Trad Gang

Just got back from a week hunting with Gene and Barry and I just got a call from Gene that Barry was charged by 2 seperate hogs  yesterday. One of them pushed him backwards into a bunch of prickly pear so he had over a thousand stickers and a possible broken arm. I talked to Barry as well and they are on the way home and will fill in the details in the next day or so.

I've got a feeling that he'll get even...  :archer2:

Are you sure it wasn't at a buffet? The sticker would be bad enough but a broken arm?  :scared:

I think it's cause he smelled  like a boar hog after 6 weeks in Texas chasing them. Gene says he moved pretty fast for a guy with a bad arm.

OWWW!  Of course he's stuck a few pigs!  Hope he recovers quickly and the arm isn't too bad.

seems like I watched a movie recently where someone else "smelled like a hog"

Paybacks!

Ouch!!!!!! hope he's not to bad.  Who got to pull the stickers out of his hind end

Man! That's awful!

I'm sorry to hear such bad news.

But I'm glad it wasn't any worse.

I know how much cactus can hurt from my time spend in the army at Ft. Bliss, Texas.

I pray everything heals quickly without any complications.

God bless,Mudd

I heard his TallTines pulled yeomans duty as a hog beater and pig chewing stick as well.  Gene said he was picking cactus spikes out of his backside for hours    :eek:

now that would be painful.revenge is gonna be sweet.

I bet the next hog he shoots is going to taste mighty good.

I sincerely hope he's ok, but other than that, I'm laughing my a$$ off!

Isn't his one arm and shoulder held together by screws and plates anyway..it could be real bad..Good Luck

What are brothers for but to pull cactus stickers outa yer butt???

If not they, who?

Seems they now can lay claim to more than "brothers of the bow"---perhaps also "brothers of the butt?" Or, "Twins w/ Tweezers" or something?

Heal Well Barry... cactus stickers heal quicker than arms. Hope all is well!

Keep the Son in your eyes, gents!

Barry was still pulling spines this morning and his right flipper was swelled pretty good. What a day he had!  I know who I want at my side in a hog fight.  We're on the way hmoome from the last week of the Gig today. Stay tuned - some good stories are.coming your way!

Live by the pig die by the pig.  Who says' they aren't dangerous game.  I wish him luck and a quick recovery.  There is an agressive pig out there that needs to be turned into sausage.

Lord, nobody needs to be treated like that!
I bet Barry made up some new words. I hope his arm will be OK. I have broken both of mine, and I hope his heals as quickly as mine did.

Dave made me giggle!   :D
Killdeer

Where did the hog go after Barry fell backwards?

Slivers and a broken arm may be better than a high pitched voice.

I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm glad it wasn't worse. Sure hope his arm isn't too bad.

Bum luck Barry... hope you heal up quick.   :thumbsup:

Hope he heals quickly, also hope he kept the camera rolling. Can you imagine a sequel to Essential Encounters featuring Barry in a Yodel-off with a Hog?

Barry's a tough ol bird sure he will be alright
take more than a bad wing and sore butt to slow him down.

I'm sorry to hear this, and hope Barry heals up fast, and is still able to continue doing the things he loves..ie" bowhunting, and putting on great hunts for others to enjoy.

I have been hurt many times and know how much it can hurt..

I am not sure I can see anything funny about pain and a broken arm.    :pray:  

Gene

Prayers for a speedy recovery Barry.  Those pigs can be nasty!

OUCH!

Hope the heal-up goes VERY well, Barry.

Have I heard that duct tape works well for cactus spine removal?  Get well soon.

You got cactus spines where and want who to pull them out.  Dang man in a month they'll work out on their own.. . .LOL

Mike

Mom always told me, "What goes around, comes around." Maybe the pigs are getting back a little. No one has said, did he go to the hospital and have it checked, or what?

Good luck to you Barry, I really hope you can get that shoulder/arm to heal.

Hope he's okay.Best wishes to a full and speedy recovery Barry.

I just got off the phone with Uncle Barry; he and Gene are in the truck heading for home near Topeka Kansas.  Barry quickly told me the whole story while he had enough cell battery.  It's a long story, too lengthy to write about right now. Suffice it to say that he appears to be in pretty good spirits considering what happened.  He does have a heck of a swollen arm and discolored hand that he's trying to nurse until they can get back and receive proper care . . . . also far too many embedded cactus spines to count. Not sure about the break but he thinks that his arm may indeed be broken.  It's the same arm that he injured several years back, the side where he was more or less pieced back together with steel pins.  He added, "I've been doing this for 27 years and have never had a hogs charge me like this . . . would have made a heck of a video!"  He actually had two hogs take issue with him on two separate outings and ,according to his description, he not only had to use his bow as an arrow launcher while defending himself, but also had to turn it into a hog thumping stick just to keep them off. I'm sure that someone will relate the whole story at some point but for now I just want everyone to know that they seem to have a handle on the situation and are steaming for home.

Forget to add one thing:  THE PIGS WERE PROPERLY PUNISHED FOR THEIR MISDEEDS!

I hope his arm ain`t broke!!!

Sounds bad?  I'll have to give em some static at the deer and turkey show coming up.  Wish UB all the best.

