Goodbye Blue Monday!

Take a quick flight through the universe.

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to go hog wild.  Feral hogs are a real and growing problem in much of the United States, but there’s a bright side; they present a great hunting opportunity, especially in the southern tier of states.  Since they are a feral domestic animal, most states don’t require any kind of license, and there is no restricted season or limit; of course, human hunters can’t kill the swine as fast as they can breed, so their ranges keep expanding.

Now, feral hogs – especially a big old boar – can be a big, fast and dangerous opponent.  A hard-hitting rifle is in order, and quick repeat shots are a good thing to have available.  So Outdoor Life magazine has presented a list of 15 Great Pig Hunting Rifles and Handguns.  While I’ve yet to hunt feral hogs, were I offered the chance, my own hog rifle of choice hits the Outdoor Life list at #4, that being the Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70.  The Bullwhacker was originally purchased as a dark timber elk rifle and, eventually, to do duty on big Alaskan bears, but it should make an admirable hog rifle.

Some of Outdoor Life’s other choices, though, like the 5.56mm AR-15 platform rifles, don’t seem to make a lot of sense.  Also, the article leaves out an entire category of short-range steamrollers; any good pump-action or semi-auto 12-gauge shotgun stoked with slugs would put any hog in its place in a hurry.

While we’re looking at Outdoor Life, have a look at their take on the 16 Finest Guns Ever Made.  Delightful to see the wonderful old Browning Auto-5 make the list.  In fact, three of the 16 are Browning designs; in any discussion of fine guns, the Da Vinci of firearms is certain to be mentioned.

Finally, only from Japan:  Robot Butts.  David Willis was unavailable for comment.  This is either just bizarre beyond words, or the best thing ever invented; I haven’t yet decided which.

On that note, we return you to your Monday, already in progress.