Do all guys in Texas have X-ray vision?

[Double Naught Spy]

When I watch them approaching a sounder, they look like they are trying to qualify for the 100 yard dash for the Olympics.

Two weeks ago I was in a field with chopped cotton, with deep furrows…..I stumbled going over a furrow, gun & shooting sticks hit the dirt with me. I hit some dried cut cotton stems that were like rebar …

How do you guys navigate at night so we’ll on the stalk?

Chuck! Thanks for watching! HOLY MOLY!

Smart folks navigate with Gen 3+ night vision, but scan and shoot with thermal. I use thermal for all three, but I don't use thermal to watch my steps, but will look at the ground ahead of me and then proceed, say, 20 yards, stop and repeat while checking on the hogs as well. This works okay. Vegetation hiding the ground is always a problem regardless of whether you are using a flashlight, NV, or thermal.

The speed at which we stalk is often dependent on environmental conditions, ground conditions, familiarity with the land, and behavior of the hogs. For example, it is hard to move quickly and quietly when things are dry and crunchy. It is hard to move quickly when the land is rooted or traversed by erosional gullies. If I am on a property or area of a property I am not familiar with, I am more apt to go slowly.

I have taken a number of tumbles. Most are very minor. A few have managed to send me to the doctor or the ER.

The way Ben keeps from falling down is by following me. If I suddenly disappear from sight, followed by a thud and/or cursing, Ben knows to stop and then proceed very cautiously to help retrieve me. A fellow I hunted with years ago wasn't so keen. He fell in the same little ravines I did, both times after being warned, the second time actually falling on me!

I am NOT an advocate of wearing a headlamp that is on when I stalk because I am afraid it will spook the hogs. However, I know of a guy that will stalk to within 50 yards of hogs with his light on, go dark, set up, and start shooting. Being the learners that they are, hogs will come to associate being shot at with headlamps being on in the field and run away in the future when they see headlamps in the field. So I have to believe that while a headlamp may be beneficial to your stalk, it may not be beneficial to your hunts.

Have I seen hogs chased away by headlamps being on? No. But, I have seen hogs spooked by the dim red glow of an 850 nm IR light. Actually, I have seen this several times. While they don't see the shine, they do see the glow and if they have been hunted previously in that manner and see the red glowing orb before the shooting starts, they are apt to be running before the shooting starts.

With that said, if I have scanned the area to make sure there are no more hogs and if I am concerned about the ground, I will walk out with my light on, but only as bright as I need it. This isn't good fieldcraft, but I figure that if I am done for the night or believe the hogs are done for now, no reason to risk taking a tumble.

If I think hogs may still be around, instead of using a white light, I will use a red light to make my way out.

Bottom Line: You gotta do what you need to stay safe.

Also, I have a tracking app on my phone, such that if something happens, my wife will at least know where I am if I am unable to call.