I just returned From Rays Hog Heaven. No pigs were harmed in the Making of this hunt but we had a great time none the less.
The guys from Maine are still driving and probably wont be here to tell stories today. Hopefully they will chime in later.
Greg, Dan and Dale, It was great meeting you guys and a pleasure to share a car ride and camp with. Thank you for Driving and lugging this New Jerker around.
Joe from N.C. it was also nice meeting you as well.
One thing was for certain, our lack of prowess had nothing to do with the amount of pigs sighted. Our "Largest" problem was, we are deer hunters, not pig hunters.
Everyone saw pigs, one guy had them in range consistently.
On my first night out:
This old yank who departed snpowy NY wasnt ready for the Scorching 87 degree heat of the south.
One common trait of this thread is "LISTEN TO RAY"! when he said take water, I grabbed one bottle. By the time dark was approaching I was suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Luckily Joe came out and gave me a ride to camp.
I was to the point where I was nauseous and completely disoriented. I was second guessing logic and completely turned around in a place I knew which directions would get me out.
Things like road sounds and direction were being second guessed. Luckily, I was still able to navigate my way out. It took me most of the next day to fully recover from it.
Heat is no joke.
After spending all winter in NY looking for sheds, I found 2 in one evening at rays. Here is the first.
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554924.jpg)
an hour later, I was crouched near a wallow.
I was sitting taking a rest, when behind me I heard a loud squeal and grunting. "PIG" I listened for a minute to figure out which direction he was traveling. It sounded as if he was going to parallel me and move past.
So I listened to Ray's advice and decided to become aggressive. as soon as I stood up the wind change 180 degrees and that pig headed to somewhere else fast.
I should have listened to Ray when he said, "move in before the wind changes" "it's your worst enemy with hog hunting" :banghead:
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554937.jpg)
There was plenty of Pig sign, unfortunately Sign doesn't always mean they will be back. These rooters could have been ten miles away by the time I found this mud hole.
Thanks for the pics Charlie,Sorry you didn,t connect.What a drastic change in weather though.Hope to see ya at the stump shoot next Sunday.......Cool off now!!!!
about 150 yards where I heard pigs, I was sneaking through thick river cane type vegetation and heard something coming. without hesitation, I dropped to a knee as I couldn't shoot while standing and nocked an arrow.
immediately one black and one red pig came zipping past approximately 20 yards out. They were followed by about 3 or 4 mini pigs and a wet sow.
That was cool. No shot but awesome anyhow. I completed my main goal; to see a wild pig (in the wild).
Looking forward to the full story form all.
The next Morning I walked back to the area I had action and no sooner decided to re-adjust my thermocell to hang on my pack, unlatched my pack and a pig took off. It was bedded in the brush not 10-15 yards away. I never saw it but heard him take off. Again, should have listened to Ray when he said, "you can make noise, as long as you dont sound like a person" :readit: .
I was headed in as fast as possible (and un-human as possible) when he darted off to the left about 30 yards in front of me. I immediately saw a jet black pig in a hurry running about 80 yards to my left. I couldn't have kept up if I tried but he was headed toward Dan so I hoped.
Here is some Flora from that area
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554939.jpg)
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554929.jpg)
:campfire:
Sounds intense can't wait to read more! :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
:coffee:
I heard that the water was up....and up pretty good.....going over that way this weekend...just wondering....and waiting for more on this thread.
T
Wife has to work till 7:30, time for 1 more.
That afternoon Ray wanted us to check out the swamp.
The week before there was a lot of Rain and wind.
The river had flooded making the swamp "full of Gators" and un-huntable :readit: :p I hoped My bow Being a "BIG RIVER"would bring me extra luck. (no soup :mad: :D )
Actually, it was flooded and inaccessible. But it had receded a bit and we went over there to check things out, we hoped the pigs would be rooting where the water had recently receded.
we all saw a 4-5 foot gator, which was cool.
Pics from the swamp. (while we were in there, the water had gone down about 2 feet) :cool:
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554930.jpg)
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554926.jpg)
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554927.jpg)
Great pictures Charlie. It doesn't look a whole lot different now than in the middle of winter, except for the flora.
Now you know what to expect for next time.
See you Sunday at the stump shoot.
:campfire:
love the pic's bro!
