It was just another day at the office. Well, that is if the office was a hunting blind in South Central Texas. This day at the office was centered around a wild hog hunt hosted by the good folks at Sightmark on their ranch southeast of Dallas. Along with just being an enjoyable event, the hunt was an opportunity for me to test drive a couple of new products, the Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal riflescope and the Stag Arms Pursuit .308 Rifle. The combination of these two great products would prove to be the perfect setup for some time in the Texas wild.
Hunting Hogs at Night With the Stag Arms Pursuit & Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal
A quick flight to Dallas and we were soon on our way to the ranch. It is a beautiful property composed of 7,000 acres and a very nice lodge. While it is unofficial, Sightmark has plans on expanding the ranch and adding cabins to the property. In time it is certain to be a destination for a multitude of events. As we settled in, it was the perfect time to go over my gear and prepare for the hunts. Optics-wise I would be using the new Wraith Mini Thermal riflescope. This small, compact optic would allow me to cut through dusk and night and find my targets.
This new member of the Wraith line has a nice 384×288 resolution sensor, <40mK NETD sensor sensitivity, and F1.0 germanium glass to provide users with crisp imaging and an adult-size heat signature detection range of 1,400 yards. With five thermal color palette modes and nine reticle colors to choose from, the Wraith Mini Thermal is perfectly suited for any time of day and any game animal. The OLED display provides rich color and temperature operation while its five configurable weapon profiles allow it to hold multiple zeroes for different types of weapons, eliminating the need to re-zero the Wraith Mini Thermal every time it’s mounted on a different rifle. Decoded into regular English, this means the Wraith Mini Thermal has top-tier internals and performance.
Wraith Mini Thermal Camera
Wraith Mini Thermal Riflescopes also boast a built-in camera with audio recording, capable of preserving the very best moments of a user’s hunt on a high-capacity memory card (256gb max); 2x optical zoom with 1-8x digital zoom and 1024×768 display resolution for 24-hour, long-distance detection and close- to mid-range target engagements.
Built with rugged and dependable aluminum housing, the Wraith Mini Thermal Riflescope is built for reliable operation between a temperature range of -4°F to 122°F, even in inclement weather. Powered by two CR123A batteries for up to 3.5 hours in video mode and 4.4 hours in preview mode, as well as USB charging capability, the Wraith Mini Thermal is the perfect all-day, all-night hunting-optic solution.
Stag Arms Pursuit in .308
The rifle I mounted the Wraith on was none other than the new Stag Arms Pursuit in .308. This is one of 10 rifles in their new Pursuit Hunting line. These rifles are available in both Stag 15 and Stag 10 variations chambered in .350 Legend, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .308 to accommodate whatever size game you are hunting. Built around a lightweight Hanson Profile barrel, the Pursuit allows you to feel comfortable bringing an AR out into the wild.
These freshly designed rifles come in the first ever Midnight Bronze Cerakote and feature an adjustable CTR stock with custom Stag Arms branded leather piece over the cheek weld. The Pursuit was forged in the wild and ready to accompany you back out there. The designers of these rifles obviously had spent some time in the hunting world, and they checked many critical boxes on a gun you would carry into the wild.
The gun has some excellent features. The CTR stock is a good choice for the gun because it has a locking feature on it that improves stability. This is crucial when a trophy animal is in your sights. The stock also has a very nice additional feature. At the rear cheek weld area, Stag has placed a leather pad. While some will think this to be nothing more than an aesthetic add-on, it is a very comfortable addition to the gun. Rounding out the features is a black Magpul K2+ Vertical Grip and Timney USA curved short 2-stage trigger, allowing for increased accuracy.
