TF-89 G-hog hunt

[longislandhunter]

Around 4 pm this afternoon I was sitting around home doing nothing so I decided to head to the vegetable farm and do some g-hog stalking.  I've been trying to use some of my rifles that I haven't hunted with in a while so for todays hunt I chose the .22 caliber TF-89.  She's topped with a Tasco 3x9x32 Golden Antler and is sighted in with 15 grain JSB domes at 30 yards.  She hasn't been hunting in quite a long time so today was her day. I grabbed my gear and headed to the farm. 

When I got to the farm I loaded up and started slowly working my way around the perimeter of the crop fields.  During the next hour I did see 2 g-hogs out in the fields raiding the crops, but they saw me first and made it to the safety of their burrows before I could get into a shooting position.  The farm workers started heading out into the  fields to pick vegetables so I decided to make my way back into the woods at the back of the farm.  The farmer has 2 large fields carved out of these woods and since these fields are so isolated I figured I stood a good chance of spotting some g-hogs out feeding. 

I walked down the dirt road leading to the first field and when I reached the edge of the field I paused and took a peek.  Sure enough at the far end of the field there was a large g-hog out in the crops having a feast.  I spent the next 45 minutes slowly working my way closer but when I was 50 yards out he spotted me and high tailed it for the weeds at the edge of the field where his burrow is.  I knew he'd come back out again if I just waited him out so I carved out a hide in the thick bushes on the edge of the field about 30 yards from the spot where the g-hogs burrow entrance was, got comfortable and began my wait. 

I had been in the hide about 30 minutes when I suddenly saw the fat g-hog re-emerge from the bushes.  He stuck his head out first, looked all around and when he was convinced it was safe he waddled out of the bushes however instead of heading directly into the crops he made a right turn and started walking straight towards my hide.  I kept the crosshairs on his head as he walked and when he was 20 yards away I sent the JSB dome on it's way.  The pellet slammed into the g-hogs head right between his eyes and at the hit the g-hog flopped onto his stomach, rolled onto his back, gave a shudder or two and then went limp.   I reloaded but a second shot wasn't necessary, he was down for the count. 

I took some pics of the TF-89 and her kill  then grabbed my dinner and headed for the truck.  On the walk back to the truck, as I walked through the woods, I spotted quite a few grey squirrels feeding on the plentiful acorn crop and also surprised a couple of wild turkeys that were also dining on the acorns.  These woods are going to be great when squirrel season opens up

When I got home, prior to skinning and cleaning the g-hog, I weighed him with the calibrated scale I use for my fishing club.  He weighed in at 12 lbs 5 ounces.  Apparently the fresh vegetables agreed with him

I quartered him up, gave him a heavy coating of cajun spices and fried him up until the outside was nice and crispy and a little blackened . 














Jeff

[Atchman2]

WOW that was incredible!  Nice story and nice shooting!  

The TF 89 is a great rifle for hunting.  If any newbies are here, it is a an excellent first hunting rifle.   It may be eclipsed by the Titan now, but for the price a TF 89 is a great gun.  They LOVE German pellets!!  

I stripped my Golden Antler scope's turrets. It is headed back to Bushnell customer service for repair or replacement.  I like the clarity of the lenses and actually wished I had put it on my powder burner instead of messing it up on a springer that really needed to be shimmed.  My fault; not the scope's fault.  For the money it is a great scope!   

Just a fantastic story and great shooting!  I especially love it when someone hunts with a rifle I like or own.  The nice thing about the TF 89 is it isn't a clone of anything else.  That means it will be around for a long time (hopefully).  That makes it a pretty decent investment for a hunting gun. 

[redsoxvw]

Nice Ghog..........How do you like the taste? Whats your recipe, it looks tasty as *(&^

[Alan]

Such a Master Shotsman, any gun, any day, beware G-hogs.
The tree rats must be shuddering.
Seriously, great shootin' and pics.  Sandy looking soil there.

[JimH]

Awe dang Jeff, I was just about to go to bed when I saw your frying pan.... now I have to go have a snack, then go to bed.... another late night.  "Morning Jim" will have to pay for this later.

[dk1677]

Very nice shooting Jeff!  Great write-up and pictures!

[shadow]

Just outstanding brother Jeff great story and pic's buddy you have the cream of the crop in "FAT" G-hog's and that's a fatty there, look's better in the fry pan though hehe. Ed

[only1harry]

Congrats on another successful G-hog hunt buddy.  Great stalk, story and pics.  That is a fatty one for sure with a thick fat layer under the skin.

The G-hogs here don't stay out feeding for more than 20min.  I guess if they had fresh veggies all around them, they 'd stay out longer

I like the way your TF89 looks.  Most of the ones I 've seen have a very dark stock.  Yours just looks better.  How fast do you think it shoots the JSB Jumbos?  

That looks mouth-watering btw!!

[Atchman2]

The TF 89 I have is close to that color of wood.  Now the 99s are REALLY dark. 

I'm still pumped reading this, I'm going to take my 89 out and shoot it today in celebration  

[longislandhunter]

Thanks guys, I was really stoked to get a g-hog with the 89 as I haven't hunted with her for a long time, but that rifle is one heck of a hunter and definitely deserves more time in the woods.  This upcoming small game season I'm going to make sure she gets her share of rabbits and bunnies.

Harry, I really don't know how fast she's pushing the 15.9 grain JSB's as I haven't chrony'd her with them but last time I checked she was shooting the standard weight pellets in the mid to upper 800's depending on the specific pellet.  This rifle is a serious "hammer"   and right from the box she was a great shooter with a great trigger.  She's still bone stock.

REDSOXVW, I find them to be excellent table fair and I really enjoy them.  One of my favorite ways to make em is like I did yesterday.  Quartered the hog, trimmed the pieces nicely, gave them a hefty coating of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and a cajun spice mixture I get at COSTCO and then fry em up in canola oil mixed with bacon fat until the pieces are golden brown and crispy on both sides.  Drain them on some paper towels and chow down.  They are delicious.  I also like to make pot roast with them, especially the older ones and that comes out absolutely fantastic.  The pot roast is the favorite meal of both of my daughters.

Anyway, glad you guys enjoyed the hunt.  I was going to go out this afternoon with my .22 GAMO 1250 Royal for another hunt but it looks like it's gonna rain so that hunt will have to wait.

Jeff

[wahoowad]

Jeff,

Great story, as usual!

Any advice on cleaning the groundhog. I am simply going to have to eat one soon. Lately I have been focused more on using my .22 magnum at longer distances than my airguns can handle but generally are dropping them with headshots that leave the body intact. Any advice as far as technique for skinning and trimming them? They seem to dang fat that I wonder what I will get when I start to open them up.

[longislandhunter]

Actually it's funny you should ask that

I just took a bunch of pics that I'm going to post soon on how I clean and skin the g-hogs.  I'm working on the pics now, it's kind of a "step by step" lesson in pics with written instructions as well.  Since the weather is lousy here today I'll work on finishing the pics today and try and get it posted by later this afternoon. 

The skinning is the hardest part of cleaning a g-hog as they are large, round and the skin really "sticks" to the skin, but the method I use is very simple and works great.  It only takes me about 5 minutes to skin one out.

Anyway, I'll try to post the tutorial later this afternoon...

Jeff