A crazy hog hunt and an unexpected guest

[wapiti792]

After seeing all the great hog hunts over these cold winter months and after having a chance meeting with a guy who owns a little hunting operation in Arkansas, I jumped in with both feet on a hunt this past weekend. I rounded up the usual suspects to go along with my little hunt, and after some changes to the line-up the last week we set out for SW Arkansas.

The outfitter had never had spot and stalk bowhunters before, and since it is big timber property consisting of swamps, hardwood bottoms, and huge pine stands he was more than a little hesitant when we told him our plan to find these wary critters in such huge country on foot. He has about 30,000 acres of access and usually uses currs to bay the hogs and standard issue pit bulls to hold them in place. We were not interested in any "holding" but agreed that if we could not get it done with stalking, working a bay would be okay if the pig was not held and had freedom to run us over or run away as we tried to get a shot. For those of you who do not like the concept of baying dogs to hunt pigs, then my apologies, this thread is not for you. The rules of engagement were drawn with the guide and each of us 3 traditional bowhunters were given a huge tract of land to try and find a pig or two. It consisted of big swamps, high ridges of some of the thickest saw-tooth briars and river cane. Intimidating and beautiful at the same time.

 
 
 
 

[coyote1956]

good looking area there for getting you some hoggs, how did it turn out?

[wapiti792]

The guide had some serious country to hunt. After telling him about our plans a month earlier I was suprised at how quickly he got what we wanted to do. I had told him I wanted to find fresh sign and be turned loose. We would be doing dark-to-dark hunts on our own with water, an MRE for lunch, and a radio in case we needed help. Otherwise, we were on our own to roam about the country. He dropped me out on one of the numerous clay/sand logging roads on some fresh rooting sign. It was up to me to make it happen. My other two mates were dropped off at similar spots with smokin' hot sign of their own.
 
 
 

It wasn't a 1/4 mile before I heard pigs feeding, rooting, squealing in the thick bottom timber. The swilring wind did me in as I approached from what I thought was a good position. Just like that they were gone! Those hogs were super noisy one minute, fairly stalkable, then quietly slipped away in a flash. I couldn't believe it and stood in awe of those awesome critters.

[steadman]

Cool!! Don't "lamb" this too much  

[Mike Most]

I like the way you think.......is there anymore to the story??

[cacciatore]

I can't wait for the rest.

[wapiti792]

Oh yes gents more is on it's way    Will try and get it going. I will most likely be the sole story teller as my other trad brothers on this trip are a little shy about posting...if I don't do the story justice they can chime in and set me straight  

[Chumster]

Nice read, can't wait for more.

[wapiti792]

Well after my blown stalk I put a couple of miles in glassing and exploring the bottom/swamp. I tell ya, for a country boy from Illinois by way of West Tennessee, this was a vast, wild place. I have been to elk country many times, and the shear size of the American west is something else. The changes in contour here, and the way it went from pine stands to swamp was just as amazing.

In my travels I came upon more pig sign, rooting, scratching posts, and a stinky wallow. I built myself a little ground blind, ate my MRE and waited out the mid-day in my little nest.
 
 

At about 2 pm I gathered my gear and set out for a bottom nearby. Big open hardwoods with plenty of pig sign. While glassing something came into my peripheral vision about a hundred yards away...

[Margly]

   

[wapiti792]

I'll get back to my visitor but first a little about my equipment    

I have a new Stalker longbow with beautiful woods, antler nobs and a Kanati quiver. This was her maiden voyage. I told myself any legal critter would be in trouble. I took lots of chances to photo this beauty in such great background. Here's little eye candy Southern style.

 
 

Ok so out of my peripheral I see another hunter...slipping and sliding like me, head erect, eyes forward. I couldn't believe here I was 3 miles in a swamp and another hunter was there. So I did what I should have: I acted like prey to try and share a moment with a fellow predator.

[Slinging 24/7]

Some cool looking land right there! Looks like a fun area to track down a pig!

[coyote1956]

good story and pictures thanks for sharing looking forward to more.....

[cacciatore]

Beautiful bow and matching quiver!

[wapiti792]

The hunter heard my little pig squeal and smacking to mimic what she had been hunting. I had seen plenty of coyote scat with pig hair in it. When my normal mouse squeek didn't get her interested I took a chance and made a sound like a pig that I do with my little girl when I am goofing off with her.

To my suprise the big 'ol coyote perked her ears up and trotted right to me. At 18 yards she stopped and gave me a full frontal chest shot that I took gladly. Some may not like this angle, but with coyotes I think you get that more times than not. Although I had never taken a 'yote with a longbow I felt comfortable with a 680 arrow and heavy Ace standard broadhead. She ducked slightly at the shot and the arrow entered her neck and angled into the goods of the heart/lungs. She was down within 30 yards. Her cape was taken care of after taking my time admiring such a beautiful predator. It will be tanned and kept sacred as the first (and perhaps last) coyote I took with my longbow.

 
 
 
 

[Al Dente]

Congrats Mike, great story.  You'll have that for as long as you live.

[coyote1956]

great Hunt and ending thanks for sharing brother, congrats!

[steadman]

Way to go Mike! Congrats!  

[wapiti792]

Thanks fellas...but I have a pig story to tell here too  

[Mudd]

 

God bless,Mudd