Trad Gang
Traditional Bowhunting/Archery Videos => Tarz Antics => Topic started by: Terry Green on February 26, 2012, 07:56:00 PM
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NOTE:.... Please bear with us, we are exhausted at the moment, and will be covered up come Monday morning so its gonna take some time to tell this story.
This is a hunting story consisting of 'best friends'....three hunting together, and others along on the hunt materially and in spirit, and a visit to another, and a guest appearance by a couple more. And, even a new 'cyber best friend' that I haven't even met yet.
Along on this hunt are Curt Cabrera, Doug Johnson, and I in physical presence...others along in other manners are Rob DiStefano, Michael and Woods Langahans, Barry Clodfelter, Doug Campbell, Mike Whelan, Jr., Ray Hammond, and our heavenly best friend Chris Surtees.
Stories of pig bombs, delayed gratification, revelations in new stand placement, gourmet meals, midnight mischief, a really hot stand, a fake blood trail, sure things, a fuzzy tree, a snapping turtle, two new models of Salad Hats, other special gifts, and 3 stands earning a name, along with many other other multiples of 3...
Again, please have patience.....this hunt had late night adventures....one into the wee hours of the morning, and all 3 of us are slap wore out... :campfire:
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Looking forward to the stories!
:campfire:
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:campfire: :campfire:
We'll wait T.
This is going to be good!
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:campfire:
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:campfire:
God bless,Mudd :archer:
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I have a feeling this is going to be good. :campfire:
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We will be looking forward to the account. :campfire:
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BRING IT ON - BABY!
:campfire:
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Awesome can't wait for the story.
:campfire:
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:notworthy:
:campfire:
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:campfire:
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Get your rest and we'll wait for the story to unfold...
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:campfire:
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:campfire:
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:campfire:
This is gonna be great!
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Looking forward to the story!
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I love to read stories of long time dedicated best friends! :thumbsup:
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:thumbsup:
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Gonna be a good one.
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Can't wait to hear the stories!
Bisch
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OK im hooked :coffee:
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:campfire:
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Let me start where the title came about...it was generated by a series of events....
I have taken Rob DiStefano hog hunting in South Carolina THREE times.
Rob has killed THREE hogs in those three trips.
On trip number THREE Rob gave me a gift....
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Ok its starting!!! This is gong to be good. :thumbsup: :coffee:
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:campfire:
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Doug Campbell was in the camper with me when Rob entered with a bow sock containing of course a bow...
I saw what he had in hand and I said, "let me get out of your way"....Rob said "for what"?...I said, so you can put your bow together and Rob said, "This isn't my bow"...I said, what? You brought a fly rod?....and then Rob started speaking and I knew what was coming....I began to utter 'no no no Rob'...but Rob just continued...more into the speech I said 'No Rob, you can't do this'...and from in the corner from Doug Campbell in a low tone comes "Terry, just shut up"....so I figured it was best if I did....and when Rob wrapped up what he wanted to say, he handed me the bow sock.....
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:campfire:
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:thumbsup: :cool:
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So far so good. I'm hooked.
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This is what I received.....sorry, I left the mud on it...
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/bestfriendbow1.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/bestfriendbow2.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/bestfriendbow3.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/bestfriendbow4.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/bestfriendbow5.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/bestfriendbow6.JPG)
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Wow!!! Nice!!
Good on you Rob!!
God bless,Mudd
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Now, if that wasn't enough, and as I was trying to soak it all in,....a few minutes later Rob hit me again......
He then presented me with a matching Doug Campbell knife made with the left over wood from the bow.
I was now rendered speechless. But that's Best Friends for ya. :campfire:
I'll show the knife a little later on.....
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Wow! What a well deserved gesture. Congratulations and mighty kind of you Rob and Dave! :clapper: :clapper:
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Good Stuff Guys, thank you for sharing with the rest of us... I think we've all made really special friends because of this site...
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Now there were THREE best friends in camp that weekend, and now there were THREE more in camp this weekend. And, this was trip number THREE to this property without Rob.
I'd taken some other folks a couple of times and showed them around and tried to get pigs for a couple of them....this time I was actually there to hunt for myself. And I was really looking forward to it let me tell ya.
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ooohh this is gonna be good :thumbsup:
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Great gesture there Rob. Take some time for yourself there Terry and get that new bow some blood stains on it :) :)
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Beautiful bow Terry! :campfire:
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Well it had mud on it I bet it had blood too. :coffee:
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A 2-piece Mohawk ..... does it get any better than that? I bet there were some good looking arras along with it.
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Thats a jersey boy for ya! when ya least expect it POW!!!! he opens his heart to ya. Rob you are truly a remarkable man. And Terry you are truly a lucky guy. Hey can I take Rob hunten? :thumbsup:
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Man Terry, you cant mention a Doug Cambell knife and not flash a pic or two of it. :dunno:
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That is the exact Mohawk I would order minus 10 lbs. Very fine looking bow there bro. Cant wait to hear some more, I know SC is shy of a few hogs right now. :thumbsup:
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This says me something more about Rob! :notworthy: :notworthy:
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So,,....I got Doug Johnson in tow...and am on the way to pic up Curt at the Augusta Air Port Wed night....so we can get to camp and start off a 3 day hunt Thursday morning.
Had the Safari camper tagging along behind me full of all the 'stuff' we would need for the LONG weekend. We would arrive at camp late that evening and not get much sleep, but who cares......we would at least 'be there'.
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After our arrival approaching midnight....we got camp sparsely organized...mostly out hunting gear ready and bedding. The rest of camp could wait till after the morning hunt. Of course, we had to chit chat for an hour before we retired. The anticipation was killing us and we were hyped to say the least.
Again, please bear with us....Curt is a bit under the weather and is slowly trying to get his pics in order.
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The next morning came early and we decided to take to stands at daylight. Curt was up in the lefty stand 'Skylight' and Doug decided to hunt the 1st stand now named 'Wood's Stand' after Michael's son Woods Langahans. If you have ever met Woods, you would agree, the young man needs a stand named after him....so there. And I would patrol the road some mile and a half between them.
The morning was quiet. The most quiet I've ever seen it there, and not a hog was sighted. But, there were plenty of deer to be shot, only they weren't on the menu. So, back to camp for lunch and total organization. Wow, that don't sound like me. :biglaugh:
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After an early lunch we hit it again immediately, now that it was light, we could look for fresh sign and get a better idea of what was going on.
In doing so, we stayed out for another 3 quiet hours searching for sign and hogs, we returned to camp for an hour break before heading out for the rest of the afternoon at about 3:30.
Curt wanted to sit the Skylight again which was down in the Savannah river bottom, and Doug was so mesmerized by that bottom, he decided to hunt 'The Race Track' stand. The stand got its name from a group of nearly a dozen piglets came racing from afar to get to the feeder at this stand. They hit a curve in the road and slung dirt as they got broadside making their final approach. Michael Langahans deemed the stand the name and told us about it Saturday night during his visit.
I would take the 'Sunset Stand' the last hour and a half after patrolling the road again. You haven't experienced this property till you've had an experience at Sunset. I had had such an experience on one of my earlier hunts with Rob, but chose not to shoot and bugger up the area so Rob could hunt it the next evening.
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WOW! Nice bow. I believe I would have gotten all teary-eyed over such a gift. Heck.......I think I'm gonna get that way anyway!
:thumbsup: :clapper:
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Now we had a little more idea of what was going on. LOTS of sign in the bottom, that's why Curt wanted to go back to his morning stand, and Doug chose the race track. More tracks in the road had my interest peaked, plus, I know anything can happen at Sunset. Now we were really hyped.
After out short break snacking and airing out our feet, were were wide open again in the quest for pork. This evening would hold many encounters.
Doug doesn't type well, so I'll try my best to relay his two hour 'show' as he called it as he so exuberantly told it.
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:campfire: love it!!!!!!!
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Well it's in the middle of being told and Terry is a master at it...waiting for the "rest of the story"
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Sounds like a great trip from great friends. Can't wait to hear more. Real nice gifts Rob.
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Sounds like a great trip. Rob you are the MAN!
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Sorry for the delay chiming in here, a "bug" started to get me Saturday night and really settled in on Sunday. Miserable traveling home!
I'm gonna get some pix sized up and will try to post throughout the day.
Can't thank Terry enough for everything, he truely is "my brother from another mother", almost hard to imagine how my life would be without tradgang and the friends I've made since it's inception :campfire:
I'll be back.....
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Tough to describe the feelings I'm sure Terry...what a great gift from an even better friend. Well played Rob!!
