And to the Daring comes the greatest fortune of all..

[tradtusker]

life has been busy of late, With the few days back under a roof i thought id put a few pics up.
Hope this finds you all well and hunting hard.

Hunting is going well out here in Australia 2 months left before the rains bring an end to the season, but sitting in camp beside the flicker of a fire I can feel faintly the ancient African drumbeat deep in my veins, its calling ...and ill be home soon!

 

every day as the beat rises i can feel my anticipation grow, it will build up as intensely as that second in time when a leopard pauses at the very final stages of a stalk....the moment when time stands still and the silence takes hold of you, held back just before he breaks for the chase. I can almost feel my feet hit the red sand, red soil soaked with my blood, sweat and tears along with countless others who have come to life and lived in the hands of this wild land.

[Guru]

[tradtusker]

Whilst i dream of my time to come back home, I screwed on the last of my broadheads and finish the edge so it bites as i run my finger along it, into the Quiver it goes.

 Its a hot Day the sun is relentless as it trows waves of heat down on my shoulders, Been walking for some time, there is a lot of water on the ground and the Boars are spread out wide traveling for food, roaming from water to water with no need to return the same source. Its hard hunting now.

 

Swamp after swamp i push on, here comes a weary Sow and a few suckers the first swine iv seen all day.

 

[kwc]

this is always a great read, i feel like im there

[A.S.]

[tradtusker]

I watched for a while and then we carried on our paths unlikely to meet again.

The wind haunts me here, she plays on my mind like a changing riddle, i know its laughing at me like a evil hyena as i will it to hold a direction.

just the slightest movement catches my eye, even to those that have never laid eyes on it, it raises an alarm from an instinct inside us. I believe in a respect not a fear for any animal that poses potential danger to you.  No need to worry about this little fella though, non the less he was not happy about me disrupting his afternoon.

 

[Benny Nganabbarru]

[leatherneck]

Keep it coming Andy!

[Igor]

TT

Thanks for sharing ---looking forward to the rest of the story!

><>
Glenn

[tradtusker]

finally the sun is drawing down and its cooling.
Im approaching a nice swamp with good reeds on its edge, the wind has settled for the first time all day and its holding a steady course. As i make my way around the side i see the black shape my eye's have been straining for all day, looks like a good Boar.
He's pushing his wet black nose an inch under the mud on the edge of the reeds, nuzzling and poking around for a tasty morsel. I waist no time, i slip my worn tennis shoes off and start to cut across between big ant mounds, i risk the sideways movement to get into the right position, concealed by a big ant mound i close in ahead of him putting me 20m from the edge of the reeds.

[Green]

Andy you are really developing a style to your writing that puts a hunter right into the moment with you.  I look forward to more of this hunt and much, much more of Australia and Africa through your eyes, words, and experience.

[jimmerc]

   

[tradtusker]

He feeds level with me broadside, arrow is on the string and i take a calming breath and begin to raise my bow just as i build tension on the string he turns and starts to walk away from the swamp, he's heading strait for me, i easy back around the mound. He's going to pass on the right im in position and as he closes i begin the draw, my shrew limbs are poised and at 4 meters maybe closer i release. The Arrow strikes hard and as tight as i could afford for the angle, blood immediately spurts out as he grunts, coming right past me i keep dead still, 10m further and he pulls up and stops looking for movement, his back legs give in as he wields around and falls to the ground.

I walk over and put my bow down next to him, he's a great old Howg. I love that feeling thats racing though me.

 

The trusty Shrew and 300gr VPA terminators never fail.

 

[Bonebuster]

Thanks...I needed that.    

I MUST remember to be wary of ant mounds!  :D

[LONGSTYKES]

Thanks Andy, Great read as usual.  Nice boar.

[Trad-Man]

One word,,,"Sweet".

Excellent photo...did you have a photographer or use the self timer?

[hitman]

You are surely living the dream. Great pictures and stories.  

[Claym]

Amazing as always!        

[straitera]

Sensational! Your writing mirrors your excellent hunting instincts. Thanks Andy. Good hunting.

[KellyG]

Nice old boar, thanks for taking us along.