Wild Things website update!

[sticksnstones]

Got your message Joe, and I sent you an email back too.

After the stories I heard about this weekends hunters, I'm ready to pack the car and head down today! Hope one of them gets put into a thread here on TG for everyone to enjoy.
Thom

[WESTBROOK]

Nice prep page Thom    

Geeeezz I want to go down there!

[Stickbow]

This was last year on the back side of Hog Lake. I Crossed calf deep water at the outlet end and went about 60 yards and spotted these two. SWEET MOMMA. I got within 40 yards and snapped this picture before they bailed back into Hog Lake. I never broke surface tension crossing the outlet on my way back.   :eek:  I would rather deal with Bears.

   

[sticksnstones]

Thanks Eric! Are you coming to the Expo? I'll be around the MLA kids booth most of the weekend, drop by if you are there.

Rob, I was raised in NW Montana and I agree with you 100%! I don't let them gators stop me from getting where I want to hunt, but I have made some pretty big detours to avoid them.

********UPDATE FROM CAMP********
A few guys have been asking for a report ahead of their camps. I'll post this for Andrew since we all know Estill can be a little connectivity-challenged.

Two weeks ago a father/son combo showed up for a 3 day hunt in some pretty nasty weather. I was kindof worried about these fellas odds of seeing hogs, but they both took shots. I haven't heard the whole story, but it sounds like the pigs are none the worse for wear.

Last weekend there were 4 hunters in camp for 3 days. Forecast was 100% chance of rain all Friday and Saturday, and quite likely Sunday morning. Really foul weather again. Andrew said the force of the rain one night reminded him of a hurricane that went through, and it dropped 4" of rain between dusk and dawn. Everyone got a little tour Thursday night and they saw hogs before their hunt even started.  On Friday a father/son decided to share a popup blind out by Hog Lake to have some shelter from the elements. A bunch of hogs came out of the swamp and the teenage boy took the shot.  They guys recovered the hog a short distance away and started packing it out down the clay road towards the picnic area in the rain. I can just imagine that sight! Since Saturday brought more rain the guys ran the plan with the popups again and another fellow had a nice drove come in. He got a shot at a good size boar that Andrew has been glassing frequently in an adjacent field. The shot was a hit, but I don't know anything more than that. I know it didn't make it into the freezer. Of the other two guys in camp I understand one didn't get a shot and I believe the last gentleman didn't see any hogs. Considering the torrential rain I can't believe these guys had the weekend they did.

Given the fact that 3 hogs have been killed out of ground blinds on the last 6 hunts, Andrew is going to put out a few more in places where the feeders are getting hit and treestands have not proven successful. Normally things start drying out about now and the temps hold cool. There isn't much growing this time of year, and the hogs get pretty corn focused. The next four camps are pretty much full, hopefully we all have some good stories to share over the next two months!

Do I know anybody going in the next two camps?
Thom

[Pointer]

I was part of that group of four who just got back. My nephew and brother hunted together Friday afternoon in pouring rain out of the Hog lake blind and had a group of 6 small hogs come in to feed. My nephew made a good shot on one of these and they found it less than 75 yards from where it had been hit. Andrew was amazed that anything was moving in such weather. It dropped 4" of rain in 24 hours.

The next day brother Dave was in the Gumbo treestand and got an opportunity at a mid-sized boar. The arrow was low and the boar jumped over two steps before beginning to feed again. He actually got a second shot and clipped the hair from the top of its back. There was hair caught in the feather but no blood to speak of. Andrew told us that there is a layer of fat up around there that the arrow must have passed through. The hog ran off with the rest none the worse for wear. My brother was kicking himself for two days lol. Can't blame him, he's generally a pretty good shot with his recurve. I can't believe he missed twice.

I bumped one out of a thicket as I was sneaking through the woods on Sunday morning. It spooked from 25 or so yards and ran out to 40 yards in the blink of an eye but there was just too much woods between us. No shot was possible and he ran off deeper into the woods. It must have seen me coming  because the wind was in my favor the entire time. I considered following for a bit but the hunt was winding down.

It was a good trip where we got one and should have had two. Not to mention the deer, turkeys, coyote and bobcat we encountered at various points of the hunt that continually remind me of how much I enjoy my time afield.

Already looking at my calendar for next year.

[smokin joe]

I have to get black down there very soon.

[Terry Green]

Wow...that's a dandy gator on the right!!!

Sound like its getting better and better.  I would certainly imagine more kills on these hunts and ours due to weather and full moon.

What really sound good is the opportunities being had despite.  You can put them on em, but can't put them in the freezer for them that's for sure.

[sticksnstones]

Thanks for the first-hand version of the story John, sounds like a very good weekend considering that weather!

I'm with you Terry, it will be very interesting to see how the next few groups do. They are full(er) camps with a lot of return hunters. I'm in full planning/prep mode for the March trip already, know some of the other guys are gearing up and hitting the range a bit more too.
Thom

[Pointer]

Thanks Thom...Andrew told us more than once that he'd have been taking a nap if he were us on Friday afternoon during the worst of the rain lol..He was totally caught off guard  cooking dinner when I told him my nephew reached me by text and said he'd killed a hog. My buddy and I had to watch dinner while Andrew went out to pick them up. Fact is I drove 13 hours to get there to hunt for 2 1/2 days. No way we were gonna stay in camp, regardless of weather.

It was a good hunt even with the weather. There are lots of hogs on the property. If I'd had a bit more time to hunt I'm sure I would have gotten my chance as well. Maybe do 5 days next year..

[Red Beastmaster]

The 5 day hunts are nice. It's a more leasurely experience with less pressure to cram in all you can in a short time.

Sleeping in, coffee on the porch w/Andrew, looking for arrow heads, casting a line in the pond, etc are all possible and encouraged. Our whole group of eight did a 5 day last March. What a laid back relaxing vacation. It was sunny and warm the whole week. Ahhh, Spring Break!

That being said, this time I'm going for only 3 days as are a couple other guys in the tribe. I'm hoping the 5 day boys leave a few for us.

Can't wait. I just finished plowing my driveway AGAIN. I need some sunshine!

[Rick Butler]

Really looking forward to our April hunt.  Thinking of maybe booking a hunt in October also.

[sticksnstones]

If you do an October hunt be sure to buy that big game license and talk to Andrew about what deer he wants guys to shoot.  

Terry saw this buck in December, it's a good representative of what I see most commonly out there:
     

There are bigger/smaller and does around, but tall/symmetrical 6 points seem to be what I see most.
Thom

[smokin joe]

Thom is right -- lots and lots of deer on the property.