Trad Gang
Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Molson on June 30, 2008, 11:32:00 AM
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Whewww-ee... Them suthn' boys know how to put on a hog hunt!
Friday morning found my partner, Mike Gerardi (ArrowK9) and I heading for the BP Station in South Carolina to meet Ray Hammond for our first ever pig hunt. The day before we had driven down from Ohio and spent the night in Hampton. The thing about that ride is, once you get onto route 601, there is a smell to the air that you'd like to bottle and take with you. Sort of a piney, sweet musk that's hard to describe but impossible to ignore. I thought the smell of the Ohio woods in the fall was hard to beat, or perhaps the salt air just before you get to the islands in North Carolina, but none of it tops that welcoming feeling brought on by that lowland air.
We arrived at the BP station a little early and were met by Barry Clodfelter (Madness522). Barry had driven down from the Charlotte area that morning. A few minutes later, Patrick Kelly (Pdk25) arrived from New Jersey. Ray arrived and had Mike Mitchum (Squirrelbait) with him to help out with the hunt. We had the usual introductions and learned this was going to be everyone's first pig hunt.
More to come...
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I need to get my eyes checked....I thought it said "Huggin' Adventures...", and then when the thread opened with "Wheww-ee"...well, I almost bailed :scared:
Can't wait to hear the story...
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Can't wait to hear the rest & see some pics!
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Originally posted by paradocs:
I need to get my eyes checked....I thought it said "Huggin' Adventures..."
:bigsmyl:
Back to the story in a minute. Gotta fix the kids some lunch.
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If you had brothers Ray and Mike in the same camp, I KNOW you had a great time :readit:
Looking forward to your tale.
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I got a call from Ray on his way down to hunt with you guys. He was pretty stoked and looking forward to it. He was telling me all about his evil plans to get you on hogs...
Can't wait to hear about it!
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Well, it didn't take long to get that familiar feeling. You know, when you meet four guys for the first time and within 5 minutes it seems you've known them your whole life. Didn't take too long to realize this was going to be a great time. Off to the local hardware store for a three day non-resident small game license then we headed to camp.
We rolled up on the single-wide trailer with a big front porch and a little pond off to the side. Ray pointed out the pond and the entire area around it had been rooted up by the hogs. The camp was just as it should be...rustic, a little tight yet quite comfortable, and stocked up with everything you need. We had a quick lunch and started getting the gear together.
It was early in the afternoon and H-O-T hot out in the sun. We took some time out to have Ray give us a Grizzly broadhead sharpening tutorial. A few tips from Ray and we were all set. Despite the heat, we couldn't wait to get out so off we went around 3pm.
Once you get out on the property, its hard to believe how tore up the place is. I don't think you can go 20 yds anywhere on the place and not see HEAVY HEAVY pig sign. When you're used to seeing whitetail sign, well, to say this was impressive would be an understatement.
We weren't too far into the property when Ray spotted a pig up ahead. Mike and Patrick jumped out and started a stalk. Ray took me over to another part of the property where I was going to work a square.
This property is huge. I think Ray said it's about 9000 acres. Swamp, pines, woods, fields. It's all there. The property is set up with a network of two track roads in sort of a grid so it's pretty much impossible to get lost. Walk in one direction and you will hit a road to take you back. This made it exceptionally nice to have the freedom to roam without any need to worry about how far you've gone or where you're headed.
Things were pretty slow for me that afternoon. Water was pretty scare on the property and I located a ditch with water in it a short way from the feeder field. All the feeders were set to go off around 5:30 so I spent my time sliding back and fourth between the field and the ditch. At about 6:30, I slid back up to the field and there was about a 175lb boar out there sucking up the corn. I had the wind in my face but the field was too open to do a direct stalk. I worked around the back to get a cross wind and started to move in on him down the edge. With about 35 yds to go, I heard a bunch of animal coming from the woods directly beside me. I was about three feet from the brush line when it all started to shake. I figured I was about to get mowed over by whatever was coming through. Talk about getting your heart racing. I spun to get ready just in time to see four little footballs coming squirting up out of the brush right at me. They 'bout ran over my feet, did a u-turn and went right back where they came. I could hear a larger pig run off with them. I looked back up and the boar was still there sucking up corn. I got up to about 25 yds and had a perfect shot. I decided he was too busy eating and, despite everything telling me to shoot, I thought I could get closer and I could. Problem was, I could get two steps closer, but took three.
Now if you've never seen a pig git on out, it's about the funniest thing. They kinda hop up and gather everything up underneath them. For a brief moment, it almost looks like they're running on a waxed floor. Man can they run though.
That was it for the first evening. Mike, Barry, and Patrick all had close encounters in their area's too, but they can come along and tell the story.
Yardwork is calling. More later...
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your story is so lifelike, I feel as if I was there! Oh, wait, I WAS!!!
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We all got out to are areas around 3:45 or around there. The first 15min of my hunt a nice size Turkey hen came walking down the road right at me. I stood along side a pine tree and just watched as she got within 10 yards of me. I had just gone out and already was having a blast. Once the hen left I worked down the road to the corner of a field. Just to my right I heard some movement behind a line of trees. Man my heart started beating, hands got sweaty, and eyes got real big. HERE WE GO!! I sneaked into the tree line and down a little hill was the most awsome looking southern swamp I've ever seen. Just at the bottom of the hill I caught sight of some movement. Bow ready and my heart rate picking up I looked down and made out an Armadillo. Man I am havin fun now!!!!! Ray said we could shoot as many as we wanted , so I sent an arrow right into him just shy of 20 yards.
