5th Annual Beouf WMA Hog Hunt ---> What a hunt!

[Lowrider]

I agree with Buckeye. I am from Louisiana and grew up stomping around in the swamp areas of North West Louisiana with my Dad and grandfather's. I no longer have access to those areas and enjoy seeing photos and hearing the stories of those that are able to visit those places. This brought back fond memories for me and I enjoyed reading it all and watched impatiently for the next Post. Thanks to all of those that took the time to bring it to us.

[Petrichor]

Day three for will and I will be up as soon as i have a few minutes to type it.

[John Scifres]

So, because Daniel left a couple things out, likely due to his humility, I'll fill some them in.  We get done hunting Sunday and then as we are heading back to camp, we get on the phone with Daniel who says he'll meet us at the parking area. We get there to find a canoe on top of his jeep.  Based on that alone, we figured dinner would be late.  Turns out he shot the big hog and it swam the canal.  He was coy about the trail but was pretty sure we could follow it on the other side after canoeing across.  What he didn't tell us was that there was a long hike carrying the canoe just to get to the water

So we drive to the trail head and start carrying.  Somewhere into this, Daniel decides it'll be easier for him to just drag the canoe the rest of the way.  Since he's roughly 23 years younger than me and I was dog-tired, I didn't argue.  So he drags this thing for a long ways.  I don't know how far, but a lot farther than I could have helped carry it.

We find a way to ferry all the trackers across the canal and walk another decent ways to the bloodtrail.  I am not making this up when I say we trailed that hog for longer (definitely in time and maybe in distance) than any track I have been on in 30+ years of bowhunting and that pig never waivered, never bedded, and never slowed down even, based on his tracks.  When all hope was lost, our bloodhound Randy would somehow find another pindrop.  Darren stayed 2 drops back and I stayed on last blood while Daniel and Randy searched ahead. It was tedious as hell in the dark, in the swamps, through a recent cutover.  We did that for 3+ hours before no more sign could be found.  A grid search with powerful lights under every blowdown or treetop turned up nothing.  Daniel, despite his reluctance, called it when nothing more could be found.  He was not happy and spent the night saying things like "I don't know how that happened" or "How is that hog not laying here?".

At this point we are all dragging so bad and the chill is setting in.  We get back to the canoe and Daniel's coat is soaked in the bottom of it so he basically says he will drag the canoe back, uphill, to keep warm.  I couldn't keep up with him just walking!  He might have been a bit upset.

Thank the Lord that Rick had tended camp with some of Daniel's young cousins.  The fire was stoked...the soup was warm.  We choked down dinner and commiserated by the fire just long enough to let our stomachs settle and then hit the beds.  It was a big adventure.  We all just wished it ended better.

Overall this was a great experience in a game rich environment.  The company was outstanding and the hunt was beyond challenging.

Thanks to Daniel for starting this thing and to Darren for getting me there.  And to all the other hunters there for being funny, humble, and gracious in everything you did.  You are all welcome to join us for the Southern Indiana Bowhunt held in October every year.  I can't promise as many shots but I can promise a great camp in some beautiful terrain. Take care.

[gregg dudley]

So I  don't know why I am bothering to wade into this because there is no "winning" involved, but I hate to see someone getting jumped on for their point of view, when I think that there is some validity to it.  I'm pretty sure that where GCook is coming from is based on the first post back from the hunt with blood all over the leaves and a change in caption about what a great hunt it was only to discover (abruptly) after several days of unwinding that it was a wounded and unrecovered animal.  I would be lying if I said that I didn't have a similar reaction.  I've never grouped "great hunt" and pictures of wounding loss in the same context.  That is the way it was advertised...

That being said, I enjoyed the stories.  I've hunted and fished with some of the folks involved and they are truly fine people.  Others, I have known on this forum for a while and have respect for.  I would not have commented if someone wasn't getting roasted for offering an observation that is fairly valid.

[HOGLESS2]

Time to tell my tale of the hunt. I’ll keep it simple for some.
Great people. Great hunting. Great food. Didn’t kill nothing.

[DanielB89]

So I  don't know why I am bothering to wade into this because there is no "winning" involved, but I hate to see someone getting jumped on for their point of view, when I think that there is some validity to it.  I'm pretty sure that where GCook is coming from is based on the first post back from the hunt with blood all over the leaves and a change in caption about what a great hunt it was only to discover (abruptly) after several days of unwinding that it was a wounded and unrecovered animal.  I would be lying if I said that I didn't have a similar reaction.  I've never grouped "great hunt" and pictures of wounding loss in the same context.  That is the way it was advertised...

That being said, I enjoyed the stories.  I've hunted and fished with some of the folks involved and they are truly fine people.  Others, I have known on this forum for a while and have respect for.  I would not have commented if someone wasn't getting roasted for offering an observation that is fairly valid.

I get the point. But, I’ll refuse to allow an animal being harvested or not define whether or not it was a good hunt.  In my opinion, it was without a doubt our best hunt yet.  We missed some folks who usually attend, but I guarantee we saw close 200 hogs total.  I know I personally say over 50. 

