Peter d’Plesse intertwines the value of patience with a successful pig hunt
Patience is a valuable quality for every hunter. It can mean the difference between a ‘failed’ hunt and success – not disputing that all time spent in the wild is time well spent. In every game species, for individuals to become spectacular they need to be isolated, lucky or smart.
In the modern world, isolation is difficult to find for any animal. Luck depends on random chance. Being smart provides opportunities to learn from the mistakes of over-eager hunters. This buys time for smart pigs to grow big.
La Niña rains ensured that channels running parallel to the river would prevent vehicle access to more than 20km of flood plain. As the years pass, hills seem to become steeper and distances longer, so a mountain bike was added to the gear list. It was light enough to carry over the channels for silent scouting above walking speed. Things were kept simple with a rifle slung over a shoulder and liquid sealant put into the tyres as a defence against burrs. The sight of a mountain bike cruising the flood plains must have been unusual. An emu caught by surprise ran circles around the bike, trying to make sense of the apparition before deciding discretion was called for.
The first exploratory ride paid off. In the early afternoon, a boar was sighted leading a mob out from the channels towards the river. He was a stunning specimen, shoulders set high in a caricature of the feral pig. The ride was longer than intended, so Winchester and camera were back in the Jeep. The mob’s foray through grass and low herbs was observed until distant shots sent them scurrying for cover.
After the rains, the river and channels were clothed in grass up to shoulder height. There was little point struggling with the ground cover along the winding channels. It was possible but not a wise choice as snakes were in abundance. Risks need to be managed appropriately so the advantage in cover lay with the pigs.
In Australia the feral pig is regarded as a pest species to be eliminated through poisoning or shooting. However, boar hunting has a history going back into ancient times. The wild pig was respected as a tough, adaptable and intelligent game animal. Hunting provided not only a food source but an opportunity for the young to develop warrior skills, independence and decision making. Even the nobility, chiefs and kings tested their mettle against the boar using knife, sword, lance or bow.
The pig observed that day became a challenge for the next two weeks. Hunting pressure had driven smarter pigs into cover or quieter areas. If they stayed in the zone, they emerged after dark and retreated before dawn. Shots from the neighbouring property disturbed things for days. The best solution was to take the pressure off and let things settle down as much as possible. Scouting in this stretch was done with caution and no shots were fired. Observation, stalking practice on smaller pigs and photography were undertaken to allow the boar’s confidence to grow.
Patience was eventually rewarded. The boar was sighted moving along the edge of high grass flanking the channel. His high shoulders were unmistakable. The minions came out before sundown while he stayed in cover. Perhaps he was waiting to see if they were shot before deciding to emerge from deep cover.
Patience was rewarded again on a subsequent evening. The breeze was slight but variable, blowing randomly east, west and south. After crossing the channels onto the flood plain, I moved out east, then cut south and gradually worked back north as the sun slowly sank towards the horizon. Distance from the channel was sufficient to give pigs enough space to emerge from cover before possibly picking up any scent.
As the sun was brushing the skyline, the boar led his mob out from cover. The shoulders were again on show. A stalk was commenced but the wind was a risk. A long shot could be called for, less than 250m but more than 150m. Judging range is always an issue in the field. Fortunately, the .270 is well regarded for such performance. Even so, the gap was closed as much as possible given the unpredictable breeze. Using a convenient tree as a rest, the cross-hairs settled just behind his right shoulder, a third of the way up from his belly line and the trigger caressed. The bolt was worked and cross-hairs settled on the next biggest pig hesitating in confusion. That bewilderment ended within seconds. The rest of the mob were left to depart the scene. They could always be culled another day.
What makes a trophy boar? Some measure tusks while others go by weight. Without an opportunity to weigh a feral pig, I judge length from nose to rump along with the quality of the hunt. This suggests a distinction between a pig shooter and a pig hunter. Both labels fulfil a purpose in managing feral game. In this case a hunt focused on one pig was more important than a total tally He was an unusual specimen and deserved respect in line with the attitudes displayed by hunters of ancient times.
For this hunter he was a trophy based on size, quality of the hunt and clear lessons of hunting reinforced once again. What were these lessons? They are basic to hunting and so simple they are often lost in concerns about rifles and calibres. Seduction by expensive equipment and the power of the ‘new and greatest’ cartridge can obscure the essentials of hunting.
First is a basic principle understood by indigenous cultures anywhere in the world and down through history – ‘Walk little, look much’. That doesn’t exclude covering ground at a pace to locate good hunting areas but once found, the rule applies. The initial element to a successful stalk is to spot the prey, so use the best affordable glass, scan along good sight lines and let eyes do most of the walking.
More country can be inspected and less territory disturbed this way than any hunter will ever cover on foot. While moving slowly, study the area in front, behind and to the sides for any line, shape, shadow or shine out of place. Depending on terrain and cover it’s not unusual to close within metres of an animal before either is aware of the other’s presence.