Good luck to Barry. Hope you heal quickly. Man! Barry and Gene are my biggest influences for going traditional they just make it look like so much fun. And they were right!

That doesn't sound good at all. We'll wish for the best and won't start laughing until he tells us.

I am sure in the end Barry will get even!! Hope all is well and get taken care of! Shawn

I reckon he won't want to "sit" for any book signings any time soon!

Had to say it! Can't wait for the story or video.

Best wishes to a quick recovery!

Sorry to hear about your wrestling match with a pair of ornery oinkers. Sounds like they were out to settle a score, for all their kin you layed to rest. They must have got you from behind, before you had a chance to stick'm with one of your razor sharp Woodsman. That is definitely not a pretty picture.    

That definitely proves that two in bush are worth more than one in hand.

Hope the doc takes good care of you and you get well soon.

OUCH!!!  Get that arm taken care of.

wow....hope all is well...didnt he just break an arm in accident not long ago too he mentioned in Masters of Barebow 2?  Hope it is not same one and same place....

I guess it was a good bust... they made the charges stick!

OK, no more jokes. Even though Kawika B said, "bum luck."
Killdeer    :(

QuoteOriginally posted by Marty:
I think it's cause he smelled  like a boar hog after 6 weeks in Texas chasing them.

Might have been a case of mistaken identity.
Seriously, hope it just looks worse than it really is. lol

I'll bet it won't take long and Barry will find the humor in this event and a great story to tell. Ramblin' Rednecks Wrasslin' Hogs!

Good luck Barry and hope the damage isn't too severe.

Boy, that guy sure is a magnet for something unusual to happen. Best wishes Barry.

I've backed into Prickly pear myself, and that alone in not fun. I remeber dropping trowe and using my Marbels to scrape my ass! It was a couple weeks before all the broke off spines made it out...

Barry hang in there buddy, and if that arm is broke I can only say my arm with 2 stainless plates was able to draw 62#s in 5 weeks killed a bear @ 7 weeks. You can do it if anyone can.

G

The more you hunt, the more unsual events, sightings and encounters are to be expected.
Several may be of the nature that few will believe.


Barry - My sympathy and hope for a quick and full recovery goes out to you.

I got the abridged story today from Gene...and for some reason the old DVD/video footage of Barry chasing after that armadillo kept bouncing through my head.  I thought he displayed some nimble feet in that footage; I would've expected the same here.  (What DVD was that?)

Hope UB gets better soon--and that the arm isn't broken--and can laugh while telling the stories (cause there are TWO of 'em).

Barry, if that's the kind of hogs you attract I feel most lucky after you let me hunt your bait sight at Spikebox. Glad those hogs didn't think I was you. By the way I never found the piggie I hit that night. Hope you heal quickly.

Well , that's the risk one runs when hunting . Sometimes the hunted become the hunter . The element of danger is what make it worthwhile .

did you say barry got 55 gallon of prickly pear on his backside, man gosh dog dat got ta hurt some bad ya!!!!

Barry told me that he slammed a few arrows into the troublemaking tuskers before one put him on the ground and the other up a tree, if you can call what he had access to a "tree".  One took an arrow through the carotid artery and through the top of the heart while the other caught a self-defense shot square in the head.  He kept describing the "little bouquets of small needles", you know, the ones that grow on the upper edges of prickly pear?  I think he took a huge hit of those on the hands and elsewhere. . . that will affect your shooting!

Welcome to Texas, brothers......there's a lot of mojo out on Lambshead. I've felt it every time I go there. That ranch has presences going way back. The family and cowboys allude to it. I don't think it's negative, but it is there. A Blanton family member vividly recalled to me a very large boar charging him out of a ravine along the river. I personally saw a boar that I thought was a black calf on the west side of the Lookout.


Speedy recovery to Mr. Wensel.

thre wasaguy over near redding was on aranch poaching hogs well he made abad shot and the hog tunrned on him the hog knocked him down and hurt him bad it let him alone he cried for help and the pig came back and cut himmon back of his legs someone got to him and i beleive it took him awhile to recover the boars 250 lb ers can get some real adrenalin going you know it would be safer with apistol yeh i know its not  bowhunting if you have agun

I hope uncle Barry is O.k.  I swear...things just seem to happen to that guy!  He's got alot of good stories!

Dang it! I wish Uncle B the best...he's a tough old dog though    :thumbsup:

Barry this is something else to remember and a good story to tell.Good luck and wish you a fast healing.

Next time B, don't run. As soon as that pig bites and sees how old, tough and tasteless you are, it will spit you out and go on his way. Beats having a broke arm.

Take care and get well soon,

CJ

How 'bout we let Uncle B tell his story?  

Always best to hear it "right from the horses mouth"   :archer2:

Uncle "B" sometimes its a tough job guiding Hog hunters,but someone has to do it !! You take a licking & keep on ticking thats for sure.I hope you get healed up quick cause you have another Ring to jump into in Quebec where there is another AWNERY 4 legged Black critter waitin to square up with there as well !!

Hey UB, I second what Tom wrote. As hard as you hunt I know you won't let this slow you down.     :campfire:   Wishing you a speedy recovery.    :pray:

Good Luck on a quick recovery!