After that went right back to tryin to find a Hog. It was very dry and hot , not much action until the sun started going down. I worked off of a grassy road back to the primary dirt road. At the corner of both I finally heard Hogs. I have never heard hogs rootin before but when you hear it you know it's them and not an Armadillo. My heart was beating again and I could feel it trying to come out of my chest. I had a little talk with myself and slowly moved in. The grass by the side of the road was moveing all over the side of the ditch. YAA BABY!!!! That has got to be one huge hog I thought to myself. Not knowing what to expect I just held tight thinking that big boy or sow is just going to burst out of there and appear right infront of me. I thought I could feel the ground move. With my bow ready I watched as the grass and weeds pushed out to the road. I was ready to go when this little hog less than 10.lbs shoot out onto the road and just as fast shot back into the ditch. Man I have alot to learn about these hogs as I laughed at myself. I stood up and moved towards the area were all the activity was. Just as I looked into the area I made eye contact with a little black football. It grunted, the others grunted and snorted, and within seconds I was alone!!! MAN I'M HAVIN FUN NOW!!!! This is a BLAST!!.
Back at camp Mike and Ray informed me that the little one will bust you quicker that anything. I was ready for day two. More later
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you're Charlie-Lamb-in' us, PO PO!!!!!!!!!!! Inquiring minds want to know.
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All right then... Put the "Pink Stuff" down and listen up.
Saturday morning Ray woke us up with what would become his usual way. I won't describe it, it's just one of them things you needed to be there for.
A cup of coffee and some dried hog nuts (dried figs) later and we were off to hunt the swamp. Barry and Patrick went with Ray and Mike and I went off with Mike Mitchum whom I will just refer to as Squirrelbait or Po-Po Bait for the remainder of the story.
We started out in the swamp spread out by about 50 or so yards. After a short while, I stopped to mess with an armadillo and when I looked up, I couldn't find Mike and Squirrelbait. I had no idea where they had got to and didn't want to risk busting up anything they were working so I just continued on straight ahead. I worked back through a tore up creek to the truck a couple hours later and they weren't back yet. Turns out there was a reason for that but they can get on with that story.
I waited around camp for a bit then took a walk up the road across from camp. I worked around and was heading back when a big ol' boar came out from the brush about 80 yards down and started trotting right toward me. I slipped back into the brush as he trotted up the center of the road. I saw my wind indicator was blowing right at him and figured my only hope was that he would cross to the other side of the road and allow me to get up on him. Wasn't to be though as he crossed to my side, made it a few more yards and was gone.
That's the thing about this place. At any given moment, at any given time, a pig might just squirt out from anywhere he wants. Squirrelbait said it best when he said, "How ya s'pose to know what a pigs gonna do when the pig don't even know what he's gonna do."
More later...
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Pat and Barry where ya at......
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Great Story. Keep it coming.
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Cool story, keep it comin!!!
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Well, it's later. Wife says finish it now 'cause we got things to do.
Everyone got back to camp sometime around 12 pm and we had breakfast. Barry and I decided to forget the heat of the day and get after them. We took a long walk around a square and got split up. I didn't see anything but Barry had a game of cat and mouse going with a hog.
That evening we headed out and got set up. It didn't take too long before the thunder started rolling. As dry as it had been, a good amount of rain would be a good thing. I was working around my square and ended up right in front of an old cabin right when the lightning and rain broke loose. A quick slip up under it and I was sitting pretty for the storm and storm it did. Lasted about an hour and I saw lightning strike trees and had one big tree come crashing down behind me. Squirrelbait drove up in the truck worried about all that lightning but I told him I'd stay and wait it out. He asked me if I thought the other guys would want picked up. I told him I didn't know about Pat and Barry, but I knew Mike would want to stay. I walked back to my cozy shelter from the storm as Squirrelbait drove off and kinda laughed at the thought of Mike ducked down under some little pine tree getting drenched. I knew Mike was hunting an area that had NO place to get out of that driving rain. Better him than me. What are friends for!
The storm lasted about an hour and I got back after them. As I walked up the back road, I spotted hogs feeding in what was basically about a three hundred yard long wallow boardering the road. I snuck up to the edge and got some cover so I could try and locate where they all were. Just about that time, a hog comes trough the pines right in front of me at about 15 yards. I drew back and let fly... right into the dirt.
Now would be a good time to let out that for the past few months I've been fighting the old Short-Draw Syndrome, Target Panic, whatever you want to call it. I'd been worried about it coming on the whole time up to the trip and I pretty much just made it a reality. Psyched myself out so to speak and that shot just about crushed me. Never had that happen before on an animal, just targets.
That pig ran off without much commotion and all the others, about a dozen of them, paid no attention. I snuck up on another and fought to get the bow back. I released and the arrow caught some grass just in front of the pig, driving it down. The arrow hit the ground right under him and they all took off. All I could do was shake my head. I'd just missed two pigs within five minutes at distances under 15 yards. Man let me tell ya, that's a heart breaker.
I looked up and here comes Patrick walking down the road from the top. He's walking along and all of the sudden he stops and pulls out an arrow. He draws back and... I'm not gonna tell ya, he can. What I will say is, the story ends with, "RRRRREEEEEEEEEETTTTT" which is about the most awesome sound in the woods!
I got back to camp and, quite frankly, was a little down on myself. Ain't no way to explain that feeling when your shooting takes a dump except to say, "IT SUCKS". Them boys Ray and Squirrelbait got ways of cheering you up though. It was after 10pm by then, so I can't talk about it.
Sunday morning came with the usual "good morning" from Ray and off we went. Mike and I were working a road through the swamp when I spotted pigs rooting up the bend. I slipped up into the woods and came out perfect right on top of them. There was a big ol sow, maybe 200 plus about 15 yards away. I squatted down, fought the bow back and shot... right under her. The fletching slapped her when it hit the dirt and she ran straight at me, blazing by me at about a foot away. The others in the group, Mike said there were about eight of them, started rooting like crazy. It almost seemed as if they wanted to get every last morsel down before whatever ran off that big girl got to them. About a hundred pounder worked up into a shooting lane and I drew back and let it fly right into another missed opportunity. They all got out of there with that one and that was that.
What can you say... They can't all end on a good note. What can be said is Ray Hammond is operating a first class hog hunting experience that is worth way more than he's charging. One blown stalk and four missed shots on a weekend hunt and that's just me. The other three have their own stories to tell! That is an incredible amount of action in such a short period.
