Well the boys and I just rolled back into Canada at 12:30 am Friday March 30th from our Boar hunt in Tennessee . After months of research on the internet and several, several phone calls by Harl (Tom) from Quebec down to Texas we choose Wilderness Hunting Lodge in Monterey Tennesee. We liked the owner Alan Wilson's attitude, laid back manner and size of and terrain that his lodge resided on, Alan told us that his hogs averaged 200 lbs because they don't shoot them all out every season. Little did we know how accurate this Southern gentleman's word was, we all saw big, big hogs. I can't say enough how well we were treated and the hunt was above what we expected. I'll admit that we were all a little intrepid as none of us ever hunted in a "high fence" before, Wilderness changed that mindset for us. Tough , tough , tough, 1200 acres of mountain, rocks, cliffs, creeks and bush. We had a great time with incredible lodging, food, company and big scary boars. The best part was our guide. I got several e-mails from Alan's Brother-in-law, a Trad bowhunter, that wanted to capture us on film hunting, Ok I say,, I didn't realize until around lunch that our volunteer guide was non other then Jim Bowman (Camocowboy), film maker and Country music singer (Bowhunter Do or Die), you know that CD that you play so much your wife hates it!! None of us were ready for the mountains with the aggressive boars, steep terrain, cliffs, rocks and challenging up and down hunting. Phil and I watched a wounded boar charge a hunter that had to smack it with a stick to prevent him from getting gored. I use to think that a grouse busting out under foot was startling until I had a boar do that to me at 5 feet in the rocks, Thanks god he ran AWAY !!By the end of the first day we were dead on our feet. Tom (Harl) started the action by stalking up a mountain creek bed on a monster picture perfect 225 lbs+ Russian and drilling him in the lungs with his Snuffer at 10 yards as he was rolling in a "Waller". That didn't make him too happy as he made lots of tusk popping noises while trying to find the cause of his extreme discomfort. Tom sent another one into his spine which ended the tense few moments. Theo later on made a great 30 yard shot on a beautiful feral hog after a chase down the mountain that went on for hours. The boar went down due to a great shot from his Widow PMAX 51 lbs with a 635g Carbon Express Heritage tipped with an Eclipse broadhead (Theo designed and manufactured the original Canadian Journeyman and worked with the Eclipse boys on their tooling) the beautiful boar went down within 70 - 80 yards. Phil took his first big game animal on a beautiful Russian with a gorgeous black/blue mane. Phil made a great spot and stalk in the mid day 86 degree heat on two boars bedded down in the rocky bluffs, taking the biggest one with a fatal shot from his 51 lbs Chek Mate. The next day I made a successful stalk and ambush on a 250 lbs boar with big tusks. I made a 17 yard shoot through the lungs and top of the heart from my 52 lbs @ 26 Widow PSAX and a Carbon Express Heritage 250 with an Eclipse broadhead (total weight 600g's). The arrow penetrated both sides and the boar. He ran up the mountain and expired within 70 yards. The best part was that Theo and Phil witnessed the whole hunt from a ridge top and Phil was able to film it. Tom was behind me about 20 yards and also saw the boar fall. We all had a great time ,, Frank
The Lodge:
Tom started the Action with this Prehistoric monster, He used a Morrison Dakota with Shawnee limbs 69 @ 29, Carbon Express 350 with a snuffer 160:
Theo's great shot, ( Theo designed and built the Canadian Journeyman broadheads). The Widow and Eclipse scores again!!, Theo used his Widow PMAX Cocobolo 51 @ 28 and a Carbon Express 250 with , what else, a 145g Eclipse:
Phil's First Big Game, New to Trad and bowhunting Phil made a great shot with his Chekmate Hunter 2, 52 @ 28 with a Gold Tip trad and a Magnus broadhead:
My Boar, I used my Widow PSAX Bocote, 52 @ 26 with a Carbon Express 250 and a 145g Eclipse. One arrow at 17 yards and the boar went down in 20 seconds:
Jim Bowman and results from his guiding expertise:
Cumberland Mouintains hunting terrain:
Nice Teeth: