Oldskool came from Ohio with a plan in mind that we had been talking about for awhile. Our plan was to go pig hunting for a few days. After doing some researching and map studying we agreed to head to a wma located in the southern part of Arkansas.
After arriving late in the afternoon we split so we could cover more area scouting for the hogs. I saw some old sign and a few tracks but nothing I could really get excited about. Oldskool on the other hand at least has a story to tell and I hope he is along soon to tell the story. He is riding his motorcycle back home so it might be awhile before he reads this.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_0237_opt.jpg)
On day #2 of our hunt I ran across this so I knew I was in the right area.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_0242_opt.jpg)
While sneeking and peeking around I couldn't help but notice how dry the land was. Water was very hard to find but this wma is usually pretty full of water. I came across this decoy stuck in a tree. The decoy had evidently become tangled up in the tree when the water was up last year. I put my bow next to it to show how high the water had been.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_0239_opt.jpg)
Around 1 o'clock I returned to the truck very thirsty despite having drunk 6 bottles of water from my pack. I felt like a walking piece of jerky. It was in the 90's and I didn't care if I saw a pig or not. I just wanted some air conditioning at that point. Oldskool was already at the truck and in about the same shape as me. After a few seconds of discussion we agreed to forget about hogs and go bowfishing for gar instead. We headed back to my house for the night and would have a go at the gar the next morning.
We towed my boat to a local wma here by the house. It is a spot I bowfish fairly often and thought it would be a good choice for Oldskool's 1st gar.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_0245_opt.jpg)
Oldskool watched the water like an osprey.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_0247_opt.jpg)
The water was really muddy and the fish would pop up for a split second then go back underwater. You had to be very fast on the shot to even have a chance of getting a gar. Suddenly a nice gar surfaced between Oldskool and I. We both shot. I missed but Oldskool nailed the fish.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_0253_opt.jpg)
Shortly I added one to the cooler as well.
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/100_0255_opt.jpg)
Plans are already in the making for another hog hunt but we both agreed to wait for cooler weather.
Kool. Hap
Great shots on the gar. Maybe next time you get a chance at a hog.