Ferretwyo comes to Florida!

[FerretWYO]

Day two brought just as much fun even though I seen no hogs. Wait we did see a hog that morning in the dark so I cant say that. Friday Morning I sat a different feeder in a beautiful setting. This is the veiw from the stand. It is an amazing place.

   

I had never been to Florida before this adventure and I did not know what to expect. I asked a lot of questions to some that had been to gain some advice. What I did know about florida was that they had wildlife that did not roam where I live. One critter that I had really hoped to see was a gator. Well Marty took care of that first thing. The other was the famed Osceola turkey. Friday morning brought just that. This group of long beards wondered in. They are a beautiful bird. Very bronze in color.

   

Shortly after Marty showed in the Buggy with Aram and we went to pick up Darren he had a hog and Peanut worked her magic right to him.


On our return Marty whipped up some food and we shot a few arrows. Having been up late the night before cleaning hogs some found a comfy couch and caught a few winks.

Friday evening was a slow night for all of us exept Pete and Les. You can read there story on the 2bows 2bros 2hogs thread. When I say slow that does not mean that is was not fun though. There is always something happening, squirells and birds playing all over.

We returned to camp that night to some great deerr burger and home fries. Then a good nights rest. Tomorrow will bring more fun, more game, more bonding of new friends, and more enjoyment.

[Smallwood]

[FerretWYO]

Saturday morning came with the crisp and humid Florida air though much warmer than the morning before. Now the day before we had gone out and checked a bunch of feeders added corn and looked for sign. One of the feeders that we went to Marty took me to the next morning. He had also given us directions on some roads to walk so later in the morning with hopes of a stalk opperrtunity. I was in a tall ladder stand on a Palm tree. Within just a few minutes the critters started appearing. First critter to show up was a dark almost black raccoon. Then four more showed up. Next a couple of young bucks wandered in.

 Sorry for the blurry pics I had a little trouble with them for some reason.

I had a great time watching the coons fight and the deer look at them like what is wrong with you little angry critters and the calmly got there breakfast.

Around eight the deer mozied on. I decided to try my luck on a Raccoon.

 

After recovering my new trophy I went on to the area that Marty thought we may be able to stalk a few pigs. Aram was also in that same area. Hopefully we could make a little ambush. There was sign everywhere but we were just a little bit late the piggys were already in hiding. A great morning hunt though of that there was no doubt.

[FerretWYO]

Saturday night took me to the same stand I had sat on tursday night. If you remember I had passed up a few pigs there that night after I got the first boar.

It was not long and I could see the pigs coming through the trees. As they approached I got ready for a shot in case there was a hog in the group that I wanted to take. As they came in it was the same five that were there thursday but the had a larger boar with them now. I decided I would try for him. As they fought and pushed eachother around I waited for a clean shot. Finally he came close and gave me the broad side view. I drew slowly and one of them caught me moving and the jumped. Fortunatly they did not leave. Again I waited for that broadside picture. This time I made it to anchor. I released and my arrow was loose. I saw it hit to the right of were I wanted it. To far back I told myself. Give it time. I let Marty know that I had hit one and where and he noted that a little time would be good and that him and peanut would come and help in the tracking. A few more came in while I waited. One a pregnant Sow. You could tell she was ready to drop babies any day.  When Marty got there I explained how it all played out and that I had seen the boar stop under a tree just forty yards away. I wish that I would have taken pictures of Peanut working because she knew what she was doing that was for sure. She picked up the trail right away and went right to where I had seen him stop. In just another 30 yards she found him laying dead. The shot had done its job though I perfer not to repeat it.


Next we went to pick up Darren. He was having a little trouble with his Thermacell and was nearly out of blood.        I know that I would not be laughing had that happened to me though. After that we went to pick up Aram. Aram Said that he had got a good boar with a silver face and tail. (blue hog we were told they are called). Once again we got Peanut out and let her do her thing. Peanut like several times before found Arams hog in a short time with not one drop of blood the ground.

   

Look at that bow he is holding that thing is a beauty. I was lucky enough to shoot a few arrows through it.

There is still a little bit more to come.

[FerretWYO]

How did I miss this picture. This was my boar from thursday night once we got back to camp. I have learned in my hunting experiance that we very seldom do anything without help , influance and encouragement from others. Thanks Marty.

 

[Matty]

Awesome dude...

[Greg Szalewski]

Great story, thanks for sharing. Looks like Marty gets a big at a boy and kudos to Aram for connecting with the home made gear.

[FerretWYO]

Well Sunday morning brought a sad time. For now woudl be the final day. No one sat on stand that morning we did get to go for a ride on the buggy and make a few stalks on feeders. I found this little guy in the dark.

 

The whole time that I was there I was in awe of the lanscape. It is so different from what I knew and where I live. This was one thing I saw that was awesome.

 

Here is Peanut. She has such a sweet personality and is very good at what she does.

 

Then came time for packing. For reasons most all of us understand it is somber part of the trip and with the people on this trip it was even harder to know that soon we would all be parting ways. Even Peanut knew the fun was winding down and looked a little sad.

 


To sum up this trip in words cannot be done. The memories, the feelings and friendships made were to special to put in words. Marty is a very special person. It is very evident that his heart and soul go into what he does. His passion for hunting and traditional archery is evident and his knowledge and willingness to share taught me more than he may ever know. Aram and Darren were great people who are dedicated and into the spirit of the hunt it was an honor to share a camp with them. Aram was also a wealth of knowledge with much to teach. I much enjoyed learning from his stories and experience. Pete and Les are great. It was awesome to be there when they got their hogs the same night and for Les it was his first with a Trad Bow.

The Okeechobee swamps are a special and mystic place were wildlife of all types roam the woods and the spanish moss shrouds the swamp with mystery. I saw hogs, bears, gators, osceola, possom, whitetail, buzzards, blue jays, cardinals, woodpeckers, squirells, raccons, herrens, tracks of panther(I would call it a mountian lion but they said that was not right ha ha) and bobcat, and countless other wildlife. Each one made every step something new and something exciting.  

Getting on that plane to fly away from the great experience I had just had was hard. What I carried with me was friendships made and memories of an adventure that without the giving nature of a few and one in particular I would have never had the chance to experience.

[huntnmuleys]

wow, looks like an awesome trip randy!!!!  that bear would have surprised the heck out of me!

[Jack Denbow]

Very cool story Randy. Thanks for taking us along.
Jack

[Benny Nganabbarru]

[joebuck]

Ferret wrote..

Marty is a very special person. It is very evident that his heart and soul go into what he does. His passion for hunting and traditional archery is evident and his knowledge and willingness to share taught me more than he may ever know.

I second that. Marty has opened his home and camp countless hours and days to the Traditional Bowhunting community. I have been very fortunate to be on the receiving end of that hospitality many times. He is definitely one guy i can say makes this passion of bowhunting we have funnier. I talk to him daily and have never had  a conservation in which he didn't make me laugh. if you surround yourself with friends that make you laugh? it's kind of hard to have a bad day!!!

[Terry Green]

I'll 3rd Randys post and 2nd joebucks.  

[Guru]

Make it 4th, I luv that McMahon fella    

[Barry Wensel]

Just like Chapter VII in my new book, "Marty McMahon... Legend or Loser?" The answer is leaning towards "Legend". We love you Martha! xoxo Uncle Barry

[Marty]

" Blush"

[FerretWYO]

Its all true Marty.

[Larry Surtees]

Great post!  Thanks!!

[rastaman]

Great story and pictures!    

[Izzy]