Heal well Barry   :pray:

Have a good recovery

Wishing you a speedy recovery

Those porkers aren't called the "poor mans grizzly" in jest.  Hope Barry has a quick and effective healing process.

Pics for UB.  He'll be along later with the story.

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/046.jpg)


(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/Wensel%20Photos/052.jpg)

cactus spines where ! I think your going to die. Good luck

NO-No,Elkwhisperer, thats if your snake bit there!

It was quite a week at the Lambshead, that's for sure!  Barry's hand to tusk battles simply added a huge exclamation point to a week full of good times and great stories.

I won't spoil his first hand accounts of what took place that last night.  But in the meantime I'll try to add some of my own stories to help you pass the time until Barry comes along.  He's been gone from home for 6 weeks, so I'm sure has some catching up to do.  

This year was a return trip to Lambshead for me, and I had a couple of ideas on where I would like to go.  Last year Tom Porter had some great action in a section of river bottom on the north part of the ranch.  On the second morning I worked my way down along the river and just enjoyed the warmth of a beautiful Texas morning.

Easing up a small rise I spotted a group of hogs 80 yards ahead, and slowly worked my way closer.  I ran out of cover at about 40 yards, but the pigs were gracious enough to help me out by heading slowly my way.  As they got behind a small cut bank I was able to cut the distance even further, and before long I had a big wet sow at 8 yards, and three other medium sized porkers at about 15.  

There was a group of piglets with the wet sow, and I debated with myself whether they were big enough to survive on their own, or should I just try for one of the smaller hogs a little further away?  I stood there for a couple of minutes trying to decide what to do, all with the pigs in good shooting range.  The big sow made my mind up for me when she raised her head, gave a couple of sharp grunts, and scattered the entire sounder.

He who hesitates is lost, and goes back to camp without pork.  :knothead:

I'm with Curt here waiting on Barry to post his story. and I know Whip has more than that to say.

Speaking of having more to say, you've got some explaining to do yourself Thomas  :readit:  

I'll try to get a few pics uploaded and be back...

He's got it up in PBS and I am trying to help him get it over here without retyping the whole thing...

As most of you know, Gene and I have been organizing hog hunts in Texas for many years. Friday was the last day of five one-week pig-gigs. On Thursday Gene and I offered to share some of our spots with the other guys for the grand finale. Bernie Finch from Wisc. is 73 years old and has had a big boar hog on his bucket-list for years. Gene put Bernie into one of my treestands while I put Rodney Martin and Dean Davenport (from SC) into two other areas. I'm please to say Dean got his very first bowkill with a recurve that evening and Rodney also got covered up. Bernie had a big black boar come in late in the evening. He made what appeared to be a good shot but hit the back part of the shield and didn't get complete penetration. The boar only ran off a little ways and tipped over. Bernie could see the arrow still moving but it was getting dark so he wisely backed out. A half hour later Gene came to pick him up and they blood trailed until they saw the boar. Bernie missed a finishing shot and the boar got up and ran off. They decided to back out until the morning.

Friday morning Gene, I and Bernie took up the trail. Bernie spotted him bedded and shot and I quickly followed up with another arrow as the boar ran away. I ran after him to finish him as quickly as possible. Suddenly he spun around, saw me and charged. They tend to drop their heads right before the charge. At a distance of about fifteen feet he was coming fast. I came to full draw and sunk a great shot cutting his carotid and because of the close distance angled down taking out the heart and exiting just behind the front leg. But unfortuneately he kept coming. With no time to reload I threw my Tall Tines recurve in his face and shinnied up a nearby tree. The shaft finally took effect and he died right at the base of my tree. Let me put it this way, when I came down out of the tree I almost stepped on my bow tip... but he was dead. He was a good 194 lb. boar with nice tusks so Bernie's dream came true. I have to admit I did pretty good on that one but the next one I didn't do so hot on.

Later that same afternoon I was heading into an area five miles away where I had a ladder next to a farm pond. On approaching I saw a group of two mature sows with seven or eight piglets drinking at the pond. The wind was good so I dropped down behind the pond levy and just barely reached a bent over tree where I'd killed a hog three weeks before. Here they came right for me. I noticed the calico sow was lactating but the bigger black one was apparently dry. She walked by at about 10 yds. and a zipped a shaft right behind her shoulder. It was a complete pass-through and the arrow was soaked in blood. I thought she'd go down before topping the ridge but the group made it over the top. Hmmm. Just to be on the safe side I gave it a half hour and easily walked along the blood trail. After topping out I noticed the blood letting up somewhat but still no problem. Then it got sparse. It was pretty open terrain on top with an occasional tree on a big cactus flat of prickly pear. Easing along I spotted her laying flat on her side. I assumed she was dead but nocked an arrow and quietly approached downwind from her. Getting about 20 yds. she suddenly rolled up on her stomach, then looked over to her left and saw me. Still bedded she crawled at an angle to face me. That should have been my first red flag. There were two small trees between us about four or five inches in diameter. One was maybe ten feet from her and another maybe fifteen feet. I shifted my angle so that each tree covered each of her eyes and quietly advanced forward to finish her. When I got about 40 feet from her she was stil watching me. I tried to step just off to my right to try to get a shaft into her at a better angle. I saw she moved her feet into the starting blocks and knew she was ready to bolt. So I put another arrow into the only option I had. It hit just behind her shoulder and blew all the way through exiting just in front of the opposite back leg. She jumped up and took off. I ran after her trying to keep her in sight then realized I was gaining on her. When I got to about fifteen yards I sunk another shaft behind her ribs. She spun around and faced me. I quickly reloaded. Now she was facing me at about thirty feet. We had the big stand-off. Don't show a growling dog (or hog) you're afraid of them. I stood my ground basically because there wasn't any trees to climb. She just stood there at thirty feet popping her teeth together. It was a little scarey.

