We were on hogs all weekend, I should have shot one Saturday when I had two at 15 yds broadside. But NOOOOOO, dummy Dan thinks he can get a little closer. Wind shifted, end of story.
That night, had my back to a sage field looking into the woods for emerging hogs, and MR BIG steps out behind me in the field. I had no cover, all I could do is freeze. He was watching me with every step toward me and was getting more nervous with every step. He never got within my comfort zone. I could have crawled under his belly without touching him and his gentiles looked as big as basketballs.
Next day, last day, last minutes of hunt I snuck up on a sow bedded in some palmettos. I only saw a patch of hair with part of a tail. So I could see which way she was bedded. I was only 15 feet away. I picked the spot where her vitals were, and put an arrow right there. THUNK.
She got up and ran, then I found out she was twice as long as I thought she was! Arrow was a wee far back, maybe in liver but not sure. Anyway, not good.
I went and got Ray and Kasey, we tracked her. They were up ahead of me fanned out and I was looking for blood. Then I see all sorts of commotion ahead from Ray and Kasey. I started running and about the time I got there, the hog was growling like a grizzly and charging Ray. He must have slipped but she hit him in the face with her flat nose and bowled him over backwards. Kasey threw a log at her and turned her around (good man, Kasey), and Ray got to put her to rest after that.
So even though I shamelessly claim the hog, it was a team effort.
She weighed 165 lbs, with perty good tusks for a sow, and I am getting a European skull mount.
I wouldn't have traded this weekend for ANYTHING, it was a major chapter in my book of FUN.
Dan
PS-Ray is fine, you can't hurt anything that ugly or mean.
THANKS, RAY, MIKE, AND KASEY!!! I had a heck of a time with ya'll.