Looking forward to more of the hunt!
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Here's a little visual....this is one of the walls to 'The Bedroom'. Doug said as we were walking down it 'How would you like to have to track in that!"......I told him he just might find out....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/StJudebuizwall3.jpg)
And here is another wall of the bedroom.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/StJudebuizwall1a.jpg)
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This looks like it was a great hunt. Looking forward to the rest.
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:campfire: :jumper: :jumper:
This should keep me til turkey season !!
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Is that a downed critter in the second wall pic? Hard to tell on my phone.
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:campfire:
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Oh yeah...just after our short lunch break during our scouting...we made 6 pig bombs. Basically 'layer cakes' for hogs. We made them along the road so while we were going to and from stands, or patrolling the road, we might catch a hog or two at one or more of the bombs.
Curt was the Mad Scientist, he even had a little lab set up for mixing up his concoctions. This was a lot of funny setting these bombs and then waiting to check them for the next couple of days to check the damage.
I'll let Curt tell about making them..... :campfire:
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This is getting good!
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:campfire: Too awesome fellas, can't wait for the rest of the stories... :campfire:
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Now as we go along...I'll try and post for Doug and relay his hunts as he told them to me. He's not much of a typist, and believe it or not, he's busier than ME!!!
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Pig Bombs!!!!!!!
Now this I have to see. Sounds real interesting.
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It was a wicked weekend. :bigsmyl: :archer2:
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The Great and Powerful WOODS has SPOKEN!!!!!
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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OK...so after a long walk all the way down the 'Killer Kilometer' we reached the hardwood bottom and Doug and Curt left me to patrol the road again and I was going to set up at the Sunset stand about an hour and a half before dark.
Doug got all set up in the race track, the 1st stand in the bottom, and Curt moseyed on to the 2nd stand in the bottom known as Skylight.
Doug had a group of hogs coming in but got busted by the wind. Then Darkness fell upon him as the next group noisily made their way to him. He had a 'show' as he stated for TWO HOURS after dark. Pigs running everywhere, but he just couldn't get the one he wanted in range and standing just right. He said it was like a 3 ring circus but the ringmaster just wasn't cooperating!!!
I played cat and mouse with a little lone pig on my route, and chose not to shoot it. I just wanted to see how much I could mess with his mind till the jig was up. This went on for about 10 minutes or so, and it was a hoot. That little bugger didn't know what I was or what to do about me, ....whether to stay or go. He finaly had enough and trotted off.
Not far along I caught 4 piglets at Sunset, and I waited a bit, then bumped them off so I could get into the stand. Wasn't long before they came back feeding side by side like they were one unit...kinda like a school of bait fish....all black moving in unison. That too was a hoot. I could hear larger hogs out in the bedroom, and some back in the pines, but none showed at my stand that evening.
Curt on the other hand......
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You bet he has. :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
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Originally posted by magnus:
Is that a downed critter in the second wall pic? Hard to tell on my phone.
no...just a little mound of sand.
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Woods....I'm really gonna miss being there for your 1st hog kill....maybe I'll get lucky and be there when it does. :pray:
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After hunting "Skylight" in the morning, and even though I didn't see anything, I knew it was where I wanted to be the first afternoon. The mud and sign by the feeder was unquestionable...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090529bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090530bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090531bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090532bacon.JPG)
We had made plans to hunt till a couple hours into the night. We all had some sort of "hoglight" on our bows. Mine was a time tested little headlamp conversion that I'd already used successfully in Texas on 3 hogs over the last couple years.
All was extremely quiet till I heard the tell-tale sound of footsteps coming in from behind me.
I slowly turned to look over my left shoulder and was immediately busted....by a big gobbler!!!
After he wandered off it was quiet again till just before it was too dark to make out forms.
At about 6:45 I again heard the unmistakable shuffling sound of a hog coming thru crunchy leaves and palmettos!
The sound got closer, and it was getting dark by the second. I finally could just barely make out the jet black hog against the lighter leaf litter.
All alone, it stopped a couple times before committing to comming all the way in....but soon it was at the feeder.
I tried as best I could to have the hog in shooting position before I hit it with the light. You just never know how they'll react to the light.
Checking with binos in the almost non existing light, I thought it was broadside....I pressed the switch on my little reddish pink light and lowered it down on the hog...
It wasn't broadside, but it didn't hardly react to the light. I kept it on the hog for about 10 seconds while it moved, but it always kept itself 1/4 toward me...I turned it off and waited...
I turned it back on, but again it wasn't in a shooting position, but again it didn't react in a negetive way....so I kept it on the hog as it fed around....this time for about 30 seconds. It even looked up at me at one point, I could see its eyes reflecting back at me.
I shut it off again because it seemed to be getting nervous. I thought it was going to leave, but instead it actually came closer to the stand over to my right. then I heard it turn around and start to walk away from my back to the right side of the feeder...I hit the light again...
When I hit it with the light this time it was hard quartering away as it walked. I drew and tried to pick a spot as best I could and released...
At release the bow reacted funny in my hands, causing the light to jerk away from the hog. I only got a quick impression of where the arrow went, and it looked to be too far back and low. But I only saw a quick flash in the light.
At the shot I heard what sounded like the arrow almost silently hitting mud. The hog, without making a sound just ran a little ways behind the feeder and stopped!
Thats when I felt a wierd sensation on the inside of my right thigh....my bottom limb had somehow grazed my leg! I'd missed!!!!
I heard the pig start moving again, and I though for a minute it was coming back...but then I heard it shuffle off getting quieter as it went...Dang it!!!
I sat for another 1.5 hrs in the dark beating myself up for missing(even though I know it's not easy shooting in the dark) and and listening to a bunch of deer feeding around me.
Finally at about 8:45 I got down to go get my arrow and meet Doug who was hunting the "racetrack"...
I get down, and with the help of my Wensel main Beam light, I walk over to where my arrow was sticking in the ground....guess what....no arrow sticking in the ground!
I searched for 10 minutes, just knowing it was there somewhere, but I couldn't come up with it. I even looked for blood for about 20yds in the direction the hog went....nothing....
There was no doubt in my mind I'd missed with my impression of where my arrow was headed in the split second I saw it in the light, I know I'd grazed my leg, and the hog never made a sound at the shot.....I just figured the arrow had somehow slipped under something and I couldn't find it in the dark....so I was off to meet Doug....I'd look for my arrow in the morning after the hunt.....
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:coffee:
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The next morning I poked around, still hunting and checking pig bombs. 3 of the 6 had been hit, but they were all in the middle of the night.
As for the "pig bomb"....
Dig a hole about 2-3ft. deep.
Then we put some corn in, poured some dry Kool Aid mix on it, then on top of that poured some cheap red liquid punch juice.
Then back fill with a little sand.
Repeat till you have a "layer cake" of hog candy filled back up, and put a little of the goodies right on top.
Once filled up, we also put some Hershey's stawberry syrup all around the top and on any close trees up off the ground to help carry the scent of the goodies.
The idea is ...the hogs find it and as they work it they keep smelling the goodies lower, and lower, and lower.
I have some pix of the results....but I'll post them later....
When I met up with Terry later on in the morning, I saw him coming and waited for him to come to me as I was closer to where we'd walk out. But as soon as we made eye contact he waved me over to come to him! I figured he'd just seen some hogs to go after...I double timed it over to him!
What he told me was a total shock!
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Yep...I had decided to hunt the last stand in the bottom that morning...about 300 yards beyond Skylight and that I would make my way back to the bedroom where Curt was 'poking around'. My morning hunt was again deathly quiet. That Stand got a name that morning....Coffin Corner...I'll post pics in a bit.
BUT, that missing arrow of Curt's was messing with my head....so I went to looking....
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When I got to Terry...he told me, "I found it"....I figured my arrow...."I found your hog"!
What!!!???
Seems while getting closer to the "Skylight stand" where I'd hunted the night before, a buzzard had gotten up in front of him in the distance.
As he closed in more got up!
I'll let him tell the rest.....
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Oh ya!
This is playing out like a TG version of "CLUE"...
I am guessing it was Curt, in the "Skylight" stand, with "Timex".
:bigsmyl:
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COOL!! :thumbsup: :clapper:
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This is going to be a good one I think.
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Yep....I was 'pokin around' and I saw some buzzars in the trees...even heard them wacking around that morning in the tree tops.
