Alright fellas,
It's getting close to that time again. Four years ago I had wanted to go on a Tradgang hunt, but at the time my funds just did not give me an option to travel or anything like that. So I found a way to "go" to a tradgang hunt and be as cost friendly as possible for me as well as everyone else, I hosted one. The first year I think we had around 15 people total. It was a blast. The next couple years we had around 10 or so people on the hunt. This year it will be about the same(10-15 hunters). We have a core group that have priority (much like the KennyM lease hunts, but we want to try to make it a little more beneficial for those hunters who are traveling. It's usually a Friday through Sunday hunt(3 days of hunting), this year, I want to open it up for someone to stay as long as they'd like within reason. I am thinking about arriving on wednesday evening (January 16,2019) (Crittergetter will be there then) and allowing the hunting until you're ready to go home, but I will have to leave monday(Jan 21,2019).
This will give us more time to get on our quarry and will also allow us some more time to enjoy the campfire and the delicious eatings of each day! If there is one thing that never disappoints, it's the food. haha.
Cost of license is typically around $30/day and that includes everything you'll need for deer or hog. The camping will be free(you'll have to bring your tent or whatever you plan on sleeping in).
I will reply later today with all the ones that I know will be returning. Waiting to hear back from some of them as we speak. Since it is longer than usual this year, we will likely expand to closer to 15 than 10.
Getting the list together.. I was waiting on some of the others to reply, but i'll go ahead and start it.
THIS IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO JOIN!
Confirmed:
1. Daniel Binkley (DanielB89)
2. Randy Madden (Crittergetter)
3. Darren Shue (hackbow)
4. Todd Trahan (John146)
5. Tim (Todd's friend)
6. Jacob Bergeron (Jbpharmd)
7. Craig Graniteo (HOGLESS2)
8. Kevin M8hunter
9. Donald Blair (Donald Blair)
10. Sam Stephens (Sam E. Stephens)
11. Asa (Crittergetters pal)
12. Asa's Friend
13. Rick Chumbley (Chumster)
14. Fattony77
Waiting List
The Goods:
Randy - Breakfast burritos and Brisket (have i mentioned that you've been moved up to a preferred guest now?)
Jacob - Etouffee
Darren - "real chili"
Craig - MEATS
Me - Carbonated beverages (non alcohol (BYOB)), waters, snacks..
I will be bringing a smaller propane grill and my outdoor stove. Let me know if y'all need anything in particular.
Breakfast burritos anyone??? :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I'll be there with my game face on!!!
Should have know the first post would involve food! ^^^ lol
Me and Donald might try and come...
,,Sam,,
Yeah, sounds like fun!
I'm in Daniel. Looking forward to another great hunt with some great guys!! Appreciate you hosting it again.
We had some awesome time last year. We were really in the hogs, they just didn't read the script like I had hoped haha.
This will be our year, I can feel it!!!
Me and Donald are good , I can get there on the 17th ...
We can go over the details when you come hunt with us...
,,Sam,,
Quote from: SAM E. STEPHENS on November 14, 2018, 11:56:52 AM
Me and Donald are good , I can get there on the 17th ...
We can go over the details when you come hunt with us...
,,Sam,,
I'm still trying to work that out! I thought that was going to be this weekend, but it isn't looking that way.
still have some spots available. Would love to meet some new people!!
PM if you have any questions!
Where is it? Boeuf WMA?
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
Super excited about this hunt every year! Wonderful group of guys. Has anyone heard from old Kip?
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Pm sent
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Me and Donald are going to come...
Going to bring my pop-up camper if that's ok for where we are camping....
,,,,Sam,,,,
Quote from: Ronnie Newell on November 23, 2018, 09:58:26 PM
Pm sent
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Would love to see some pics of the last few hunts you held if you have any? thanks....this sounds like a blast!
Where is the hunt located? Public or private ground?
I'm going to have to do some figuring. I've been wanting to do this trip since you first started doing it. I don't know that I can get approved for the leave until next month starts (bosses only schedule out a month ahead). If I can figure that out & make sure that I can afford the trip, I will do my best to make it. And I'll be sure to bring a few batches of "Fat Boy Brownies" with me....
I'm on my mobile device at this time and searching/pasting can be a chore. You can search the word "boeuf hog hunts" and it should bring them up. We've done a write up every year.
Also, photobucket took a lot of our pictures hostage when they swapped their system a couple years back.
It is on public land.
For anyone on the fence, it's about more than just a hunt. The time at camp is more for than hunting imo! It is a blast and something we've grown to look forward to it each year! It's my favorite hunt annually!
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a few questions i've been getting through PM.
Is the $30 the only cost per day?
Yes, that gets you everything you need to hunt for the day on our WMA's. You'll be free to kill hog, deer, rabbits, squirrels, etc and that is the ONLY cost associated with the hunt other than your gas and food. My father in law allows us to use his camp for immediate needs (poop/pee/shower(occasionally)) so at the end of the week usually people throw a little money in the kitty as a "thank you". This is in no means mandatory, but having a porcelain throne while camping is huge, to me at aleast.
Typically people volunteer to bring a meal of their choice just to help with food around the camp and be sure everyone gets to admire their cooking skills. In the past, all of our breakfasts have been covered by Randy Madden (Crittergetter) who would bring a bagillion breakfast burritos. I don't believe he will be doing that again this year, so we will have to plan accordingly.