Upgraded Charging Handle, Muzzle Device
And whether you are shooting right or left-handed, you will appreciate the Breach Charging Handle and fully configurable ambidextrous safety making manipulation of the rifle comfortable from any angle. It can be set from 60 degrees to 90 degrees, depending on the shooter’s preference. Out front Stag has included their Gamma muzzle device that does an exceptional job of helping to manage recoil. As mentioned above, the Pursuit comes in a variety of calibers to fit your specific needs. In their Stag 10 guns they offer a 6.5 Creedmoor option as well as a .308 Win option. In the slightly smaller Stag 15 frame they offer 6.5 Grendel and 350 Legend. As with a majority of their other rifles, there are left-handed versions available for southpaw shooters.
With everything set, my final addition to the setup was a Dead Air Nomad 30 suppressor. This would be an excellent addition to the rifle and make the hunt more enjoyable. Ammo-wise, I would be using Hornady American White Tail 150-grain SP interlock. This round has proven itself effective in the past and would certainly serve me today. We loaded up and hit the trails heading out to our blind. After a drive full of twists and turns we arrived at the opening to another tail road.
Getting on Piggies
Our hide was set about a quarter mile down the road and a stealth approach was deemed best. With gear on our backs and rifle in hand, we quietly made our way down the road. In this early evening time, it is not uncommon to find hogs feeding and we wanted to be ready just in case. The approach was uneventful, so into the blind we climbed. In short order, we were quietly settled, and we were scanning the wood line for hogs.
This is where a thermal optic shines. Even with a little light still available from a late sun, the shadows in brush and trees can hide even large hogs. Using a thermal gives me the advantage of seeing their thermal signature long before I would see their actual bodies with the naked eye. As we sat the air got still and soon we were immersed in the Texas backcountry. It is moments like this where I am reminded of why we love to hunt. While taking game is our goal, there is something magical about just being out in nature. After about an hour we heard multiple shots off in the distance as another member of our group had obviously found hogs at his blind. While we officially cheered him, we also quietly said “crap” in our heads as we hoped to not end up with no story to share.
Nighttime Ops Engaged
The sun melted away and soon the black Texas sky covered us. It was almost moonless and the darkness blanketed the area we were watching. We continued to scan the area with hopes of monster hogs appearing in our Wraiths. The evening rolled on and we started counting raccoons and countless other Central Texas creatures entering our field of view. I sat my rifle down for a brief moment and heard what I was waiting for … “hogs!” My partner saw two large pigs starting to emerge from the treeline.
Within half a breath I was back on my rifle and had the hogs lit up in my Wraith Thermal. The Pursuit was easy to wield, and I was very quickly back on target. The whisper-quiet discussion began as we made plans on how to best get our shots. My partner, like me, was using a Wraith, which made our planning easier. The decision was made that we would both take our shots simultaneously. He would take the hog on the right and I would shoot the one on the left. The shots were set to be fired on the count of three. A quick check with my partner and the count began. On “three” we both fired what turned out to be very good shots.
Making Bacon!
Both of our pigs rolled and we watched it all unfold through our Wraith Mini Thermals. I cannot overstate just how effective this optic was in this almost zero-light situation. This combined with the crisp Timney two-stage trigger on the Stag Pursuit made for an excellent shot. As a matter of business, we both followed up with a second shot. Then we watched our targets become still in the darkness.
After some time and making sure our game was down, we left the blind to get eyes on our prizes. They were both good sized in the 180-pound range. After the photos were taken and the gear packed up, we were soon on our way back to the lodge. While I had anticipated my gear performing well, I could not have anticipated just how well it would actually shine. The Stag Arms Pursuit is a tack driver and made a strong impression on me as a hunting rifle. Mix in our ability to own the darkness with the Wraith Mini Thermal, and I can’t think of a better combo. These two items in tandem made yet another trip into the Texas wild an enjoyable one. It is something I highly recommend.
Hog Hunting Gear: Stag Arms Pursuit & Sightmark Wraith Mini
For more coverage, check out our full review of the Stag Arms Pursuit rifle and Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal in the June-July issue of Ballistic Magazine. Get your print or digital copy or subscription at OutdoorGroupStore.com.