I haven't talked enough about Mike Mitchum. As for Ray, it goes without saying that you can expect nothing but the best. I had talked to Ray on the phone and email so I already knew he was a great guy and one of the best to be hunting with. Ol' Squirrelbait on the other hand, I didn't know a thing about him. I guess I'll just sum it up by saying I really like that guy. Don't be telling him that though 'cause we don't want to stroke his ego none! It just don't get any better than having them two on a hunt with you. Kinda makes me sad to type about it while knowing it's gonna be quite a few months before we get to hunt with them again. I ain't no girly man mind you. That's just the way it is with both Mike and Ray. Top notch and none finer. I can't wait to get back down there.
AS for photos... I plugged my camera in with the wrong charger and blew the thing up. We're gonna have to wait for Patrick to post because he was a picture taking animal. We do have pictures of the end results though that'll have to wait until the others get their stories up.
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Great story. Yeah ol Ray, my very good friend, runs a great camp and no one knows more about pigs. I was there in May and had a fantastic time, Got an eater size boar and it sure was tasty.
Danny
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Man you guys tell a good story! Can't wait to hear the rest!
Randy
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Ok, Day two.
Day two started with five egar guys wanting to get on some hogs. After a quick cup of coffee we hit the trucks. Mike(squirrel bait) aka PO-PO bait, drove Tim and I down to the swamp. All three of us worked into the swamp. Mike and I lost sight of Tim shortly after. We worked through the swamp walking slow and trying not to be noisey with the very dry ground.
About three hundred yards into the morning stalk we came to a road. I was looking across the road just prior to crossing ,when I saw a set of black ears just above some dried leaf cover. Ya baby!!!! hogs..
I got Mikes attention and looked around for the best approach without sounding like a truck. Moved in real slow, I mean real slow. I thought Mike was gonna expolde. Every time I looked back he was just shakin his head. The closer I got the more my heart began to race. I think I was breathing out of my mouth more than my nose. Doubt would come and be replaced with excitment. Each step sounded louder than the last. Man there are six ears be quiet. I picked a spot to stalk to and guessed it to be about 20 yds. Moving so careful and so very slowly I continued. While moving closer hog ears would twitch and my heart would skip three beats. I talked to myself planning every move and planning the shot in my mind. Hold the bow right, dont forget to pick a spot, remember your crisp release, ect,ect. Now in the spot I worked so hard to get to I raised my bow and drew once to full draw and let it back down just to see if I remembered how to do it. My mind told me to take my time because they were asleep but, I recalled Mike and Ray talkin about the crazy wind always shifting. I picked a spot right behind the hogs front leg by the heart and came to full draw. RELEASE!!! I watched as the yellow fletch disappeared into the hog about three inches back from my spot. All hell broke loose. I watched as the hog I picked the spot on stand up with two others. They ran to my right towards Mike deeper into the swamp. Just then I heard a loud rrrrrreeeeeeeee,rrrrrreeeeeee and looked at the spot where they were bed. A lighter in color hog stood up with my arrow through it's two back hips. I had not seen that hog prior. Now I was wondering and doubting hitting the first hog. MAN HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!!! I looked over at Mike and he was watching the three that just ran off. I quickly went over to the second hog and recovered it. Mike and I then followed a blood trail for about 40m to 50yards and recovered the first hog. YYYYAAA Baby two hogs with the same arrow. My first thought was no one back home is gonna believe this crazyness, and Wheres Tim..
Man what a weekend so far , I AM HAVING A BLAST.
Ray and the others came up to tell me and Mike they had seen a large group heading back the other way. I do not even remeber what was said ,Man I was on cloud nine. My arrow was a Arrow Dynamics Trad heavy with 260 up front and a grizzly broadhead. Bow was a Robertson Montana Falcon 63@29. The only thing that stopped that arrow was the ground.
Day two afternoon hunt later.
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(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000445.jpg)
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Previous pic was getting setup at camp. Barry and I aren't in the pic. From left to right is Mike Mitchum(aka squirrelbait), Mike Gerardi, Tim Mullen, and Ray. This pic is of the Armadillo that was cited for speeding.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000454.jpg)
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Here are some pics of the local scenery. A buck rub, cypress stump, some woodpecker damage and some wallow pics.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000489.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000497.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000448.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000462.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000463.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000465.jpg)
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More pics including a cool grasshopper, a local flower called a rose mallow(?), a neat spider pic that didn't come out well, a little turtle from the road.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000485.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000499.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000458.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000453.jpg)
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Some more pics. A big cypress deadfall and Ray in his element.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000467.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000469.jpg)
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Since Mike already told his story, I guess I have to show you the pic of him with his hogs. I actually got him to smile after a dozen or so shots.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000480.jpg)
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Here is the end result of the hunt for Mike. Note the slight S-shape of the wound from his grizzly broadhead (expertly sharpened by the world's greatest bowhunter). Easy work made of the job with a Doug Campbell knife.
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Oops!
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000506.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000507.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000508.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000509.jpg)
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No one can doubt that Mike is a fine shot, but some might say anyone who can kill two hogs with one shot is a little lucky. To dispel this myth, look at this puny arrowhead he found later in the hunt. Worthless piece of junk!
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000500.jpg)
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000501.jpg)
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I can't post this next pic, but anyone who is curious about the most dangerous snake in the swamp can ask squirrelbait for a picture.
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Here is a picture of my first trad kill.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000488.jpg)
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Last day at camp. Time for a groug hog.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd102/pdk25/P1000505.jpg)
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I'm sure I'll have more to say, but gotta get some sleep.
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What a great bunch of guys to have in camp. They knew how to enjoy themselves, didn't take things too seriously, went with the flow..and had a good time.
Mike and I were glad to have met Tim, Mike, Barry and Pat...and hope they'll return to Hog Heaven for some biscuits and boars!!!