Great pics! Man I can't wait for June to get here.
Pete
Great pictures and story Charlie, looking forward for more!
-Jay
Very nice Charlie! Liked your story in the PBS Magazine.
I can pick up a little bit where Charlie left off. After Ray gave us the rundown we all took off to our respective hunting areas. Ray had told us that when we get into the thick pines there will be patches of Fragmites ( Don't know if that is the proper spelling) where the pigs feed off the root bulbs. Creeping along very slowly and paying attention to the wind direction, I wasn't in these pines more than 75 yards when I had my first encounter. I could hear something headed in my direction. I knocked an arrow and got ready, pretty soon I could see some black figures headed directly toward me. The first pig in line was a wet sow that came within about 15 yards. She was followed by 2 piglets and another smaller sow. I will work on some pictures, but for those that have been in these pines they know how difficult it can be to get a shot. Regardless of the growth that was in between myself and the hogs the wind suddenly changed and gave me away, these pigs didn't spend much time hanging around to see who or what was among them.
Looks a lot wetter than in January, glad you had a good time! Good that you also saw game!!
I finished the first day of hunting off by seeing 1 more pig that I didn't get real close to. I heard some others but didn't have anymore sightings. When we arrived back at camp Ray had a delicious meal prepared for us, most of you already know Ray is a fantastic chef.
Food :goldtooth:
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554932.jpg)
After having breakfast the following morning Ray said I think you should go back into the same place as the first day. I believed this to be a very good idea since I had already had some encounters in this area. I got back into the pines and wasn't much more than 50 yards in when I could hear some grunting and a lot of noise coming from a very large area of the Fragmites. The only way I can describe these is that they look like cattails without the brown top. I could hear a pig moving around in them and could see these large reeds moving. Paying attention to the wind I was able to creep around the outskirts of this wet area and moved to within about 20 yards of the animal. I stood there watching as this hog was feeding in my direction, suddenly I heard a noise coming from my right and another sow came into the picture. I attempted to move up on the animals but was busted by the swirling wind once again. :banghead: I encountered another bunch of hogs when I was headed back in to meet the guys for lunch. These animals were within shooting range, but no clear shot.
That afternoon we decided to head down into the swamp. We encountered the alligator that Charlie spoke of but saw no pigs. Another guy in the group manged to see 2 at a distance but there was too much water between he and the animals. This was my first experience in the swamp and it was very cool. Even though we didn't encounter any pigs it was a nice break from the thick pines and briars that I had been in earlier.
After we left the swamp, we were standing chatting it up near the truck. I had felt about as sore as I could feel. As it turned Out I wasn't the only wimp in the crowd.
While talking we heard a blood curdling noise coming from the woods no to far away. and then again. The squealing Kinda reminded me of Deliverance :readit: ;) ;)
Dale and Dan grabbed the bows and readied for shots but it became too dark much too quick.
QuoteOriginally posted by IndianaBowman:
Very nice Charlie! Liked your story in the PBS Magazine.
Thanks Terry for encouraging me to submit it.
The next morning I was headed back for the pines. I was barely out of sight of the camp on a newly cut fire break when I encountered some fresh sign. It looked as if someone had just run a rototiller down the road. This sign was fresh! I started creeping down the fire break road an hadn't gone more than 20 yards when I started to hear something off to my left. I counted 4 sows and around a dozen piglets feeding through some hardwoods. I attempted to stalk up on them, the problem was there wasn't any cover. One of the sows either winded me or heard me move. They didn't spook, they just started feeding in the other direction. No big deal I said, I will just cut them off up the road a bit. I took position behind a bush on the edge of the road and my plan was working. This large sounder was head in my direction. Every thing was going to plan until this large wet sow came around the bush and busted me. :knothead:
Before I forget:
Special thanks to Glenbo!!!
For letting me park my truck at his house. also thank you for the generous offer for dinner!!! :thumbsup: That was awesome!!!
