Footprints in the sand

[slow walker]

Curtis, Did you get a photo of the snake???

[Dirteater]

Dang!  Now I'm pumped!

By the way, what is the difference between a rental car and an Army tank?????........Answer:  There are just some places ya CAN'T take an Army tank.  

[herb haines]

never tasted frogs YET !! JC can i come with you might be able to hit one that big !!!--- herb

[Littlefeather]

Dirteater, I thought the answer was: Hang time! LOL!

[Marvin M.]

OK,  Here's my side of that story.  This is where the fun begins.

We sneak in and see that hog at the other end of the pond.  We ease around and Curtis leaves me waiting while he tries to find a route to the pig.  I wait and watch him crawl across a low spot to try to get a better view.  The pig leaves and CK comes back a little discouraged, but hey, I've been here about an hour and already I've seen a pig!!!!  I'm pumped.  :cool:  

We go on down to the pond and find the frogs in the brush.  Curtis is giving them heck, and seems to have things in control, so I go on down the pond edge on my own to see if I can find one to harass.  I've got a blunt on the string and trying to spot frogs on the bank when I hear something up ahead.  When I look up, there is a black pig coming down the bank headed for a drink!!!      I'm thinkig, "this must be the stupidest pig in Texas coming down here right now".      Curtis is behind me whacking frogs and this pig just walks out of the trees on it's way to the pond!!!!

I drop to my knees and get as small as I can, while trying to wave behind me to get Curtis' attention to get him to stop whacking frogs.  Things get quiet behind me, then I realize I've got a blunt on the string.      I pull it off and lay it on the ground and ease my number 1 broadhead on the string.      This is an arrow that I brought that belongs to a friend who wants hog blood on it.  I'm ready now, trying to be as small as possible kneeling on a bare open pond bank while the pig non-chalantly strolls down to the water and wades in.  She is quartering toward me and I don't have a good angle.  She is definitely in my range and unaware that I am there.  I wait.  She wades closer to me.  Still no shot!!!  Then, she walks out of the water and is angleing up the bank and coming closer to me.    :D  As she gets up close to the vegetation she finally seems the think something isn't right here and turns around to go back the other way.  She is still not sure, but starts back the other way.  As she turns, I realize that this is as good as it's going to get and draw and release with the intent of ending her indecision about the situation.  My arrow comes off the string and hits her high up in the neck instead of where I wanted it and she exits the area.    :mad:  I can see the arrow sticking out both sides and as she is leaving the area at mach 1, I can hear it smacking on trees and brush.

A bad shot.  I'm pretty bummed out, and as Curtis and I start looking, there isn't even any blood on the ground.  She will be fine, and I've had my first taste of South Texas Hog Hunting and had a shot at the second Wild Hog I've ever seen.

Curtis is pretty gracious about the whole situation and I'm embarrassed and concerned about the pig, but there's nothing we can do about it.  She'll be sore for a while, but I have no doubt she will survive without much problem.

We went back to camp and started getting ready for the evening hunt.

Curtis asks me where I want to hunt after the tour and I bow to his wisdom.  I'm too new at this to feel confident and let him tell me where to hunt.  He picks as stand for me that we had looked at earlier.  I load up on bottled water and we head out for bigger things.  I get to my stand about 5:30 and get settled in.

Got to go get batteries so I can unload pics.  I'll try to continue later this afternoon.

[Littlefeather]

The moments after Marvins shot left me quivering and shaking like a Schoolgirl at a Horror movie. I can't for the life of me figure out why I am the one with Buck Fever. As happens occasionally to us bowhunters, Marvin had gotten snatched up in the moment and in the height of Buck Fever, released only to miss his mark. Heck, I couldn't help but be understanding in the moment of his dispair. Id stood in his shoes more times than I care to remember and I surely wasn't going to chastize him.

