Just returned from what will be my first of (hopefully) many visits to Ray Hammond's Hog Heaven just outside Estill, SC. Hunted from this past Friday (early AM) to noon on Sunday, and had a blast. Do they have pigs there? Heck yes
!
I saw pigs and was in pigs every day. Put an arrow into a boar on Friday morning, but pig turned at release and ended up with arrow in left rear ham. Waited and then tracked (for a couple hours) only to conclude that arrow came out, and wound was muscle only - blood eventually petered out to nothing.
I hate this, but such is hunting.
Had another close call on Saturday morning when a big sow and two shoats approached as I still hunted down a well worn game trail. I was just getting ready to draw on momma - just waiting her to step from behind some brush at approximately 18 yards, when one of the youngins caught my scent behind me and ran past me at five yards - spooking everyone (including me
). I was so focused on the sow that I lost tract/forgot about the two shoats. Again, such is hunting!
Covered up with pigs on Sunday AM hunt, but just couldn't seem to get the stars to line up, so to speak.
Ray is a great host - anyone who loves trad bows and knives can't be bad! Had the fantastic opportunity to meet Ray's best friend/property owner, Andrew. Neat guy! We shared some
African stories with each other.
It was hot, but the heat did not seem to affect the pigs, and there were plenty of 'skeeters (shout out for ThermaCells
)!
Beautiful country with diverse animal life.
I will be going back soon to finish what I started!
Thanks, Ray, for a truely enjoyable weekend!
P.S. - Ray, I know that you covet my new Centaur, but you're going to have to offer much more than your left testicle before I'll even begin to consider
!