BLOOD ON THE BACON STRIP!!!!!!

[leatherneck]

There was no wonder that he was alone. He was a beast! He came in very slow and cautious. Mature was an understatement. He always would face the blind and never turn broadside. The couple times he did he his vitals were behind the feeder posts. In he background I hear other hogs trying to come in but he would lift his head and grunt at them. They would run every time he grunted. I'm waiting For Steves signal to hit the light but it would never come. One last attempt by the other hogs to get to the bait really upset this beast. He finally chased them all off grunting and growling as he ran after them. We never did see him again.

[leatherneck]

The next day we decided to revise our blind a touch and move it back. After adjusting our set-up we felt confident that we had everything covered should old blacky come back. Back to camp for some PB&J.

[leatherneck]

We arrive at the blind at our usual 3:30 and settle in for the evening. It finally hit me that last night we were on the ground sitting 12 yards from a very mad 200# plus hog. It just doesnt get any better than that! So with hopes still high we sat and waited.
Now the loggers were gone for the weekend so we were sitting peacefully with no noise. I looked at Steve at 5:30 and reminded him that the pics I got were at 5:38. The hogs sense of time would not disappoint us.
My buddy Steve just turned 59 yrs. old but is fit as a 30 yr. old. But one thing he has no control over is his hearing. It's not as good as it once was. But thats what I was there for.
Very shortly after 5:30 I hear leaves in the distance. I tell Steve,We got hogs. He said I dont hear a thing. I said get up and get ready. He stood in the blind and readied his bow. Me, I got the camera up and was ready myself. They must have anticipated old blacky coming back at 6:30 casue they came in with a vengence. One second no hogs,next about 25!!!!!
The bait was full of pigs!!!!!! Five of which were shooter pigs the others were piglets. Although all are good eating we were shooting the bigger ones.

[leatherneck]

I watched Steve draw back several times only to let down each time. He whispered,"they wont stand still". I chuckled to myself taking in this whole situation. There was nowhere else that I wanted to be at this time.
You see,Steve is a correction officer who also runs the family farm. He's a hard worker and rarely gets time for himself with 3 kids and a wife. Not to mention he's been a good friend to me over the years. Thats why I elected to hunt with him instead of splitting up. I wanted Steve to shoot a hog on this trip and I wanted to be there beside him. As they say,"it's not all about getting a kill". Now back to the hogs.

[leatherneck]

Finally the humor left us and seriousness kicked in. Steve picked one out and concentrated. Out of the corner of my eye I see the arrow go back just as it had done before. This time he held. I knew the shot was coming and I was looking at the broadside pig.

[leatherneck]

Steve released and all he** broke loose!!!!! The pig squeeled and turned to flee. It ran about 60 yards out of sight and then we heard it.
If you've ever heard a bear do the death growl then you know where I'm coming from. This pig squeeled so loud I believe it was it's death growl. It actually sent a chill down my spine. I looked over to Steve and saw a smile from ear to ear. He said do you think I got him? I said no bud, you smoked him!!!!!

[leatherneck]

The track was an easy by one by Steve,Ben,and Hayden and the pig only went 60 yards. Being color blind this is one part of retrieving game that I am ineffective at. The 63# longbow sent the GrizzlyStik clean through the top of both lungs. Heres a pic of Steves 1st hog on his 1st hog hunt.

 

[Guru]

Congrats to Steve!!  This is fun bud      

carry on    

[JamesKerr]

Congrats guys!

[leatherneck]

I got to hunt the last evening and almost got an opportunity at another one from this same group. But at the last minute when they were 20 yards from the bait the wind would be our downfall again. Once it switched and went straight at them it was all over. But, thats hunting!!!!

I'll tell you ,I didnt hunt much on this trip myself but had a complete blast! I've had the luxury of being near my nephew on his 1st trad deer kill this year and now one of my best buds first hog kill. I cant thank Michael enough for having us down there. It's a pure pleasure being in the company of the likes of Michael and friends.

Thanks for coming along with us but dont go away. Eagleeye has some stories to tell as well.

[leatherneck]

One flaw in the whole mix was I didnt account for the mesh on the blind for filming. It was folded over where I was filming from and you cant see squat. Live and learn I guess.

[longbowben]

As eagleeye waited in the blind he wanted a photo of his new bow  

[longbowben]

[longbowben]

At 424pm the feeder went off and within minutes we herd hogs coming full boar at us.3 big hogs and lots of little pigs rushed out eagleeye picked the close one and started to draw but the hog turned eagleeye let down this happened a few more times.And then the big hog turned perfectly for him eagleeye drew his bow and held for a few seconds and then zap the arrow went right into the shoulder of the hog the arrow was hanging out of the hogs opposite front shoulder as the pig ran off the arrow fell to the ground.

[longbowben]

We jumped up and hi fived we walked over and found the arrow covered in blood and blood splattered on the trees and brush.Eagleeye said its your turn dad.While nothing else came in we waited for everyone to come help.Blood was hard to find in all that brush and Steve said here is the blood trail.I walked over to Steve and wow the blood was pouring out of the hog.

[Richie]

   

[longbowben]

After following a great blood trail for about 100 yards the hog went into the swamp, water about 6-10 inches deep blood was all in the water but then it got ugly after walking around in water for quite a while we couldn't find anything else.I felt like crap i know he killed that hog and there was nothing i could do to find him.I felt like i let him down, i pride myself on my tracking skills and it was hard to swallow.Eagleeye said dad you tryed hard thank you.So im going to give everyone a tip if your going hog hunting and thier is lots of water bring a string tracker we wont go without one again.Im still kicking myself for not having one.

[longbowben]

Not every story works out the way you want. But nothing beats being with your true friends enjoying the outdoors.Michael Thanks for having us down.Congrats Steve on your first hog.

[Izzy]

Awesome fellas, thats what its all about.  

[leatherneck]

I have to tell you all. Young Eagleeye has become one heck of a shot. For only 10 years old he is money with his new Hoots bow. I'm proud of his accomplishments.        

Cant wait to get back to the strip!!!!!