This weekend marked my first big game kill with a traditional bow. I started persuing this passion 4 years ago after walking into an archery shop in Denver. After all the frustration with misses, one elk hit in the hip that got away, crowded hunting areas, and friends telling me it couldn't be done and that I should have bought a compound I finally accomplished my goal. This year I resolved to only use my longbow thoughout the whole year, making the commitment to stick it out even if it meant no meat at all. Saturday morning I was sitting in a ground blind in front of a scrape when i heard pigs off in the distance. It didn't sound as if they were coming my way so i decided to follow them. After a short stalk I found a group of 7 hogs. I was able to get within 15 yards before loosing a shot at what looked to be a very tasty sow of about 100 lbs. As the group ran off I was disappointed to see my arrow hit had too far back and sit down to think about what would surely be a long, difficult tracking job. Much to my suprise however, I heard one of the pigs still around and then saw bushes being thrashed about. My pig had only made it 20 yards though the brush and lasted maybe a minute. Elated, I found the sow dead and covered with way too much blood for what looked to be a gut shot. I had indeed hit to far back but as luck sometimes goes I had also severed a large vein and a kidney. Thanks to all who have put up with me on my "fools errand" to hunt with only a longbow. I am planning for this to be the first of many, and thinking that I will continue de-evolving and only use a selfbow. Dang, this is fun!