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Tim is right about the feel you get after those first five minutes. Seems like I had known those guys my whole life and we had just gotten back together for a couple days of fun in the swamp. Friday afternoon hunt starts kinda slow. Well slow is how fast I was moving as I stalked up the road on one of those huge squares of roads lining the place. I have never hunted pigs before and I was stalking like I do deer which as I found out is pretty much way too slow. Pigs aren't dumb by any means but you can get away with a lot until you get within 50 or so yards of them. After a half hour or so I see something in the road up ahead, too small to be a hog, walking down the road right toward me, an armadillo. Ray said shoot'em so here it comes, I get ready, the gap is closing, 30 yards....25 yards...20 yards... my grip tightens on the bow and by arm starts to pre-draw the string a little...now this big ole armadillo is 15 yards away when movement on the road ahead catches my attention. A buck in full velvet is now standing in the road 70 or so yards in front of me. The wind was perfect in my face no way mr. buck was gonna smell me so I stand there as still as a picture. A couple of head bobs and quick peeks later mr. buck takes a few steps toward me and I started thinging about counting coo. I don't think mr. buck knew what was standing in the road in front of him but it didn't seem like he was too concerned with me. He decided to go somewhere else and as calmly as could be turned away and headed in a different direction.
I was just getting my heart rate under control from the stare down with mr. buck as I crept up that road to where he had just been. But little did I know my heart rate was about to be doubled again. Once I got to the spot mr. buck had just left I hear a very unhappy grunt and splashing just off the road. There had been a nice sized porker laying the in the mud puddle just off the road with the cover between us so thick I could barely see thru it. I saw him as he topped the ditch on the far side and blow out of the area.
Wow three animals in less than 5 minutes. I knew the weekend was gonna be a good one.
Ray says the feeder are set to go off at 5:30 so I build a little ground blind just in the wood line and settle in for a 10 minute wait until the dinner bell rings. Suddenly I feel a sharp pain on my shoulder, then another and another. Those sharp pains were up and down my back. I turned and looked at the tree I had been leaning against and it was full of fire ants. For those of you not from the south and are not familar with fire ants let me just say woe-is-be to the one who invades their territory. They may be small the their bite feels like you are getting spit on my hot grease. I think I set a field stripping record getting my clothes off and away from the fire ants. I was just about redressed now fire ant free and kinda oblivious to anything else when the feeder goes off and scares the poop out of me. I decided the fire ants can have that spot and I didn't want to fight them for it. So I set off back down the road.
Need coffee...more later.
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Great tale guys! :thumbsup: Makes me want to go to the swamps real bad. :D
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Great stories and pics so far guys...keep it coming.
Congrats on some fine animals cleanly taken with stickbows and looks like even better table fare.
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BISCUTS!?!?!?! you say Ray. Hmmmmmmmmm........
Good job on the pics Pat.
I forgot to mention Chiggars. Sum-bit let me tell ya. Them things is the devil. I don't think I got bit by one mosquito or fly thanks to the Thermacell but them dang Chiggars tore me up one side and down the other. Didn't even know it was happening either. You don't feel the things bite and it don't matter that you got your pants tucked in your boots. Somehow they find a way in. Got to remember to treat the heck outta my clothes with anti-chiggar radiation next time!
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Awesome story guys...looks like ya'll had a blast!
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Everything you wanted to know about chigger bites and more!
"Chigger larvae do not burrow into the skin, nor suck blood. They pierce the skin and inject into the host a salivary secretion containing powerful, digestive enzymes that break down skin cells that are ingested (tissues become liquefied and sucked up). Also, this digestive fluid causes surrounding tissues to harden, forming a straw-like feeding tube of hardened flesh (stylostome) from which further, partially-digested skin cells may be sucked out. After a larva is fully fed in four days, it drops from the host, leaving a red welt with a white, hard central area on the skin that itches severely and may later develop into dermatitis. Any welts, swelling, itching, or fever will usually develop three to six hours after exposure and may continue a week or longer. If nothing is done to relieve itching, symptoms may continue a week or more. Scratching a bite may break the skin, resulting in secondary infections. However, chiggers are not known to transmit any disease in this country."
Now, don't you feel better? :biglaugh:
Permanone my brother, permanone. It's as vital as thermacell down here.
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great thread, I felt like I was there with Y'all. Glad everyone had a great time... Thanx for the story & pic's.
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Man I like pork tenderlion biscuits!!!! Next time there gonna be some fresh tenderloin going in the frying pan. Mike really likes country ham biscuits, don't ya Mike!!???
Pick up time was supposed to be 8:45 or so and I get back to my pick up spot a little early and I think to myself. I say self there might just be a pig or five down the road in the ditch munching on corn so lets go have a look see. So I start down the road slowly picking my way and looking and listening for anything that might be a pig. Suddenly I hear a twig snap and the blow fest was on. I had stalked within 15 yards of two does standing just at the edge of the wood like across the ditch. I start blowing and they stop and blow. I kept blowing just like they were and danged if they didn't come back to have a look. As I continued stalking down the road they paralleled my for the better part of 50 yards. I kept blowing at them and they at me. I saw them for the third time about 10 yard in the woods trying to figure out what was blowing back at them. I gotta say here that deer down there don't act like deer I hunt in NC. In NC they would have been in the next county after the first time I jumped them. Seems like these deer have so little pressure on them they aren't wound as tight and flee at the anything that isn't quit right. If only it were deer season.....
There was water on both sides of the road I was on and I reach it but there were no piggies there. I turn down a grass road and go a little ways and hear a very loud grunt behind me. I turned to see to nice eating sized pig in the road about 50 yards up the main road so I turned around and put on the sneak. I get to about 25 yards and one of them goes back to the ditch and I can hear it cracking corn and really pigging out. The other is back and forth on the road looking for who knows what since there was no corn on the road. The second pig starts work away from me in the ditch so I start the sneak up again on the one in the road. I get to 25 yards and he turns and looks at me and I think crap I'm busted. But no he just turns around and take a step or two and goes back to what ever it was he was doing. I close to within 20 yards and he starts back to the ditch and stops again broadside so I let one rip. It was the perfect shot as far as hortizonally but just a bit low and the arrow squirts under him. I think he clear the ditch in one big jump making all kinds of racket. I had to laugh at all the sounds they make when startled.