If we didn’t care about the animals we pursued, we wouldn’t have tracked it for .7 miles until 10pm.  Have friends drive 12+ hours to be a part of my favorite weekend of the year. 

I’ll say it again; It was an incredible hunt, my favorite to date. 

The bigger question for me is why feel the need to express the opinion how what makes someone successful or not? Everyone on this forum is free to continue scrolling.  When you post something that goes against the heart of the thread, don’t be surprised when you get kick back. 

Everything posted was true.  It was our hunt. The results are what they are.  If they’re offensive or weren’t what you wanted, I encourage you all to host your own hunt and savor the memories made; with or without a kill. 



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[Petrichor]

“If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time, then the true meaning of the chase eludes you all together.”

Fred Bear

Gonna mod this one.

If you consider reading an unsuccessful a waste of time then the true meaning of the chase elludes you altogether.

My point is this... if you are reading this thread looking for blood or where it came from then this thread will obviously fall short. Nobody I know here wants to wound an animal but when you consider all that has to happen for a shot opportunity (let alone a hit) to occur on public land it is pretty incredible and worth telling and celebrating how close you came.

“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.”
Fred bear

The camp the atmosphere and the people made the hunt what it was not the animals.  An wounded animal is something that is unfortunate and also a part of bow hunting. We agree to disagree...these are our stories about our hunts they are what they are take it or leave it.. opinions on whether the original picture posted ended in the way you wanted it to are irrelevant and unnecessary.

[gregg dudley]

“If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time, then the true meaning of the chase eludes you all together.”

Fred Bear

Gonna mod this one.

If you consider reading an unsuccessful a waste of time then the true meaning of the chase elludes you altogether.

My point is this... if you are reading this thread looking for blood or where it came from then this thread will obviously fall short. Nobody I know here wants to wound an animal but when you consider all that has to happen for a shot opportunity (let alone a hit) to occur on public land it is pretty incredible and worth telling and celebrating how close you came.

“A hunt based only on trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.”
Fred bear

The camp the atmosphere and the people made the hunt what it was not the animals.  An wounded animal is something that is unfortunate and also a part of bow hunting. We agree to disagree...these are our stories about our hunts they are what they are take it or leave it.. opinions on whether the original picture posted ended in the way you wanted it to are irrelevant and unnecessary.

I don't think anybody here is going to disagree with you or Fred Bear on the essence of hunting.  I certainly do not.  However, there is not a possibility that anyone read this thread (post hunt) without looking for blood and where it came from.  That's the way it was marketed.  If you are going to build hype by design then you have set yourself up as an entertainer or story teller.  Critics are the world's response to these art forms. 

Could someone have "just kept scrolling?"  Sure, like I said, I would have.  But, if you string people along and they feel that you have implied one thing and don't deliver on it, it is not surprising that some will respond.  As the audience, they have some investment in the process as well.

Once again, glad everybody had a safe, fun hunt with loads of game seen.  Best to all.

[LC]

Sounds like a great hunt and quality time to me. Wish I could have tagged along, who knows maybe next year. From the times I've went hog hunting I'v learned that what looks like a killer shot on a deer is just a wound on a hog. Broadside CLOSE to the front legs, angling away is best and drive it up between the front legs. Learned that lesson myself. Congrats to all who went, sounds like a awesome trip!

[GCook]

First let me say that if I get roasted for my position on something it's okay.  If I didn't expect some negative feedback I would just keep it to myself.
As far as the story telling goes I can appreciate a good one. 
That said I grew up in the age of  the greats writing about Africa, Alaska and other places I could only dream of being and don't expect the average person to be able to write that way. 
One of the guys on your hunt posted on another forum about a hunt he and some others took in 2018 that some of the hunters billed as "epic" and one comment  questioning how a hunt could be epic without a kill went over like a turd in a punch bowl as well.
The thought of how we measure hunt success is relative I think.  Honestly I've hunted in several states for deer and elk and my measuring stick is more about opportunity than anything but I usually want to have meat in the freezer when I get home from one. 
Fred Bear's quote doesn't put meat in my freezer or those who I'm fortunate enough to donate to.  I hunt to kill.  Success hunting  for me is kill related.  Doesn't always happen but it does often enough that I've gotten the expectation of it every time I enter the woods.
Having regular hunting at multiple places probably makes me spoiled and an unsuccessful weekend at the lease, or even my farmland in Missouri, leaves me no reason to call my brother and share the details or even talk about it around the fire pit with my ranch partners.
Bottom line is the way some of y'all think dragging out a story over days that can be typed out in 10 minutes on a laptop isn't "good story telling".  Even when there is a large gut pile at the end.
The information shared is good but the methodology is frustrating enough without at least having a few hero pics.
I appreciate the comradary and sharing a good camp.  I appreciate being in animals throughout a hunt even if that shot never materialized.
However I don't appreciate someone telling another person their opinion or point of view doesn't count or us invalid just because you don't agree with it. 
Whether it's about what broadhead is better, what beer is better or if we all like the method of which a story shared.
Also I second thoughts on the teaser pics of an unrecovered animal were in poor taste.  We should regret wounding loss.  For any animal or hunt.

