We get a one week break from school at this time of year, and as the weather is warming up nicely (actually, oppressively), it is a perfect time to drive out to a cattle station before dawn to try our luck with the feral swine.
Earlier this week, we lucked-out with the bows, but I managed to catch this little sucker. I put it in my mate's backpack while he wasn't looking, and he got a nice surprise when he eventually opened it. Anyway, my wife enjoyed baby-sitting the little blighter while we found a home for it. A family from my school took it in to join their collection of ducks, geese, dogs, cats, rabbits, and horses. It'll enjoy playing soccer with the kids, and will end up filling the freezer.
Well, this morning everything went marvellously! Simone (my wife) and I went out to the station and checked the first swamp without finding any pigs. But as we were walking around the second swamp, we heard those wonderful noises that happy feral pigs make. I set off through the swamp toward the noise, with Simone following a safe distance back. Eventually I caught up with about four pigs hopelessly caught up with piggy-wiggy romance and its associated violence. At five metres range, I drew back on the nearest and let fly. They scattered, and I found good blood. Nearby lay the dying boar, around 65kg worth. From where this boar lay, I could see other pigs out rooting-up on an open area. I waded through the mud and water, and snuck over. Soon a little sow wandered too close, and I zipped an arrow through her, and they took-off. I was worried about the hit, because it looked like a liver shot, and I've had a tough time before in this situation. So I left it while I went to find Simone, and we photographed the boar. Then we took up the trail, and the wife proved highly proficient, finding a lost blood trail a few times. We were searching earnestly at one point, when I looked ahead and spied the pig laying down, but requiring a follow-up, which was administered.
On this hunt, I was using Wensel Woodsman broadheads for the first time since having a bad experience with them a few years ago. Giving them a second chance, they certainly did the trick. I think they may have even given me an advantage when it came to that liver-shot sow, by making it difficult for the fat to seal the wound.
Another really cool thing is that for the first time ever I was hunting with a back quiver, which Mike made for me. I picked it up at the post office yesterday. It is such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. Thank you so much, Mike!
The bow was my faithful Black Widow PLX "Bocote", 78lb@29", and the arrows were Carbon Express Heritage 350s weighing 704 grains.
On the way out, we took some photos of the cattle and scenery, as well as one of my Missus perched on the gate.
I hope you enjoyed this little bit of my Australia!
Cheers, and all the best on the whitetail!
Ben
Topic: An NT pig hunt..... (Read 639 times)
