Off to our evening stands we went. Hog sign was everywhere, and our hopes were still high. A stand called the Racetrack had been productive in the past, and I was happy when Jeff and Benjy suggested I try it.
I hadn't been settled for more than 10 minutes when the first visitor arrived. But rather than the hogs I was hoping for it turned out to be the first in a long parade of racoons. The little corn scavanging rascals were in and out all night to the point I couldn't keep track of how many I saw. I know at one point there were eight of them below me. Some would leave and others return, and they made for an entertaining evening.
Just as darkness was closing in I noticed the racoons below me all looking off to the north, and then they turned and left as a group. As if on cue, a group of hogs came trotting right in to replace them.
There were four in total, with the biggest being a sow, followed by a slightly smaller boar, and two of maybe 25 pounds. I would be happy with either of the two larger animals, and waited for a shot to develop.
The boar turned broadside and I started my draw, but he quickly turned away. At the same time the bigger sow presented a quartering angle, and I quickly shifted my focus to her. The arrow was gone and the next thing I knew the hogs erupted into flight.
Jeff had given me a couple of lighted nocks to try on my arrows, and with the near darkness that is all I could see heading off through the trees. Before it got out of sight the little red dot slowed and then stopped. My hog was down!
The big Silver Flame broadhead had entered high with the steep downward shot and angled down into the vitals.