The groundhogs have come out of hibernation here in SW PA!
I probably enjoy bowhunting groundhogs more than anything else, except maybe hunting feral hogs at Ray's. I even made a trail up in the woodlot behind the house I call "Hog Alley". It runs about 5yd inside the edge and goes by several active dens. I keep the path free of sticks and leaves, I make sure the shooting lanes are open as well. I usually shoot around half a dozen here in a year. I have other places I hunt too but I can check on the Alley almost every day.
Yesterday I went up to the woodlot to check on some active holes I have been watching. There is no cover yet as our bushes are just now starting to turn green. I glassed a big bugger sitting on a rock pile. I don't know how he saw me but it took a dive down the hole. I eased up and got ready for a quick head shot if it popped back up. Nothing.
Just then I heard a terrible racket from out in the 12" high hay field. A big hog was being chased by an even bigger hog! It was wild with lots of growling and snarling! The winner ran off to a hole and the loser just sat there looking like a whipped pup.
The hog was 75yd out in the field, I had no cover, so I just walked right toward it. That will work on some hogs some of the time. Just walk with purpose straight at it. They will freeze or lay flat hoping you will pass by.
At 20yd I figured it was go time. The beast was sitting with his back to me watching me from the side. I had my Brackenbury Quest on this hunt, we've been bonding well lately so I just had to let the bow do its' thing. The 4-blade Muzzy hit right behind the front leg and out the sternum. It ran a short ways and turned to face me. What the heck?! Next shot was in the head next to the eye. I knocked it over but still it got up to face me, lowered its' head and looked like it was about to charge. A wood arrow w/.38 casing weighted with lead sinkers to the skull ended this bazaar encounter. Geesh!
Not quite sure what was up with that pig but it was one of the hardest to kill I ever ran across. I couldn't have hit it any better. They are very tough critters to put down.
Anyways, that hog was my first of the year and my 224th since I started chasing them with stickbows 25 years ago. It's going to be a great summer!