Once a hunter has spotted, studied and read the body language of the quarry, a stalk can begin. Choose a shooting position and plan a route to that place. After commencing the stalk it’s easy to lose track of an animal and a hunter’s position in relation to the goal so use landmarks to guide the way. As distance lessens, stay under cover. Even a small bush may be enough to close the distance. Shadows of trees or clouds can be used to imitate a wispy spirit flitting across the landscape. Direct sunlight makes a hunter stand out no matter how good their camouflage.
The first pig taken on this trip was a lone boar within four hours from arriving on the property. After leaving the vehicle and walking 400m, a brief stop to scan the landscape paid off. An out of place line of colour was noticed just behind the vegetation cover. After half a minute a boar moved out from behind clumps of grass bordering a channel. Using a small bush to edge closer he fell to a 175-grain 7×57 soft-point from a Brno combination and a red dot sight. Without stopping to scan, he would have escaped notice. Walk little, look much.
Second lesson. Use enough gun. Too light a calibre introduces issues of range, adrenalin, intermediate cover, penetration and confidence. Too heavy a calibre can result in issues around recoil and flinch. A cartridge should deliver the goods under expected circumstances without causing flinch or pushing the boundaries of ballistics.
An extreme example is the .22 Hi-Power, a popular cartridge in the early 1900s. Originally advertised as a small game and deer cartridge, it was used with success by experienced hunters against such unlikely game as lions and tigers. While they got away with it, others who tried to emulate their performance weren’t so lucky. They lacked the skill, anatomical knowledge or patience to wait for the best shot angle. Know your game, its anatomy, the performance of the cartridge and especially the bullet being used. A good cartridge with an inappropriate bullet, or any bullet poorly placed, will result in disappointment.
A third lesson involves movement and noise. It’s almost impossible to step through bush without making a noise. It can be done for short distances but eventually a twig will snap underfoot. It can also be done by experienced soldiers on a combat patrol, but the pace is excruciatingly slow.
Hunting doesn’t require that extreme in stealth. The bush is generally used to noise as the ground is littered with leaves, twigs and bark. Game is accustomed to hearing other animals moving about from resting areas to feeding grounds. Deer are familiar with the sound of movement up and down slopes at various times of the day.
European deer hunters move through the forest at a steady pace, not too fast or too slow without being overly noisy. They set their pace against the time of day and the movement patterns of game being hunted. That steady pace fits in with the landscape and avoids the sudden ‘snap’ that shatters the normal rhythm of the bush.
In Australia, natural rhythms of the Outback include movement by kangaroos, emus, goats, sheep, cattle and pigs, among other native animals, all doing their thing at various times of the day. Stay within that rhythm and things are cool. After sighting game such as pigs, rules of stalking apply. Noise is kept to a minimum and wind is worked to best advantage. Always keep scent from reaching the animal being stalked. Circle that extra distance, climb that next ridge or wait that added hour to make sure the wind is in your favour.
The last boar had two final lessons. High shoulders in pigs result from thickened subcutaneous tissue overlying outer muscles of the lateral shoulder region. The shield develops early and may increase in adults to 2^ (50mm) in thickness. Injuries from ‘boar on boar’ fighting are primarily found on areas covered by the shield, often dense enough to stop arrows and certain bullets.
Thickness varies seasonally, being greatest during the annual peak of conception and is positively correlated with good body condition resulting from lush feed after rains. The shield has a secondary sexual advantage, providing extra protection that helps a boar so endowed absorb punishment from other challenging boars when fighting over breeding opportunities.
The second lesson concerns his colouring, often referred to as ‘brindle’. This is a pattern found in dogs, cattle, guinea pigs, cats and sometimes, horses. It’s usually described as ‘tiger-striped’, typically appearing as black stripes on a reddish/brown base. My learned partner, who raised a variety of pigs, informed me the source of this colouring stems from the Gloucestershire Old Spots pig breed. This is an English breed, predominantly white with black spots named after the county of Gloucestershire. Domestic boars reach a weight of 270kg (600lb) and sows 230kg (500lb). The breed’s maternal skills enable it to raise large litters of piglets. Once escaped from farmers or miners, the breed had suitable genes to help build the population of feral pigs in Australia.
A hunter’s most powerful tool is patience. Once within sight of the target, it’s time to slow down, become part of the environment and drift closer for a shot. With modern rifles, sights and calibres, long shots are possible but involve ethical risks. Sneaking close where appropriate reduces these risks. Cloud movement, shadows, wind gusts, air movement and other factors can conceal or reveal a hunter’s presence. Blend in, move in tune with nature and relax ‑ prey animals seem to ‘feel’ a predator’s intent so don’t fix them with an intense gaze.
The basics of hunting will always apply. Stay calm, work your way into position and take a clean, steady shot. Success will follow.