We have had whole pigs roasted, gumbo's, steak and gravy, as well as several other great items throughout the past 3 years. This, again, is by no way is it "mandatory", but it is great to split the cost of food throughout all the people instead of just one. I am going to start a list of potential foods people plan on bringing as well as completely updating the list today. If you're not on it and want to be, please PM me!
I call dibs on the couch!!!! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I will be bringing breakfast burritos and a brisket!!
AND COFFEE!!!!!!!!!
I'll be doing my shrimp etoufee based on previous consumer feedback.
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Let's go ahead and start a food sign up as well.
Randy - Breakfast burritos and Brisket (have i mentioned that you've been moved up to a preferred guest now?)
Jacob - Etouffee
I can cook something, bring a ton of drinks and snacks. I spoke with Kip and he will be sitting this one out, so that opens up gumbo. I'll likely bring that and some drinks, or whatever else.
pretty excited since we have begun talking about food now..
Sounds like a dang good time with delicious grub!
Quote from: Basinboy on November 28, 2018, 08:38:24 PM
Sounds like a dang good time with delicious grub!
be nice if you'd join someday.. just sayin..
""Sounds like a dang good time with delicious grub!"
"be nice if you'd join someday.. just sayin.."
Corey, just sack-up and come. I. Know you Cajuns think you've cornered the market on cooking - and maybe that's mostly true. But Texans combine food with smoke and fun.
Put it on the calendar and show up. I guarantee you won't regret it....except for the day after we have my chili for dinner. Swamp walking may be a bit uncomfortable at that point, LOL.
BTW, Daniel....put me down for real chili one night.
this thing is getting better each day..
If it's not too late, add me in & I'll bring some Fat Boy Brownies (maybe something else if I can think of something). I should be able to make it for a few days, at least.
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I'm sure I have some extra critter meat in the freezer I can bring...
,,Sam,,
Sam, I actually laughed when I read that!!
I'm sure you've got something left!! Lol
You've had an awesome season so far!!
Quote from: Fattony77 on November 29, 2018, 07:36:20 PM
If it's not too late, add me in & I'll bring some Fat Boy Brownies (maybe something else if I can think of something). I should be able to make it for a few days, at least.
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got you in bud, and you'll close out the team. Thanks.
We will also start a waiting list. Every year life happens and people can't come.
Just got approved for a week's worth of leave for that time-frame, so I'm definitely in. If there's anything specific that I need to bring for food (besides a couple of pans of F.B. Brownies), just let me know. I'm starting to get excited already!!!! :bigsmyl:
Yes, rule is the new guys have to bring a whole ribeye... bone in..
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Ok, but what will you guys eat? :goldtooth:
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Quote from: SAM E. STEPHENS on November 30, 2018, 12:31:26 AM
I'm sure I have some extra critter meat in the freezer I can bring...
,,Sam,,
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
I'm sure there is a little to spare in there..
working on getting us a forum up where we can all collaborate together.
Check your email sir
Great idea Daniel!
Quote from: Chumster on December 06, 2018, 06:59:05 PM
Great idea Daniel!
I don't know that i've ever had a bad idea.. :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Alright Fellas,
Terry has graciously given us our own piece of the real estate here to discuss the X's and O's of this hunt and answer any particular questions anyway may have. There isn't a password, but (to my understanding), only the ones that are attending are allowed access.
If you're on the attending list and can't access it, please let me know.
Thank you, Terry.
http://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?board=117.0
Working for me,
Thanks Terry and Daniel!
Making sure everyone sees the link to the new area.
Got it.
[emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]
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Welp, the day has come. Some people are already on location to search for a sounder. I will be able to head that way after work today.
I hope to find good news when I get to camp this evening.
As always, we had a few who had stuff come up and weren't able to make it, but that won't stop our good time!
The water this year is higher than it has ever been on this hunt, which in my opinion is a good thing. More water means less dry land. Not that they wont venture out into the water, but at some time they're going to want to lay down on something high and dry.
I hope we will be able to update throughout the week, but not sure at this time as service is very limited.
Good luck to all you guys!
:thumbsup: :jumper:
I'm excited for you.
Good luck to you guys.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190121/d3f8831b02349a4d56b0f7a5fa788622.jpg)
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:o
Well, some of the guys were able to make it down there early Thursday morning and If I remember correctly, there were a few hogs seen that first day. I made it down after work and didn't have tome to hunt.
When I got to camp, everyone was there except for Daren and Tony. Tony would end up showing up Friday mid day and Darren was there just a couple hours after me.
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Being that this was my first Boeuf Hog Hunt, I started early morning but due to a dysfunctional GPS that took me the long route, I arrived mid afternoon. Not a problem, I had plenty of time.
The the only issue was that I was on the opposite side of the river from camp. Luckily the ferry ride was only a buck.
[attachment=1]
I'm kinda waiting on some others to type their part.. going to have to get onto Randy, Darren, Jacob, Todd, and Tony! :) Rick gets the picture.
I finally made it to camp, it had to be, was the end of the road leading into the WMA. With only one truck already there and no one to be found I waited for some sign of human activity.
[attachment=1]
What better to do than to take a walk about and sure enough there was plenty of water. As I had heard though, that would make things even better. Less land equals more concentration of hogs.
[attachment=2]
It wasn't too long before the first two guys, Todd (John146) and Jacob (jbpharmd) returned from their scouting trips.
As the others Daniel (B89), Randy (Crittergetter) and Darren (Hackbow) arrived, I could tell that this was going to be a fun camp - for the smack talk began immediately.
I felt an instant connection with all these great men. As Daniel stated earlier, Tony (Fattony77) would arrive on Friday.
