Jack and I planned to hunt the evening for pigs, we got back to the truck and he had an emergency to attend to, so I returned to my hotel for an hour (40 minute drive each way) and a hot tub soak. The tub was cold and I was grateful for that, my 4 year old daughter napped inside our room so I soaked on the deck for a short time redressed and headed out to meet him at another rendezvous for pigs at 4:15pm. The land was lush as we climbed up the mountain onto green grazing pastures. Here pheasants cackled as the truck crossed gate after gate of pasture land. Jack pointed far off pig herds above the grazing cows. We planned to work in side hill on one heard with another below us as backup. My crawling and patience had been heavily tested earlier in the day on the goats and this evening as I reached into my reserves I came up short. The grass was tall but the pigs stayed high on one crest and would not round it to let me drop in and up on them. Jack stayed back and after the stalk pointed out that I should have moved down hill to gain concealment with crest of hill. One pig kept watching the large lump creep forward, a stiff stare than back to rooting; I would creep and its ears would return to sentry position and body stiffen again. The time had reached neck puff hour, I felt the wind swirl and the sweat on my nape cool…. I knew it was time to move or lose for sure. I crept up low and moved forward, the pig directly side hill stiffened snorted then ran. Busted, I quickly charged up hill to the swine sounds above, in time to see a blotched patterned pig that jack had earlier advised me to try for, I drew and swish the arrow was loose… The pig streaked at an unimaginable speed, like Scotty from a starship circling above had locked on and beamed him up. I watched as my 4 blade stinger tipped 29”AD tradlite weighing 520grns disappeared harmlessly into knee high grass never to be seen again. The pigs kept up a trot 4 draws over as we watched while hustling back to the truck for a quick move and possibly one last stalk before sunset….Jack steered the truck down from the higher ridges while we both scanned for black marks in the grass and fading evening light. A group of hogs mingled with cows making them unapproachable and off limits under ranch rules. Both the truck and sun dropped lower; alas 3 nice hogs strode into view. Jack drove hard to get us into stalking range in time.
With the truck stopped we are off quickly using a fence line to obscure our identity. Half way into our charge, two large pigs previously unseen to us instantly shorten our target range from 600 to 200 yards. We roll under the fence and follow a low draw closer until we catch sight of the pigs moving away and up a hill. We wait and when they crest the hill, we break into a run. We charge and get to the top just in time to see them 40 yards off and still moving away. Jack scans the scene and unbelievably another solo pig is working back down wind and down hill to our last location. We decide a single set of eyes coming to us is better than two pair going away. Back down the hill, into the ditch we creep. Jack advises me to follow the draw solo up to the knoll where the pig seems to be working toward. I go bent over, and then start running hard once the pig is hidden from view. I get to the knoll panting and look back. The sun is dropping below the sea right behind Jack, I can’t see his signals, later he tells me he was signaling me to stop, come down hill and wait. I am too anxious and excited; I push my luck and push over the crest, arrow nocked. The pig looks up as I rise above a small bunch of high grass, he sees me at 20 yards. He is large and stiff and I know he is ready to run, I draw again foolishly releasing an arrow at an alert watching animal, he is safely gone in a dash uphill stopping twice, once silhouetted on the crest of the hill for an easy rifle shot. No gun shot sounds, alas he strides off wondering what that noisy bush was and why did a whistling bird rush him. It would not be the day for me to kill a pig. Jack scolds me for my foolishness, he is an experienced hunter and a good guide with wise words, I have already forgiven him for shooting the goat as we open sodas in the fading light bracing for the bumpy ride back to my rental car.
sorry no pictures, my camera man was awol.