So now it seems that I am again all by myself there on the road so I walk up and look for my arrow in the ditch. Just as I step down I see two little footballs are still in the ditch. One of them turns toward me and runs past me so close I could have punted him up into the woods. He stops makes a weird sound that I can't describe, turns around and runs past me again. Then he and his buddy hit the woods and I'm there in the ditch almost laughing out loud and what that transpired in the past minute and a half.
To say the action is fast and furious is an understatement. It goes from almost boredom stalking around to a pure adrenlin rush in a matter of seconds. What a rush!
Back to the cabin for a great dinner of shrimp spaghetti and salad. The stories told after dinner were just about the best part of the day. We related tells of close encounter of the pig kind, past hunts and just about everything else including some hillarious stories from Ray about 'pink stuff' and drunken elephants. If you want to know about "pink stuff" and drunken elephants you'll just have to come down and hear them for your self. We were having so much fun it was 12:30 before we realized we needed to get some sleep because 6:30 would come early.
After a couple cups of coffee to get the blood outta my caffine system saturday morning Ray, Pat and I headed into the swap. We walk and stalked and most of the morning was uneventful until we stopped to talk about what I can't recall. Ray says pigs! Sure enough there were somewhere around eight pigs on the move right toward us. We checked the wind and Pat went left and Ray and I right. The wind shifted toward the pigs and just as soon as Ray had said were about to get busted the closest oinker gets our wind and that head pops up. I imagine with eyes wide open and muttering something like I smell missles of death real close then they all take off. We try to get around them and spot Squirrel bait and Mike.
Gotta go earn a little money so I can get back down there... more later.
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Oh thanks JC. Now I feel ALOT better about them. :help:
Yeah...Drunken Elephants...That was funny!!!
Good job Barry keep it comin'.
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Great story guys. Sounds like an absolute blast. I've got to give this spot and stalk pig hunting a try. I've done the stand at a feeder thing but this sounds a lot more fun.
Bill
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Our group is booked for the end of Feb. and I'm already having trouble getting to sleep at night. This story is not helping matters much.
How about listing the bows, arrows, and broadheads used. Thanks.
Dave
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Great pics Pat. I have one of the snake that I can post.
Barry I will leave the biscuts to you Southern Boys. I cant pack enough hydration to eat one at camp.
Day 2 afternoon hunt.
Well back in the trucks and off for the afternoon hunt Saturday. I got dropped off by a real nice piece of pines loaded with sign. About an hour later the wind picked up so hard that when it blew through the trees it sounded like rain. The sky began to swirl and change into the color of pure rage!!!! Lightning bolts cracked and lit up the sky. Man I love a storm. Well the rain came and it came down hard. I had no were to go so I just kept up the stalk in my area. I came up to a fire break and got sight of another Armadilla. Now not knowing alot about these little guys I was told that they were bad news to other critters. Nest robbers and really good for nothin. The property was full of them to the point of over population. So with that thought in mind WACK!!!! another one down...
I continued to walk and got soaked. I thought of the other guys and giggled at the tought we were all getting soaked... Well all of us except Mike and Tim who found a nice truck and shack to stay dry in. YA KNOW JUST WHEN YA THINK YOU KNOW A BUDDY!!! WHAM!! Hidden out during a rain storm.. Man.. kinda took the fun out of it.
When the rain slowed down I worked down a over grown old logging road. It stopped at a nice field with a feeder in the far corner. My cloths were kinda loud now that they were full of water. I stopped to just look around and made out a huge big black object. I tried real hard to focus on it and made out the biggest pig I have ever seen. This mac daddy went at least 350 lbs maybe 400. I dropped to one knee right now... He was at least 80 yards away and just eatin like crazy around this feeder. Wow!! I have'nt even started the stalk and already began to fall apart... Take a deep breath and figure this out.. The only way to get to him was down a low area in the high grass. I started to put the sneak on and was shaken real bad and had to stop and pep talk myself.... Now in the game I just kept sayin,BACON,BACON,BACON,BACON,BACON! AND MOVED IN.Durning the first leg of the stalk this big boy would just kick out and stop. He did this several times and had his back to me each time. I got about 40 yards away and was real proud of myself... Just off to my right I saw two whitetail does pick up thier heads just over the high weeds. Oh man!! They are gonna bust me!!! Waiting for about 5 minuets I moved on. At 35 yards it felt too far for the shot and the bush I needed to be at was just another couple of yards away. That has to put me at less than 20 yards . The big boy was still eatin and workin the ground around the feeder. All of a sudded that big boy with his tail end towards me, took off like a rocket into the pines. Man I was almost there!!!! A little disappointed at first until I looked behind me and saw how far I had gone. I was 36 yards away from that Mac Daddy when he took off.
Walkin around after that stalk I spotted a a piece of what looked like a knapped arrow head. I dug up one of the most beautiful most perfect heads I have ever seen. It looked like a spear head it was so big and flawless!! I was having so much fun I thought I was going to be in trouble.
I was huntin with three of the nicest guys and my buddy, on some of the greatest land ever, saw alot of game, shot two hogs with one arrow, stalked a Mac Daddy, and found an old point. Great times!!!!
Tell ya about the Gator run in later.
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Danny Rowen,
Ray talked about your hunt. It sounded like you guys had just as much fun as we did. I like the eater hogs better myself. I wore that arrow head necklace you and Dave Knipes put together for the 2007 St.Judes auction. It listed as the Mojo- necklace. Man, let me tell ya it has some Mojo. Had a great whitetail season with it also.
Mike
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Originally posted by Red Beastmaster:
Our group is booked for the end of Feb. and I'm already having trouble getting to sleep at night.
Just wait until you get there and close you eyes the first night. Sleep came hard with all the piggies dancing in my head. Big pigs, little pigs, black pigs, brown pigs, all manner of pigs filled my vision when I shut my eyes.
As Tim mentioned he and I set out after breakfast saturday (lunch really since it was almost noon when we ate). We had grand visions of pigs on the ground with nice bright red sides...