Then the inevitable happened... She dropped her head and charged. For some strange reason I thought it'd be a false charge so stood my ground. When I finally came to the realization this was not a false charge she was picking up momentum. With no other options I tried to brain shoot her at about five feet. The arrow knocked her off her feet but she got up and came for me. With no time to get another shaft on the string I threw my bow in her face and turned to run. Just like in all bad dreams when some bad-ass is chasing you and you fall down... well dreams come true. I didn't run two strides and tripped over something falling face down right into a giant bed of prickly pear cactus. I turned on my side and saw she was taking her aggression out on my recurve. She'd flip it towards me with her snout while I kicked at her face. One time she threw it right into my lap and I threw it back in her face. Actually the bow was really saving me because she was venting aggression on the bow instead to me. In the fight I finally regained my feet. She was standing about ten feet from me again popping her jaws. I looked her right in the eyes and very slowly took one step towards her and reached down for the tip of my lower limb. When I realized I was somewhat in control again I quickly nocked another shaft and sunk another in her chest. She moved off to about twenty feet and just stood there. I had a judo and one more broadhead. Figuring I better save my last bullet just in case, she stood broadside at twenty feet. Then guilt overcame me and I thought I couldn't ask for a better shot. I was about at half draw on my last arrow when she suddenly tipped over. I could see she was still breathing so I just stood there on red alert.

Then it suddenly hit me, I was in a LOT of pain. Falling face down into the cactus bed I looked at the palms of my hands. They were covered with hundreds of cactus thorns. So were my forearms, ribs, knees/thighs. In the heat of the battle when I grabbed the riser of my recurve to take the last shot I'd either broken off dozens of thorns or driven them deeper. Then I remembered I had a pair of tweezers in my right front pocket. Digging my hand deep into my pocket to get the tweezers with a thorn infested hand really hurt too. Then I realized I lost my reading glasses in the fight and I couldn't see up close to pull the cactus. Plus my hands were shaking from the adrenaline rush I suppose. My right arm was really hurting too. If you look close in the above photo you can see the broken shaft right between her eyes. Another couple inches higher would have been a little more effective I think. I stumbled my way back to where I originally shot from knowing I left a sweatshirt laying on the ground there. Both my teeshirt and camo shirt were infested with thorns so I threw them away and put the sweatshirt on. I also knew I still had to pull that ladder stand since it was our last day. I pulled the twelve foot ladder, trail camera, rachet belts, safety belts, bow, etc. and carried them 500 yds. around the pond and up over the hill. When I finally reached the top I looked back and there were five more hogs at the edge of the pond. I had a perfect wind and one arrow left so... no way.. I was completely whipped. I'm getting to old for this stuff.

It was like 6:30 and there was still 45 minutes of primetime left. I noticed I had a single bar on my cellphone. Gene had the truck and he was four or five miles away. I called him and told him I got a hog but killed it in hand-to-hand combat; fell in the cactus and was covered with a thousand thorns; my arm was really hurting and I was totally dehydrated and as thirsty as I'd ever been in my life. I'll quote.. he said "Are you bleeding? If you're not bleeding, you're not needing. Cowboy up. I'll be there after dark." Then he hung up. Brotherly love. He said after he hung up he felt a little sorry for me and headed my way. Now the rest of the story. In the pig-fight I broke the distal end of my right arm in what was diagnosed as a Colles' fracture. This is my bad arm I severely broke in 2001 and have a dozen screws and two plates in. No problem other than I need to immobilize it and can't shoot my bow for awhile. Actually since I'm not a turkey hunter it's a great time of year to heal. HEY.. maybe I can get a crossbow permit! Anyway, a quarter of a century of chasing hogs and I've never been charged. Then I get charged twice in the same day. As I've always said weird stuff always happens to me. Always be aware any wounded animal is dangerous. I'll never forget it the rest of my life. My only regret is it would have made great video footage... twice.

Be careful out there. Uncle Barry

[ March 13, 2011, 02:37 PM: Message edited by: Barry Wensel ]

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Barry Wensel

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From: Keosauqua,

Thanks for sharing the story of your exciting but unfortunate hunt. I wish you a speedy and full recovery. One question, if hogs are such a problem, why don't you guys shoot lactating sows or sows with piglets? How did your bow hold up? Is it still under warranty?

Great story Barry. I wish I could have been with you. On second thought.

I hope you heal well. I know the broken arm deal.

