The first morning we walked for about an hour or so with no action,but I was bursting with anticipation.
...Then we got to "Our Road," a spot that would prove to be a very active crossing for us.
As Terry and I eased along the dew dampened woods road we listened intently for grunts or squeals. Suddenly we heard hogs moving and froze on the edge of the road.
Slowly we tried to blend into the meager cover that we had. I backed into a small pine and waited.
I looked left and saw a 60 pound black hog coming down the road right toward us. I swallowed the lump in my throat and prepared for the shot, but it never came. A big old black sow got to us before the smaller one and gave us the staredown, sniffing the air, trying to get our wind. She knew something wasn't right and took off. No shot, but what a rush!
We tried to intercept them as Terry knew where they were headed. Again it almost happened, it was just a matter of yards. I had a shot at one of them, but it just didin't feel right. Again they took off, this time for a swamp. I took off after them, and watched as two little ones fell behind. It was comical watching them try to catch up with Momma. One was pink, just like a little farm hog. He looked like a little piggy bank running through the woods!
We continued hunting and again got into some hogs. Terry sent me into a corner of pines and I got ready. I couldn't have been there more than a minute when I heard sticks breaking. In their never-stop-moving way the sounder of "samich hogs" scurried across the white sand road, down into the ditch and hustled up past me.
Suddenly the biggest black one charged me. I tried to move but she got to me and bit into my boot. She yanked my boot and sock off and tried to suckle on my toe, so I shot in self defense! Luckily for me she ran about 20 yards, squealed a few times and it was over.
Well, maybe that's not exactly how it happened!
She came past at 4 yards and I zipped an ash arrow through her. She was a small little thing, but I was thrilled! Terry was genuinely happy for me and got the whole thing on video, then even carried the thing to to Range Rover for me. Unreal! Have you ever seen anyone sling a dead, bloody hog up onto the hood of a new Range Rover? I have!
She ended up weighing 30 pounds and I'm sure is gonna be fantastic slow smoked with fresh garlic, crushed red pepper and cumin. I love to hog hunt and I havent even ate one, yet. That's gonna seal the deal!
We got back to camp and were telling our stories when Matt's disturbed little dog proceeded to,um..."get intimate" with my dead hog. Repeatedly!
We all laughed and shook our heads and I believe someone said, "Matt, you need to shoot that dog!"
I was having a blast and it was only the first morning...
Topic: "The Paradise " St. Judes Hog Hunt - Now with VIDEO! (Read 18308 times)