Once I saw a few get up off the ground as I was near Curt's stand, but in the direction I figured a hit hog would run, toward a thick stand of short pines, I though 'why those buzzards just got lucky and roosted right over Curt's hog'....and sure enough, they HAD!!! I walked right up to it. I was excited to not only find his arrow, but that it was still in his hog!!!! Guess those buzzard thought they had it made till I ruined their day!
Curt was ecstatic!!!
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Way cool! Congrats Curt! Pics?!?!?!
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Yeah Yeah Yeah.....we got pics!!!
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:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
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I guess they found him so fast not only because they roosted right over it, but it was in the wide open in a shallow cypress slough void of the two palmetto flats on either side. The slough leads right to those short pines that is a safe haven for both hogs and deer.
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Please continue!!!! :pray:
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Great stories so far! Can't wait for more. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
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I couldn't believe! I would have bet my house that I'd missed!
Hitting my leg...the arrow sounding like it stuck in the mud...and absolutely no sound from the hog at the shot....I thought, "no way I hit that hog!" I've never hit a hog that didn't make some sort of squeal at impact!
But then there was the missing arrow that had us puzzled. No matter, I still thought it was there, but I just didn't find it in the dark!
Yes, I was estatic!!!
We went and got Doug so we could all asborb this together!
My imperssion of the arrow flight was only half correct...
It was in fact "back", real far back actually!
But it wasn't "too low" as I'd thought...
The 630gr.arrow, tipped with a 160gr. VPA on a 125gr. steel adapter had taken the hog hard quartering away, angling though the hams and up into the body...I'd gotten extremely lucky!!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090536bacon.JPG)
Pretty good teeth for a sow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090537bacon.JPG)
Funny thing is, the night before Terry had asked... "So how big was it?"
I told Terry and Doug that I thought it was maybe 80#'s. I was wrong! As Terry said when he told me he found her...."she's a chunk man!"
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090538bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090539bacon.JPG)
Three Amigos...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090540bacon.JPG)
I was on top of the world!
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:thumbsup: Nothing wrong with some GOOD luck once in a while! :D
Bill
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The smile says it all! No kidding she was a chunk! :thumbsup:
Congrats again Curt! :thumbsup:
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Nice hog, Curt. And nice recovery, Terry.
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Now, there is another story that took place the 1st night that we didn't tell you about.
When Curt's arrow went missing.....
Curt and I decided that 1st night to venture back down into the bottom after supper, around 10:30, to see what just might happen due to all the sign we'd seen....and what an experience we had.
Doug was going his thing as Curt and I made our way to the bottom. As we neared the bottom, close to the end of the bedroom, we heard leaves rustling.....LOTS of leaves rustling. We stopped to get a good bearing on them and while doing so, here comes a hog in the road toward us.....
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We stayed still letting the 50#er make his way toward us all the way into bow range....we were just waiting for him to turn. Not sure if he actually saw us or smelled us, he turned and bolted toward the rustling....
So we to headed that way.....what an experience we were about to enter....
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:campfire:
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Whoo, great stories so far. Congrats on the hog Curt! Looking forward to the rest.
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Great Hog, are they all that hairy?
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As we entered the bottom, the rustling turned into squeals n growls....seems there was a sow in heat about 75 yards into the bottom to our left, and we moved in...
What a rush this was, closing in on what sounded like 30 or so hogs jockeying for position with the lady of the night. There was some serious sparing going on and a few boars sounded like they were fully grown!!!
We continued to close the gap, but stayed a little distance away, bout 40 yards from them hoping they would make their way to us as they were going back and forth over a hundred yard area....just back n forth, back n forth, all the while carrying on vocally....again, the level of excitement was extremely high as it was all happening in darkness...
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Great hog Curt. Congratulations.
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Now while we were cautiously standing our ground to this group on the left for maybe 10 minutes during the fracas....we heard to our right some 300 yards away another blood curdling squeal back behind us.....
Yes, ANOTHER group with a bride in peril making their way toward us. Closer, and Closer, and Closer, all the while we were guarding our left for a shot at one in that original fighting group....
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As the 2nd group closed in, there were now TWO mating rituals going on within 40 yards of us on BOTH sides of us. Our attention was split in a confusing way. We didn't know which group would converge on us 1st, or if we would get caught up in the middle of the chaos.
Guys n gals....this went on for FORTY FIVE MINUTES!!!
We were looking left and right, only occasionally seeing a glimpse of black silhouettes running back and forth with all sorts of fighting going on.
At one point I told Curt....this is insane....no one would ever believe this. Just how many people ever get to experience anything remotely like this.
I shared a moment in time with Curt that will never likely happen to us ever again....or to any of y'all reading this.
And believe it or not, we almost got a shot. We had 3 hogs move in about 30 yards away, and Curt and I cut on our bow lights with them held straight up, hoping not to spook either or the group, and we started closing in.
I lowered my bow so the outer beam came down and we saw the 3 almost in range as we closed the gap....and we did...all we needed was for one to turn for a good shot....
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This was a truly awesome, almost surreal experience!!
I mean almost pitch black, and all this going on around us...I was lovin' every second!
Go ahead T, you're doing a great job describing what we experienced that night!!
Time for me to hit the rack. I'll be back with a lot more tomorrow...
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As we lowered out bows, the THREE, remember, this is also a story of THREES, move right into a stand of canes.
No, they weren't spooked.....just still moving and all caught up in the festivities.
We continued to try and move in as they moved away, and when they came back, they stopped a bit short and went back the other way only to return.
Finally, both groups made their way deeper into the bottom. Neither group ever knew we were there.....and maybe that was a good thing....who knows. But I can tell you one thing, it would have really been something to have taken just one out of either group....and it almost happened.
What a night to remember that was......and you betcha I'm going to try to experience that again even though the chances are probably rare.
:campfire:
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If Curt feels up to it, I would love to hear his rendition of the event....we stood shoulder to shoulder for most of it, but split up for about the last 15 minutes trying to better our odds of one of us getting a shot, or steering the group to the other.
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Originally posted by lpcjon2:
Great Hog, are they all that hairy?
Nah...we call them kind 'Curly'. :goldtooth:
But I have to say....Curt's hog and VERY long hair on it's jaws...wish we had taken a pic of that.
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Great Stuff !!! :thumbsup: Can't wait to hear more from Terry and Curt !!!
Bill
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Congrats Curt!!!
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Congrats Curt!!
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A big time classic is unfolding here. Congrats on a fine sow.
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Good job Curt :thumbsup:
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Way cool! That's a lot of arrow inside that hog. Did I miss you saying how far she made it?
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Congrats on the sow, Curt! Those nighttime hog encounters are somemof the best.
Bisch
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Way to go Curt!
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I have never been on a hog hunt, you guys make it sound like a blast. Makes me appreciate all the deer camps I've shared and been invited to, great times and great memories! Thanks for sharing and I will check this thread soon!
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Congrats Curt!
Or as Charlotte(from Charlotte's Web) would say, "Some Pig"!
What a huntin' trip, guys!
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Congrats on a good looking sow Curt! Thanks for the great story!
One never leaves Hunting Camp empty handed...There are always the memories.
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Loving it, great stuff! Congrates Guru!
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:archer:
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What a story guys! To be in close to two groups like that and them not have a clue you even existed! What a rush that must have been.
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:campfire:
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Originally posted by Terry Green:
If Curt feels up to it, I would love to hear his rendition of the event....we stood shoulder to shoulder for most of it, but split up for about the last 15 minutes trying to better our odds of one of us getting a shot, or steering the group to the other.
My rendition isn't any different than Terry's. It was one of those hunt situations that you couldn't make up in your wildest dreams!
The leaf litter was so dry and noisy that it sounded like we were about to get run over at any time, but they were actually further away than they sounded.
I don't know how many times I turned my light on that night just knowing any second I was going to draw and shoot....but it just never came together.
When it was finally over, and they all faded away, on both sides of us, it got so quiet. We almost had to ask ourselves..."did all that really just happen?"
Another incredible experience logged into the old gray matter!
We never did make it back to look for my arrow....but you already know how that turned out the next morning :thumbsup:
Thank you guys for the congrats!
Some turn of events on that hog, I would have bet my house that I missed!
Gregg, She'd only gone about 75yds tops.
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It is a nice hog. :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
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Some random pix...
Although it was overall extremely dry, there were some holes that held water...check out the wallow holes along the back edge...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090454bacon.JPG)
Terry is very proud of his campfires...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090462bacon.JPG)
Around the "Racetrack Stand"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090469bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090470bacon.JPG)
Cypress has to be the coolest tree...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090471bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090473bacon.JPG)
Terry on point sporting his new "Ceasar"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090474bacon.JPG)
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The place is pretty dry.Like this kinda dry.