We had a plan to stalk in opposite directions around a big block and meet somewhere in the middle. I think I didn't follow those directions very well because the first road I was supposed to turn on was a grass road the looked more like a break in the woods than a road so I proceeded on up the road. I heard pigs once but decided it was too thick to get in there amonst them at that spot. Spread your fingers apart and put your hands together and cover your eyes and you can see better than I could into that spot.
It wasn't long until I saw a reddish brown pig working the road back and forth, back and forth and every time he hit the tall grass I go on my horse and closed the distance. He wander into the woods and I kept him in sight until he went over a little rise so I backed out to the road and went to the rise and peeked back in and he was gone! Vanished into thin air or thick woods. So I find the next armadillo and and play a nice game of stick the arrow thru the armadillo. It was my first trad kill ever!
Saturday afternoon's thunder storm wasn't exactly my idea of a good time and I really hate getting rained on but I sucked it up and stood under a cypress tree which blocked a lot of it. After it quit raining I had found a bucket and had myself a sit down. Wasn't a few minutes later I look and there is a doe 15 yards from me. Again I had the right wind and she was nervous but couldn't see me and I think she was paying more attention to the squirrel that was raising cain in the tree in front of me than to me. Eventually after a few minutes of stare down she turned and wonder off.
As I was walking back to the road I jump a big freaking owl out of a tree and I almost wet myself when he lit outta there. Man those things are quite once they clear the tree branches. Bet their feathers would make very quite fletching...yeah, yeah before you start I know its illegal and all but still worthy of thinking about.
Back at the cabin the dinner was to die for! T-bone steaks so good your tongue beats your brains out waiting for the next bite. Corn on the cob and baked beans. Dessert was grilled pineapple. Ray was right about weight more when you left than when you got there! More stories were told after dinner and we decided to not stay up as late tonight as we did friday night so we went to bed at 12:15.....
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Dave-
I share your pain. We just got back and Mike and I are thinking of all kinda ways to scam up the money and time to get back down there.
As for broadheads, Mike and I were both using Grizzly 160's. Ray had told us how to get them sharp prior to coming down. Once we got there, we each ask Ray to check the heads for sharpness. Ray checked Mike's heads and shook his head, "no". Ray proceeded to give us a demo of exactly how he gets them so sharp, sharpening up all of Mike's heads. It really is simple and just requires a little practice.
After that, I handed Ray one of my heads. Ray felt it and said, "That'll do!" and handed it back to me. Oh Yeah!!! Mike was like, "Com'on Ray couldn't you have at least stropped it". That started the ribbing right there on the spot. Guess it didn't matter though. In the end, my heads didn't really need to be that sharp to stick in the dirt. And Mike, well, one sharp Grizzly that burned through two pigs at once....Pretty much speaks for itself!!
Great times!!!!! Get on with the Gator story...
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Barry's right on with that. We may not have lost any weight despite all the walking and sweating, but we sho-nuff lost a lot of sleep. Once you get to talking with Ray and Squirrel Bait, you just don't want to stop. 'Bout gotta force yourself into bed.
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Gator story. Ya... Ha.
Tim , Mike M and I were walking around the swamp and I stopped (JUST TO LOOK AROUND) in this depression of a dried river bed was a pretty large area of water. While standing there I looked into the water and saw a gator. It slammed its tail into the water and went to the middle of the water lookin right at me. Now I'm born and raised in New York and live in Ohio. No gators in my back round except the Bronx Zoo. I'm thinkin...cool...Gator right there...awsome!! It didnt move and kept lookin right at me.. hhhmmm... Now I'm thinking they dont charge ,Right?? and dismissed it until the gator started coming right at me real slow. At that moment I devloped a new real respect for that one in the water. I lost my preditor feeling and took on the prey identity real quick like. I did the only thing I knew how to and yelled for Mike at the top of the ridge over lookin the pit. I said,"Hey, Mike you see that?" He said , "Ya!" and giggled. What a buddy....
I slowly backed out and on top of the ridge with Mike. It acted like a mama gator protecting a nest. Don't mess with mamma anything was going through my head. Pretty cool experiance.
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Now why you being nice...? Mike is standing in the bottom of this depression taking a leak. Squirrel Bait is up top and yells down to him to watch that gator. Mike, thinks nothing of it but keeps on peeing as that gator gets closer. All the sudden, Mike realizes this gator is maybe more of a threat than he thinks. Squirrel Bait tosses a stick at the gator to slow him down and don't you know that gator grabbed that stick right off with a fury, crashing water all over. Mike decides to stop mid-stream and git on out. I was standing on the other side and hear all the commotion. Mike is scooting up the other side and yells over to me, "Don't come down here. We got a gator with a bad attitude."
And so it goes... It's good to remember that you ain't always the predator when your hunting them southern swamps.
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:clapper: A buddy hunting with us a couple years ago was slipping through some ankle deep water in the thick stuff.He glanced over and realized he had just sipped by a sleeping gator about 10ft long.He said he slipped backwards much faster than he had been going forward. :biglaugh:
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shyeah.....I had that happen too, James...quite an experience standing next to a 15 foot long alligator you "thought" was an old cypress log...and he's too big for you to jump over..you gotta exit-STAGE RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!
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James faster is no joke. :D
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All in all it was a great weekend with some new friends. Ray and Squirrel Bait are top notch and know a thing or two bout them pigs. It was a pleasure sharing a camp where egos were left at home and everyone got along just like we had all been friends for a long time. Tim, Mike and Pat you guys were great hunting partners and I would share camp with you guys anytime anywhere. Ray you were a most gracious host. Thank you! And Squirrel Bait can slaughter a pig like a mad man even when only using half a knife!! Good times for sure that I will treasure for a long time come. Or at leat until I get to go back and redeem myself by actually sticking a piggy!
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I don't claim to be much of a writer, so I'll make my posts somewhat brief.