Hope you heal up well BW. thanks for the story. Did you healthcare provider educate your about possiblities of blood clots, and the sign and symptoms to look out for? did you have any medication like heparin perscribed? sorry I am a senoir nursing nursing student.

Thats a crazy day  :eek:

Wow, Barry. I can just visualize all of that. Really sorry you got hurt and I hope you heal well and quickly. Got to remember to bring a recorder to the next Pig-Gig. This is a story to keep around.

Barry, what an adventure.  Glad to see you made it and are on the mend.  Take care of yourself.  BTW, just got my copy of Essential Encounters, awesome job!!!!  Thank you to all of you involved.  Will this hog hunt lead to "Non-Essential Encounters"???

Heal fast UB we need more stories like these LOL. Glad your ok sounds like you need some R+R. TD.

GREAT STORY....LIKE THE WAY U FINISHED HER OFF....GET WELL...

That is a sick story as the kids say...amazing.

Amazing Grace, too, that last one didn't put the coup de grace on you lying there... better a bow than one of the "bro" take the lickin!

You guys are a wee bit on the onery tough side to be pulling tree stands and humpin junk with a broken arm! Gads, dude!

I wanna be like you when I grow up! Course, at 62+, ain't much chance of me toughin up that much afore I die!

Congrats on coming through more or less intact and best wishes and prayers for a speedy recovery and no complications!

Thanks for the story Barry.  I hope you have a very quick recovery.  

BOB

Wow...nuff said.  Hope you heal quick.  

Jeff

PS  An event like that has to be told.  I hope you publish it in an extended version.

Heal quick my friend. Great story telling.

Awesome hunt Barry. I wish you a speedy recovery also.

Yall gonna make sausage or pulled pork with them pigs?

Now that is a story worth being told over and over... and over.

Glad you're injuries aren't worse and that after the dust settled... you were composed enough to "Git 'er dun".

Get well soon Barry.

QuoteOriginally posted by huntsfairchase:
I've got a feeling that he'll get even...   :archer2:  

I've got a feeling he's already up by 50-1  ;)

Gotta remember that one- " if you aren't bleeding- you aren't needing" , gotta love Gene!
It's probably time to move treestands in Iowa right Gene?

Thanks to all for makeing my hunt a total BLAST. Had a ton of fun and really meet some great people. John

WOW! What an exciting ending to 5 weeks of hunting.   :clapper:

Glad your ok U.B.
Mend up right quick like, we got bears to chase this spring!!
Bill

Would have made a great video for sure!  :D  

I`m glad you didn`t disturb any of the iron in your arm...THAT would have been bad.

How`s the Tall Tines?  :(

Wow! Tough old dude (the hunter)  :)  Great story! Hope the wing heals before bear time. Maybe it will get you out of pulling more deer stands at least!

Wow!  Anyone know how the bow came out after all this?

Wow! What a story!!! I'm sorry you got so banged up, but glad it turned out OK. Take care and heal well.

Ahh, Barry's not so tough!  Next time he needs to have Marty along as backup:^) Marty would have grabbed the porker by the back feet and squeezed the squeal out of him . . . take a look at Essential Encounters if you have any doubts, HA!

Glad to hear Barry wasn't bleeding.  I hope UB heals fast and watches out for those piggies.

Glad your alright Barry! I had me a good chuckle on your behalf though. Sorry!  :D  

Jason

Obviously my first question to UB was, "How is your bow?"

The TT came thru with nary a scratch.  Brian not only builds them beautiful, they are   TOUGH.     :thumbsup:

He told me that bow saved his life...seriously!

Whip where are you? Barry steal your thunder?

Great adventure. I am sure there are memories that you will never forget and thoughts we should never forget.

Hope you recover in short order.

I hope I'm as tough as Uncle Barry when I'm older than Strom Thurmand.  Great stuff and glad you're on the mend.

Oh Man Thats some crazy stuff right there, and puts some shaking in my boots as I'm going to TX next week!  I can Go on and on about a bunch of things said in that story Like why you have tweezers and eyeliner in your front pocket!  But picturing you treed By a hog, had me laughing pretty hard (oh! the mental images). Good stuff right there too bad the camera wasnt rolling!  Well heal up my good man, take care of that arm!

Pretty hard to top that story!  I mean come on, how much would you have paid to see UB shiney up a tree with hog at his heels?  That must put a strain on the lumber!  

I'm not quite sure what he was thinking when he thought that two little 4" trees would hide his final approach on that wounded sow.  Somehow I'm guessing she could see just a little bit sticking out on each side  :rolleyes:  

As always, a week in Texas with the twins is quite a treat, and I had a great time.  Pics are uploading now.

"I'll never forget it the rest of my life. My only regret is it would have made great video footage... twice."  

Uncle Barry, I knew you were going to say something along those lines before I even finished reading the story!  Glad you made it out O.K.!

The terrain on the Lambshead Ranch is varied, but most of what I hunted consisted of river bottoms.  I sit in treestands all fall, and I really like a chance to spot and stalk when I have a chance.  This country is perfect for it.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011029.jpg)

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Hog sign was abundant - you would think there must be hogs around every bend when looking at sign like this.