:deadhorse:
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Nice hog, Curt. And nice recovery, Terry.
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A few more random shots...
Boar "hooking"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090503bacon.JPG)
Some of the very few I actually saw while sneakin' during daylight hours. They were all little guys. Got into about 10ft of them while they were just off the road...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090512bacon.JPG)
"The Broadhead", I had Chris' bh in my quiver just in case I got up the nerve to shoot it. Hogs are notorious arrow breaker/bh losers....I just couldn't stand the thought of losing it!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090519bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090531bacon.JPG)
Doug and Terry...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090533bacon.JPG)
Terry entering "The Cathedral"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090534bacon.JPG)
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A lot more to come...it actually gets better!! :campfire:
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Cool pics, is that a pig in the second pic of the race track? Black object to the left
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Fantastic stuff!
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Nah...just an old cypress stump.
Curt...have you got that other pic of the Cathedral?....I thought you had a tall narrow one that showed more of the height of the trees....
And believe it or not...it DOES get better....
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Denfinitley needed to go buy a lottery ticket that night you found the sow Curt. Good stuff and great read. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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It's already great! And it gets better!? :campfire:
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This is pretty sweet guys!
God Bless,
Nathan
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Awesome adventure....thank y'all for bringin' us the stories.
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You guys truly know how to tell a hunting story...
:coffee:
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Originally posted by Guru:
[QB] "The Broadhead", I had Chris' bh in my quiver just in case I got up the nerve to shoot it. Hogs are notorious arrow breaker/bh losers....I just couldn't stand the thought of losing it!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090519bacon.JPG)
I know it's hard to loose something like that Guru, but having read some stuff about Chris, I think he would want ya'll to use it. I might not shoot it in a biggun, but I'd sure sling it into anything shy of 150#s. Go for it man, and let Chris smile a bit.
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Just catching up! WOW! :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
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^ I just got caught up as well, HECK of a hunt! This will be one to remember for sure! The hunt and the "Epic" thread!! Keep it comin fellers!!
:notworthy:
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Yep just catching up too. Wow what a hunt so far! Thanks for sharing, and I can't wait to see what else you guys have for us. :notworthy:
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X4 on the 'just catching up', what an awesome story guys. :thumbsup: :notworthy: Thanks for sharing. I gotta do that pig huntin' some day.
Patiently waiting for the rest. :campfire:
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Yup,the place is awesome. :scared: :notworthy: :archer2:
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quote:
Originally posted by Lowcountry Archer:
Yup,the place is awesome. :scared: :bigsmyl:
I love the names you all have given the stands and locations.
T/Curt, were you guys by Robs stand when your nightly encounter happened?
I'm loving it! Keep it coming guys.
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Great read so far. You guys are really peaking us northern boys interest in some midwinter pig hunts. Heck they're cheap!
Pretty interesting how in the last decade these critters are begining to challenge the coveted alligator as the south's most dangerous game.
Thanks for the adventure.
:campfire:
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Thanks Leatherneck.
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I'm enjoying the story and the pics. Never been hog hunting but it's something I looking forwrd to doing. Will be waiting to read more. :campfire: :coffee:
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When we arrived, Curt gave be two gifts....two hats. Not just any hats, but two salad hats. Now, those 2 plus the 1 he gave me at Solana equals THREE. I now had 3 hats given to my by Curt.
The 1st was what I immediately called, the 'Caesar Lite'. It was made from a light weight ball cap type had with light weight nylon strips, he said this one was for warmer weather.
The next he hauled out a cold weather model. The basis for this hat was one of our Sponsor Plenty Coup, and it was chocked full of fleece, both old and textured and new. This one was so full, it almost looks like an a full dread-lock Afro....so, I deemed it 'The Salad Bar'. This thing is a HOOT...but no doubt the animals will never know I'm there, or, they will be dazed and confuses, and I'll be able to point blank them while they roll in laughter.
Pics will be along shorty as more stories develop....
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OK...back the the naming of 'Coffin Corner'. This is the newest stand on the property, unless you counted the one I'm fixing to tell you about this evening which is still up but not in the same tree.
Anyhow, as the sun came up and it was really good light I looked over my right shoulder and something caught my eye. This particular log looked just like an open coffin just lying in the middle of the woods. So, the stand was named...
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtcoffincorner1.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtcoffincorner2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtcoffincorner3.jpg)
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just to be able to go on a hunt like this would be a dream come true , thanks so much for takeing us all along :campfire:
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Great stuff !!! Keep it coming :thumbsup: :campfire:
Bill
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Great fun and companionship!
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Alright...after we got Curt's photo shoot and all taken care of....it was time to eat....and back at it.
Back out we went, with a plan, to put up another stand at the Race Track to cut off some of the hogs that were working the area a little different, and I also had a plan.
See, the last two times I've been there I'd seen lots of tracks coming and going in a 100 yard stretch between Sunset and Wood's stand. Pines n Palmettos on one side, and the bedroom on the other. So, my gut told me to pick a pine and have a seat. We put a lock on about 10 feet up and 10 feet off the road at a 45% angle to the road making it just perfect for an easy right handed shot. We also pruned out 3 shooting lanes. Now back for a short break before the afternoon hunt.
Cept we had heard there was a little storm coming. We set up a 12x24 tarp and moved everything under it and waited. Not 2 minutes later the rain started and lasted from about 3 till 4:30 Once the storm passed the rain stopped completely and we were setting on ready and were off....Doug back to the Race Track and Curt back to Skylight....me, I'd bail off 1st at the little ambush site we'd just set up.....
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I got up in my stand and watched Curt and Doug fade round the corner at the big mud hole and I checked the stand. All was set so I drew my bow a few times and enjoyed the new scenery for a few minutes.
I knew the wind was still blowing, but being protected by the bedroom, I didn't realize how hard and just how cool it was. I was noticing now and then I leaned back into the wet pine and got a chill. I leaned forward and the wind whipping around made that wet spot feel like an ice pack, and I thought to myself.....my standard uniform cotton predator shirt just wasn't going to be enough after an hour in this wind, and I sure didn't want to get the shivers and try to pull off a shot.
At this point I remembered the gift I was given earlier in the week. I'd started a post asking KentuckyTJ what type of pull over his hunting partner was wearing in his pull over, and it showed up at my door a few days later. Yep, you bet I'd brought it, but the unseasonably warm weather we'd had so far left it folded in the back seat of my vehicle. I knew I had time to go back since my walk was so short, and it would take me by Woods' stand there and back...so, I was technically still hunting as I could have stalked any hog or hogs that popped out on the road. I also would get Chris' flashlight that was lying right beside it.
I returned to my stand wearing the new gift and a little more toasty feeling. I was much more comfortable now, and hadn't missed a thing....
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OK...now I was set..... I had the Bow Rob gave me, the Knife from Doug Campbell Rob gave me, Chris Sutrees' glove on my bow hand, one of Chris' flashlights, and Mike Whelan's pullover on. I just needed for the hogs to do their thing like my gut was telling me.
Not long, maybe 15 minutes later, I spot movement almost straight out from me, just a little left but it was a deer. I watched it mill around in the bedroom for about 5 minutes or so and then it turned and started running toward me on a little trail leading right to the road. I didn't know why this deer just took off, but soon did. Here comes a decent sized black boar chasing the deer. The deer turned to my left and paralleled the road out of there till I couldn't hear it any longer and the hog was standing broadside in her direction like 'and don't come back'!!!.
The boar turned toward me and started milling around. Now I thought he was going to come out to the road, but then I heard the tell tale sounds of another hog coming from my right breaking all sorts of stuff and bulling over palmettos. No mistaking if you've ever heard this before. You know its not a deer. The boar glances over every once and a while and continues to root its way toward me getting closer and closer...and the noise on the left was getting closer and closer...
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I love your hog hunting adventures. Best read possible sitting in front of the fire waiting for a snowstorm.
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Terry said earlier that was in the "Skylight Stand" again this evening...but I was really in "Rob's Stand"(tuff keeping track sometimes).
Although there wasn't a feeder there anymore, we'd chummed up the area. Pouring out a bunch of corn, with a mix of dry and liquid Kool-Aid mixed in.
I was confident that this would draw some hogs into the area, that's the reason I decided to hunt this stand. The question always seemed to be "when". These hogs had been moving primarily right at dark and after.
I was dressed for the cold front that had started to settle in after the thunderstorm. I knew I'd be staying into the darkness, so I attacxhed my harness and settled in...