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[Petrichor]

It's not that you cant have an opinion. Its that this isn't a discussion thread it's a story thread. Nobody is asking a question about a product or a technique. So all I'm saying is if you think something is in bad taste maybe it's better to pm instead of calling out. But nobody has asked you opinion here yet you continue to clog this thread with it.

[GCook]

Sorry you think that way.

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[Petrichor]

Day 3. Disclaimer: no pigs were killed. But it's a neat story for me at least.

It seemed that a few of us hunting around Wallace road had encountered a similar sounder mere moments from each other. I was convinced based on the timings and description of the composition of the group that were seeing the same group of hogs wandering around wallace road 3 to 4 sows and 11-15 soundlings

Will and I decided to hunt the whole thing we started south of wallace walking in near the wma check point and walked to the water. After walking to water we started north towards wallace.

The signs were everywhere and we navigated by compass.  Will and I have a ton of fun in the woods. Anyway we hiked through rain and puddles finally reaching wallace. I told will my theory that 1 sounder was traveling in our area and if we didnt see it south they were north of wallace.

No sooner did I explain this, we crossed over and saw three does running full tilt to the south west of our position. I told will I think hogs must of bumped those deer. We decided to maintain the course north knowing we could not catch up to the deer.

Not 30 seconds had gone by when I heard splashing ahead and see a sounder inbound headed straight for us. Here we were north of wallace for all of maybe 2 minutes and had already seen 3 deer and now a sounder.  Will and I had talked a game plan a couple days prior in which he told me to take first shot if I got one so I'm thinking this is it. In 6 years of bow hunting  on only public land I have had two times where I got really close to drawing my bow back on an animal but had never got to do it.  I jumped to the side got behind some branches.  The sounder is moving good and if they continue on their path i will have a slight quartering away shot at 15 or less yards. I drew my bow back on the lead sow and was tracking her through the downed tree limbs waiting for her to clear. I was in prime position for a perfect shot. Now, I was shooting lefty for this hunt and will was too my right. Aka I couldn't see what he was doing in my peripheral vision. He was shooting right handed and thus we were effectively back to back.  As I'm tracking the sow mere 5 seconds from losing an arrow, swish, another arrow goes right in front of the pigs chest missing cleanly and sending the entire sounder amuck (will had shot). I picked a new target another sow on the run (angles were good) and loosed the arrow. I hit the spot where she was just a fraction of a second earlier. I wont lie and say I wasnt initially disappointed but that disappointment quickly faded and will and I were high fiving in the woods. Two best friends that have hunted together on public land for the last 5 years just both got there first shots on the same hunt. Pretty cool and I was pretty happy that my friend had a really stellar shot opportunity even if mine wasnt all that stellar. 

I followed the fresh tracks north and found the sounder still in a frenzy 300 yards later. They traveled west where we followed them but were never able to get close again. We returned to camp and shared all with the group.

[Lowrider]

Dave that's good. Sounds like you and Will had a blast.

[Petrichor]

Dave that's good. Sounds like you and Will had a blast.

We sure did.

[MAW]

Just want to say that I 100% enjoyed this thread. The stories, the near misses, the pictures, all of it. Very confused (dumbfounded even) by the frustration expressed over the conclusion of Daniel's hunt. Literally one of the strangest opinions I've seen expressed in my years of surfing Tradgang. That said, I'm confident that the overwhelming majority of guys who followed this thread thoroughly enjoyed the content and spirit you guys shared in the thread. Excellent job guys and thank you for sharing your hunt. If life would permit it (and maybe one year it will) my brother and I would love to do this hunt with yall.

[Captain*Kirk]

Dave, I'm sure you know I have read every word written in this thread several times, and felt like I was right there with you and the boys. You and I see eye to eye on many subjects, and we'll leave it at that. The object of any hunt is to hopefully fill a tag, but sometimes the ol' college try is all you get.
Thanks to all of you Beouff boys for your contributions to this thread and I truly enjoyed reading it!

[DanielB89]

If the Lord wills, we will be having it again next year!  I know I enjoy the hunt.  Reality is everyone is free to have an opinion on whatever they want.  The reality of that reality is that not everyone agrees and they may oppose your opinion with their opinion. 

I am in no way offended with whether or not someone appreciates my hunting story or the memories made within the weekend.  I do agree that is doesn't make much sense to me to condemn the way I tell MY story.  It would be equivalent to writing and author and telling him you didn't like the ending to the book.  I am sure the author would reply, "well, go write your own book and end it how ever you want".  I tend to fall into this camp as well. 

I hope to add another good story in the coming weeks.  I will tell it how I see fit.  Like it or not, it will me MY story.

[DanielB89]

I will add this as well, Dave is a very bright guy.   

I know the guys who were at camp will enjoy that! 

[Joeabowhunter]

Thanks for sharing Daniel and gang.