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(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011046.jpg)

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(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011027.jpg)

The ranch is full of history, and the work that went into the stone structures and fences boggles the mind.  It was so cool to wander around on a property like this and imagine what life was like back in the day.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011038.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011031.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011032.jpg)

Bernie heads for an evening stand.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011014.jpg)

The top of this old tree was about 20 feet off the ground - a prickly pear thought it made for a good nest.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011028.jpg)

Nothing better to a butterfly on a cool sunny morning than a nice warm pile of poop!

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011012.jpg)

Deer were everywhere.  I did find a few small sheds, and many of the hunters reported seeing bucks still carrying antlers from this past fall.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011009.jpg)

Speaking of poop, this was an interesting turkey toilet.  The limb directly above obviously was a very comfortable place to roost.  I've never seen a pile of droppings so concentrated in one spot like this.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011049.jpg)

Barry,

It's in the cards for you to lead an animated life.
 
A little like the coyote roadrunner show.  

Glad your not hurt any worse.  What's next?  

Thanks for sharing the story.  

I'm sure you will be able to use this example to clue future hunters in about handling situations with wounded hogs.

Take er easy for a couple days...........?

Barry - I hope you get through this quickly. Those cactus spines have a way of working themselves out a little too slowly.

Day three found me back to a spot that PV had introduced to me last year.  He named it the golf course, with the front nine and the back nine consisting of big open flats along the river tucked up against a steep rocky hillside.

As I worked my way between the front and back I spotted hogs ahead.  Two sows accompanied by a bevy of piglets were rooting busily in the grass of an opening.  The crest of a small knoll hid my approach, and within minutes I eased up within shooting range.  The young hogs seemed to belong to the biggest sow, and in any case looked to be big enough to survive just fine on their own.  

The smaller of the two sows was a little further than I like, but after yesterdays episode of Failure to Launch Syndrome I eased the string back to anchor and when it felt right the arrow flashed across the 22 yards between us and disappeared through her side.

She ran about 10 yards and then stopped, looked around like she was trying to figure out what had just happened, and then tipped over.  just like that.  Unlike Barry's hog, this one went nowhere, and it was over so fast I couldn't believe it.  But I was a happy camper, and this one would make fine eating.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011018.jpg)

I had just recently completed refinishing an old Damon Howatt Super Diablo for myself.  I think I have found a new favorite hunting bow.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/PigGig%202011/PigGig2011022.jpg)

best wishes for a speedy recovery

Glad the TT is ok.  From what I saw in Waterloo, those bows are way too pretty to fight   ;)

Beautiful bow Whip!

Congrats Whip!

That is a great pig. Glad to see you connect again!

I don't think it is a coincidence that when you hang around me for a day or two you shoot a hog.  So the next time you want to go pig hunting I think it would be wise to come by my house and pick me up and take me with you.  I'm sure you would be even more successful if I was actually in camp with you!    :)  

Great shooting.  I like that pull over and the bow.  Both pretty sharp!

I hunted with Barry and Gene last year in Texas. On the third day just before dark, I shot a large black boar that ran into some very thick stuff. I waited until the next morning to look for him. Having been charged by a wounded javalina some years earlier and had heard how a wounded hog might charge, I holstered my Glock 45 and stopped by to ask Barry and Gene if there was any reason I could not look for it with a sidearm just in case. They probably thought I was being over cautious but said to go ahead.

Barry,  Hope you heal up with no ongoing problems. NEXT TIME TAKE YOUR 45!!!!

Glad he's OK.....I hope someone got it on tape! LOL!

I recognize those stone structures Whip.  They were in the area my son and I hunted last year when we floated our truck across the infamous "McFadden Crossing!"

Barry told me in a PM that his Tall Tines came out with no dammage beside some "Pig Slobber"..

I had to ask him about it, as I have one coming soon from Donald Rowan....If I go to texas for hogs at some point, I may look at a way of attaching a spear point instead of a tip protector on the lower tip..  :thumbsup:

Gene

Sounds like your recurve days are over......

thanks for the story, amazing detail.

Whip, great pictures! Real nice job on the Super D. I love the way the rosewood comes out so much darker after re-finishing. Those old Howatts were made to hunt.

Glad to hear that Barry still has his sense of humor after his run-in with the hogs. Cactus are as nasty as the hogs. Ouch!

Barry, looks like you picked a peck of prickly pear porkers. I pray you recover soon.

Whip
Good job on the hog.
But what I really like is the pics of the stonewalls and buildings, very cool!
Bill

Great pictures and story Whip. Congratulations, buddy!  :clapper:

just like to wish barry all the best with the arm ,hope it heals up fast .

Nice shot, great photos and beautiful bow refinish. No surprise there!

Hope you get yerself "unstuckered" satisfactorily.     :thumbsup:  

I've been trying to drum up a hog hunt with a buddy and now I know to take along my heaviest bow for when it's time to "throw and go".     :biglaugh:  

 

QuoteIf you ain't bleedin, you ain't needin  

Hey, I've got an older brother like that.  

"Quit bawlin!  That hat'll hold your scalp on until it heals and if you take it off in front of Mom I'll clobber you."

Barry, glad you came out of this ok. I think I will be more carefull with those hogs also.

Biggie, you got to be kidding..

Man if we only had this on video...

