** Grant up top

[koger]

Grant is a great guy, and that cap is just too cool!

[FerretWYO]

Nice work Grant!!!!  That is a great hog.

[meathead]

Good shooting Grant.

[e alexander]

Look'n good Grant, hope to see you soon.

[Charlie Lamb]

Mind if I dance wif yo date?

[joebuck]

"thats my glove maker"!!!!!!!.........impressive Grant!

[Matty]

Grant Was Awesome... Always a pleasure to visit and hunt with!!
 

[Grant Young]

Gosh Guys, Thanks: What a great hunt and as usual, what a great Tradgang crowd. These guys have become some of the most important folks in my life (which may mean I should get out more) and I leave one hunt anxious for the next to start. I went on my first Pig Gig last year on the Chaparossa. I was green and Boy!, did it show. About Wednesday I realized that hog hunting, bear hunting, and deer hunting were all seperate and unique things.  Bear and deer are close, but pigs and Javies, ummm ummm. I was lucky enough to hook up with Rob (Robtattoo) for the trip and the ride down. If not for the luxury of a little extra room than the airline would have allowed, I'd have frozen to death. Rob and his wife, Jules, hosted me a day and we hit the road to meet JC and Chase and Don and Skyler Wilson to caravan to Texas- just like some of my forebears, LOL. What a trip! I gotta say, Rob put up with me in his house, showed me Tullahoma, rode 1250 miles with me and slept in the same frigid tent and was the best company anyone could ask for. As far as I'm concerned, he has a friend for life. We met Curt in Dallas after I had dragged Rob's trailer about halfway across Louisiana on a bare rim-another story- and I got to meet a Tradgang legend. We got to the campsite around 4:00 that afternoon and howdied and shook; it was already cold. Don W and JC and their sons had a fish fry on the menu and we pigged out, got instructions from double trouble about where we were to hunt and fell out dreaming of bacon and cracklins.

[Grant Young]

We dealt with bitter temps that night and slept little, muttered much, and got up to hug coffee cups and try these pigs out.
  We were lucky; we had Rob's old F-150 with a Cummings Diesel and a lift kit- other guys; not so much. I found hog Heaven that evening down on the Brazos and knew I was in the right place.
   We had another great evening in camp, in spite of the temperatures, but I missed my buddy Thomas (Hogdancer- and that name ain't for nuthin!) and found out they were pretty much mudded in about fifteen miles away. Thomas knows more about hunting hogs than anyone I know- and probably anyone the reader knows either- and I had "a question or two to tell him." Between what Hogdancer told me last year and in between and Rob explained at the time, I felt I pretty much had a chance to score.
   I'd like to point out that the Pig Gig last year was the beginning of an absolutely dismal season. I went zero in Texas, lost a bear in Quebec that was my first unrecovered animal in 27 years, and got only one shot at a mature doe in Kentucky in November and lost her too. I told my brother before I left for Texas that I was goona take a pig if I had to sleep in a hog wallow.

[Grant Young]

Tuesday broke gorgeous in comparison to Monday. Matty and Lloyd walked down the river with me ( actually it was South but up river) and continued on past where I had decided to hunt. I had about five pounds of corn with me that I was going to cast around in the area that I had seen five good pigs and some shotes the night before. Three of the pigs the evening before were monsters; one was a biiiig boar that would have gone 300-325 easy, a big sow well over 250, and a blonde job about the same size whose gender I couldn't determine. The other two adults were about the size of the pig in the photo- 125-150 and they looked like midgets with the "big three."
  So I lay my bow and pack down, and head out to sow some corn. After four or five minutes, all hell breaks loose over the drop-off to the river bank and I ran back to grab my bow. Sometimes I get caught like this but that's another story. Four pretty good pigs had apparently been awakened and were gonna whip the snot out of whatever roused'em. I was trying to get a shot through the heavy brush and couldn't find a window. I caught movement across the clearing in my peripheral vision and this sow was headed out. Thomas' and Rob's advice rang in my head and I knew I had a very small window of opportunity so it was "shoot Luke, or give up the gun." I shot. The old girl was moving when I released and I hit her a little high and a little further back than I'd intended. She hollered like my ex-wife and hit the dirt on the spot. Meanwhile, the "boyznth'hood" were curious. I've never like spine shooting anything. I hate to hear a deer bleat- so I ran forward and put one between her shoulder blades that exited between her legs. One more in the heart at ten yards and she quit. The I realized I'd messed up and turned to take care of the rest of the gang. I pulled an arrow out of my bow quiver and noticed it was a judo tip. I threw it down and pulled my last; it was a field tip. Back to the hog, pulled some arrows (two- one was broken) sharpened heads, replaced bleeders, and ran off down the river to try for the others. Too late- after forty-five minutes of pure adrenaline fueled fun I returned to find Lloyd and Matty standing over the "Poster Girl." The picture Matty posted was taken and the two of them said they would go get the truck and I could drag Ms. Piggy out. Okay. Lloyd even gave me a rope to help. It was about 300 yards to the road, most of it was through plowed ground. Lloyd is about 6'4 and somewhere in his late thirties. Matty is in his twenties- younger than my oldest son and a physical trainer. I'm fifty-five, a desk jockey and pipe smoker, and it took TWO of them to get a truck?? Matty thought the drag track down to the road was hilarious- he's young, I can forgive. I'm gonna poison Lloyd in Quebec this year- you saw it here first.
  I shot another pig about the same size Friday afternoon and even waded the river to recover it. We had to meet back at the truck at 4:30 however to accomodate the packing constraints and the long distance from camp and I had to abandon the search to my disappointment; the pig had two pretty good arrows in it.
  What can I say; it was a great, great time with great people (friends)and I can't wait until the next "Gig." The fellowship and warmth (especially in Whip's tent) is a great reminder of our mutual kinship- its really the reason I do this, I guess. Besides, it got my picture "up top." Thanks Fellows.

[Greyfox54]

Congrats Grant ! Sounds like a hoot ! Glad you had a grerat time and look forward to sharing another camp with you , Fred

[Shaun]

Its a common saying but seldom fits as well as here, "A gentleman and a scholar!"

Looking forward to more campfires with Grant - one of my favorite TradGang fellows.

[Grant Young]

All you guys- Thanks for the kind words; they mean a lot. Can't wait until next time. What do you think "Double Trouble" will serve up next year? Bout all we're missing is earthquake and fire for the "elemental grand slam" .    Grant

[hogdancer]

don't say it, don't even say it !!!

[d. ward]

hey Shaun I think you forgot one about our good buddy Grant.......and a breeder of fine dogs bd

[Tom Phillips]

Grant,
 It was cool to see you with a Hog in the back of Rob Tat's truck when we arived back in camp.I had fun when you & I field dressed your Hog too 1st time for me.It was fun all the muddin we did on the roads to get to the hunting spot.I look forward to Hoggin next year in TX again and hope we have the same bunch !! Next stop  Quebec for Bears !!!!

[Bill Kissner]

Good job Grant! It was great seeing you again and congratulations on getting your pic in the limelight!.

[Whip]

Looking good indeed Grant!        

[Matty]

Grant isnt kidding about that pig Hollering.. Lloyd and I were about a mile past grant and we heard that pig screaming like she was 100 ft away and for a good minute it was pretty eerie...
 

[Grant Young]

Hey Matty- who's that old fart?    Thanks again fellas- the next time can't come soon enough. Doc- about that "breeder of fine dogs"- actually, I'm just sort of a matchmaker/supervisor-wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong impression. BTW, Tom- Thanks for gutting that hog- no if you can put me on a brute in Quebec I'll let you pack him out,too,LOL. Next stop, LaTuque (after a little turkey chasin here at home.)  GY