Day 1 for me:
After getting all of our gear unpacked and slinging a few arrows we were all were anxious to get busy. Ray gave us some pointers and the lay of the land and set us up in certain areas. I was sharing an area with Mike. Mike was watching the edges of a thick square parce adjacent to a field with a feeder in it and I opted to go through a the middle of the parcel stillhunting. It was might thick and mighty hot and I just kept the wind in my face. I figured that I might kick something up to Mike if I didn't see anything. That didn't happen and it was so noisy from being dried out that I didn't stand much of a chance of sneaking up on anything. Turns out later on that Ray found a ton of wallows in there that I could have watched, but chasing the wind kept me from finding them. I think I sweated out about liters of sweat and only replaced it with 2, so I opted to sneak down to the feeder around 5:30 to see if any pigs would show up. I didn't have my watch and wasn't sure whether the feeder had gone off yet. I have never hunted around a feeder and was about 15 yards away from the feeder facing away when it went off. My pants were already wet from sweat, so no big deal. Just had to face into the wind.
Set up about 20 yards from the feeder watching a few trails leading into the field. Hogs can't see you if your standing still so I'm golden, right?
About an hour after the feeder goes off I hear a racket coming from the swamp so I get to a kneeling position. It's coming towards me and getting very loud, due to the dry conditions. It's pretty dark under the canopy, so all I see coming over the rise about 20-25 yards in front of me to my left is a blob of black. No kidding, I almost thought it was a bear at first. It was a sow that was probably a little over 200-250 pounds. She stops quartering toward me and looks around. No problem. Takes a few more steps and then another sow, about 175 pounds, follows. Then come the little ones, about the size of the smaller one Mike shot. The larger sow comes broadside and stops and looks directly at me. I'm skylined like a dumb****. Wind was perfect but they got agitated and moved away and out of range. Probably could've taken a shot, but waitied too long. OK, pretty cool. Live and learn. 5-10 minutes later I hear more noise. Same drill. Over the rise, now about 10 yards away 2 more pigs. 1 about 250 pounds, the other a 350-400 pound monster with a snout like a friggin aardvark. Same thing happens. Skylined. These two turn a 180 from me, go just down the hill and follow it to the left. Smaller one stops briefly about 20 yards away and all I can see is his front torso from above the legs. Quick snap off a shot, but it is pretty dark and I overestimate the distance and shoot over his shoulder. Mad at myself for about a thousand things but extremely psyched about the opportunities, so I get out of there to try to preserve the area for a future hunt. My first day hog hunting in a nutshell.
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I do have two slots left for an August 22,23,24 if anyone is interested.
Chris Ott from NY and his dad are driving down. maybe YOU could be the next storytellers on TG..with a velvet whitetail AND a hog????? Deer season is open in August.
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Originally posted by pdk25:
I have never hunted around a feeder and was about 15 yards away from the feeder facing away when it went off. My pants were already wet from sweat, so no big deal. Just had to face into the wind.
:biglaugh: now THAT was funny, I don't care who you are!
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Saturday morning I was with Barry and Ray walking along a road along what is normally swamp but was pretty dried up. We stopped for a few minutes while Ray was giving us a few pointers when we spotted two decent sized hogs (?175-200#) making their way toward us. I went out front to try and make a stalk, but the wind changed and the scented Barry and Ray and were gone. We decided to try to circle around and use the wind to get back on these hogs but instead came on Mike and squirrelbait. We took some pics of Mike's hogs and then continued after the pigs we had previously seen, but the swirling winds didn't do us any favors and we started to make our way back to the truck for breakfast. Jumped a nice boar out of a ditch on the way, but couldn't harvest it.
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Saturday morning I was with Barry and Ray walking along a road along what is normally swamp but was pretty dried up. We stopped for a few minutes while Ray was giving us a few pointers when we spotted two decent sized hogs (?175-200#) making their way toward us. I went out front to try and make a stalk, but the wind changed and the scented Barry and Ray and were gone. We decided to try to circle around and use the wind to get back on these hogs but instead came on Mike and squirrelbait. We took some pics of Mike's hogs and then continued after the pigs we had previously seen, but the swirling winds didn't do us any favors and we started to make our way back to the truck for breakfast. Jumped a nice boar out of a ditch on the way, but couldn't harvest it.
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Dang computer.
Early afternoon found Ray and myself out putting up a stand and steps near where I was the bruiser the night before. Driving in we kicked up a medium sized boar out of a ditch. We set the stand up in a great spot. Just in the woods from the feeder, overlooking the hog trailing running along the perimeter of the field. Could also see the trails leading into the field for hogs coming from the swamp. I had high hopes.
By the time we got finished setting up the stand, it was time to gather the troops for the afternoon hunt. Squirrelbait had laid claim to the sofa and could only be removed by Mike's interrogation techniques. We headed out and I got up in my stand, thankful to be our of the heat and praying that the large boar would return for a tasty morsel of corn. The feeder went off like clockwork, and this time I didn't jump nearly as far. A little time goes by and here come the storm clouds with thunder rumbling in the distance. At this point I've got mixed feelings. We really need the rain to help with the stalking and to bring the hogs out, but I don't want any changes to these particular hogs routine. I think to myself, this storm might pass over. Sure it might. I get drenched and thunder and lightning are going off like crazy. I look up and the tree that I'm in is just as tall as any of the surrounding trees. Can you say lightning rod? Being extremely foolish, I decided to stay in the stand. I figure I would have to be pretty unlucky to get struck and I don't want to miss out on this hog. Doing what I can to protect my fletching and thermocell from the rain, but otherwise I get soaked. The rain lasts for maybe 30-45 minutes, but it is more than enough. I wait and wait, but no piggies come. $%^#^#%$# rain! About 30 minutes of light remains and I decide I want to see if any hogs have hit the wallows along the road that we put corn in early in the day. As I'm getting down I hear a hog squeal across the field. I make my way away from the swamp to the road along the feeder field. As I arrive at the road I see Tim about 100 yards ahead of me, looking into the woods to our left. He moves away from me and I figure he has probably already checked the area out between him and me. I start walking at a normal gait towards him to see if he knows why that hog squealed. I get about 30 yards then stop dead in my tracks when I spot 3 hogs to my left about 5-10 yards away, completely oblivious to me. I look away from the hogs to concentrate on my bow and load an arrow up in a nanosecond and I'm drawing as I look up. The hogs were quartering toward me when I first saw them and starting to turn broadside. Now two of them are facing directly away from me, but one is quartering away at about 5 yards. I let her rip and man did that thing squeal. I saw my arrow sticking out and a part of me thought, wow, no pass through at this range. My AD trad arrow (courtesy of Ted Fry) with brass insert and 125 grain silver flame head for a total of 590 grains shot out of my RER TD Vortex(which is about 58# at my 29" draw) had about half of the shaft and my pink Fred Eichler style fletching waving at me as the hog darted just inside the woods and parallel to the road away from me for about 10 yards before crashing down. I went up to Tim and told him the story. I waited about 2 minutes (OK maybe a little less) and decided to check on the hog since it was getting dark and I forgot my flashlight at camp. No trouble finding the hog. Turned out to be an 82# boar. The silver flame broadhead had stopped at the far shoulder. A few more minutes of shooting light, so I quickly laid him next to a tree, took a pic, and continued down the road looking for more piggies. None to be found, so I waited for my ride. Squirretbait picked me up and we headed back to camp for a steak dinner. Gotta love it. First tradkill and a great meal. What more could you ask for?
