Intro: Hill Country's Miss Hope and Faith....(roster added on page 2)

[Bud B.]

Nice shootin'!

[threeunder]

I'm sure Faith is ready for some warmer weather!

Them SC hogs better watch out!

[threeunder]

Hey jcar, was wondering if Faith made any bacon in SC?

[jcar315]

Just getting unpacked and caught up with family......I was out of town on Valentines Day so really playing catch up.

[jcar315]

Was able to sneak away for a mid February trip to SC with Faith......and as a tourist a stop at South Of The Border was in order for her.

 

[jcar315]

Got there right after several days of rain and the water seemed to be a little bit higher than normal in a few areas.

 

 

[jcar315]

After taking care of a few things in the morning the afternoon hunt was on. After taking this picture, not 15 minutes after leaving the truck, things got interesting.

 

After putting the camera away movement up ahead caught my eye. The arrow points the way.....

 

Stalking pigs in / around palmettos is just about as good as it gets. Plenty of cover with the tall weeds and the palmettos move around just enough to allow some subtle stalking.

This sounder included a couple of sows with young ones. Not on the menu but so much fun to be in their midst. After being really close for what seemed like a long time one of the sows caught me moving and off they went.

[jcar315]

Next morning was cool and foggy. Great time to be in the woods.

Faith was right at home.

 

Making our way towards the swamp we ran into some turkeys. Little bit of gobbling going on while we were there.

 

[jcar315]

Got into the swamp and didn't take long to run into a group of pigs. Slipped up on 'em but after looking them over for a while no big ones appeared. Just a mob of little ones.

 

 

Had to be nearly 20 +/- in the group but interesting to note that 2 of them had something wrong with one of their front feet. Hobbling around quite a bit.....might not be long for these woods in that kind of shape.

Stump that can't be passed up.

 

[jcar315]

Right at home hiding behind a tree.

 

One of my favorite places in the world.....on the way out of the swamp.

 

[jcar315]

Shared camp with good friends.....

 

On our way back in.....

 

Did alot of looking this day but didn't do any finding.

 

[jcar315]

Plenty of daylight movement so we hunted quite a bit. On the way down the road one afternoon ran into this bunch and played cat and mouse for the rest of the evening.

 

 

 

Another picture of Faith.

 

Stayed right up until dark and then hunted our way back out.

"Green light means go??" Not so much for this bunch after dark. Was able to walk right up to them and almost touch one.

 

[jcar315]

Last day dawned nice and cool and the afternoon provided plenty of sightings. So much fun stalking them up and down the road.

As the sun was setting a group popped out of the brush and started heading my way on the road. Just happened to be near an old stand so I "scurried" up as quietly as I could.

They took their time coming up the road with a big group of slightly "larger" small ones but bringing up the rear were 2 sows and a nice boar.

Here they come!

 

The smaller ones kept right on coming but the "Big 3" kept hanging back moving back and forth. Sun sunk just a little lower and the smaller ones were right under me.

 

With Faith in hand the temptation was great to drop the string on one of the pigs fighting /eating right under the stand but with the other larger ones in sight I held off. Big group moved through and the first big one headed my way!

I was ready but she went scurrying right through, moving way too fast, so she got a pass. One more was on the way though.....as she just ever so slightly slowed in my shooting lane the arrow was off!

But alas it flew just under her chest and off they went. They weren't quite sure what happened but spooked just enough not to come back.

As the sun sank my time with Faith in the swamps of SC drew to a close. High adventure, good friends, and a bow that I grew quite fond of.

I'll get her packed up and shipped out. Enjoy shooting her as much as I did fellows!

[59Alaskan]

Nice pictures John!  Looks like a great hunt!  Thank you for sharing your time with Faith.

[threeunder]

Awesome!  Love goin' after them pigs.  Thanks for taking us along!
Anyone know where Faith is headed next?
Ken

[Shinken]

Most-excellent pics and story John!

Thanks for takin' us along - even though no pigs were hurt while filming!

Just means that next time you will have twice the opportunity to make bacon!

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

Man, that looks like a great place to pig hunt! I'm sure Faith enjoyed being those woods as much as you did!

Bisch

[elkken]

Fine pictures John ... you just can't beat carrying a St Judes bow into the hunting woods. Looked like some brushy stuff. Thanks so much for sharing !

[59Alaskan]

Where has Hope been hiding?  I wonder if the ladies make it to someone with a March turkey season?

[Mike Yancey]

That is what I was thinking ceme24, no hope in a while. I will have it in April for some turkey hunts.
Mike