Wasn't 5 minutes and I had a deer feeding down the trail from me. She eventually worked her way into about 20yds. After being around me for over a half hour she eventually walked off to the west.
All was quiet and it was getting dark quickly. In the low light, right about 6:45 I picked up my bino's to look down the trail to my left and just happened to catch a hog pop out on the trail...oh yeah!
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Sorry Curt....you are correct....it all runs together when all you are doing is running together. I'd forgot about the Rob Bomb!!! Heck, I was there when we set it. :knothead:
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Within a minute there were about 10 hogs feeding my way carrying on and making a racket....but they were coming!
By the time they got with 50yds all I could see was sillouettes against the lighter colored grass in the trail....I'd have to use my bow light again!
My experience when using these lights is that every hog and every situation is different. Last night, it had worked like a charm as that ol' gal hardly paid any attention to it. That was encouraging, I hopped this situation that was unfolding in front of my would be the same.
They were all now with 20yds of me,most were within 15yds, and although I could hardly see them, there was no mistaking the crunching...it was time to try the light.
My usual routine is to turn the light on while pointing it up, then lowering it slowly on the hogs.....so that's what I did...
It was like they were struck by lightning!!!
No hesitation, no nothing....I was all alone within 3 seconds!!
So much for last nights results!
It was now after 7:00, and Doug was in past me at "The Racetrack". We'd agreed to stay till at least 8:30, and he'd come past me to get out, so I settled back to wait....hopefully more hogs would show.......
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OK where was I....oh....the boar was still facing me rooting around and it jumped a little log and was now almost in range...about 5 yards from the ditch on the other side of the road. The road is a wide dirt road with about a 3 foot shoulder, then a ditch and about another 3 feet to the vegetation line.
I thought to myself, my gut is going to pay off again.....
Then the deer that got ran off snorted and the hog looked in that direction, and in an instant there was a short bull rush burst of palmettos and a loud crack of a large stick from the right again and the boar spun toward the racket and flinched big time....then swapped ends and trotted off. I thought....UH O!....
More traveling noise came from the right paralleling the road and then a MUCH larger black ruffed up hog appeared. I wasn't sure if the jig was up or not...would it continue to parallel or would it turn on the trail?.....turn on the trail it did and I began to raise my bow.....
Then straight out barely to my right out of a dark mangle of palmettos, saplings, cane and briers comes SEVEN jet black hogs that looked like they all just came out of a car wash. They were all wet from the rain and were slick as a minnow's ear.
They came rambling right into the road and all turned left and started shucking down the road. I wanted a shot at the larger one still in the bush, but the biggest one in this cluster would have to do as you never know when your window of opportunity is up...
I started my draw trying to pick a spot on the largest in the group, but that was futile....they were all bumping and scooting like they all wanted to be 1st in line to pass by the largest loaner still in the edge of the bedroom. I hit full draw, but just could not pick a spot, as I was very rushed to do so and the target kept scooting and getting covered up by one or more of the others in the group....
Then something spooked them and they all blasted back into the edge of the bedroom....all the while the largest just stood there facing to my right staring in their direction. Was it over?...
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Wasn't a half hour later when the silence was shattered by a pig squeal!! Alright!!!!
A few minutes later I could hear them coming in, again from my left side.
Must have been a couple bullies in this bunch, I could hear squeal, and grunting like two of them were going at it as they cam in.
All I could see was a barely discernable black mass out in front of me as they scarfed up the sweetened corn.
This time I was in no hurry and thought I'd let them settle in for a few minutes...then try the light.....
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After a few tense minutes I decided to try the light again....I just knew it was going to work this time.
I noticed last time that when I turned it on pointed up I'd lit up the canopy of branches that were above my. That might not have been what scared them, but it certainly couldn't have helped. So this time I was going to turn it on pointed right at the "black mass of hogs" below me.
I pressed the button, and lit up the mass...
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So much for that idea....You'd have thought I electrocuted them!
I didn't even get a fix on one and they were all gone!!!
All alone again....
At about 8:30 I saw Doug's light coming toward me. I gathered my gear and climbed down.
By the time I hit the ground he was waiting for me. He'd a heard some hogs, but nothing had come into his set-up.
We walked out to meet Terry and were greeted with the story that you'all are enjoying from him right now!!!!!
Good stuff!!!! :clapper:
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Guru
HOw do you attach the light to your bow? Have a hunt coming up in April, and if I can get a light mounted, just might have to stay out after the sun goes down.
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In about THREE seconds I knew it wasn't up completely, but knew there was only a slim chance...and that would be at the large loaner...
The group of 7 started out to the road again, but turned right and traveled on that little apron on the other side of the ditch and then came out again into the road but they were all facing me and in my last shooting lane in that direction. No shot was offered and I looked back just in time to see the 'mom in charge' as I figured make her move toward them...
She too stayed along the apron right next to the veg line and stopped behind a 3 foot pine sapling growing just out of the ditch...then she moved a few more yards and stopped behind a wad of briers straight out in front of me...I looked a head and saw another opening in the next shooting lane and when she started to move I started my draw eying the spot I wanted to hit if given the chance....
As luck, or fate, would have it, she stopped just perfect with a hole the size of a volleyball straight to the vitals....and I was inches from full draw....and the arrow was away!!!
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The Mowawk bow sent the 4 blade Zwickey right were I was looking, and I was looking at the best spot possible for a quick kill.....the arrow passed though the other side and stabbed the earth....
She bolted a gallop forward then turned left into that dark abyss leaving about 12 inches of the fletched end of my arrow lying at the opening.
I heard disorientation from her, a couple of distressed growls, the 2nd worse than the 1st, a little more travel and then rustling and cracking ....then I heard the air let out of her.
Wow...I was now ecstatic!!!! I'd just witnessed what looked like the most perfect shot I could have made.
Now get this, again, this was trip number THREE without Rob, trip number THREE hunting exclusively with this bow, and hog number THREE I'd had an in range run in with.....
I sat in the tree for about an hour and a half, and figured the boys were on their way, so I climbed down and went to my arrow....I turned on Chris' flashlight and saw a blood bath into that dark hole. Instant blood is always a good sign....
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Satisfied with what I'd seen and heard...I made my way back to my vehicle to wait on the boys so they could be on the recovery.
They showed not 10 minutes later and we'd made chit chat about what all had happened that night to each of us...then we loaded up and drove to my stand that didn't take but an hour and 10 minutes to produce a shot.
When we arrived I re-accounted what had happened, and showed them the arrow and obvious blood trail. I knew the hog wasn't far in dead as a hammer right past a 15 foot pine inside the bedroom. I figured she was 35 yards in....
We followed the trail just for kicks and I was wrong...she didn't even make it 30 yards, and she was bigger than I thought. She was a sho-nuff dandy!!!!
Doug and I grabbed a leg and started heaving our way to the road with her while Curt blazed the short trail....loaded here up....and got some pics made....Unfortunately, my camera card is at the office, so I'll post the group photo in the morning....but I got one I can post for tonight.....
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Thanks to all who were involved in making this happen....and I still have a couple of guys to mention....
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(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sctghogguru12a.JPG)
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How do you keep a Tradganger in suspense? Tell them "Unfortunately, my camera card is at the office, so I'll post the group photo in the morning....".
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Dandy hog Terry! Congrats!!
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Nice job you "3".
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Best part about this hunt,and any hunt, isn't the harvest. It's how friends got to spend time together. I'm certain you guys are the envy of a lot of folks out there. Sounds like you all had a blast. :saywhat:
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:campfire:
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Wow! Look at the head on that thing. That's one nice sow. Congratulations Terry. Great story telling so far guys! :campfire:
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Guru to the rescue....I've got pix!!!
After Terry told us about the shot and we started to follow, there was no doubt about the outcome of this one...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090543bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090544bacon.JPG)
I was in the lead on the blood and when I saw her laying there I said out loud...."she's way bigger than you thought!"
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090545bacon.JPG)
Let me tell ya fellas, you just don't hit a hog any more perfect than Terry hit this one!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/baconstriphog5.JPG)
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What a blast! I second Chromebuck... I can't think of a better way to get out of the slush and freeze than a winter hog hunt. Great story telling!
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Well done Boys!
Great story and hogs!!
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WOW! What a deal!!! :bigsmyl:
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Great story guys, Thank-you!
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I can count!....lol
I have figured out that there's at least one more hog going down... Woohoo!
Great read!!