That's the same plate of food I had down there,and it was good!! Yea Frolicking, that's the word :biglaugh:
Paying attention to the wind I figured that I would try and cut this group off in the pines and possibly get a shot on one. I headed into the pines slowly and pretty soon I ran into some more animals in the Fragmites. I crept around and got within 15 yards of this group and they were feeding toward my position.Pretty soon a good sized sow was working her way through and was getting in bow range. This was my opportunity. The pig stepped out and I let an arrow fly. Miss! :banghead: You're supposed to pick a spot dummy. That was my chance to take a hog and I didn't pull it off. In all I saw between 50 and 60 pigs. This was an awesome hunt and great learning experience. Ray was a wonderful host and is a class act. I shared camp with a great group of guys and had a blast, and I want to thank my father for taking me on this trip.
Here is a picture of where my first hog encounter took place. They came through on the other side of all that stuff. (http://s1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa379/pfd75/?action=view¤t=PigHunt007.jpg)
I guess the picture didnt come through. Sorry.
Ray can cook! Better than my wife too! Although...she is a fair bit purdier, so I'm stayin with her and just visiting Ray once a year. :)
Enjoying the story. Keep it comming.
looks like a nice vacation
Glad you all had fun. :thumbsup:
It was a great time! Just being able to get that close to these animals made the whole trip worth while.
After we met Ray on Fri. he told us that they had had 10 inches of rain that week and the swamp wasn't accessable and he thought the pines and "high" ground would be the best place to hunt.After our lunch, orienation, and a few practice shots Ray dropped Dale and I off on the main road and we hunted through the hardwoods into the pines across from camp. There was a lot of fresh sign in the hardwoods and I figured they must be in there at night so I planned to hunt the pines and come back there in the evening.Once I got into the pines there was hog sign everywhere! I hunted slowly up to a wet place about a hundred yards long. while woring my way up through I heard a hog grunt to my left. The wind was right and following Rays advice I became aggresive and went after them. If you wait around for them to come to you the wind will probably change before you see them and that will be the end of it. Well I wasn't quite quick enough and when I got 30 yards from them they were still behind some bushes and the wind changed. They turned and came back by me at 20 yards running behind thick bushes,no shot. Ther were 3 medium sized hogss and 3 piglets.At that point in my life I became addicted to hog hunting. I played cat and mouse with them until dark and kept hearing them but couldn't get close enough to see them. I made my way out of the pines after dark and back onto the fire break surrounding the pines.Following the fire break back to camp I jumped at least 10 hogs out of the hardwoods bordering the fire break.I guess I should have stuck to my original plan but now I knew where we would be hunting the next morning. Got back to camp for a delicious supper of spaghetti with wild hog sausage sauce.
will post more after work.
sounds like you guys had a good, albeit wet time. yep, there's a LOT to learn about hogs and hog hunting ... damn frustrating at times, but fun none the less. it took me forever to get the gist of it and take some hogs, and i'm still learning. headed 'back to school' tomorrow. :D
rob, have a great time!
I would like to add...
when Ray is doing pest control with his "Fly swatter" do not stand in front or under him. You will get a glass Shower ;) :readit: :help: :biglaugh:
I'll let Ray elaborate if he wants to.
images no wider than 640 please!
This is a picture of the spot where I had my first hog encounter. The pigs came in on the other side of all that stuff.
Areas like this one are where I seemed to encounter the majority of the hogs.
Sorry, I am still trying to figure this picture thing out.
(http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa379/pfd75/PigHunt007-1.jpg) Area of my first encounter.
(http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa379/pfd75/PigHunt008-1.jpg)Hog wallow.
Saw most of the pigs in areas like this. (http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa379/pfd75/PigHunt013-1.jpg)
It's not that shots are hard to get- its that you have to learn how to get a shot....and the only way to learn that is to spend time amongst the hogs and learn their ways.
Any one of the encounters could have turned out completely different if our hunters were coming from a slightly different angle or the hogs turned the other way- it's just a matter of doing it enough to make it happen.
If you come to HH, you won't be hunting over a feeder in a tripod or hang on unless that's what you insist on...some guys like tripods over feeders- I like the challenge of doing it up close and personal- and not while the hogs are frantically jumping, turning and twisting to make sure the other ten hogs around them don't get any of the kernels of corn before they do. Now THAT'S tough shooting.
Getting shots isn't tough- once you learn HOW to set yourself up to get them. But that's not something you can be taught- it's something you have to learn through experience.
That's part of the fun. You've already decided to limit your ability to kill by picking the toughest weapon short of an atlatl- this is what we live for- HARD!!!! That's what makes success so satisfying!!!
