Went out today by my lonesome! I was carrying my new to me Hill Wesley Special. I was about half way down the trail to my destination when I hear a grunt in the tall grass about 20 yards out on the shoulder of the road. It's 7:15 am. I was half dressed for the hike in, but at least I was wearing my shooting glove! I eased off the road into the tall grass on the right. As I crept closer I noticed two pigs feeding right at the edge of the road. One made the mistake of showing his shoulder at 10 yards! At the squeal, hogs busted everywhere! The swamp limits the high ground to a narrow 30 yard wide strip on the right side, so I watched "my" pig cross the road into the thicket on the left, followed by nine more hogs of various colors and sizes. My arrow was glistening a dark shade of red in the wet grass, from one end to the other. The blood trail started immediately, and was no trouble to follow.
After 75 yards I recover public land piggy #3 of the year with an extra hole in his ticker! A young boar that will probably weigh 50 pounds or so.
I turn him into pork chops in about 30 minutes and hang the goodies in a tree. Now I'm off to find some more!
I went another mile down the road and entered the woods following the edge of the swamp. The sign is heavy and quite fresh, but the wind is playing it's usual tricks! I figure I'll be real lucky to get another shot opportunity. I still hunt until 11:00 am without so much as a smell and decide to make a bee-line to my first hog. Fortunately this is the best direction I have hunted all morning. The wind would blow from the left, from the right, and in my face, but whatever lay ahead may not smell me! I have to cross through the wild hogs favorite bedding cover. As I make my way through the thick patches of river cane, I try to make as little noise as possible.
I smell them before I see them. I knew they were close. I take another tentative step and hear the aggravated grunt of a busting hog. Hogs are running everywhere, but several are stopped within 20 yards. The cover is thick and I must wait for the perfect hole to shoot through. I notice several larger hogs circling to get my wind. I can see them moving, but have no shot. They get my wind and are history. Note to self, "log in the computer for future two man hunts". I am a statue for 15 minutes. Finally I hear no more movement. I ease forward through a mega hog hilton! These spots are so predictable for hog bedding areas. I can hardly wait to hunt one in the next tropical storm. Surely I can sneak through this stuff with bunches of wind and rain! After another 30 yards I jump another hog. This one only bolts about 10 yards and is standing broadside at 15! The waiting game begins. Fortunately it's a short one. The pig takes a step and stops with a hole tight behind it's shoulder! I'm at full draw, anchor, and the squeal follows. I watch as the hog runs only 20 yards and flops down. It's grunting, so I know it's still alive. The wind picks up some, and is blowing from the hog. I feel like I can get closer. I see the hog bedded ahead at 20 yards, but there is a tangle of brush between us. He looks very relaxed, and is twitching his ears to keep the bugs at bay. Maybe I missed? I nock another arrow and try to pick a hole I can shoot through. The arrow is deflected, and looks to skim the hog. He just grunts, but doesn't move. My only other arrow has already passed through a hog. I nock my last arrow and crouch to shoot through another hole. He is facing directly away, and this one hits high on the rump and breaks the spine. It passes through the hog and the broadhead protrudes from the brisket between the legs! Seven-hundred grains is hard to stop! This one dies right there. A gorgeous 50 pound red sow, and public piggie #4 of 2008.
The first shot was slightly quartering away and looked to be a double lunger. Must of only been one lung, but I don't think any thing could have pushed this one from the bed. I don't think the second shot was necessary, but I like to be safe when pork chops are on the line.
My new pack and quiver worked wonderfully!
Topic: New Hill Wesley Special makes meat! (Read 627 times)