Let me tell you - if you've ever heard anything about the food at this hunt, it's everything and more. These meals consisted of : étouffée, brisket, Real chili, breakfast burritos, and Fattony's brownies.
I appreciate all the hard work each guy put into his particular meal!!
Keep it coming, Rick!! :coffee: :coffee: :coffee:
The Hunt:
What can I say but it was nothing short of fantastic!! A special thanks goes out to both Daniel and Jacob for letting me tag along with them on their roves in search of hogs. Heck, Jacob had to keep me from getting lost in the marsh and Daniel gave me pointers on how to walk in them. :biglaugh:
There was never any shortage of sign as you can see from the pictures,
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
Not only was the sign good but there were lots of pigs to be seen. I got a great appreciation for hogs sense of smell and the swirling winds of the Louisiana swamps.
Although I never loosed an arrow, I was on hogs each day. The pigs just never read my script for the stalk.
I would like to give a big thanks to Daniel for hosting this hunt and allowing others to join in. Also, to his father-in-law for letting us use his facilities.
The fellowship, memories, and new friends made are priceless!!
Thanks!
I arrived on Thursday around 11 am and with Jacobs help we put up my Davis Wall Tent and a 13' x 13' canopy to cook under. As soon as that was done we hit the woods. Jacob had went to an area earlier that morning. I will let him tell that story. We went to an area we had seen hogs in years past but the water was so high we could not get behind the cutover thicket near the swamp area so we moved about a half mile north to work back into the southerly winds.
We were immediately on some pretty fresh signs and had went about half way through this area when I decided to let Jacob finish that stretch and I would go back to the truck and pick him up when he came out. He came out and had an encounter that I will let him share.
Went back to the camp and met Rick and then the others started showing up. It was great to meet some new guys and see old friends again. Jacob broke out his Shrimp Etoufee and as usual it was awesome.
Friday morning I went to an area near Alligator Lake and worked about a mile stretch of woods. Saw plenty of sign the whole morning and was anticipating seeing hogs at any moment. I saw a coyote and then got to a spot where the thicker cover came closer to the waters edge and jumped two deer. I decided to come back into that area and hang a stand for deer so I marked it on my GPS.
That afternoon I walk back in the swamp and on my way to the spot I marked I heard a loud hog squeal. About 80 yards away I saw 4 big black hogs. One was a boar and he was trying to breed the other three. All were over 200 lbs. As I crept into about 60 yards I noticed a big sow sleeping near a tree and she had 6 pigs, each about sixty pounds sleeping around her.
I waited 30 minutes for the boar and the other hogs to do something cause it was too open for me to sneak any further. They finally all laid down and went to sleep. So I had 11 sleeping hogs in front of me. I snuck as close as I could, about 35 yards and took a shot at one of the 60 pounders that was laying slightly quartered away but was high and the arrow glanced off his back bone like you would of hit a branch. Needless to say things got crazy with pigs running everywhere and vacating the premises. No meat but what a rush!!
Friday night supper was pulled pork by Rick and Jackrabbit, deer and Jimmie Dean Chili by Darren. We eat really good on these hunts! We also gobbled down some of Tony's Brownies which are pretty much in a league all their own!
About 10 pm the rain started. We got probably 5-6" of rain that night and I have never personally been camping and had a rain storm quite like this. Thankfully, the only thing that happened was a branch fell on Daniels Father in laws camp roof but there were trees falling in the woods nearby and I fully expected my canopy to be in someone's truck or collapsed from the rain.
No body got a whole lot of sleep but we were thankful we made it through the night and after Randy's Breakfast Burritos we all hit the woods again. Tony and I teamed up and went look for the hogs I had seen the day before with no luck so we hopped across the road into another section and worked along the edge of the flooded timber. About 100 yards in we were sneaking along and came to a fallen tree. 3 pigs, about 75 lbs. popped up out of the tree. I hog grunted a couple of times and one pig stopped but not long enough for us to get a shot.
We tried to catch up with them but never saw them again. We did jump 5 deer which was cool. We had a great supper again that night as Randy had bought a brisket and we all pigged out again.
Why do we do these things?(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190123/1f3e23f66613ef9e6e77e03305274cdb.jpg)
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Sunday was a blast!!! We went to a small area that Rick and Daniel had checked and decided to have guys posted on one end while two others would spot and stalk through from the other end. Before Daniel, Rick and I could get set up 4 big hogs came out of the thicket and crossed the pipeline. A little later I heard pigs coming toward me through water but they caught my wind or something and just stopped and went around me. About 120 yards down the pipeline I saw 8 pigs, all about 70-80 lbs cross the same pipeline.
We decided to go into that other side of the pipeline and walk it. At one point I heard running in the water toward me and two does stopped about 50 yards away. One of the other guys had bumped them toward me and they were trying to circle behind them. I happened to be on the only little high spot there was and after a while they started moving right at me. At 20 yards the lead doe saw me squatted there and stopped to check me out. She was facing me straight on and in about 20 seconds she figured something wasn't right and blasted off back in the direction of the other guys. Darren said they came by him hauling the mail!!
I am thankful for the blessing to be able to bow hunt with a great group of guys. So grateful that Daniel began to host this hunt years ago. We learn more every year and spotting and stalking hogs on management areas is no easy thing. We have found that out. The high water helps a bunch and you just never know when you are going to be in the right place at the right time. It seems typical that you get 1-2 decent opportunities on a 3 day hunt. I think this trip was the best so far in that everyone at least saw hogs multiple times and most everyone took shots. I don;t think we could ask for much more than that. Lord willing, I will be in Beouf next year with these guys chasing some more pork around the swamps!