So I got home Saturday night and Gene drops me off. I've been gone close to six weeks. My loving wife of 43 years (can't think of her name right now) is in Wisc. visiting the grandkids and won't be home until tomorrow. So last night I go to bed but there's still cactus thorns in my buttocks and no one to pull them out. I couldn't get to sleep when laying on my back because of the stickers rubbing on the bed sheets. So I ended up duct taping the cheeks of my buttocks. It worked great. Are you getting a mental picture here? I thought so. When my wife gets home I know what the first thing I'm going to have her do... well... maybe the second thing. BW

Normally I like it when people draw mental pictures for me.  It helps to visualize what they are describing.  
I gotta tell ya - what I'm seeing in my head right is not a pretty sight!  :eek:    :scared:

I just called "what's her name" and told her-she's not coming home.

Nice bow and piggy Joe...

Joe, congratulations.

Barry, glad you are o.k. and hope you don't mind if you are the "BUTT" of a few jokes,   :bigsmyl:

"Susan" Barry, her name's "SUSAN"!!   Snap out of it man!!!  If she walks in the door after you've been "hunting" in Texas for over a month and you happen to call her by the wrong name ("Dixie" and "Flo" come to mind) . . . well, those porkers may seem like cuddly little bunnies compared to the wrath of a scorned wife!!!!  HAA!!

OMG. I'm scarred for life. I'll never get that image out of my head.

Sounds like those hogs may have a little Comanche in them.

Heal soon.

duct tape is definitely a multi purpose tool!!!!

Ahh yes... the mental picture. They can be mighty disturbing.
Great adventure - great pics, nice diversion on a late winter day.

Barry,
Glad you are o.k.  I just hope the cactus thorn butt plucking pictures never get to this site!

QuoteOriginally posted by Barry Wensel:
 So last night I go to bed but there's still cactus thorns in my buttocks and no one to pull them out....... So I ended up duct taping the cheeks of my buttocks. It worked great. Are you getting a mental picture here? I thought so.  BW

Another great use for duct tape!!!!! That's what I call thinking out of the box!  :clapper:  

Thanks for the story Barry, and I hope you heal quickly.

Great job on both the hog and the bow Whip!

David

You gotta love duct tape..Great storie, you have all the fun..That would have been great on video..The hog charging, not the the duct tape thing..

Use number 12,367,439 for duct tape. Ass de-thorning. Now that I think of it, I did see that on the label.

Uncle Barry-
I will pick all the thorns out if you set me up for a chance at a big buck this fall!   :pray:

I feel so cheap.....  :D

Terrible mental picture.........I cringe everytime it "pops" back into my head!

Barry...you are tough!  I still think it would be better to drop by the local Doctor and have him work his magic with a pair of tweezers.

Hmmmmm.  If Red Green needed a pair of Depends . . .    :biglaugh:  

I've used that duct-tape debridement trick on my back and arms with fiberglass fibers after doing battle inside the lazarette hatch and bilge of a fiberglass boat wearing a T-shirt.  Now I know why they wear Tyvek full-body suits at the factories.  I can appreciate that midnight madness when you'll try anything for relief.


Hmmm.  Maybe this electric hand planer . . .

Congrats Joe!Great pics and story thanks for sharing,glad to see you had a safe trip and hunt.
Leland

You have blinded my minds eye.  :scared:

Duct tape and buttocks, sounds like a night or two in jail! Whip, congrats on the hog. Don't know if I'd rather see a painting of Barry fighting the hog on a hunting magazine cover, Whip's hog pic, or a picture of duct tape, tweezers, and Barry's  face on a Victoria Secrets catalog.  :saywhat:

Way to go Whip! Great hog and that bow looks fantastic.

Good stuff fellas!!

Barry I think Fruit of the Loom make some boxers in Kevlar, you might wanna check em out for your next pig hunt.    :readit:  Heal fast Buddy.

Grand finale to a 5 week hog hunt Barry!!!
Good to hear your going to make it!  

Thanks for a great time once again.


Great pictures Joe. I recognize most of the locations. That bottom sure had some hog sign. Your spotted sow I believe was with two other sows the week I was there. Here's the third one.... (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Shortbldtr/Pig%20Gig%202011/459489404_photobucket_17927_.jpg)  
Congratulations on a great shot Whip. Nice work on the bow also

 :clapper:

Barry, I guess hunting hogs can give you a different type of "sticker shock!" I always knew you were one "bad ass" hunter. All kidding aside, glad to hear you weren't badly hurt...heal quickly and hope to see you and Gene in Syracuse, N.Y. on April 2nd at the New York Bowhunters 20th Anniversary Banquet.

Dave

Barry sorry that the arm is broken, at least it won't put you out of commission during one of your hunting seasons.  What a story.  If I remember Snuffy Smith from the cartoons used to spend a lot of time up in trees thanks to hogs.

You guys are giving him far too much sympathy. He needs to "cowboy up" more often. I caught him pouring grape juice on his bum arm this morning to make it look a little more purple. Tomorrow I figure he'll probably have a fake cast on it for sure. We have shows and/or banquets scheduled for like six weekends in a row now. He is once again into his "no heavy lifting" mode, which means I have to do all the loading and unloading at the shows while he soaks up the pity. He probably should have filmed the duct tape removal. I bet that hair removal bikini wax the women use would work.....