Wow, sounds like you guys had a great time. thats what makes a great hunting camp.!
(http://i1194.photobucket.com/albums/aa379/pfd75/PigHunt017-1.jpg) Down in the swamp.
Ray,
I now have a little better understanding of these animals. Hopefully this will give me the edge for next time.
Dale
Looks like a great place to hunt.
This was a great group- always excited about what they were doing- anxious to stay after them- and enjoying life!
Of course, when you live in a land of ice and snow for 8 months a year- all you basically have to do is see the sun and feel the warm for a few minutes and you think you've died and gone to Heaven- hog heaven, that is! :bigsmyl:
it ain't called 'hog heaven' for nothin'! it's THE PLACE TO BE for HOGS! if you've never hunted hogs before, there is at least a bit of a learning curve - typically, more than a bit. you may not get a shot, or you may blow a LOT of shots, but the excitement of the hog hunt is real, and gets deep in yer bones, and you'll be back for more - for sure! i'm hooked on hogs! and they is SO tasty on the bbq, too! :thumbsup:
Boy it's a lot wetter than it was in January!
QuoteOriginally posted by Ray Hammond:
It's not that shots are hard to get- its that you have to learn how to get a shot....and the only way to learn that is to spend time amongst the hogs and learn their ways.
If you come to HH, you won't be hunting over a feeder in a tripod or hang on unless that's what you insist on...some guys like tripods over feeders- I like the challenge of doing it up close and personal-
Getting shots isn't tough- once you learn HOW to set yourself up to get them. But that's not something you can be taught- it's something you have to learn through experience.
That's part of the fun. You've already decided to limit your ability to kill by picking the toughest weapon short of an atlatl- this is what we live for- HARD!!!! That's what makes success so satisfying!!!
I had a blast, wouldnt do it any other way! There has been a lot of learning involved I feel next time, I would have a great chance on getting one.
I learned a lot, Had a blast, got stick bow close to a ton of animals but no hogs. If I wanted to kill a hog, I would have went elsewhere and brought a gun.
Some people like to shoot and some like to hunt!
I will provide a list of all the animals I snuck into bowrange and counted Coupe.
Careful, This Hog Hunting is ADDICTIVE. Good thing I work at a Rehab facility that strictly deals with addictions. Working on my problem as we speak.
That trip sounds like you fellas got smiles pasted on you thatll return every time you revisit that country in your minds.
I was ready to go back down there before we were across the Mason-Dixon Line.
I also want to add,
If it was only about getting meat, I could have bought 2 pigs for the price of our gas :readit:
It's soley about the adventure.
Forgive me Izzy if I am smiling ear to ear when I see you! Dont get me wrong I'm always happy to see you but I ain't smiling cuz yur purdy! :readit: :readit:
Saturday morning Dale and I went back to the fire break along the edge of the pines where I had seen the hogs the night before when I was coming out in the dark. We got started a little later than we should have and the hogs had already gone back into the pines, but the fire break was covered in fresh tracks so we knew they were still around. Dale went into the pines first and I went up the trail a ways and cut in to go over to where I had left the hogs the night before. Another thing I learned about hogs is that they are where they are and not where they were,they seem to travel a lot. Dale was into hogs as soon as he got into the pines.I hunted my way through to the swale that I had seen them near the night before but they weren't there anymore. I hunted through to the road on a drainage ditch that was just covered in hog tracks and wallows. Just before I got to the road I saw what had to be the biggest bobcat in South Carolina, so big that I looked for a long tail because I thought he was something else.I marked this trail because I planned on going back in that way later because it was a lot easier and quieter way to get back into where all the sign was. After lunch Ray said that we should try down by the swamp because the water level had dropped quite a bit since the day before. We were all for it because we all wanted to see the different landscapes on the property. On the walk into the swamp we saw a 4 or 5 foot gator but he was to quick for any of us to get a picture. Dale and I hunted down along the river and saw some beautiful country but no hogs.There was still a lot of places you couldn't get to because of the high water. We all got back to the truck just before dark (none of us wanted to be wading through the water after seeing that gator)and were talking about our hunt when we heard some pigs not to far away. Dale and I went after them but ran out of light. Back at camp Ray and Mike had roasted vegetables and giant steaks cooked over hickory coals waiting for our supper.