God bless,Mudd
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Another Chunk of a sow! Congrats Terry! Getting it done... as usual... :thumbsup:
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These after season hunts for most of us are extra special. We are living through you guys. Great hunt all the way around! Thanks for photos and stories.
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The next morning I was in the Coffin Corner and would make my way out to meet up with Curt and explore the pig bombs....
Doug was in the Victory stand....it was another deathly quiet morning.....Curt has some pics to share about out pig bombs.....
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Woods, glad to hear your input on this adventure.
I think that the blood curling scream the night that you guys were in the pigs , came from a 200lb+ - boar that my bud Nick spined just across the way from yall. should a been about that time of night. man what a place to get a rush huh?
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I have just been getting caught up on this. Awesome is all I can say. Awesome.
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I'm going to be real busy...so I'll cut to the chase....Curt can post about the bombs at his leisure.
After the morning hunt, we needed ice for the hog meat,...but we 1st stopped by Ray's hog haven. Ray immediately welcomed us and offered coffee....typical Ray.
We had a great chat with Ray.....Conversations are always enlightenment with him, and Doug and Curt finally got to meed him. Unfortunately we had to cut our visit short, and run to town and get back to take care of icing down the pork...and back to the hunt.
Thanks Ray for the hospitality!!!
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This could be the best hunting thread I have ever read on any hunting forum on the net. You guys are doing it up right.
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Originally posted by KentuckyTJ:
These after season hunts for most of us are extra special. We are living through you guys. Great hunt all the way around! Thanks for photos and stories.
Well said Tom...these hunts help us make it through to the next time we can get put and chase.
Thanks for sharing fellas!
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riveting! :archer:
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I love a story like this! Its like reading a good book where you don't want to put it down but know that you have to just so you can get a little sleep.
That's a nice big, hairy girl T!
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Been busy as a bee lately and finally got to read through all of this thread and enjoy to the fullest.
What can I say? A Great adventure only complimented by Great story telling - Terry and Curt, you boys pulled off a dandy in every respect! Fantastic!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :notworthy:
Dang, I got to get rigging up hog lites for me and John. :D
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Rob, you have no idea how "giddy" Terry was about finally blooding the "Best Friend" bow and knife!
It was easy to tell it meant an aweful lot to him to do so...Doug and I were very fortunate to be a small part of it :clapper:
Pig bomb ignition!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090565bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090566bacon.JPG)
That was the first time this one was hit, wait til you see what it looked like the next day!!! :eek:
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Here's a couple pix and a short story from earlier in the day...
We were all three together walking out toward the truck when I look ahead, about 100yds, and see something low to the ground and dark walk out onto the road....Armadillo!
I said out loud..."oh, it's on now!"
Now, sometimes 'dillas get a free pass. But I wanted to try out my VPA SGT on one, so I was already nocking an arrow and starting forward...
Terry said something to the effect...."what are gonna shoot?"
About that time I looked back at the "dilla" and said...well, I was gonna shoot...at...the.....what the heck is that?"
As I was looking down, nocking my arrow, the "dilla" turned in the road and started walking away from us. I hadn't seen it again till I'd just looked up....
Terry said...."it's a dang turtle!"...."And it's eating corn!!"
What the h@!!....
Well I wasn't about to shoot a turtle so we just started walking up to it....I'm tellin' ya, this thing as best we couild tell was working down the road and eating corn!!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090541bacon.JPG)
Until we got right up to it, it really looked to be eating up our corn. I mean look at the jacked-up back end and the low front end!!
When we got right next to it , it plopped itself down on the ground...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090542bacon.JPG)
I ended up just picking it up and walking it over to a wallow hole with water in it and letting it go.
Terry called it..."a flying saucer with legs" :biglaugh:
A very un-expected encounter! But one we'll never forget!!
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After the morning hunt, I knew I wanted to hunt The "Sunset stand" for my last evening hunt. It had been getting cleaned up every night.
So I asked Terry if he'd mind if I took stand out of the set-up he'd used it in the evening before and moved it 100yds. over to the Sunset?
He said..."yeah, that's fine man"
Although there was already a great set-up there, I felt I needed something a little more lefty friendly. Also, a bigger platform to hunt on in the dark is always a good thing.
I ended up putting it up in the same tree so as to use the climbing sticks already in place....but mounted the already, "mojo'd up", stand from evening before lower and swung more over the other side of the tree....much better for a southpaw like me...I knew where I'd be this afternoon.
Like Terry said, after the morning hunt, we knew we needed to get to town for more ice....
I enjoyed meeting Ray,2 of his hunters, and seeing his place. Love the old southern hunting cabins!
After a short visit we were off to town to get supplies and cell service!
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Yup y'all had a good weekend I'll admit. P.S. Thanks Mr.Don. :notworthy:
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OK....here's the group photo I have...and what just KILLS me is that both Curt and Doug don't look a day older than they did TEN years ago!!!
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/baconstriphoggroup1.JPG)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/baconstriphog4.JPG)
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Here's the pic of the Doug Cample knife that I received from Rob....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtknife1.JPG)
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The Xs mark the spots.....Lung and Heart
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtheartshot....JPG)
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Pullover looks better on you than me Terry! Lot of mojo in that shirt!
I'm diggin this hunt!
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Many thanks Mike...and I believe ya about the Mojo!!!
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After getting back from town, and just about finishing up getting T's hog on ice....we had a couple visitors....Michael and "H" Woods Langehans!
They would be joining us for an afternoon hunt and Michael had a special dinner planned for us...ye ha!
It's always great sharing a camp with Michael, I've done it a few times in Tx now...but this was the first time meeting Woods...the boy is a hoot!!!
I'm tellin' ya, he's just a joy to be around, he's funny, he loves to shoot his bows, and he's never short on words....he's a great kid!! I very much enjoyed my time with him, and wish it would have been longer!
I just wish I would have asked him what "H" stood for????
We were off to hunt....
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Woods would hunt...well..."Woods' Stand"...
Dad helping him get settled in...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090575bacon.JPG)
Sporting his 2 new "lids"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090576bacon.JPG)
I would settle into my new assault stand at "Sunset"...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090577bacon.JPG)
Doug would hunt the "Victory Stand", and Michael and Terry would head for the bottom and hunt "Racetrack" and "Coffin Corner".
Terry's "fuzzy tree" off to the left in the distance...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090579bacon.JPG)
As I settled in I was glad I'd brought my vest and a couple extra hats...it was cold! The wind was blowing real good and right in my face with nothing to block it!
I'd gotten in about 4:00, and about an hour later I noticed a little black pig tail sticking out of the high grass off the the left of the feeder.
Even with my bino's I couldn't tell it's size. I knew it wasn't big, but I couldn't tell how small it was. Then after watching for a minute I could tell it had laid down in the tall grass.
That got me thinking...maybe it's big enough for a good little BBQ hog, I have Chris' arrow in my quiver....hmmmmm....
A minute later I was closing in on the black spot in the grass with Chris' arrow nocked!
I got in to about 20ft and could see a tiny ear twitching. A closer look with my bino's and I could see it was 2 tiny 10 pounders laying together in the grass......I backed out.....
Over the next hour or so, the came and went several times. It was easy to see that one of them was sorta sickly. It walked with a humped back, always had it's ears pinned back, always stood with it's feet real close together, and every time it came to eatcorn or drink in the puddles, it would start making a gagging/coughing sound and would walk off....the other in tow...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090581bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090582bacon.JPG)
Note how it's standing....
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090583bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090584bacon.JPG)
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Guru...please don't tell me that you shoot and eat a sickly piglet...lol
I guess a pig is a pig.....lol
I am just yanking your chain....please don't "bust out" on me..lol
Thanks for the story and pictures.
God bless,Mudd
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Great hunt so far guys! Thanks :notworthy: :campfire:
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Mudd buddy, I wouldn't do that unless it was suffering....
About 5:45, I became aware of some loud crunching/ crashing sounds coming from the palmettos behind the feeder. It was hard to hear over everything rustling in the wind. But now it was getting closer and louder......Hogs, and it was daylight!!!!
The two little one's scattered as these newcomers came busting out of cover bee-lining it for the corn.
I never did count how many there were, but I know there were 2 very cool, brownish/gray hogs with white snouts...one was a long/skinny young boar of about 50#, and the other was it's identical twin but a sow built shorter and fatter.
There were an bunch of littler one's, and two bigger black hogs.
It was got very chaotic as soon as they showed up as it always is with hogs. I was trying to watch them all to see which one would offer a shot. I thought it would be really gool to shoot one of those cool colored hogs....but the biggest hog of the bunch, the big black one was definately ruling the roost here. At some point the two tiny hogs from earlier had come back and were feeding with all these now.
