red Deer by the way..

 

[novice]

Re the heads in the layby, didn't this come up in another thread without any real answer as to how these alleged poachers could handle so many beasts of that size without the quad etc that those stalking reds normally need?

As regards the dogs, a quick look at the forums relating to lurcher work will show that few, if any lurchers are capable of handling reds (doesn't stop their owners trying though...). So I for one would be interested in seeing these mythical lurchers that had decked 17 reds in so short a space of time that all their heads would be found together. Perhaps the machetes were to protect the general public from these hell hounds

Novice

Ps are the boar from a wild, free ranging population?

 

[THE STALKER]

I had 3 large Red Stags, that frequented my bit of stalking a bit further down the road, and they have fallen pray to the poachers but they were shot so i have been told, and another chap has found the odd Dead red Stag on his stalking with bullet holes, i have run dogs myself years ago and i think you would need a few big heavy Lurchers to catch and hold a Stag.

 

[stratts]

Blimey aint boar big buggers?! It's something I've never thought about shooting as I don't think there's any near here but it's certainly something to think about in the future.

Nice write up mate well done,

Stratts

 

[foxdropper]

Proper day out that Matt.Fair play to Owen for arranging the day and being so unselfish as to let you shoot his boar .Hats off to the pair of you ,

 

[tjm160]

Great write up Matt and congratulations, three smashing boar, I never realised they grew quite so big in this country.

 

[270Buck]

3 boar during daylight, sounds a bit fishy to me? Someone else has also asked are these truly wild or a canned hunt?

Also when you describe shooting the 3rd boar, being a sow, which you then chose to shoot when you had lots of youngsters in front of you? I realise that is not illegal, but it is clearly not ethical?

 

[Wildboar1973]

3 boar during daylight, sounds a bit fishy to me? Someone else has also asked are these truly wild or a canned hunt?

Also when you describe shooting the 3rd boar, being a sow, which you then chose to shoot when you had lots of youngsters in front of you? I realise that is not illegal, but it is clearly not ethical?

Sorry, but I thought exactly the same and had the same questions on my mind....
Shooting a sow with dependends will let the population growing out of control with a heavily disturbed herd or group structure....

 

[Matt Roberts]

​From what I understand the set up is along the lines of a farmer actively encouraging the wild boar in the area to take sanctuary in his wood in which he has set up some feed stations. I guess he takes the stance that they are in the area causing untold strife so if he can make a few quid out of it why not.

As far as I'm concerned the opportunity was too good to pass up, no doubt in other areas and under different circumstances the boar may not have ventured out until dark.. I wouldn't know as it was my first time. As for being a canned hunt... They weren't exactly stood in a line with price tags on and Im not sure i see the difference between a boar at a bait station in daylight and one by a bait station in the dark with NV... Other than having even more of a numb arse and getting colder.


As for shooting a sow as with most species the only way to get the numbers down is to hit the females so with the farmer of the same opinion and I wasn't going to argue . Like any guest the question was asked beforehand what was shootable as I didn't presume to arrive at a place I'd never been before and start spouting off what gives. I didn't say anything about the youngsters being dependant and if you look at the belly of the sow (s) you'll see both are dry anyway.


Given that boar are traditionally shot on the run as and when they present (probably with biggest singled out) I'd be inclined to think that a head shot in daylight at a stationary target holds the moral high ground but what do I know....

 

[270Buck]

​From what I understand the set up is along the lines of a farmer actively encouraging the wild boar in the area to take sanctuary in his wood in which he has set up some feed stations. I guess he takes the stance that they are in the area causing untold strife so if he can make a few quid out of it why not.

As far as I'm concerned the opportunity was too good to pass up, no doubt in other areas and under different circumstances the boar may not have ventured out until dark.. I wouldn't know as it was my first time. As for being a canned hunt... They weren't exactly stood in a line with price tags on and Im not sure i see the difference between a boar at a bait station in daylight and one by a bait station in the dark with NV... Other than having even more of a numb arse and getting colder.


As for shooting a sow as with most species the only way to get the numbers down is to hit the females so with the farmer of the same opinion and I wasn't going to argue . Like any guest the question was asked beforehand what was shootable as I didn't presume to arrive at a place I'd never been before and start spouting off what gives. I didn't say anything about the youngsters being dependant and if you look at the belly of the sow (s) you'll see both are dry anyway.


Given that boar are traditionally shot on the run as and when they present (probably with biggest singled out) I'd be inclined to think that a head shot in daylight at a stationary target holds the moral high ground but what do I know....

I can understand the logic of the farmer wanting to keep them off his crops or pasture so it does not cause him any agricultural issues. That I can agree with in certain respects.