Great story and Hog Heaven is indeed just that!
Sounds like you guys had a super time there.
Good luck Rob!
well I really can't add much to the story. It was a great time and a great group.Ray is a great host and a bad tennis player! I was checking flights today, Trying to see how quick it would be. Had to shut the computer off before I booked a Flight. Ray I will be back if you will have me. Thanks for the good time. Greg
Hey guys, We're heading down for fathers day weekend. There's still 2 openings if anyone 's interested in a return trip
Great story guys! :clapper: I hope one day I can make it down there
That's RAQUETBALL, Greg, RAQUETBALL!! Sheesh...everyone's a critic!!! :bigsmyl: :biglaugh: :laughing:
You are welcome back any time, brother. I like PAHKIN' DA CAHH IN DA YAHD myself...and don't get TIYUD of hearin' about it, don't ya know.
My pleasure to help out Charlie.Glad you had a fine time. Glen
On my last morning, I went to a new to me area. Hogs had been seen there by Greg and Joe.
I saw lots of game. I counted coup on much of it.
here is a list of all the animals I snuck into bow range of:
Possum (must have been fed by Ray, it was a biggun) Ray can confirm
Raccoon
4 Deer on 3 occasions
1 Jake
umpteen squirrels including several blacks
while I saw the turkey, I was being serenaded by Frogs and Owls. I tried to take pictures of wild life but my camera is loud and lousy.
Here is an owl that paid me a visit.
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554934.jpg)
Good stuff guys....its a great experience dead hog or no dead hog. Killing deer is MUCH easier!!! Especially if you've never hunted hogs before.
You wont find too many places like Ray's to get a hog, or experience.
Again, hogs are hard at times...I've blown probably 15 stalks in a row, and then killed 5 in a row. You learn something every time out. 1st thing I learned was the wind is your biggest enemy....and the reason for most blown stalks...pardon the pun :biglaugh:
hey, charlie...I seen that owl before- HA!!!
That was ABSOLUTELY the biggest possum I've ever seen- without doubt!!!!
Ray, what you feeding them buggers? Leftover steak :readit:
Speaking of buggers,
The Mosquitoes were not bad, especially considering how wet things were. we only used our thermacells periodically.
Chiggars were not out and I only found 3 ticks on me, none attached.
Here is a picture of me demonstrating how to use an antique thermocell. At my good friend Ken's Request, I send up some smoke! Here's to ya brother.
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/hog%20heaven/1302554941.jpg)
I want to thank Charlie Lamb for inspiring me to think about taking self timed photo's.
One thing I wanted to see, and think everyone is full of BS is an armadillo.
None were spotted during this trip. saw plenty of holes but no dillos.
This is one my Buddy Chris claims to have shot 2 months prior. personally, I think he was somewhere else :confused: cause there aint any at Ray's.
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/1302653926.jpg)
(http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/m637/cjohntalk/1302653928.jpg)
The last morning Dale and I left camp at first light. He went up the fire break and I went up the road to go into the swale via the drainage ditch I had found the night before as it was a lot quieter walking,also hoped to see the bobcat again. Didn't see anything on the way in and when I made it across the swale I heard something in the pines on the other side,it turned out to be my son Dale. He had seen about 15 pigs already and was trying to move around to get downwind of them.We split up and went on either side of another large swale. About half way through I heard pigs running through the water. The wind was right and I had been quiet so I didn't think I had jumped them. Turns out Dale had seen them and taken a shot at one and missed low.I tried to cut them off but they got away without a sighting.After a while I decided it was time to hunt back towards camp and pack up to head home. I was hunting through the pines toward camp going a little faster than normal when I heard a hog ahead and to the right of me.I saw two medium sized hogs moving away from me but not hurrying I went into predator mode and tried to parallel them staying downwind.I soon lost sight of them but when I looked up I saw moving through the bushes a giant hog that made me forget all about the others,this thing was huge! I only got that one look at him and couldn't find him again. Soon Dale came out from the direction the hogs had gone, he had seen them but no shot. It was now time to get ready for the long drive home and our hunt was over.