When one of them got too close to the big sow she violently swung and lifted her snout catching the little one mid-ship and sending it flying into the air!!!
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Funny thing about that fuzzy tree....I'll try and get a better pic of it....it towers above all way out in the bedroom. I've told myself before....I bet that would be hell trying to get to that tree.... its probably 400 yards from Sunset Stand.
Tell it Curt!!!
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The little pig had to have gone at least 4-5ft in the air and landed about 5 feet from where it was taken off it's feet by the bully sow!
It came down with on it's side with a thud and after s short struggle, righted itself....it was the sickly little black piglet from earlier....no wonder the poor little thing looked the way it did!
Just so happened that the bully sow was the biggest of the bunch and was now camped right below the feeder feasting on the corn in the water.
This feeder, because of the cage around it, drops most of the corn straight below, not spreading it like the others.....the bully sow had staked her claim to the best eating...anyone that came close got a warning or poke in the side!
The problem was, she was quartering toward me....
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I just love hearing these stories again..... :campfire:
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I have a feeling that ol' girls got a world of hurt heading her way quickly...
:campfire:
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Priceless memories, for sure! Congrats and thanks for taking us along with you. :thumbsup: :campfire:
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Originally posted by huskyarcher:
I have a feeling that ol' girls got a world of hurt heading her way quickly...
:campfire:
I was thinking the same thing. She's going to get a "warning poke" from Guru. :archer:
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Finally after a few minutes, and after I'd lost track of the others all my concentration was on her, the bully sow.
Little by little she was getting broadside. She wasn't moving from under the feeder, still camped out directely under it, but she was slowly turning as she fed...
I started to put tension on the string as she was slowly working to broadside and then in a quick move she was broadside!
I looked right at the crease on her shoulder, hit anchor, and released....
The 630gr. arrow ate up the 17yds in a flash, and from my recollection, she was already starting to take evasive action as the arrow struck!
The CE arrow never seemed to check-up as it dissappeared through her side... not perfect, but not bad....a little high, and a little back. I immediately though....."high lung shot"
All the hogs were quickly out of sight and crashing off in different directions. Then all of a sudden one came out of the palmettos running in a panicked,crashing sort of way and was quickly out of site again!
Seconds later, I could hear crashing/thrashing in the palmettos coming from the same spot for a few seconds.....then silence!
When everything was quiet, I looked down at the spot of the shot and didn't see my arrow. I thought..."well maybe it's in the water and I can't see it?"..."Maybe I'd hit another pig?" "Well maybe it was still in the pig I'd hit?"
Although I really didn't think that was the case how fast it dissappeared...hmmm...
I waited a minute then got down to check the spot of the shot. I got to the spot and couldn't see my arrow in the water, but it was all muddied up from the hogs.
What I did notice in the water was dissapating drops of blood!! Immediate blood...always a good sign!
I found a couple more drops in the sand that gave me a line of flight...then I got back up in my stand.
Wasn't long before these guys came back...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090591bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090592bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090593bacon.JPG)
They came and went a couple times, but kept me entertained till dark.
The call the stand "Sunset" for a reason...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090596bacon.JPG)
You can still see them in the water...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090597bacon.JPG)
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Before we split up, I'd told the guys that I was going to stay till at least 8:30. I knew Michael, Terry, and Woods would be going back sooner to get a special dinner ready.
So the plan was for Terry and Michael to just walk right on by me in the dark, and I would stay. That is unless I'd scored early.
About a half hour after dark I could hear walking on the road and saw the silouettes of Michael and Terry trucking right on by trying to act like I wasn't there. I flashed my light to them, they stopped and I told them I was coming with them.
They knew there was only one reason why I would quit early!!
Terry waitind for me, and Michael continued on to get Woods.
Terry and I found some blood where it entered the brush, marked it, I decided I wanted to wait and come back after dinner.
An hour later we were treated to a feast fit for a king! All prepared, and cooked by Michael and Woods....hang on...
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The feast was a local treat called "Frogmore Stew"...
Woods ready to catch rolling 'taters...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090498bacon.JPG)
Corn, chicken, sausage, onions, and last but not least...big ol shrimp!!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090499bacon.JPG)
Hot potatoe!!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090500bacon.JPG)
Without a doubt one of the finest meals I've ever eaten!!
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Michael could charge a fortune catering that stuff!!!!
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Once again, the missing arrow had me baffled...
After our feast and saying goodbye to Michael and Woods...we went back to look for a bit.
Terry and I talked about what I wanted to do.....
I decide that we'd go look, and if we didn't come up with anything after going in a little ways...we'd back out till morning...
The blood wasn't profuse by any means, but it was steady...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090605bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090606bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090607bacon.JPG)
We went in about 60yds, still no arrow, we still had blood, but it wasn't "lining up" with what I remeber seeing, but thing do look different in the dark....I decided to call it till morning.
We'd hunt and meet up at 8:00 after a short morning hunt to do some tracking.
Despite my mind whirling thinking about things...I slept pretty well....
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That looks like some mighty fine eating.
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What a great story guys. Thanks!! :clapper: :clapper:
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REALLY enjoyign this one guys!
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Great story!
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Up and out before daylight....Doug would hunt "Woods' stand", and Terry and I would poke around checking key areas and pig bombs.
The plan was to hunt for a while and then meet up to track my hog...
The first bomb we checked hadn't been hit again. But when we got to next one we couldn't believe what we saw...it had been blown up big time!!
This is what it looked like the day before...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090565bacon.JPG)
This is what it looked like after getting hit again at night!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090615bacon.JPG)
Next we checked "Rob's Stand", The area between the puddles was loaded with corn and Kool-Aid...not a trace left!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090609bacon.JPG)
You can see "Rob's Stand" in the backround...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090610bacon.JPG)
We headed back out to start tracking....
Doug hadn't gotten there yet, so Terry and I started to decipher things.
I went right to the start of the trail we followed in the dark and Terry about 10ft. away said I have blood over here!
Wait a second...that's not the way this trail goes. I kept saying, hang on now lets make sure about this...
Terry kept on saying he had blood going in a different direction! After thinking about it and talking about the possibility, both last night and this morning, there were two blood trails...I had in fact shot thru the first hog and hit a second hog!!!
Since we'd followed the one I was one last night for a ways, we quickly decided to follow the "new" bloodtrail that Terry was on...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090617bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090618bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090619bacon.JPG)
This one looked stronger and was headed right in the direction I'd heard all the crashing and thrashing the evening before. And also, toward the tall tree I'd marked in my mind as where it seemed to be coming from...
The blood was strong and we were plowing through the palmettos for about 65-70 yds when I pushed one aside and saw a black form off to my left!!
This was the hog I'd shot at and through!
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090620bacon.JPG)
I was relieved beyond words and gave Terry a big ol' bear hug....I was happy!!
We celebrated a little, then as Terry cleared the way, I dragged "The Bully Sow" out toward the road.
Long story short on the other bloodtrail....The hog never stopped or laid down, I found my arrow after about 300yds. The broadhead and most of the arrow, about 4-5inches of the nock end was missing. After about 400yds. it just quit. I think that one will be sore for a while, but just fine.
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:thumbsup:
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It's been fun following the story!
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The set-up at "Sunset"...you can see the lower, more lefty friendly stand I hunted out of...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090624bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090625bacon.JPG)
It was in fact a high lung shot...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090627bacon.JPG)
Entrance...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090628bacon.JPG)
Exit...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090630bacon.JPG)
Number "3" for us...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090631bacon.JPG)
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090634bacon.JPG)
Check out Terry's 'fro...
• (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/curt/P1090636bacon.JPG)
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Nice, Congrats Curt!
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:notworthy: :notworthy: :campfire:
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Way to go guys! Looks like it was a Great time! :thumbsup:
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Awesome story guys, with great pics as usual, thanks for sharing, J :thumbsup:
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Yeah....that salad bar ghillie hat Curt made me is a is a HOOT!!!!!..
Oh, and guess what...I found out EXACTLY what it was like getting to that fuzzy tree....we ended up about 30 yards away from it.....who would have thought my distant thoughts would actually happen!!!
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PS- Would love that Frogmore stew recipe, lol, J
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The thing about this that sounds so good -- maybe some of that's in the expert story telling -- but the hunting sounds real ... busy ... compared to deer and elk hunting. I'm already softening up the spousal unit for a trip next winter.
Again, great story, guys. Thanks.