After assertaining the situation and deeming it unnecessary to spend any more time looking for the pig, we head out to capture some new, more vivid memories. I drove to a spot that I felt was the best location Id seen to take a pig. The location was at the entersection of two roads and had a large Hackberry tree and a cattle trough in very close proximity. This area held an incredible amount of hog sign. I slapped Marvin on the back and told him he should easily redeam hiself on this evenings hunt.

I asked Marvin if he'd like to start hunting at this early hour or make a quick trip back to camp with me. His decision was to stay. Heck, he'd come for a short two day trip and he was determined to make the best of it.

I made a quick stop on my way back by later to check on him. He was fine and was having a grand time. I continued on to my hidy-hole along the lake we'd been at earlier in the day.

Little did I know the events that would transpire this afternoon would change many of my future hunting decisions. Id hunted over water holes before but never in my wildest dreams could I imagine the incredible numbers of game I'd see today.

From the moment I had arrived there were deer at ther waters edge. They seem to manifest themselves from nothing more than the thick, heavy air here. I watched with excitment as I tried to find a comfortable place to nessel in for the evening.

       

       

Just as I was groping for another disk to insert into the camera, Natures Clowns from the Circus showed up at the water hole. These Clowns showed up in the form of two small pigs the size of house cats and were followed quite closely by a hungry coyote. At the same time I turn to catch the act, the small pigs escape the grip of death by diving directly into the safety of the pond. I narrow miss indeed!

I watched with unbroken concentration to see what Nature would offer up in this chapter of life and death. As the coyote ran up and down the shoreline looking for the best avenue of attack, the pigs swam nonchanantly in circles. After a couple of minutes the coyote continued on to hunt elsewhere and the pigs left muddy but otherwise unphased. It was one of those encounters that we all know happens but rarely are we chosen to be able to watch  in this saga of life.

       

I continued to watch well into the evening as an array of animals entered the confines of the water hole, quenched their thirst and continued on in their daily routines.

It was quickly turning prime-time for hunting as I could see the shadows growing long and melding into one. I know deep down that things were just about to happen! CK

[the Ferret]

Ahhh had the appetizer, now waiting on the main meal!

[Philip Morris]

Left this thread alone knnowing full well how long it would take.  Finally succumb to looking thinking 4 pages would finish it.  Now here I sit wanting more. yet again, good story lets feed the hungry souls.

Phil

[Guru]

Oh my...this one's really shaping up nicely....

[Dirteater]

Come on fellas....one more story before bedtime....pleeeeeaaaaase.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Oh but the song dogs gotta eat too.  Pooooooooor thangs.        Been there, done that.

[Littlefeather]

My appoligizies again guys. The phonelines went down around 4:00pm yesterday and just came up. No phoneline/no pooter.......


No sooner than the thought crossed my mind about it being prime time for hunting, two black boar hogs appear and dash for the water. This is what I've been waiting for!

   

I ready my bow and do a once-over of my cock-feather position on my arrow. Im ready to let fly this beautiful Ash arrow. It's leading edge is a fine Timo chert head I was given at Texas Sweat. Im planning on burying it deep today and Im but minutes away from the possibility of doing so.

As I wait for my opportunity, one of the boars obviously has his fill of water and starts the retreat back in the direction he had come. A minute later my window of opportunity closes as the second hog follows the lead of the first. Ahhh, Im not upset. I got them on film and sometime that is as good as getting them on an arrow. At least I can share their passing with others that enjoy the viewing.

No sooner than I laid my bow to the side, adjusted my sitting position on the ground, and picked up my camera, another group of pigs emerges from the trail 30 yards to my right. Yes!!! Maybe I'll have some redemption.

   

I sit patiently watching the jostling of the pigs for a position at the waters edge. Im sure its a pig thing that I as a human may never understand but pigs seem to always think that one of their tribsman has always got the better spot. Seems that there is always a struggle between themselves to find that perfect location to eat, sleep, and obviously drink. This evening would play out in the same fashion and I found myself sitting and enjoying the show till the light of day just could no longer support my vision.

