I posted the other day asking peoples experience with aluminum 2020's. Stated that if it snowed I would go chase some hogs.
Well it snowed........
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk223/emtp505/01211112211.jpg)
Tell tale sign of hogs, fresh, as it snowed last night.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk223/emtp505/01211112221.jpg)
:coffee:
:campfire:
looking good so far!
Called a friend of mine to see if he wanted to go find some hogs. Told him we would be taking our bows and he took my offer.
As we made our way to the property I hunt I just wasn't sure what kinda luck we would have. Been huntin pigs for many years, but never in the snow since we don't get it often here.
I always wanted to see a big winter coated boar walking thru the snow and I was anxious to see what my 2020's would do to him.
In the top pic is an over all of a ridge coming down to a big woods mountain saddle. Towards the top of the hill is the edge of a logged area. Oaks were loaded this year and tree's were felled with the tops full of acorns.
About a hundred yards from here we found our first fresh track. A lone, large animal...sure to be a big boar, but we decided to go to the top in the saddle. A loan boar can travel great distances in a short time. We wanted some feeding sign.
let's see some more!!
And then? How about...The rest of the story. You've got my attention.
mmmm snow hogs ! (http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k209/hogdancer/P1030505.jpg)
We made it to the saddle and I moved ahead of my buddy to peer over the other side of the mountain. Hoping to see fresh turned leaves on the facing slopes I hear a psssss behind me. My bud points up the hill to our right and I can read his lips...and his eyes... PIGS!
I look in that direction and can't find them. Then I notice one of the downed tree tops moving. WOW! Looks like at least ten young pigs rooting in the branches of the top. I peer above and beyond and the entire hillside comes alive with hogs. All sizes and one very large boar. All feeding down towards us. I'm kinda stunned as hog hunting this time of year is very hard and here we are with at least twenty black pigs contrasted against the snow covered ground.
I thought we would hit some sign and have to catch up to them, so my glove was velcroed to by bow. I struggle to get my glove free as they move closer at a good pace. I glance over to my bud, he's about ten yards to my right, and he is at ready.
I love that pig. black and white how cool is that. Way to go Thomas. :thumbsup:
FYI before I continue. The pigs I hunt are an isolated pocket of a strain that may very well be a true strain of European boar.
Some guys that had a lease next to me had trapped them near the Smokey mtns about 20 years ago and released them here. Our state agency recognises Smokey mtn pigs as wild boar, not feral pigs as the rest of the state has. I have never seen an off colored hog here. Always black with the typical high shouldered boars and lower[smaller] hindquarters.
The rest of the story coming. Promise.
:campfire: Another cliff hanger.
:coffee:
ohhh the tease is on. ive always wanted to chase hogs in the snow too!
:campfire: **********************
God bless,Mudd :archer:
This just ain't right now!!!!!!
:campfire:
Nice hunt, .....so far :)
I manage to get my glove on and nock an arrow. When I look up there are hogs everwhere about 25 yds out. I'm about to have a shot at a medium sow when the big boar comes into an opening, but is quartering to me. He freezes with his head cocked. I know we are running out of time..something has to happen right now!
With no shot on the boar I shift my eyes to the right. An eating size sow is open and feeding broadside. I really want my bud to have a shot, but by now I don't think we have more than a few seconds till we get busted.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk223/emtp505/01211112261.jpg)
The shot looked like it was going to be low till I heard the whack and saw the 2020 bury in the center of her shoulder. It looked to far forward for my liking and penetration wasn't what I wanted. She turned and ran into the treetops where I heard her crash. Down in bout fifty yards.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk223/emtp505/0121111145a1.jpg)
The shot was 20 yds. I did hit forward of where I wanted and centered her shoulder with about eight inches of pentration.
Nice job. Just the primer I need, as I'm going back after hogs down here tomorrow.
I wish I had someplace to hunt them.
Great Job Robert!!
Sweet!!! thats a great HOG congrats
Great stuff Robert! Bow & arrow specs?
awesome stuff mate. hunting pigs in the snow is a dream hunt for me.
a lesson learnt here guys.....it is better to hit too far forward and get the shoulder than to hit too far back and hit guts. with a shoulder hit you have a chance of a recovery, a gut shot on pigs.....no hope.
Nice thread.Really enjoyed it.Glad that hit was better than you originally thought.
That's what those Silvertips are for! Well-done!
I love to hunt them in the snow.Good shoot,forward is always better than in the middle.Nice Tip.
Very nice hog Robert! :thumbsup:
Nice Hog Rob, keep putting the "mojo" on that tip. I love it. :thumbsup:
Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing :)
Margly
Congrats...thats cool!
Great hunt. Now go back and get that big boy, and share that story with us. Nice job on the hunt and the story.
pretty neat story
Awesome story, I can't wait to hear the rest. Love to hunt hogs. What's the chances of you helping a couple of "out of staters" hook up with some hog hunting?
Congrats :campfire:
Cool story sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats!!
Great story telling and pics. Thanks for sharing.
well done :thumbsup:
Congrats sir, well done!
I dont think its over guys, 2 pigs are down, and only one shot has been explained. :D
Sounds like a blast of a hunt.....and like Kenn said....what's the play by play on the second one?
Great story telling!
Very cool Robert!
Great job!
Good hunt and tale. Never hunted hogs, would love too someday. No hogs here in MT. Enjoyed the story. Good Luck Don
Nice Rob. Snow and hogs in TN... Thats neat
looks like it turned out good......how far did you have to track him (he,he,he)....even I could have followed that one....... :thumbsup:
Great story, that will motivate me to get out tomorrow morning
Congrats thanks for sharing.
Excellent story and some GOOOOD eating! Thanks for the story!
The big boar got lucky. When my bud heard me hit shoot he let go, but the biggin was already gettin outta there. I heard his shot, it dang near coincided with the sound of my arra hitting home.
Man...that is a lot of blood....wow.
That was probably a perfect hit. Congrats to you. That sounds like a great hunt.
Most guys hit too far back on hogs. It looks like you made a great shot.
Great stuff! Nice. Eric.
That's cool! Congrats! :thumbsup:
now thats way to cool congrats on a fine pig :clapper: :clapper:
The other pics are from my phone. Here is a better one.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk223/emtp505/4.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by highpoint forge:
Man...that is a lot of blood....wow.
That black and white hog with all the blood is not mine. Mine bled very little, but went down in sight.
:thumbsup:
Wow, that sow's definitely got a lot of European in her! Just watched a special on NatGeo channel about the influx of European blood into the Southern feral hog population. Interesting stuff!
Nice story, thanks for taking us along. :)
Mick
Cool story and pics. Thanks for sharing the hunt.
Congratulations, I love blood trails in the snow
Thanks for sharing.
Nice :bigsmyl:
great !
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup: :campfire:
Good job!
Very nice, I've got to try a hog hunt soon!
QuoteOriginally posted by straitera:
Great stuff Robert! Bow & arrow specs?
56@29 Silvertip, Easton 2020, 125 Magnus screw-in.
Nice hog and good story telling! Wish we had hogs around here-nothing to hunt behind my house now but stumps.
Thanks everyone for the comments. I don't speak very much about the pigs I kill, but this one was special in the snow. It just doesn't snow enough to hunt in around here.