Truly wild boar are nocturnal animals in the main, you may be lucky and see them in the daylight but ordinarily they will only move under the cover of darkness. All your photos are in broad daylight? For 3 to be shot by your mate the week before, assumably in daylight like this occasion? Then for 3 further to be shot the following week again during the day seems very very unusual. A canned hunt does not mean they are tethered down ready for you to shoot with a price tag through its ear, but these must be enclosed in some way shape or form? I think you have been hoodwinked!!

Both the "farmer" and yourself are totally misguided in the way you are attempting to manage these "free living truly wild boar" as you report them to be.

Whether the sow or sows as you now say SOWS were lactating or not, by shooting what sounds to be the matriarchal sow, you will have caused irrefutable upset to the social hierarchy of the sounder. The matriarchal sow will control when the rest of the sounder is allowed to breed. By removing the matriarchal sow the "teenagers" will not have any guidance from an elder and will cause even more damage and breed uncontrollably.

On a driven hunt you are NEVER encouraged to shoot the biggest animals as the sows can be as big or even bigger than a boar, but like you say what do you know?

 

[stalkerboydy]

whilst it is always nice to see/hear of other firsts. So well done on that Matt I to have wondered how the person who took Matt shoots so many daylight Boar. The other thing was it a slip of the key's when you put in what cal you shot the Boar with

 

[270Buck]

whilst it is always nice to see/hear of other firsts. So well done on that Matt I to have wondered how the person who took Matt shoots so many daylight Boar. The other thing was it a slip of the key's when you put in what cal you shot the Boar with

The HO guidance says 270 or up, but no minimum legal calibre. I wonder if Matt's local constabulary is aware of that or has printed a condition to shoot boar with a 6.5x55 or he has AOLQ?

 

[Matt Roberts]

​Its a printed condition on my certificate as I've got some ground in Dorset where they've apparently been in the past but not seen for a while.

Whilst I bow to your superior knowledge of porcine social hierarchy the sows shot were not, as you again assume, the matriarch of the sounder. I was sharing the seat with another stalker who had a lot of experience on the ground and had a fair idea of the dynamics - he told me what was / wasn't shootable and the Top-Doris, as well as being the size of a small car, had other identifying features. As for 'never being encouraged' to shoot large animals on a driven day I wonder how that works out 99% of the time!!

I didn't put this up to start an argument and fully acknowledge I'm on the bottom rung of the ladder experience wise on boar but you've got to start somewhere.

 

[270Buck]

​Its a printed condition on my certificate as I've got some ground in Dorset where they've apparently been in the past but not seen for a while.

Whilst I bow to your superior knowledge of porcine social hierarchy the sows shot were not, as you again assume, the matriarch of the sounder. I was sharing the seat with another stalker who had a lot of experience on the ground and had a fair idea of the dynamics - he told me what was / wasn't shootable and the Top-Doris, as well as being the size of a small car, had other identifying features. As had very for 'never being encouraged' to shoot large animals on a driven day I wonder how that works out 99% of the time!!

It is strange how the HO Guidelines are not adhered to in every case?? Fair play to you getting that one past plod.

How can you or your friend tell they were or were not the matriarchal sow? I am intrigued?

From the original story you said "The wieners eventually came back and proceeded to wolf down every last remaining crumb of bait and I for one was thinking I'd had my sport when this massive f****r appeared. It was a lot more mobile that the other large one had been but was very cautious and was using the cover to move from left to right, pausing behind thick bits to test the air." If this was the only massive f****r, as you put it, that came to feed with the rest of the youngsters, would that not have been enough doubt to constitute not shooting the sow? I for one would never have taken the shot, anyone else with experience on boar to would never have taken the shot.

If your mate has been shooting these animals on the same ground for some time, the animals would almost certainly be nocturnal. It is rather strange they are happy to come and feed after one of the sounder has just been shot. This would never normally happen, especially if blood and human scent is on the ground??

You have not answered mine, novice and Wildboar1973 question, are they truly free roaming wild boar? I think not given all the circumstances?

Quite simply on a driven hunt if you shoot a breeding sow you pay a fine, quite a large fine by all accounts, so it is definitely not in your interests to shoot just the "large animals"

 

[Matt Roberts]

Apologies for not addressing the canned question - slipped my mind whilst defending other parts of the post. As I've said my understanding it that the owner encourages the boar to stay in the wood. The part of the wood I saw had a fence but whether this went the all the way round I couldn't tell you but there was furrowed or churned up ground on both side of the fence and evident in the surrounding fields and roadside verge.

If this response is enough to label this trip as 'canned' and has you rubbing your hands with glee then whatever floats your boat. I'm pleased as punch at being able to see get one under my belt irrespective of the insinuations that it was a shopping trip.

My comments about driven boar were more out of frustration than experience although it is something id dearly like to do one day. Fines for shooting large animals seems a sensible way to manage things.. It would certainly make me think twice.