It was dark now and I reminessed of the days events as I always do this time of day. On my walk to the truck I found myself thinking aloud in the words of the old Credence Clearwater song "Put a candle in the window"....... A perfect thought as I walked through the darkness. What a day! CK

[hunt it]

Dang Curtis!

Sure brings back great memories of the sweat hunt. I is gonna hafta get down there next summer for sure, kill some sharks and hogs. Help Texas with its over abundance of wildlife problem. Great story!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yessir, and I can't wait till the sun comes up again...

How's Marvin doin?

[Marvin M.]

Curtis dropped me off at my stand and headed back to camp to get something that he had forgotten.  He was going to drop me off some wate on his way back by.  As I am easing into my stand there is movement off to one side.  A bunny hops out of the brush and stops.  

I nock an Ace Hex blunt and try for some redemption from the hog shot.  I hit him on the side of the head from six yards away!  It took another shot to finish him off, but I had just hit a rabbit head sized target from six yards twice in a row, but an hour earlier I couldn't hit a hog in the right place from less than ten yards!!!!  I'm not sure I felt better, but at least I know that I can hit what I want to...........sometimes.

I got my blind set up and Curtis came back by to drop me off some water and I was ready for the evening.  I settled into my blind which was on the downwind side of a feeder and waited for things to develop.

If you have never been to a place like this, you can't imagine the activity that goes on.  There was a constant parade of birds and animals in this place.

I told Curtis later that I never knew you could stand hunt for rabbits!!!!  You can in South Texas.  I don't know how many rabbits came by, but I let them walk, or in this case hop, in hopes of bigger game.

I had Bob White Quail and Blue Quail, Cardinals, Doves of different species (I think Curtis said there are four different species), and Green Jays.  I was able to observe a Green Jay underneath the feeder, pecking at the carousel to get more grain to fall from the feeder.  It was pretty cool.

I've got some pictures if I can get them out of my camera.  Bought a new camera and apparently there is a conflict with XP, networking, and cameras.  Where's Meathook when you need him?

Anyway, I sat there in the sweltering heat watching the creatures going about their business until dark was approaching.  But that wasn't all that was approaching.

I can hear them coming from a long way off and apparently there is an argument taking place.  Perhaps as Curtis pointed out in his earlier post, they were already discussing who would get the best spot under the feeder.  When they finally broke into the clear, it was a fairly large mixed group of pigs.  I never did get a good count, but there were different sizes in this group.  At least eight to ten small pigs ranging from brown to grey in color and maybe twenty pounds.  All the adults were black and there were at least two good boars in the group.  I wanted a boar, because I wasn't sure if the little ones were weaned yet, so I was concentrating on them.

I'm not sure if there was lingering scent in the area, or if this is just the way pigs are, but they were very cautious.  They all came in together and then ran back into the brush about ten yards almost as soon as they arrived.  Then they came back in and stayed a little longer.  They were milling around and never stopped for very long in one place.  Then they were gone again.  A couple of minutes later, they were back and the same scenario took place again.  Anytime one would stop, another one would come up and stand in front of him so that there was no way to get a shot through.  

I began to realize that I was going to have to be ready for the shot whenever the opportunity was presented, and could not hesitate.  I was already standing and I started to ease my bow forward to get into a better position.  It wouldn't come!!!  I glanced back and there was a branch that wa between the string and lower limb.  I grasped the branch and eased the bow backwards to clear it and the hogs busted out of there!!!  I don't know if they saw movement, got a whiff of scent, or what, but they left in a hurry and it was different this time.  I could tell.  I tried hitting my hog grunter to see if the would come back, but they had had enough.  Nothing doing!!!

I sat back down and thought about the days events as the light continued to fade.  Here I was on my first day of pig hunting and I had missed a shot and had a group of hogs near my stand and was able to observe pig behavior first hand.  It couldn't be any better!!!