Friday Morning I delayed everyone on their hunt because I had a funeral at 10am. I didn't intend to delay their hunt, we just couldn't stop talking. One thing I've learned on these hunts is that hunting is the 3rd best thing imo.
1) Fellowship
2) Food
3) Hunting
On this hunt, it was no different. The fellowship was through the roof. The food was some of the best i've ate and the hunting was the best it has been yet.
Well, back to the story. On Friday morning at 10 I had to be at a funeral. Right after the funeral I went to an area to scout. First thing I notice when getting there was a TON of hog sign. But, due to all the water, you couldn't really tell how fresh it was. After walking a couple miles at the first location, I never saw any sign that made me believe it was fresh. I do believe some of what I saw was fresh, but that it was just too washed out.
I put a heck of a stalk on a bushy tail, but he didn't want to be shot today. It never ceases to amaze me how fast those little suckers can be!! The squirrel had no idea what had just happened, he just sat 10 or so feet up the tree looking around and barking his head off! I finally moved and gave away my location and he was out of there!!!
I go on to my next stop and it's a lot of the same thing. While i'm walking in there is sign every where, but, you can't exactly tell how fresh it is. With all the rain, almost all of the sign looks the exact same. After walking around for an hour or so I caught some movement about 50 yards ahead. The terrain has a good bit of palmettos, but it also has some lanes where you possibly could see a couple hundred yards.
After seeing the pigs I checked the wind, absolutely PERFECT!! Which is such a rarity around these parts. I see a fallen limb with a tree right behind it. I set that as my next move. When I got to the tree I could no longer see the pigs. I was using the bigger tree to block some of my movement when all of the sudden the piglets emerge from the palmettos just 30 yards away. I see all of their little cousins/brothers or whatever they are coming in as well. Before I know it there are 15 or 20 piglets within 20 yards. Theyre all meandering around, but I haven't seen any full size pigs yet.
After watching them for a few more minutes I finally see a sow in the back. She is at least 10 yards behind them. The piglets are reading the script. I'm waiting on their mom to find her part of the script too. It's not looking good! The piglets keep working their way down wind. I see them start to kick out to my left and walk around the fallen limb that is up against the big oak i'm standing behind. Next thing I know I have over 10 piglets all within 10 yards of me and the closest ones are all less than a yard from my feet. I was a nervous wreck. The sow was still 20+ yards away and most of the time was facing straight at me not offering any type of shot I want to take.
With all the piglets this close I am having to seriously watch my movements. I lose sight of the sow for a second while trying to see if any of them are on to me and then lean out a little to see where she has gone. When I look back a piglet to my left has me pegged. He is giving me that, "I know you're not a tree, but I don't know what you are" look. I see the sow come back out and she is not broad side at 20 yards. I attempted to raise my bow and I hear the little piglet grunt. Now, I don't speak pig (it's a shame I didn't have crittergetter with me that is his native language), but I am almost positive this piglet said, "aaahhhhh mama, help!!!!".
Without hesitation all the piglets begin to head out and I am trying to pick one out to shoot when all of the sudden I hear the sow grunting like crazy and charging to where the piglet was. Do I need to remind you that the piglet is about 4 yards away? She sprints up to see what was bothering her baby and about the time that happens, she catches an arrow through the rib cage.
At that point, I was fully expecting for a fight. And by a fight I mean I was going to throw everything I had at her, bow and all. But, for some reason, she went the other way. When she let out her little squeal I hear another ruckus coming from where she came from. Before I know it there is another hog rushing in to save the day. This one stops around 15 or so yards and also catches an arrow in the rib cage and drops to the ground
i'll pick this up in a couple hours.
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Here are the two hogs.
I've got a couple videos to upload to YouTube before I post them here.
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:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :archer2: :archer2: :archer2:
Video of the blood trail from the first hog
https://youtu.be/35J3LjQ_sbg
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Video of the recap. It's always awesome to put a visual to the things mentioned previously in the thread!
https://youtu.be/DXCt9iD6kXc
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that's the way to get it done!
Awesome :shaka:
I wondered if there were any killers in the bunch. Good shooting Daniel!
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Heck yea, good story telling Daniel!!!
Sorry I havnt posted on here yet guys. I have been super duper crazy busy since I've gotten home. I'm taking the whole weekend off to relax and I promise I'll tell my tale.
Sorry for the delay, fellas. It's been crazy here at home for me too.
As previously stated, I didn't get to leave my house until a full 24 hours after I had intended, but I was excited for the entire 8-ish hour drive. As I followed my GPS guide on my phone, I made it into the parking lot of the "Spotted Dog" sporting goods store in Columbia, LA at around 2:00pm, planning on getting my daily licenses.
The store was much larger than I expected, and it warranted a good look around. Once I finished perusing, I went to the counter and spoke to 2 friendly ladies about said licenses. During the pleasant conversation, I spoke with one of the ladies regarding souvenirs for myself and my girlfriend. She quickly produced 2 different camouflage ball-caps from under the counter (one with pink accents) and insisted that I take them as gifts of hospitality. Of course, I obliged, gratefully.
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After about an hour at the Spotted Dog, I set out for the last leg of my journey to camp.
After following Jacob's directions to the "t", I found a place with a white, wall tent & a small cabin. There were 2 older gentlemen there, so I asked them if this was the right place to be if I was hunting with a recurve. They said that it was and suggested a spot for me to park my Jeep.
