Hog Wild @ Wild Things '13 - the Truth and nuthin' but the Truth

[rbcorbitt]

Okay fellow TG members!  Thread is up.   Forgive me, as I and several of the others are just getting in from traveling!

Hogs - yes, there were plenty of hogs.  Successes - that is all subjective, but, yes, there were successes!

New friendships made - oh yes!

And so, the stories (and pics) shall begin!        

Tuned in!

Bisch

[huntnmuleys]

yep, im listening...

[sticksnstones]

I'm not exactly sure how 9 guys are going to tell one hunting story, but I'll start off with the cast of characters to help everyone follow along:
     

From left to right:
Thom - sticksnstones
Terry - Terry Green
James -  Nattybumppo
Joe - smokin joe
Tom -  suburbanirma
Bud - Bud B.
Brian - Bel007 (aka Big Sexy)
Bob - rbcorbitt
Todd - herndondt
Andrew - TrueBlue
Harry - the wonder dog

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I recognize a few folks here      

[Aggie1993]

This should be good!      

[rbcorbitt]

First and foremost, a BIG THANK YOU!        to the companies, TG Sponsors and others, who made this trip such a success!

No particular order here.

Steve Angell, SimplyTraditional.net
Andrew Harper, Hunt Wild Things
Big Jim, Big Jim Bows
South Cox, Stalker Stickbows
Tim at Braveheart Archery
Tom Colstad with Trad Archer's World
Todd at Spot 360
Confederate Forge
Blue Stone Block
AllanBlock.com

I hope I have covered them all (if not, forgive me as I am just off of 9 hours of stressful traveling).

Oh yes!  A big shout out to Terry Green for sharing a couple days in camp with us!  Terry shared his own expertise on hunting hogs in the swamps (and Armadillos too    

[maineac]

[T-D]

Just let me get to a keyboard and I'll jump right in. There's way too much to type for this phone. I had a blast! More to come!!!

[awbowman]

Dang it Bob, I'm here wait for stories nursing my drink.  Better get on with the stories or the Crown Reserve will soon be gone.

[rbcorbitt]

Fred,

Just sip, my friend       !

Bob

[Nattybumppo]

Harry ain't just a wonder dog. That's a super dog. He'd rule the world if he didn't think Andrew already did.

[wooddamon1]

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Somehow I think this'll be a good one!!

[awbowman]

SOMEBODY show me a bloody broken arrow

[wapiti792]

I was supposed to be there but signed up for the St Jude's Marathon which got promptly canceled...oh well probably saved me a heart attack but COST me a hunt with this crew    

Can't wait for the stories boys    

[suburbanirma]

Great team photo, Thom! Let me say that this group of men was a most pleasant, interesting, caring and sharing bunch. Some really good yarn spinners with great senses of humor. Glad to have been there for Hog Wild Hunt #1. I had a great time, ate too well and certainly would like to do it again. I have a pic to share of the strategizing session held the evening before the start of the hunt.
 

[Bud B.]

Day 1

I was the first dropped off. I hunted just N/E of the new camp. The wind was hard to figure. I had to reverse course and set out in a different direction than originally planned. There was a hardwood stand encircled by mature pines. With acorns falling I thought it would be a good spot to check. Upon hitting the pines I saw a good trail. Plenty of fresh tracks to follow on the well worn dirt. I had been on this trail before at Andrew's property. I knew it led to the swamp. I followed it for a while until the tracks were fewer. Figuring the hogs left the trail I set out to find the hardwood stand and the patches of river cane set among the forest floor.

Sign was aplenty. Some old. Some relatively fresh. Some probably only hours old. I maneuvered my way to the hardwood stand hoping to find loads of fresh rooting as the acorns were everywhere. Surprisingly the only thing working these acorns were squirrels. I sat a while hoping a deer might meander by, but the only thing I saw, other than squirrels, were two turkey.

As lunchtime approached I started stalking my way back towards camp. I came upon two fresh wallows not far from where I was dropped off earlier. There was also plenty of sign of rut activity. I have never seen more scrapes made by bucks in three days of hunting.

No hogs on the morning hunt.

[Mike Vines]

Looking forward to all that's about to come.

[VictoryHunter]