The day was hot. Fortunately there was a steady breeze. The weather had recently changed from weeks of rain to clear open sky's with the sun quickly drying out the land. Lord Newley Hutchison of Chainranch Shire had requested help with a group of beast that was ravaging his lands. My friend and fellow ranger Hawken traveled the long distance from his lands to add aide to this quest because of his recent experience with taking down such an animal. We met up at my home and spent the following day reading the gear we would need on this adventure. We paid special attention to sharpening our broadheads and tuning our shafts to our longbows because the animals have a very thick plate which covers their vitals to protect them from the sharp tusk of rival beast. The beasts were known to be very quick to anger and fiercely charge any who dared to enter their territory.
We gathered our gear and headed to the Lords land. There we met up with the Lords man Jose who was in charge of any visiting guest. He was short with a solid build and his dark skin attested to many hours spent out of doors. He was very welcoming and quickly showed us where we would be staying for the duration of our stay. The cottage he took us to was very large, quite comfortable and would be a good reprieve from our time on the surrounding land. Jose bid us to make ourselves at home and when we were ready to head out he would take us to where he had recently seen signs of the animals. We stowed our gear and prepared for the hunt.
After a brief rest from traveling we told Jose we were eager to head out and see the area for ourselves where we would be hunting. Hoping to find fresh sign of the beast travels so we could form a plan. We headed out that evening with Jose telling us that because of the oppressive heat the beast were bedded down during the day and would only come out after the setting of the sun to forage.
We found fresh sign of the beast passing and the area that they were feeding on which was rich in corn and had plenty of surrounding water and good cover. As the sun sank to the west with a marvelous farewell before yielding to the night we quickly set up blinds with timber and brush that would keep us well hidden.
Now we settled into the wait listening for any sounds that would announce the coming of the animals. As the light dimmed to night we heard the sounds of the animals heading in from behind us. Hawken had set up on the side of a well worn path and I on another hopping that the beast would pass right by us and allow us to get a good clean shot. Not long after I could hear the approach of something that sounded large as it let out low grunts and would pause to root around in the dirt. My heart beat faster and i readied my bow ever so slow turning towards the noise. The moon had not risen yet so the light was very dim indeed. I watched intently for the beast to pass right next to my blind of brush hopping that he didn't since my presence. The beast rooted around not more than 20 feet away at best but never did come down the trail towards the corn. Then i heard splashing in front of me where there was a small pond surrounded by high grasses which was about 200 feet away. The sounds of the splashing died away and then i heard a group of them sliding through the grass right to the area in front of me. They emerged and i could see there were 12 hogs most of them piglets but a few sows that were very large. They started to greedily feed on the corn that covered the ground with an occasional fight breaking out. I focused on the largest sow and waited until they would come within a close range. My blood was pumping, there was still the sound of the beast behind me and the group of hogs moved closer and closer. I slowly came up onto my knees and pointed my longbow readying for the shot when the sow was right in front of me. Because of the dark I would only have one shot. I said to myself over and over. Just wait for it....just wait for it..... the sow moved closer and then there was a noise from the main trail to my right. Suddenly a light flared up and the hogs bolted. Crashing into the brush and quickly swallowed by the tall grass. As i cursed under my breath the light came closer and closer. It was Jose with a lantern who had come out to lead us back to the cottage. I shook my head in frustration and gathered my gear and walked out of my hiding place. I then saw Hawken heading out towards me and I told him about how close the hogs had been. He too had had hogs behind him but none had come down the trail close enough.
We told Jose how close we had come and even though his interruption spoiled the hunt we couldn't blame him because we had told him to come back around that time to get us. Even though we hadn't been able to make a kill it still was very encouraging to have seen so many and we would head out the next day eager to hunt again.
We woke early the next day and decided to go to another area and scout it out before it became unbearably hot. Jose lead us to an area that he had seen signs of the animals a few months back but no one had been there recently. The morning was already starting to heat up as Jose turned to go and we headed out to the open expanse. The land was mostly plains with groups of trees here and there and the views of the plains went on forever. Hawken had not ever seen such land and was amazed at the openness of it all. There was a steady wind that helped keep us cool and also made our passing quiet.
We headed towards a group of trees following a well worn trail with fresh sign. We stalked for a long time covering a long distance. Twice we had scared up a rabbit but the brush was to thick to even get off a quick shot and we also saw two deer from a distance bounding through the plains from tree line to tree line. It was getting very warm and we were both tired from the traveling and the night before. The trails we were on became smaller and smaller and finally ended all together. We took a break and sat down to rest and take long drinks from our costrel water bottles. We talked about how to proceed from there and decided to head back the direction we had come and check out the edges of a small lake. The grass and cotton tails were very high here with occasional groups of trees that lined a swampy area that headed towards the lake. We quickly found a large well used trail that showed recent sign of the animals crossing and followed it ever so slowly. Hawken was ahead of me aways and as i looked around i saw an area that just called to me. It was right on the edge of the water and had trees lining it. I came upon a huge bedding area. There was fresh sign and scat all over the wet mushy ground and you could see where the animals had made several wallows. I slowly scanned the area and saw a trail that headed to my right. I slowly headed that direction for the prints were very fresh. I came upon a group of three trees that were surrounded by cotton tails. I slowly slid forward making no sound at all on the wet soft trail and then i saw him. The brush was so thick i was right on top of the beast before i knew it! He was laying down on his right side obviously asleep from the steady deep breaths it took and it hadn't heard my approach. I froze and quickly looked to where Hawken was. I caught his eye and signaled that it was right here. He stood there and waited in case the beast spooked and came his way. It was not more than 10 feet in front of me. The smell of him was intense. His sides rose and fell slowly, his thick course black hair covered in mud. A tree was blocking my sight of his head with his body sprawled out directly away from me. The only angle i had was a shot to his stomach and towards the rear. It wasn't a clean shot and even though i was so close i just couldn't take that shot. I slowly stepped back trying to angle up and right so i could come in on him from the side but right then he must have woken and seen me. He exploded up and headed away from me quickly disappearing into the brush. I immediately came to full draw in case he turned and rushed me. It was curious but i was completely calm. I had never been that close to such a large beast.....especially one that could fight back! but i guess my instincts took over. The beast had went the direction where Hawken was facing. I motioned for him to head towards it as i came up from the rear. It had stopped only about 60 feet down from me and i was ready in case it rushed out towards my friend. Hawken slowly slid down towards where the beast had stopped. As i slowly came forward i saw Hawken freeze and he brought his longbow up. He had spotted the beast and it was only about 10 feet in front of him bedded down in the muck trying to hide. Hawken was face to face with it. He had no shot and after pausing for awhile he inched slowly to the right trying to get a better angle. The beast exploded out and ran into the thick brush so quickly that he didn't even have the time to come to full draw. I watched as the beast ran away to was swallowed up in the swampy grass. We had no chance of seeing him again.
I was smiling as i came out and headed towards Hawken. So was he. Even though neither of us had been able to get an arrow off we had come so close that that was reward enough. Our adventure was over but we felt satisfied with the outcome.
There would certainly be other adventures in the future!!!
Topic: Our Medieval Hunt (Read 721 times)