I got out, introduced myself and was happy to meet Daniel's father-in-law and grandfather. They informed me that everyone else was out hunting except for Randy, who had gone to help Daniel to retrieve his 2 pigs that he'd just killed. I took that as a good sign of things to come this weekend....
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Here's a couple of pictures that I took upon arrival. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/40de561739f9f9ce242b78e67812196e.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/f7227d0cfc0dae41462d205963584580.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/312bad8191fb5699d9b1df67dcd8bc3a.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/966ceaf32af2f0ba5274dc56a8ccd67d.jpg)
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Daniel's father-in-law told me what I needed to do to be legal to hunt the WMA, and I followed his directions. I was excited for my first hunt in the swamps of Louisiana, but I knew that I needed to be cautious. The sky was overcast and the sun was hidden in the cloud cover well, which made it difficult for me to get my internal compass going. So I found a short road off of the main road that lead to flood water and just walked around the area for the remaining hour or so of light left.
I found a few tracks & such, but nothing of any real note. And so ended my first little jaunt of the trip.
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Once back in camp, the other fellas began to trickle in and I immediately felt welcomed. Except for Darren & Randy (who met once this last summer, I knew the other guys only from their posts here on Tradgang. Now, in most situations regarding "strangers" I'm what I would call "socially cautious." Meaning that I don't get comfortable around people very quickly at all. This is, without a doubt, a by-product of my profession as a Correctional Officer. However, I became comfortable with the men in this camp as quickly as I ever have, as it is easy to see that they are all honest and genuine men. This is a compliment that I don't give to just anyone.
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We all got to know each other better while sitting around camp and I got to sample the meals that I had missed so far. As I said to the guys that night, I didn't get to be "Fat Tony" because I have a thyroid problem, I like to EAT! And let me tell ya, these ol' boys did not disappoint! There's no way that I could possibly choose a favorite meal from this trip. They were all over-the-top, fantastic. I can tell that if "the committee" deems that I'm allowed to return, I'm going to have to do better than just my Fat Boy Brownies.
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That night brought a downpour of rain that easily permeated my flimsy tent walls and I got sleep in small sections. But I was up early the next morning anyway, because I was just too excited (the wet tent & flat air mattress didn't help me to sleep in either, lol).
So after some time to reflect & quietly enjoy where I was, the other guys got up and we fueled up for the morning with some of Randy's famous breakfast burritos & homemade salsa. We formed our plans for the morning hunt and set out. Todd & I teamed up & set our plan of attack for the parcel of land across from Alligator Lake...
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If you have never hunted hogs in a swamp before, let me give you a tip...train on a stairmaster before the hunt! The flooded ground, and mud are unforgiving & tough on a fat-body trying to walk through it. Thankfully, Todd showed me mercy and slowed to a pace that I could handle. (Though I still feel bad for slowing him down.)
After a while, Todd & I took turns getting "turned around" and correcting each other and decided to take a lunch break at the Jeep. That's when we formulated our plan for the afternoon, which consisted of us going across the road to some higher (and drier) ground. There was a cold wind blowing in from the north and we thought that the pigs might take shelter on the lee side of the small ridge that runs along side of Alligator Lake.
We were moving parallel to the flooded creek, one on the high side & one on the low. We met down by the water's edge to discuss the logistics of the next move, when 3 pigs (2 black & 1 red) decided that we were too close for comfort and stood up from their beds about 20 yards away. I couldn't get an arrow on the string fast enough shoot at them, but we were encouraged to try to catch up to them.
We trailed them for quite a while, but they managed to stay out of sight.
This is the sign that greets you as you enter the area. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/aaa2cb4dbb5abf89909a8053a45c22e7.jpg)
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That night brought more fellowship and Randy's "sub-par" beef brisket (his words, not mine, I thought it was fantastic). Todd generously offered for me to bunk in the wall tent with him & Darren, as the temperature was going to drop significantly and my own tent was still plenty soaked. I gratefully accepted the offer and apparently earned the title of Top Snorer in camp. Thankfully, Todd & Darren resisted the temptation to smother me in my sleep (Sorry again, guys).
Another round of breakfast burritos in the morning and the plan for the final hunt of the trip was made. It would turn out to be the most action of the weekend, for me....
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We decided to surround a small tract of land that Daniel knew had hogs in it, and still-hunt towards the middle. The area was on the other side of a road that that was so flooded, that if I had found it on my own, I would never have tried to cross. But Daniel knew what he was doing and we made it across easily.
As soon as I walked into my section, I found sign that looked as if pigs were there while I was getting out of my Jeep. About 10-15 minutes into the woods, I heard Darren (who was to my right) yell my name and then go silent after my reply. I had the feeling that he was telling me that some pigs were heading my direction... I was right.
A black-spotted, red pig and a a black one of the same size came into view about 50 yards ahead of me in fairly open woods. They never stopped moving, but were only "walking" as they showed me their broad sides. They went on the other side of a small blow-down, which is where I thought that I would have my chance to sneak up behind them. As it turned out, that was my best legitimate opportunity to get an arrow into some pork. So, naturally I regret not taking a shot.
We continued to chase another sounder that I saw shortly after the first encounter, for a while longer. But I didn't end up seeing any more. I got the impression, later, that everyone that was hunting that morning was trying their best to get me my first trad kill. And for that, I can't explain how much I appreciate it.
Here's some pics of the road from that morning. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/ed289da12700040262856ee4f07ac5ed.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/6d501912993ede6d3d74f55a7bafbe1f.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190125/7cf4e3de25c55f756ae3076940762762.jpg)
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Daniel invited me to stay for another night, even though everyone else was headed home that Sunday, but I realized that I had no way of communicating with anyone, if I needed help or if something went wrong. So I packed my stuff up as well and began the long trek home.
