Before this thread disappears I had better finish up my part. At least this way I can print off this thread and put it in my hunting journal.
Sunday afternoon was all that I had hoped for when I planed a mid-winter escape to South Texas. The warmth of the sun baking down on my arms and face made me forget that it was only mid February. We all made plans based off the information Eric supplied us about the movement of the pigs. Curtis and Charlie took charge at the site I was destined to sit. They analyzed available cover and gave me a lot of help in choosing a spot to sit for the evening. Curtis made good use of his leather gloves as he brushed in my spot to make it more camouflaged. Everyone gave their input about the prevailing winds and the potential movement patterns of the pigs. Eric said confidently that he thought the pigs would come in from the south. His statements would prove to be prophetic later in the evening.
After perfecting everyone’s potential ambush spots for the evening hunt, we all headed out to stalk some of the local bunnies. Curtis had been keeping a close eye out for any potential arrowheads to be found in the area. His travels would produce several good looking pieces of flint as well as potential piece of riser material in the form of petrified wood
As I slowly made my way through the brush I admired the large stands of yucca and cactus that grew on this rocky glade. The stark change in topography and vegetation was something that caught my eye regardless of where I went. Eventually, I was able to stop gawking at the landscape enough to actually concentrate on the bunnies. No sooner had that thought consciously crossed my mind than I notice a large bunny crouching in the shadows of the brush. I tried to improve my position in order to get a clear shot but in doing so he decided to move further into the brush. Finally I gained the angle I needed to cleanly shoot and I unconsciously drew and released an arrow that found its mark. After an uncomfortable recovery in the middle of a cactus grove I had had my prize.
Around 4pm I headed for my cactus blind for my final assault upon the pigs. I decided to wear my homemade pseudo-ghille suit in order to further camouflage my appearance. I felt secure in my concealment and confident in my position. After watching the birds scramble for cover into the overlying tree’s I knew the hogs wouldn’t be far off. Finally around 5:45, I saw the first dark shadowy shape moving in the background. A large black sow came into the feeder first. Only seconds after the first pig reached the feeder did a swarm of pigs emerged from the brush. Soon I had over twenty hogs around the feeder. I would estimate that ninety percent were immature hogs with only two or three being of substantial size. Unfortunately for me the two larger pigs I identified stayed on the far side of the feeder. With the mass of moving pigs I was unable to find a shot angle that was without obstruction at the 25-yard distance. I attempted to draw several times only to see my shot window close before I could reach my anchor point.
After thirty seconds of this my subconscious started to scream at me to take one of the smaller hogs that were feeding only 12 yards from my ambush spot. I also began to notice that the small amount of corn offered up by the feeder was quickly evaporation under into the mouths of the hogs. The previous days hunt had taught me that these hogs could escape at any moment so I was afraid to wait any longer. It seemed pretty foolish to hold out for the biggest hog when I had a sure thing standing in front of me. So I picked out the biggest pig I could find in the group of immature hogs standing on my side of the feeder. My sunbear recurve came to full draw as I focused on a pig that was quartering away directly in front of my cactus blind. I released unconsciously only to see my arrow hit slightly further back than I had hoped. The maddening chaos of hogs sprinting in every direction made it hard to pinpoint the exact route my pig took.
My initially reaction was that it might have been too far back even for a shot quartering away. The mental flashbulb that appear to me as I thought back on the shot told me the arrow went up to the fletching. I was praying that it wasn’t too far back as I strained in the sudden silence left after the pig’s departure. I noted several deep grunts from hogs in different locations than where I thought mine had gone. I could still hear some occasional movement in the brush. I was concentrating on an area to my right were I had heard a significant amount of breaking limbs and disturbance. About that time I heard the deep guttural breathing of a lung shot animal. The doubts I had about my shot placement were relieved when I heard these sounds in the same area where I believed my pig had gone.
For the next thirty minutes I tried to restrain myself from getting up out of the blind to track my hog. I was glad for darkness to descend so that I could no longer think about the unwise option of attempting to track an unfamiliar animal in unfamiliar territory. Eric and Charlie were first to arrive and congratulate me on my encounter. However, without the pig in hand I was not ready to dismiss my initial doubts about the shot placement. Eric, Curtis, and Eric’s cousin took up the blood trail or should I say the lack of a blood trail. I decided to stay out of the way in order to expedite the recovery. It was a nerve racking five minutes until I heard a shout from the brush indicating they had found my pig.
Not only was I thrilled at the fact I had managed to harvest an animal, but this was the first time I had gone outside of my home range and actually been successful. As it is for us all, it was great when all the pieces come together in a successful conclusion. This harvest was even more fulfilling because everyone had a hand in making it a success. Eric had correctly predicted the movement of the hogs, Curtis had picked out the ambush location, and Charlie had talked me into this trip in the first place. I know Curtis and Charlie had done everything in their power to help me get a hog and it felt great to help them be successful too.
Even though my pig isn’t trophy size, he couldn’t have been better in my opinion. Not only will he prove to be some great eating, but also he helps to justify many more trips to Texas in order to harvest one of those bruisers that eluded me on this trip. I’m already making plans to bring my brother along for the next hunt. I hope I can help to make his introduction to hog hunting as fun as mine.
Christopher
Topic: Texas Radio and the Big Beast 2 (Read 15904 times)