When it got too dark to see, I grabbed my gear and walked out to the road to wait for Curtis.  What a great start!!!

[Littlefeather]

After a short 10 minute ride back to camp, a pork rib dinner and a run-down of the events from the evening hunt, we hit the hay. I can't begin to tell you how tired the hot Texas Sun makes a hunter.

The alarm went off way too early as generally happens on my hunts. I arose to a hot cup of Joe and roused Marvin. He didn't appear to be having the difficulty in rising as I did. After our morning preperation was complete we discussed the locations we'd be wanting to hunt this morning. I suggested that Marvin hunt the same location as he had the evening before. Heck, he'd seen more pigs than I had and I couldn't see any reason to change locations. I too chose to return to my hunting spot along the water hole.

After another breif trip across the ranch we were nesseled into our morning spots. I couldn't help but wonder what Marvin was seeing in his area as I watched a early morning coyote trot past in route to the waters edge. He was jumpy so I decided to pass on the shot opportunity. I certainly didn't want to mess up Timos flint head with a miss.

Shortly after the coyotes passing, a small buck appears. He wets his wistle and starts his exit into the mornings routine. His escape route, if he continued, would place him in front of me at less than five yards. Would he smell me? Surely he'd spot me before he reached the life threatening position in my shooting lane. Well, maybe I thought him smarter as he actually was. He placed him soul unknowingly at death doorstep. He musta known I wouldn't shoot.


 

He could never know how close his ghost was from departing. I flash burned a memory in his head that he should not soon forget, as you can see the glow in his eyes from the cameras flash.

It was several more minutes before I would again see movment at the entrance to the pond. I was positioned at a slight rise above the trail leading to the pond. I caught movement to my right and immediately knew I was about to send the flint tipped arrow on the mission for which it was designed. An unsuspecting coyote enters my shooting lane at five yards. He is as unsuspecting as the day he was born. At the same instant as I hit anchor, the coyots turns his head. He turns to greet the oncomming arrow with the quickest maneuver that I have ever witnessed. I might as well have been trying to shoot at a lightening bolt. The arrow ruffles the hair on the songdawgs back just before finding soft sand on the opposite bank. I am in awe at the speed of the dog as I watch his hasty exit.

About a half hour later I begin to wonder if the mornings window of opportunity is closing. I hadn't seen game in quite some time and think about going for a walk.

Squeeeeel!!!!! Directly behind me I hear the hogs comming. Yes!!!! Maybe I'll get one yet. To no avail, two different groups of pigs pass my location but never enter an area suitable for a shot. The mornings hunt has come to a close. I'll head back to pick up Marvin and hopefully help him hoist a hog onto the meat pole. CK

[**DONOTDELETE**]

cool pic CK.

[Madpigslayer]

yup. very cool pic.

[Marvin M.]

I got into the stand and set up quickly.  First thing I noticed was there was zero wind.  Last night it was fairly steady and at a pretty good clip.

I spent the morning watching a constant stream of bunnys, quail, and other birds.  No pigs of Javalinas came in even though this was thought to be a good area for Javi's.

I finally got some of my pics downloaded from my camera and will start posting them as soon as I get them sized.

[Marvin M.]

OK, here we go.

Curtis mentioned earlier about the large snake he danced with.  Here he is with the skin.

 

When CK left me to try to find a route to the first pig we saw, I snapped this shot as he was leaving without his knowledge.  You can tell that it is thick here.

 

Here is CK with some of the frogs that he stuck.

 

When I took the shot at the hog, I was down on the bare bank of that pond.  No Cover anywhere.  All I had was a little shade and the distraction of the hog in my favor.  Here is where I was.

 

And finally, here are some of the visitors to my stand.

We've got Rabbits,

 

Blue Quail,

 

and Green Jays.

 

And finally, hunting in this heat is hard work.  Here I am taking a break with a bottle of water.