I can't begin to explain just how much this adventure means to me. And how grateful I am to Daniel for organizing the hunt and allowing me to join in, and how thankful I am to have made new friends with such awesome people. I am truly blessed by this experience. (Make no mistake, though, fellas... if I get to come back again, there WILL be some smack-talkin' coming. Lol)
That's about all I have to say about that...
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""After a while, Todd & I took turns getting "turned around" and correcting each other and decided to take a lunch break at the Jeep.""
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: You are too kind my brother! You know I was the one leading and ended up going in a circle!!
""I gratefully accepted the offer and apparently earned the title of Top Snorer in camp. Thankfully, Todd & Darren resisted the temptation to smother me in my sleep (Sorry again, guys).""
You are the Top Snorer but you just picked up where Jacob left off so... :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Tony, It was great having you in camp. Was really hoping it would have all lined up for you to get your first trad kill! Hoping it will happen for you soon!! :archer2:
Thanks, brother! I know that it'll happen when it's supposed to, I just get impatient sometimes. Lol
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For any of you folks following this thread, let me speak to Tony's Fat Boy brownies.
If Tony decides to put them back up on the St Jude's Auction this year, jump on them and bid it up, they are fantastic!!
Congrats Daniel. Thank you everyone, I am enjoying your stories
Thanks for the plug, Rick! I fully intend on offering them again this year. You'd probably do well with some of your horseradish sauce and/or pulled pork, too. (I know I'd be bidding...)
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:clapper: good shooting Daniel! Sounds like another great gathering.
Sorry about the delay in posting..
I arrived at camp somewhere around 1:30 Thursday afternoon. When I got there no one was there so I decided to go do some scouting and possibly make an evening hunt. I went to scout by the headquarters not knowing that's where Tod and Jacob had gone. When I got there I went down a rd we had hunted last year but quickly realized it was flooded and there was no where to turn around.
So I had to back out about a quarter mile of curvy narrow road with my short 10' trailer (which carried my 4wheeler) and with a long bed crew cab truck with a camper shell on it.
That was quite a feet in itself!!! Lol
But patience prevailed this time and I made it back to the main rd without incident.
So on to the next spot which I knew had a parking area. As I was unloading my 4wheeler Tod pulled up. We set a quick hello and I learned that Jacob was walking the area I had intended to check out. So we started formulating a plan and I jumped in with him and we drove a short distance and Tod dropped me off to work my way back to the truck.
I mad a circle through the woods and jumped a deer but never found any fresh sign of hogs or deer that got me excited.
So I quickly made my way to the truck and headed to camp to see everybody!
It was the same warm welcome we have all couple me to look forward to each year!! Some old friends and some new friends were green with handshakes and hogs!
That night we feasted on Jacob's étouffée and it was as good as I remembered!
We sat around talking about how much our beloved friend Marty had loved it the last year he was there and how he sat there and ate 4 bowls full while everyone else was shooting their bows! :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
The next morning we all paired up and headed in different directions. Darren and I headed to a section by Alligator lake where we knew there was some high ground. I dropped him off on one rd by the flood waters and I headed around To park the truck and we were going to work our way toward each other and into a peninsula of land that was surrounded by water. Right after I dropped Darren off he got into a group of hogs and got off a shot. He text me and told me they were headed my way but I never saw them.
We eventually met up in a narrow stretch of land that was only about 100 yrds wide. We some a lot of old sign but again nothing really fresh.
It was the type of spot where you would have loved to be sitting during the rut but the critters had obviously not been using it that much with the flood waters as high as they were.
I do however find some beautiful scenery!! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/ca55f5b2a91202f9ab8f89f66cb85631.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/ba60e5ca1426aefb49500323c00d336d.jpg)
We headed back to the truck and decided to go back to camp for lunch and see what results everyone else's scouting had yielded.
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That evening I decided to go drop off my truck at Wallace rd and drive the 4wheeler around to the north and park it and work my way back to the truck. Right when I was dropping the hat in the trailer I got a call from Daniel saying he had shot 2 hogs and needed some help. So I expressed my frustration in him messing up my hunting time and headed his way ! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]
I made it around to him in about 45 minutes or so. We quickly unloaded the 4wheeler and mad e plan for me to hunt while he retrieved his hogs.
I saw a lot more sign and jumped some deer but no hogs. I made my way back to the 2 track at dark and was picked up by Daniel.
We made it back to camp and after talking as much smack as possible while Daniel and Tod cleaned his pigs we feasted on the best dadgum pulled pork and beans that I have ever ate!! And that is not an exaggeration by no means!! It was pure awesomeness!! Thanks to Rick!!
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The next morning after a torrential rain Darren and I decided to go back to the area where Daniel had shot his hogs because o had seen more sign there than anywhere else I had been. We found it even more flooded than the day before but was still able to make a solid plan. We drive as far as we could till we hit flood waters that could not be crossed. We parked the truck and headed in different directions.
As I was working my way along the edge of the flood plane I cut some track that were still muddy. I knew they couldn't be very old because the rain at only let up a couple of hours before. So I slowly followed the tracks while trying to keep an eye open head. At one point I got distracted by Some woodcocks and was trying to remember if they were in season or not. But the eventually flew off and I proceeded to follow the fresh tracks. I had to cross a downed log and as soon as I touched ground in the other side I heard something close!!
I look to my right and see a very large boar step around a tree and some brush not 15 yrds from me!
He never even gave me a chance to try to explain what I was and why I was there and that sucker took off like I've never seen a hog run before!! Normally they will take off at a decent pace and kinda 4 legged crunch their way along. Not him!! He stretched out like a thorough bred horse and ran right through a very thick briar thicket faster than I've ever seen a hog run and never slowed down till he was completely out of hearing distance!
I'd like to think he had heard of my prowess as a hunter and knew he need to leave town as quickly as possible! [emoji16][emoji16]
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So I slowly made my way along hoping for another encounter with something but to no avail.
Did I mention the scenery is amazing almost anywhere you go if you take the time to notice! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/68e74e0582f212e0aec3be794f4f4507.jpg)
If I could duplicate this camo pattern I'd be a billionaire!
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Darren and I eventually met up at the truck and indulged in a quick lunch before heading back to camp. Once again I had to back up the trailer almost a mile this time but thankfully it was a pretty straight shot! We talked with the other guys at camp when we got there and everyone made plans for the afternoon hunt.
Everyone was seeing hogs and getting some action!!
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"""I'd like to think he had heard of my prowess as a hunter and knew he need to leave town as quickly as possible!"""
That's is exactly what it was. :scared: :scared:
In fact, the hogs I ran into asked if you were around. When I told them no, they all went to sleep. They weren't very scared of me!! :biglaugh:
The pictures you and Darren take are really good!
Quote from: John146 on January 26, 2019, 10:10:55 PM
The pictures you and Darren take are really good!
Thx Tod! Darren is the one why taught me to slow down and see things I would normally miss. It has made me a better hunter and I've learned to enjoy the little things !!
That evening Darren and I decided to go back by the headquarters and work a section of woods just north of where he had previously seen the hogs. We drove around and dropped his truck off on the north side and we took my truck back around below the headquarters. It was a little over 2 miles by road so we knew it would be a pretty long hike through the swap to reach his truck before dark.
We determine our direction and I head due north till I hit the waters edge and then plan to work my way alythe water till I reach the area where his truck was parked. Darren was going to head NW and do the same.
Well about 400 yrds in I walk up on a hunter in a tree. I didn't see him till I was about 50 yrds away because he was on the back side of a tree. He had no idea I wAs there. So I slotbacked out and made a BIG circle around him till I got back on track. The wind was constantly switching directions so I kept zig zagging working into the wind. It kept me on a good path to stay on course and working close to the water.
Being a bowyer I can't help but admire the beauty of an old tree. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/70be3efc6e668e5c3a6dd8af2ecc2902.jpg)
I thought about cutting this tree down to make a walking stick but I wasn't sure if it was legal or not so I decided to just take a pic instead. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/40cd68745690f77bde7774253283f55c.jpg)
About half way through the swamp I realized it was going to be a close call wether I would make it to the truck before dark or not so I got on what appeared to be an old 2track that was grown up but still easy to follow. It was headed due north so I decided to stay on it with a cross wind and hopefully reach the truck before dark. A couple hundred yards up that road I saw movement to my right and see another big boar trotting away headed north. The cross wind had blown right to him! I tried to follow along but there was no way I could keep up. About a half mile or so still to go it's getting almost to dark to shoot. So I txt Darren I was turning due west to get to the rd.
Just before I reached the rd I heard something to my right and see another big boar cut and run behind me and head away. I was about 30-40 yrds from it and in my haste and in the dark I just didn't see it. Part of me wonders if it was the same boar from earlier and it had made a big circle and by chance I had caught up to it. I'll never know.
By the time I reached the road it was full dark. I didn't go far and Darren came along and picked me up.
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This was to be my last hunt of the trip. I had gotten word the day before that my father in law was having some heart trouble so I decided I would leave out Sunday morning. After breakfast I said my good by's while wanting to stay for one last hurrah but also longing to get home to check on my Father in law and the rest of the family.
I can't wait till next year to see my new and old friends and the possibility of making more while making memories that will last a lifetime!!
I finally have a little time for my account of the aforementioned events:
First off let me say that this trip is much more about the company than the hunting for me. I enjoy a good romp through the woods and blood on an arrow as much as anyone, but this group of gentlemen is one of the best I have ever been blessed enough to be a part of. This is my third year making this trip and it just keeps getting better. So, for me, the trip really begins with the preparation. That means cooking my shrimp etouffee which is an all day affair.
I finally have a little time for my account of the aforementioned events:
First off let me say that this trip is much more about the company than the hunting to me. I enjoy a good romp through the woods and blood on an arrow as much as anyone, but this group of gentleman is one of the best I have ever been blessed enough to be a part of. This is my third year making this trip and it just keeps getting better. So, for me, the trip really begins with the preparation. That means cooking my shrimp etouffee which is an all day affair.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/3f94726a730671a5965eb611a1c9f342.jpg)
In 6 hours this turns into this:
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/71c27c87059ea73ed726a8b5219f962a.jpg)
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I was up at 4am on Thursday morning with everything ready to head north! I got to camp before anyone else and headed to the South part of the WMA to check things out. The roads were in pretty rough shape, but I managed to get all the way to the parking lot by "Rock Lake". It was obvious that the river was very high, nearly topping the levee road at some spots. I tried a few different access points to head East onto the WMA but every trail was covered in water about 150yds from the main levee road. It was clear that we would not be able to hunt the Southern part of the WMA like years past. I got out of my truck to take a picture of how high the water was at one of the main access points and as I am getting back into my truck a sow and 7 little piglets run across the road along the waters edge onto some private land. I grabbed my bow and got downwind of their travel route hoping that something else might be following them. After a few minutes I could hear yelling and whistling followed by a few shotgun blasts. Apparently someone was running rabbits with beagles and that is what spooked them.
Todd said he would be rolling into camp at about that point so I headed North to greet him and give him my report. I helped him set up his super awesome wall tent and the canopy for our hangout later that evening, then He and I set out to check the middle of the WMA past the headquarters. We were trying to get into some areas we had hunted in years past, but the water was just too high. We quickly realized that the only way to hunt was to get the wind in your face, and follow the water so that is what we did. I hugged the waters edge and Todd stayed about 100 yds away and we eased through the bottomland hardwoods. There was some decent sign but it was not the "someone just plowed this to plant corn" look. About that time I found some fresh scat and bent down to check it out and as I am poking this turd with a stick I see something white in my peripheral vision. About 3 feet away there is a big fat Cotton mouth/Water Moccasin and he is letting me know that I am in his living room. He said "Hey guy, check these fangs out. I bet they could go through those rubber boots you got." I politely told him that I was sorry for the intrusion and went on my way. I have always found it fascinating how much primal fear runs through me with the shocking realization that a poisonous snake is close to me.
This is the picture I took about 30 seconds before the pigs ran across the road.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/ef6142b04f08ca8d0ce1010078e5134c.jpg)
And this is my friendly Cottonmouth.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190127/7f7396f8e3879c23474beaac47406250.jpg)
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After I backed away slowly from the snake I met up with Todd and we decided that I would continue on and hunt this section until I hit the road while he would turn back and get the truck. As I followed the water's edge I came upon a thicket that just looked piggy. It was thick gnarly stuff that was 1/2 in and 1/2 out of the water, so I crept very slowly up to it. At about 20 yds away I think to myself "there is no way a pig could fit in there it is just too thick". So I made one careless step and my boot made a sucking noise when I pulled it out of the mud. Well that was all it took for the 130-150lb boar in there to crash through that brush and head into the next Parish. I do not know how this pig physically got into that thicket, but he got out of there like a small bulldozer.
When Todd and I got back to camp I got acquainted with our new arrival Rick and figured I had a little daylight left so I went for a quick scouting trip behind the camp where Daniel and I ran into a whole mess of hogs last year. As soon as the trail got close to the water I could see good fresh sign. I followed the water for a few hundred yards and saw that this patch of woods held at least one sounder of pigs. I sat for a while on a fallen tree to enjoy the solitude of the swamp and listen to the wood ducks when I saw something swimming in the flooded timber. I thought it was a nutria at first, but then it climbed onto a leaning tree and I could clearly see that it was a river otter. This thing was so cool. I watched it with my binoculars as long as I could, then departed telling the forest good night and made the long walk back to camp.
Back at camp I heated up my etouffee, made rice, warmed the garlic bread and had a very small nip of bourbon. We all had a wonderful time talking about the day's events, catching up, and formulating a plan for the morning. At about 8pm everyone apparently remembered that "Murder she wrote" was on and had to scurry off to bed. That just left Darren and I to converse about the great mysteries of hunting and life while smoking a good cigar and responsibly enjoying an adult beverage. You just can't duplicate the feeling of good meaningful conversation and cigar smoke.
The next morning after three of Randy's breakfast burritos and homemade salsa Rick and I hit the woods. We went in from the North side of where I had seen the good sign the evening before. It was a pretty uneventful morning and I was just starting to notice that I was hungry when three big black shapes appeared 50 yds to my left right in front of where Rick was. We both froze and two smaller pigs got up from behind the same fallen tree. I know they didn't catch our scent and were not overly spooked because they didn't tear out of there. They just kinda sauntered away stopping every 75 yds or so to check out their back trail. Knowing we were not too far from a busy road we tried to flank them but it was no use. Those things can really disappear into the forest. All was not lost however, because back at camp Darren had his chili heated and it was fantastic.
That afternoon Rick and I went to the middle part of the WMA, North of the headquarters intending to work our way South along the water. We followed the same playbook but these woods were thick and sign was scarce. We ended up making about 1 mile of the 2+ that we had planned before darkness set in and we headed back to the road to find the truck. That night we ate like Kings! Rick heated up his pulled pork and baked beans. I reheated my etouffee, and Darren's chili was still hot. Then Daniel and Randy roll in with two dead pigs and (more importantly) ice cream, and Tony shows up with Fatboy brownies and a whiskey that tastes just like a pecan pie. I was excited to see some pork (both pulled and on the hoof) and to get a fine night of camaraderie with this fine group of guys. It was nice to have Tony added to the late crew, as we stayed up conversing until the bad weather blew in. The weather got pretty bad that night and we awoke to a wet tent and the seemingly requisite mud in camp.
The next morning after another round of Randy's breakfast burritos I packed up my things and had one more march through the swamp before heading out. I did see a pair of hooded mergansers in the flooded timber (I had to pull up a chart to identify them). I don't know if they are rare or not, but I had never seen any before.
And thus, my saga ended. I am so incredibly grateful to be included in this hunt. I want to thank everyone who cooks, and everyone who had to listen to my snoring. And a special thank you to Daniel for hosting us time and again.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190128/6ab10cc2f5b623283804de20778bf4f4.jpg)
Congratulations Daniel on breaking the dry streak on the Boeuf hunt in spectacular fashion.
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Awesome thread guys, maybe I can make it there next year. Maybe a later hunt after my deer season.