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Sunday was the last day of the hunt, and we all got out at first light. Barry and I initially stillhunted together then separated at a fork in the road. I came to a feeder on a deadend road then headed due east through the woods. Came across 2 small pigs, maybe 40-50 pounds, with a bunch of little football sized babies. One of the pigs busted me but just moved off a bit. I tried to get closer for a better look in case one was a small boar but they scooted after I got about 30 yards from them. Decided to continue east and met up with Barry. We walked the long road back to camp in sweltering heat. At least there was a breeze. Unfortunately it continually swirled. We saw a bunch of hogs on the way back, but each time we closed the distance the wind changed direction and that was that. That is it for my hunt tales. Great time with great people. I saw hogs every single time I went out. I doubt that happens very many places. I highly recommend hunting with Ray. Can't imagine you'll regret it.
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The equipment I was using was a Horne Combo longbow #53@28, wood arrows matched within 2 pounds of spine and 8 grains in weight tipped with STOS broadheads. Ray told me that STOS is an acronym for Slicker Than Owl S$#%.
One other thing that is worthy of mentioning is I have been home for three days now and am still hungry! Its been a long time since I packed away so many good groceries over a single weekend!
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Quote of the year) RRRREEEETTTTTT is the best sound in the woods(pg 1). LOL!
Way to stack em up fellas! I gotta get out there and see ol' Ray some day! Congrats on the 1st kills! :thumbsup: CK
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I'm with you on that one, CK...quote of the YEAR BABY!!!!!!! :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I'm thinking of changing the name of the place to
RRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
What you think?
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Yep, great story and a great time, thanks for sharing and thanks to Ray for offering the hunt.
Love that sound, just nothing like the sounds a pig makes when an arrow hits. In fact me and Fred Eichler usually make that sound just about everytime we talk on the phone, kinda like our own greeting. Great job guys! Mark
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Sound like the name of a ranch I'd be willing to hunt Ray! I talked to Charlie earlier and he's game to hunt as well.
Mark, that's funny! It's a secret hog hunters greeting. Kinda like a Masons handshake with a Redneck overtone-RRREEEEETTT! Hey, RRRREEETTTT BACK TO YOU TOO! LOL!
I've told many, many hunters that if they don't hear "rrrreeeetttt" when the arrow hit there is very little hope that the pig was hit in the goodies. I did shoot one a couple weeks ago that I hit high and he didn't rrreeetttt but he did die. I cut the vein under the spine. That was a one in a hundred_"no-rrreeeetttt" recovery. Have a rreeetttt day fella's! :thumbsup: :biglaugh:
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I know I didn't mention it before, but squirrelbait was a big help on this trip with putting corn out, helping with the hogs, and keeping us entertained. A great guy to have in camp.
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You got that right Littlefeather, nothing like that sound and you know they are going nowhere! That is funny, guess I never thought about others knowing what that sound was and using it in conversation, cool!
Yep, Mike is an awesome guy, just wish we could hunt together more! Have not had much of a chance to do so since the TBG moved their hog hunt away from Paradise! Mark
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great stories guys I realy enjoyed it.You've gotta love those hogs. They are a hoot and good eatin too.
Bill
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Patrick,Congrats on your first Trad Kill! Great Job Bud!The story and the pictures were excellant. I really enjoyed that. In a couple more years I'll be able to do a trip like that.Thanks for sharing folks!
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Here is a pic of the copperhead Mike( squirrelbait) shot with a blunt (http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w266/MGERARDI_2007/100_1736.jpg)t . Thanks to Mike the skin is hangin in my shop waiting to add some bling to some lucky huntin arrows. This is one of two pics of the snake.
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Bump. Any more pics? Cant let this one die. Lin
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Lin,
There are a couple of pics still out there , but Squirrel bait paid good money to keep them private :readit: . Maybe with a little coaxing he will give them up.
Mike
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Sounds interesting! Let's see'em. :saywhat: Lin
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NO!!!!Lin, Don't even beg!! Trust me , we don't need to see them!
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LOL!!!
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It's OK Squirrel Bait. I've been victimized myself by so called friends. :wavey: You know, pictures of the bathroom kind, snoring, etc. I can imagine. In fact, I seem to be the brunt of most of the pranks among my circle of buddies.
You hav'nt lived till you sleep all night not being able to get warm and find out you had bags of ice under your mattress. :D Lin
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I believe he was awake, around others, in day light, out in the open, and in close quarters by a parked vehicle. And that is all I have to say about that as long as the payments keep coming. :biglaugh:
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Yep... Squirrel Bait... He's up for WHATEVER opportunity presents itself. :bigsmyl: