Well I didnt get my nap but Ill sleep good tonight.Didnt mean to Lamb this tale but I was worn out.
Now about the hunt! It almost started as a solo trip but Cuz got pardoned at the last second and thankfully made the trip with me.
This was the first time Ive ever been to South Carolina and to me the country is absolutley beautiful, especially once we got closer to Ray Rays pig joint.
After arrival we got aquainted with Ray and the boys from Michigan, Rick and Shawn Butler and their bud Greg. After a quick but in depth, enlightening HOGS 101 from Hog master Ray we set off for the 1st evenings hunt.Nothing but dillas and a pair of gobblers of which one must have had an 12" beard, very impressive.
Next morning after splitting off from the other hunters I saw 3 big sow and a mess of football pigies but after 5 minutes I felt a brreze on the back of my neck and they spooked from about 40 yards away.I tried to get around in front of the but got sidetracked by some beautiful, pink chert scrapers just sparkling away at me like someone put them there just for me.While I was busy collecting stone the hogs got past me but luckily I heard em and got after them again.
They seem to be in constant motion eating and rooting as they go along and althoug I followed them through a mud flat between a palmetto stand and standing water from 30 to 50 yards I couldnt close in without getting busted as it was pretty open.
Suddenly the red sow charged toward the standing water gruning and huffing at the until now unseen marbled boar that came out of the cypress swamp.The sows rounded up their little ones and marched em off down into the palmettos and then it was game on with the boar.He wa really enjoying his lunch which gave me an opportunity to get 2 big cypress trees between him and I and make a move on him.I could see him at times but man could I hear him rooting.I did a tiptoe through shin deep water and got to within 15 yards from him unnoticed.As soon as he quartered away my 46# Griffin was at full draw and a 570 grain footed hexpine with a 125 Eclipse was on its way.I hit him behind his last rib and got about 20 inches of penetraion all the way to his opposite shoulder. He took 2 steps and looked back at me when I gave him another tight behind the elbow, not as much penetration this time.
At the scond shot he ran about 10 yards to a deep spot and started staggering.Before I could shoot again he went down splashing for a few seconds until all was quiet.One of my favorite hunt of my life, everything luckily worked to my favor and although I still cant believe it went down like it did I remember every detail vividly.Thanks to my new cousin Ray from Woodstock GA and my old Cousin Ray from da Bronx, you boys helped me make lifelong memories and Ill be back real soon.Anybody thinking of heading to Rays do yourself a favor and make it happen. Pics to come as soon as momma helps Noah with his homework.