This was one of the greatest hunts I have been on.Lots of game and other wildlife seen, anticipation of shots about to be taken, although none were,beautiful weather,very few mosquitos(I only started my Thermacel once in the evening when were in the swamp),new friends made,getting to share the experience with my son,and once again sitting around the campfire with Ray. Thank-You sir,
Dan
I just got home from work and read the thread. We had a great time and saw lots of game at Hog Heaven last weekend. I managed to trail the tracks of a very big solo hog until I jumped it in a thicket not ten yards from me. He took off like a big truck plowing his way through the thicket. What a big thrill that was. Like the Yankee guys from Maine and NY, I counted coup on many deer, rabbits ( one at two yards, a very cool stalk), fox squirrels (in their many South Carolina color phases), lizards and other beasts. Had an arrow on the string many times and a fast heart beat going, but no shots. It is real hunting with no sure thing. Well, a good hunting camp with great people is assured.
Ray is a great host, a real salt-of-the-earth man -- my kind of person -- an honest, straight shooter, and a person who clearly takes pride in being a great host.
The guys from Maine and Charlie from NY are great guys to share a hunting camp with, and I would recommend hunting with any of those guys any time.
Mike (Squirrel Bait), who was hobbled by a bad knee, is one heck of a great guy too. If you share a camp with him, be smart and listen to him talk about hunting. He knows what he is talking about and you can learn a lot by just listening to Mike and Ray. And, I hope Mike's knee surgery on Monday went well. Yep, he was out hunting the weekend before his knee surgery. That is cool.
Hog Heaven is beautiful countryside, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a hunting experience that will create some top-notch memories.
I'll be back there every year I can manage it.
All the best,
Joe
Even I saw Dillo's at Ray's....... :biglaugh:
My hat's off to you fellows: Learning a new hunting skill isn't easy. You can't watch a video or do it once and become an expert.
It requires putting the time in to make it all come together- I feel certain you'd have put it together in another day or so if we'd had the time.
Just Heard From Mike AKA Squirell Bait "Nuts" :readit:
That's good to hear about Mike. I'll drop him a message to wish him well with his recovery from the surgery.
Best,
Joe
Definitely nice pictures! Oh man, I grew up in Louisiana and those pics make me miss home some kinda bad. :) Good luck hunting those pigs!
The photos that Charlie (Cyclic-Rivers) took are exactly what Hog Heaven looks like. It is a beautiful place that is full of game. The wild Easter Lilies were blooming on the forest floor when we were there last weekend. There were lots of deer to watch and plenty of hogs to see, even though there were no hogs hit with arrows.
Charlie sure captured the place with his camera. Nice pics, Charlie.
Joe
Thanks Joe,
I have a confession! I only took the pictures because I felt it would help me kill a hog. :readit:
You see, My pals Izzy and Guru always take lots of pics and always seem to make meat. :confused:
I found there is a method to their madness, :saywhat: Taking pictures forces me to slow down and smell the roses so to speak. If it were me 3 weeks ago, I would have only had my memories.
That just sounds like a great time! I've got to get that on my list of things to do some year.
Charlie, just remember that pics are a whole lot easier than game to
drag out of the woods and your wife cant remind you that you could have shared a romantic weekend getaway for the cost of mounting that critters head. By the way, you did take some nice pics. Not as good as Cuz though.He took pics of a quartering away pig at 10 yards and forgot to trade his camera for his bow before the pig winded him after 5 minutes or so. :smileystooges:
:knothead: :biglaugh:
Purty place. I gotta agree with Ray. You can have pigs a plenty and a whole lot of experience and still not get one stalking. A whole lot can happen once your inside 25 yards.One summer on 10 different occasions I had pigs under TEN yads and never got a shot. Talk about feeling snakebit.It only takes a step different and all those ten could have been kills so don`t ever be discouraged when you get close and it don`t happen for you.You`ve got 90% of the battle won if your getting close the rest is some skill and a whole lotta luck.From the end of summer till January I ended up killing 12 that year. Just a matter of a lucky wind and a lucky step in the right direction.Stay on`em.RC
Good thread Chalie! Heard about Ray's but now more impressed at how he hunts. That Cypress swamp looks great! No kill? That's why they call it hunting. Hanging w/likeminded Tradsters only makes it better IMO. Much obliged for the pix & stories.