Thanks guys and gals for all of the kind words. I am really happy about the hunt and glad I get to contribute with a success rather than an "almost" story.
The red fletched arrow is just that, red fletching. That is my judo tipped arrow for stump shooting during the day.
Eric, I'm definitely ready to head up to Tejon when you are.
The first morning at Choppers was cold and foggy and drizzling so much you'd think it was raining. I arrived at my spot late, put my bow on an ice chest only to have it fall off and clank the side of the truck. I shut the door only to realize I had to get inside and have to shut the door again. About three minutes later I crest the hill and start walking down with a wind crossing into me at about a 45-deg angle. I'm about 200 yards from the truck and I look to my right to see this big ol' square image. It's not moving so I think it's a cow but actually it's a huge hog. It's checking me out and after a moment it decides I'm no threat and continues to move to my right and past me at about 50 yards... The hog I didn't see catches my scent and charges up the hill and out of sight taking the first hog with it. These were the two largest hogs I have ever seen afoot and though the rest of the day was uneventful I was stoked the hunt had started out seeing game. It reminded me that no matter how much noise you make or forget to keep an eye on the wind as long as you correct your mistakes and move slowly the hunt is never over until you're back in the truck heading home.
The second morning found me still-hunting the same area with no piggies in sight. I decided to hunt the nasty stuff and side-hill-it just below the chemise and see if I could catch something going to bed. The wind was a little tough to work and after about an hour of hunting I recall saying to myself "go-slow, be quiet, work the wind". It wasn't but a few steps further that I worked my way to a little clearing on the side of the hill and found three hogs feeding up in to the chemise. My heart was beating fast as I knocked an arrow and came to full draw. I loosed an arrow and at about 25 paces heard the thump of my arrow hit the target. One hog ran into the chemise and stopped just thirty yards away. Another hog ran away and down the hill side quickly out of sight and the hog I stuck ran about 15 yards and stopped for a moment before also going over the hill and out of sight. I noticed the arrow was further back than I had hoped and the arrow had penetrated just over half way through the hog. As I went to the spot where I last saw the pig the hog that ran up into the chemise made a dash and ran behind me. I am convinced that none of the hogs knew what had just happened. This is where I did the right thing. I marked the spot, and backed off. My adrenaline was rushing and as I made my way back to the truck, all up hill of course, all I could think was "please let me find this pig". Arrowslinger found his way to me and we went to pick up Chopper and the dogs. It was about two hours before we made it back to the spot I had marked and we went into "find" mode. Arrowslinger is an awesome tracker and we tracked blood for about 75 yards when the blood thinned out and the trail broke into two or three directions. Arrowslinger worked his way on a trail leading down towards the creek and up the next hill. Dolly, Sparky and Trixie working as well. I was checking another trail when we heard Dolly give one bark. Chopper said usually that is a good thing and within a few minutes while following a couple of tracks Arrowslinger made his way to Dolly and the dead hog. Talk about excited... I hear Arrowslinger yelling "we got a dead pig here!!" and I am stoked. This hog had traveled less than two hundred yards but had gone through some real nasty stuff before bleeding out. A couple of quick photos, field dressed the hog and then a short downhill pull back to the creek where the hard part started. It really took some effort and about 2 or so hours to get this hog back to the vehicle. I relished every moment.
A while back I got all sentimental and told Chopper that the times hunting up at his place with him and the friends I had met there were times I would never forget. I faintly recall him poking a little fun at me for my comments... Man!! Do I have some real special times to keep with me now!!
I shot it with a recurve. I made sure to take my time and not rush the hunt. I always kept my mind on the wind. And I didn't push the hog when it had been stuck. Awesome!!
The red fletched arrow is just that, red fletching. That is my judo tipped arrow for stump shooting during the day.
Eric, I'm definitely ready to head up to Tejon when you are.
The first morning at Choppers was cold and foggy and drizzling so much you'd think it was raining. I arrived at my spot late, put my bow on an ice chest only to have it fall off and clank the side of the truck. I shut the door only to realize I had to get inside and have to shut the door again. About three minutes later I crest the hill and start walking down with a wind crossing into me at about a 45-deg angle. I'm about 200 yards from the truck and I look to my right to see this big ol' square image. It's not moving so I think it's a cow but actually it's a huge hog. It's checking me out and after a moment it decides I'm no threat and continues to move to my right and past me at about 50 yards... The hog I didn't see catches my scent and charges up the hill and out of sight taking the first hog with it. These were the two largest hogs I have ever seen afoot and though the rest of the day was uneventful I was stoked the hunt had started out seeing game. It reminded me that no matter how much noise you make or forget to keep an eye on the wind as long as you correct your mistakes and move slowly the hunt is never over until you're back in the truck heading home.
The second morning found me still-hunting the same area with no piggies in sight. I decided to hunt the nasty stuff and side-hill-it just below the chemise and see if I could catch something going to bed. The wind was a little tough to work and after about an hour of hunting I recall saying to myself "go-slow, be quiet, work the wind". It wasn't but a few steps further that I worked my way to a little clearing on the side of the hill and found three hogs feeding up in to the chemise. My heart was beating fast as I knocked an arrow and came to full draw. I loosed an arrow and at about 25 paces heard the thump of my arrow hit the target. One hog ran into the chemise and stopped just thirty yards away. Another hog ran away and down the hill side quickly out of sight and the hog I stuck ran about 15 yards and stopped for a moment before also going over the hill and out of sight. I noticed the arrow was further back than I had hoped and the arrow had penetrated just over half way through the hog. As I went to the spot where I last saw the pig the hog that ran up into the chemise made a dash and ran behind me. I am convinced that none of the hogs knew what had just happened. This is where I did the right thing. I marked the spot, and backed off. My adrenaline was rushing and as I made my way back to the truck, all up hill of course, all I could think was "please let me find this pig". Arrowslinger found his way to me and we went to pick up Chopper and the dogs. It was about two hours before we made it back to the spot I had marked and we went into "find" mode. Arrowslinger is an awesome tracker and we tracked blood for about 75 yards when the blood thinned out and the trail broke into two or three directions. Arrowslinger worked his way on a trail leading down towards the creek and up the next hill. Dolly, Sparky and Trixie working as well. I was checking another trail when we heard Dolly give one bark. Chopper said usually that is a good thing and within a few minutes while following a couple of tracks Arrowslinger made his way to Dolly and the dead hog. Talk about excited... I hear Arrowslinger yelling "we got a dead pig here!!" and I am stoked. This hog had traveled less than two hundred yards but had gone through some real nasty stuff before bleeding out. A couple of quick photos, field dressed the hog and then a short downhill pull back to the creek where the hard part started. It really took some effort and about 2 or so hours to get this hog back to the vehicle. I relished every moment.
A while back I got all sentimental and told Chopper that the times hunting up at his place with him and the friends I had met there were times I would never forget. I faintly recall him poking a little fun at me for my comments... Man!! Do I have some real special times to keep with me now!!
I shot it with a recurve. I made sure to take my time and not rush the hunt. I always kept my mind on the wind. And I didn't push the hog when it had been stuck. Awesome!!