LOL!

The Wensel brothers are out there and gritty enough to experience some amazing encounters.

Would not be surpised to see a future thread titled--

---'Hogs charged by Barry Wensel'---

QuoteI caught him pouring grape juice on his bum

I had to read that twice.  :knothead:

Barry thanks for sharing your hunt that want soon be forgotten.Hope you have a speedy recovery and get well soon.I was going to suggest the bikini wax job,but Gene beat me to it.
Congrats on the hog Whip and nice job on the bow.

Barry,

I just read your story and although I'm sorry you did get hurt, well... you do have some very good memories.     :jumper:  

For those that don't know what a Colles' fracture is, here are some photos:

  (http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/72/72/9/5/6/2309905060094018430jJSsNp_th.jpg) (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2309905060094018430jJSsNp)


  (http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/47995/2442654580094018430S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2442654580094018430bHmxgE)

Not quite the subtle irony of the carrot cake story, but with work it will become a classic. Hang in the UB and get well.

I think Barry and Gene need to do A reality show "The Iowa Shore". You have to many wild adventures. I hope you feel better. Thank god for duct tape.

QuoteOriginally posted by Gene Wensel:
You guys are giving him far too much sympathy. He needs to "cowboy up" more often. I caught him pouring grape juice on his bum arm this morning to make it look a little more purple. Tomorrow I figure he'll probably have a fake cast on it for sure. We have shows and/or banquets scheduled for like six weekends in a row now. He is once again into his "no heavy lifting" mode, which means I have to do all the loading and unloading at the shows while he soaks up the pity. He probably should have filmed the duct tape removal. I bet that hair removal bikini wax the women use would work.....

I can only imagine the jokes,jabs,and snide remarks that will come out of this incident over the next few years but all in good fun.Lol.Gene you should have been there to protect Barry.After all you are the alpha male of the family.Great stuff by the way.Incidents like this are what truly make outdoor experiences so memorable especially when there are no real serious injuries.I was once witness to a full grown man  ending up on his back with a snarling wounded bowshot javelina between his legs chomping away.The only victim ended up being the guys pants and socks as they ended up with holes in them.Like Barry I would have loved to have gotten video of that incident.

I totally agree with Gene.....   :eek:

Both guys are guest speakers in a few weeks at the NYB Banquet...seems Barry is always looking to "one upmanship" on his brother. Stealing the spotlight...taking away his thunder.....   :scared:    :help:

Speedy recovery Barry!

Barry, your wife must be a saint! You leave her for 6 wks for hogs and then when you get back you "treat" her to having to face your posterior in a thorn pulling session! Yep, she's a saint.

Gene, tell Barry that he can stay home since he's "injured". Then glue a white beard on your face, strap on an arm cast and go to the events as Barry. When you arrive have one of the pretty sport show groupies unload your stuff and start soaking in the sympathy!

How many rolls of tape did that take?   :confused:    :dunno:

I bet Home Depot had to reorder.
Killdeer

Dave, that pic was better than any I found in my Google search. OW!   :eek:

Ouch! I feel for ya!

Great stories and pics guys!

CONGRATSSS.,....

When you mentioned the "No Heavy Lifting" I flashed on a past picture of Biggie and his wife that was posted here somewhere. She was carring "everything AND the ice box".   :scared:    :rolleyes:  around the swimming pool in a Bikini.    
     
Gene
Seriously, I'm glad you were not hurt worse..

There was an emergency room tv show where they used some kind of sticky hair removing product on a little boy who fell in cactus. Worked like a charm. Barry, maybe Gene could help you out with that.

I heard a propane torch works good on them stickers!

See what happens when you don't shower for 5 weeks. Pig's start thinkin you one of them.

Great story

Wow! I hope you heal quickly. That story made my day   :bigsmyl:

Whip-what a great story and pics! congrats on your pig too! Thanks.

Barry-Godspeed on your healing and it's a good thing your brother looks out for you!! lol

Kennyb    :clapper:    :clapper:

Yea..Barry, I feel bad for you man..but I'm really feeling bad for Gene right now.  He's gonna have to carry the entire load for a bit!  
   By the way...my wife she would have liked to have seen the "duct tape thing"...should I be worried about that?  Just saying!

Makes you wonder why we love this stuff so much. Everytime you go out the door with bow in hand your just might be facing a once in a lifetime experience. Get well fast Barry there is another hog out there with your name on it. God Bless.

Glad you made it back home and starting to heal. You are way to honest though, if it happenned to me I would have said the hog knocked me into the prickly pear and i finished it off with my knife. lol

I've got to make this hunt one year.

Wow what a story!  Hope you heal up real quick.  That grape juice is a great idea  :)

Been busy with my oldest daughters play this week.....and setting up St Judes...waited till today to read this one.

WOW...glad you are ok Barry...and hope you recover speedy and completely.

  :campfire:

Awesome story!  Not all pigs are the same I guess; some just won't lie down and die.

God Bless.

Get well soon Barry.

Could have been worse, if it was a love sick boar   :bigsmyl:  I hope you get better fast.