Headed to Big Hammock WMA today for a walk. I`ve been sitting in treestands enough lately and needed some "swamp" time.A good walk through the Swamp or any woods for that matter is good for the Soul I believe. Relaxing and fun if you learn to enjoy the hunt and not pressure yourself into killing something. A lesson I learned long ago. Makes hunting a lot more fun.
Parked at a Walk-in road I`ve done good on in the past. We are high tech here in South Ga. Our swamp roads have signs...lol.
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1892.jpg)
I eased on down the road and shot a few leaves having plenty of fun. Disrespectful pigs care nothing about road conditions ...the nerve of them..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1890.jpg)
Can you guess what this means??
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1889.jpg)
Let me help you. Many years ago this place was private land and was hunted with dogs. The number on the tree was a "stand" location for a hunter. They would draw numbers from a hat and spread folks out then push the block with dogs.
I headed on to a long Black Lake. I`ve never heard the name of it before. My Wife and I have caught quite a few Specs and shellcrackers from it..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1873.jpg)
Great pics.
Relaxing and fun if you learn to enjoy the hunt and not pressure yourself into killing something. A lesson I learned long ago. Makes hunting a lot more fun.
I couldn't agree more!
TS
Great pictures and story RC :thumbsup: Are you sure that's it? :campfire: :coffee:
Love to see your posts....always entertaining and I learn something most times....... :campfire: :coffee:
I went around the end of the Lake and eased into a thicker area. My reasoning was the pigs would be in the thick stuff since it was midday and not in the open swamp. I slipped up a small rise and onto a thick side of a sandbar...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1871.jpg)
looking good already. I followed the mud trail on up into a big flat covered in Kudzu looking stuff...and sign was plenty. I eased ahead slowly and heard a pig cough. I got a direction and the wind and headed towward it. It coughed a couple more times and I heard others grunting. Pig musta had a cold because it would cough every couple of minutes.I got within 7 steps of the pigs. I could see the tops of bushes shaking and was as close as I wanted and honed in on one. Waiting on it to step clear . The wind swirled and it was over as fast as it began. Doggoneit...7 yards and no shot. If your gonna hunt thick woods pigs with a bow get used to it.
The pigs were up ahead just a bit of this pic. Beautiful country to me...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1879.jpg)
Pressed on toward the River..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1875.jpg)
A bit farther
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1881.jpg)
The Altamaha...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1883.jpg)
Hey RC , you have some great hunting areas. I always look forward to your pictures and stories.
Bill
Eased down the River a bit and hit a sand bar. I`ve got on a lot of game in the willows that backup sandbars so I was easing along slow and careful. Found a vacant home...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1880.jpg)
South Ga. version of the RoadRunner and Wile Coyote..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1876.jpg)
A few more shells. The ground was covered in a 50 yard square here...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1884.jpg)
No Snakes?
Do the Snakes down there stay underground all winter RC, or will they come out to play when it's warm enough?
Came off the sandbar into the swamp and found a really neat log. Notice the "half" saw cut in it..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1874.jpg)
Came up on another small ridge and found a gold mine for pig killing from a stand...
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1887.jpg)
A big swamp chestnut that is pouring acorns. I had not seen a single good acorn on the ground the whole walk then found this and it had sign all under it..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1886.jpg)
I had to be home by 5:00 so I sat back for a while and waited. If I had been able to stay till dark I may have got a shot. I got up and walked about 40 yards and bumped about 8-10 pigs that were coming at a trot. The wind was blowing and I could not tell they were coming until it was to late and I had the wrong wind. I gotta work the next three days but may end up here again Tuesday evening Lord Willing...
After about 4 miles of a loop...I made it safely back to the truck.Next time..RC
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1891.jpg)
Danny I almost stepped on a Timber Rattler two years ago a week before Christmas. It was 50 degrees.RC
Had to add these three pics I had forgotten.
A big sandbar....
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1877.jpg)
A Redneck sinker for a trot line..
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1885.jpg)
And a tree that was begging to be photographed...Good day All.RC
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/IMG_1878.jpg)
Cool Pics RC :thumbsup:
Excellent pics RC. You surely are Blessed to have such beautiful and intriguing land to hunt. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I can't wait for a chance to hunt pigs someday.
love the pics :thumbsup:
I feel good just reading along and seeing the pics. Keep it coming, RC
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great pics and great day as usual! Thanks for the walk, Eric
Thanks ever so much,Great scenery!
Nice pictures, really enjoyed the narrative
Wow that was a fun day-Thanks!! Love your place.
Thanks for the walk through the swamp RC. Just what the Dr. Ordered.
Great pics too.
Thank you for the vacation, RC. I feel better already!
Coll time, RC!
Can't wait for the next adventure!
Bisch
Thanks for taking us along RC.
Thanks for sharing the hunt. Beautiful country.
Cool stuff. :thumbsup:
Great Pics,thanks.
Nice picsz,
Thanks for taking us a long :)
thanks for the show.
Thanks for sharing RC!
Glenn
A pleasure as always, thank you
Beautiful country RC. Great spot, thanks for sharing.
That was a great report. Loved all commentary and the photos. You've got a great spot to bowhunt.
RC,
Thank you very much,keep those swamp pictures coming. They are very welcome over here in the sandbox.
What is your choice in boots for that type of hunting? Thanks
Thanks again for the great hunt.
Makes me wanna move!!
Very nice!
Made my morning joe go down even smoother RC. Thanks and God bless for taking us along. Always look forward to your pics and stories. :coffee:
Beautiful spot,RC.
You're right RC... A long walk in the woods does a fella good. All the tensions and problems of everyday life seem to just melt away. I think maybe it's time I did the same thing. Just get out and enjoy the woods.
Pretty country.
Fabulous walk through the woods. Does the soul good.
It makes us northern guys kind of jealous.
Great story and pics as usual RC.
Wow thanks for the walk and pictures RC. That sure is different than the the walks we go on here in AZ. Wish we had the pig hunting out here other than Javalina. They are quite destructive so I don't know how this area could handle them? They would be way better eating though. Keep up with the pictures and good luck with the hunt.
Nice RC. Beautiful stuff.
Thanks again for another swamp tour? I would like to do a walk like that myself.
Thanks RC. Those were great pics and a great read.
Enjoyed it.
RC nice walking tour. Thanks for the awesome pics.
To address a comment you made some time ago, RC...
"yeah, I'd walk that 4 miles in hip boots if I had to just to see such pretty country.
And you had NO other pics of guys you ran into. Imagine THAT in good ole SE PA! :)
Beautiful. I'm thinking we'll see some hero pics shortly around that nut tree!
Thanks for taking us along RC. I always enjoy the pics and storys.
Good hunting, Jason
I call it "dinkin' around" in the woods. RC has it down to a fine art.
RC, you ever hunt down around what is called "Hughes Old River" on the Altamaha? I spent some time hunting there in the mid 1980s. The most aggressive hogs I've every encountered inhabited that area. They'd scare the *&%# out of ya'!
Thanks for a great tour.
Good one Robert....Thanks for sharing this trip with us! I'm looking forward to a follow up if you get back in there....
Looks kinda humid.
Enjoyed the pics, thanks!
Hey RC, I'm gonna be huntin along the Altamaha the end of January. I hope to get some of those mud hungry hogs in a cooler. Seeing your pics gets me excited to do some hog huntin, been chase whietails since September its time for a change.