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Wow! Congrats again Curt! And it is fitting... Timex! Takes a licking and keeps on stacking up critters! :thumbsup:
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Great tale fellers. Curt you are a deadly shot on game Bud.Good job .
Congrats on your kill as well T.RC
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Yep, good story tellin' !
Congrats on the pigs.
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Paddy....you have no idea....it's a busy blast!!!
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Congratulations on your second Curt! I want to hog hunt something fierce. Just too much fun reading it let alone doing it. Thanks for taking us along.
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Originally posted by Terry Green:
Michael could charge a fortune catering that stuff!!!!
I can say he would get it to!!!!
Got to be one of my favorite southern dish.
Awesome hunt guys and congrats on some fine hogs. I especially liked the pig bombs.
Lots of hogs get whacked at Sunset! :bigsmyl:
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Been crazy today as always....but I'd like to add that the 2nd recovery of Curt's hog was really something...That fake blood trail the 1st night, then me finding blood elsewhere going in the other direction.....leading to Curt's hog and the excitement that followed....making for THREE was really special.
Thanks for all the comments guys, we had fun and had more fun telling about it....thanks for coming along... :campfire:
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You guys did a great job retelling the hunt, kept me excited the whole way.
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Awesome story and hunt, guys! Awesome pigs too! Congrats to all yaw. :thumbsup:
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:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
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Thanks Mr. Terry for the hat thanks Mr.Curt for the beanie. :thumbsup: :clapper: :goldtooth:
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You are certainly welcome SIR!!!
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Congratulations guys! Great story telling!
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Your very welcome buddy, looking forward to many more campfires with ya :campfire:
Thanx everyone for the congrats and kind words...it's been a lot of fun reliving it as I type...unforgettable weekend shared with special friends!!
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Oh,and Guru the H stands for Hunter. :archer:
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Hunter Woods....coolest name ever!
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Very nice hunt looks like loads of fun "Natural Born Killers".Frogmore Stew looks just like our Crawfish and or Shrimp boils in South Louisiana nothing better.I will be at Rays pretty soon for hogs and turkey.Kip
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Very much enjoyed this story, pics etc. Lots of fun! :thumbsup:
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Man I wished I wouldn't read these kind of stories...all amped up! Congrats to you all!!!
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Nicely done on the hunt and the pictures/story tellin gentleman. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Perhaps we need to take a poll pitting the 'salad hat' and Terry Green versus the sideways Kromer style hat and Barry Wensel for the most traditional style? You know, kinda like the pundits do with the outfits on the red carpet at the awards shows. ;) :D
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Congrats guys on a great hunt, Great pics and story. Thanks for the read Guys.
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Perfect hunt boys, Congrats!
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Low country boil us what we call that dish. I've cooked it for as many as 80 people at a time. Michael's version looks great!
Great hunt and story guys!
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All in all, best thread of 2012!!
:notworthy:
:campfire:
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Special friends, special times, special memories. Thanks for taking me along.
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Originally posted by jbat73:
PS- Would love that Frogmore stew recipe, lol, J
I found this....I know Michael adds chicken to his...
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/frogmore-stew/
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Some GREAT story telling...
A story like this could NEVER be made up...only real life could be this good!
The true meaning of hunting comes ringing clear with every post from those telling the story as well as those READING it!
Something sort of "lost" in all this drama is the EXCELLENT shooting. Between the low light conditions and a multitude of shifting and shuffling targets I bet it is a test for anybody!
Great jobs guys...THANKS a ton for taking the time to post all of this up...time is precious, and there is never enough of it!
:notworthy: :notworthy:
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Thanks for sharing the great hunt.And that frogmore stew is the bomb.Congrats to all.
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Cool stuff guys. I'm getting amped for my trip!
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Just finished reading this, awesome story and pics! That does it, I'm hunting hogs for sure!
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What a *fabulous* archery huntin' journey!
:help:
Keep the wind in your face!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
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Frogmore Stew, Lowcountry Boil, and Beaufort Stew are the names that I know of for that dish. Michael must think highly of you guys. :thumbsup:
Really really enjoyed that read.
Congrats and good show to all involved.
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Great story guys!
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Just finished catching up on this.
Congrats to all who had a part in this hunt.
Best friends make the best hunts :clapper: :clapper:
Great story telling by everyone.
So T. The story of 3's ......By member #3
I think that number is pretty lucky also.
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Thanks guys, that was fun. Gary
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Thank you for the story...
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sounds like a hoot!!
God Bless,
Nathan
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Congrats guys! Sounds like yall had a blast.
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Thanks again Guys n Gals....I have a few more pics I'd like to add of some of the beautiful scenery ....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtview1.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtview2.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtview3.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtview4.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/sccurtview5.jpg)
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Oh...and I forgot to mention...I left out Barry Clodfelter...
Barry had given me a knife he made at the Cohutta St Judes hunt, and although I gutted my hog with the knife Rob gave me....I skinned and quartered it with the knife Barry gave me.
I already called an apologized to Barry that I left this out of the story....I'll be back with a pic...
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Terry where could a fella get one of those ceasar hats?
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Wow. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
I love looking at those southern cypress pictures as well as the hero hog pics.
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I'll never know how this thread got by me for so long, but it did. Now I've read the whole thing and feel even sillier.
What a great hunt guys... and great telling as well.
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Originally posted by kykiller:
Terry where could a fella get one of those ceasar hats?
Sorry I missed that...Curt Cabrera made it for me.
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I've got some short video clips that I finally got uploaded. Some are of the 2 tiny pigs that were around before the shot(the pair with the one sickly piglet) and some videos of the 5 little rascals that came back a few times after my shot.
I'll get them up later tonight....
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Short clip of the two tiny piglets that came in several times...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHVrFBlmosU
In this one, it's easy to see that the one little pig at the water is "sickly"...not sure what was wrong with it. But like I said earlier in the thread it walks with a humped back, always made choking sounds when it fed or cranck a while...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgydf9GhZWk
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Here's the 5 little rascals that kept coming back after I shot. Note the white faces on 3 of them. There were also 2 bigger hogs in the group that had white face marking like these smaller hogs. But the were grayish-brown colored...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXEBEfosMbQ
This was about the 4th time they came back...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qOIP_Z0o6Y
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I was hoping when I took these video's that I'd be able to capture the sounds these guys were making as they blew bubbles going down in the water for the corn, and the constant crunching...pretty cool!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sViCR0LdS8
Awesome way to end the day...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY15Igf-QOc
Watching these makes me miss "the place", and "the people" even more!
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Nice video's Curt
Sure looks like fun
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Great story tellin!!! :clapper:
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Really enjoyed this one guys! Love the videos at the end Curt!
One day...one day.
Travis
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Awesome as always, congrats all! :clapper:
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Great story. I hunted there in Oct. and it brings back memories.
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Thanks for sharing guys! :clapper:
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Man guys that sounds like an awesome weekend. Or maybe a week packed into three days.
Have to say I love that pullover wool Terry had on. Looks a little tie-die'ish and goes well with the reggae-mon head piece. Classic.
Thanks for some great reading entertainment. Dont know how I missed this one...
:thumbsup:
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GREAT PICS and stories guys. I recognized a few of those spots :)
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Great story and pics!
Thanks for sharing :)
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That looks like alot of fun! Thanks for sharing.
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Great story and even greater memories, priceless!
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:) :) :)
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Thanks again guys.....I can't wait to get back over there after turkey season!!!
:readit: :readit: :readit:
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Great friends, great place, great story tellin and great pics guys, this stuff is what memories are made of. Just don't get no better, thanks for sharing!!
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Thank you buddy, one of these days it would be great to be there at the same time to share camp!
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Originally posted by Guru:
Thank you buddy, one of these days it would be great to be there at the same time to share camp!
THAT can be arranged!!! :D
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Yeah buddy! :campfire:
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Missed this one. Good to see the hawg slayers in action. Great stories and pictures guys. Looks like alot of fun was had.
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Looks like a super hunt!!!! :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
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I thought I'd bring this one TTT for Cade to read in preparation :campfire:
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Somehow I missed this last year! Sounds like an awesome time was had by all!
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Thanks for bringing this back up Curt. What a great memory!
Good luck Cade :wavey: :archer:
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Just found this thread, don't know how I missed it.Fantastic hunt and story telling. I have to add that the #3 biblically,stands for completeness.As in : three wise men, three days and nights in the tomb, ect,ect,ect. Your hunt was obviously very blessed. Many congratulation and thank you for sharing a most spiritual hunt. :thumbsup: