Just got back earlier today (21 hour solo drive) from a hunt with a good friend down in South (way SOUTH) Texas. A combination of general drought conditions (no ground water) with some limited moisture that greened things up (lots for the pigs to eat) changed my plans a little, but things turned out just fine.
On the third day this fellow came in with a couple of his lady friends. I sent him a big Snuffer on a 650 gr arrow from my Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet (65 lbs at my draw), and followed up the next morning. Things look and felt pretty good at the shot, but when he took off there seemed to be a bit much arrow showing although I was pretty sure I heard him crash and give a couple deep breaths afterwards. Turned out he went about 75 yards on a lung shot, but the arrow didn't fully penetrate the shield on the offside, and was working its way back out when he ran off. I didn't weigh him, but he was a pretty heavy drag. About 3 inches of tooth showing above the bottom gumline.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/boar.jpg)
I'd heard about the shield, but never saw one like this - 1.5 inches thick - about like a rubber tire to cut through. It started at the front of his shoulder and went almost to the back of his rib cage. That knife cut is on the shoulder portion, and the hole just behind is where my Snuffer stopped on the offside - it cut well into the offside shield but not through the hide.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/shield.jpg)
A couple days later when I was checking another setup mid-day there were pigs already on it and I grabbed my bow and slipped into 20 yards and shot a pretty good sized calico sow. Arrow went in to the feathers and 20 yards later I found this....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/blood1.jpg)
a couple yards further.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/blood2.jpg)
and at the end of a 50 yard blood trail....that hole is the exit on a bit quartering on shot.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v195/RyanRothhaar/sow.jpg)
Good time with a good friend, and got some sun in February...
I wouldn't give up my whitetails, but I really dig pigs! You southern boys got it good!
R
Nice job Ryan! Always enjoy you sharing your successes...seems pretty consistant! Thanks!
Congrats on your pigs.Nice pics. :thumbsup:
good job. who ever came up with those snuffers did good huh :D
Nice job congrats are definetly in order. Cool old bow as well got to love the classics
You're preaching to the choir with those 160 Snuffers! Nice hogs and thanks for sharing the tale.
Very nice! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
if there ever was a pretty pig ...thats one there. congratts :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Good shot Ryan!
Enjoy the feast!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
Way to go Ryan! If you don't mind my asking where were you hunting?
Congrats and good eating.
Great story and pics Ryan! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Good Work!! :clapper: :clapper:
Great work Ryan!Congrats on the couple.
I smell BBQ! :thumbsup: Congrats!
Nice!
Great shooting Ryan!!!!!!!!
Good looking swine. Heading to south Texas (zapata) in April for some fishing and hoping to get after some Javis.
Run a crossed any big slithering guys?
Great Hunt!
Nice shooting Ryan.
Way to go Ryan! Thanks for sharing the hunt! I will have to try pigs one of these days.
Making bacon.
I am thankful that you shared your hunt with us.
Congratulations!!
God bless,Mudd
Nice job, Ryan. Were you hunting with your bud from Montana again? Did he have any luck?
Congrats!
Bisch
Puercos muy grandes!
Congratulations! Love those hog hunt stories and pictures. Thanks
:clapper:
I would love to hunt hogs some day. It would be cool to get one and then I could bring my pig roaster to compton and roast it and make it free for everyone. I usually roast at least two or three a summer but they are regular old pigs.
Great job on those nice Texas hogs partner!
Nice pigs!
Congrats!
Always enjoy seeing calico hogs. Thanks for sharing.
Good shooting Ryan. thanks for the story.
mucho grandé !
felicidades ! :thumbsup:
Congrat's, thanks for sharing
Sounds like you had a great time::THANKS for sharing your story and pics :archer:
:bigsmyl:
Congrats on a fine hunt and Thanks for shareing the pics and story. :thumbsup:
Cool! :thumbsup:
Way to go.
Good pics of the shield and great explanation. Thanks.
Cool
That is one cool lookin sow, thanks for the pics and story!!! J :thumbsup:
Great hunt! Thanks for the story and pictures!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
:clapper: Well done!
Nice pigs !!!
Nice hogs great work Ryan.
Multo Grande Porco ! Good shooting as usual Ryan!! :thumbsup:
nice pigs , congrats :thumbsup: :clapper:
Thanks for the kind words, guys.
A couple answers to questions -
Jon - I was on the land belonging to the family of a friend from down there - they don't do hunts or anything - it was down southeast of Laredo, a couple miles from Mexico.
Mike - No snakes, saw one track across the road one day when it was hotter. Did find a scorpion in the bathroom, though. He got a wild circular water ride.
Pat - No, unfortunately John couldn't make it this year. I don't feel sorry for him though, he's planning most of his vacation this fall in Alaska.
R
Congratulations Ryan!
-Jay
Nice shooting! That was one heck of a shield!
Yeah, tough to be sorry for a guy heading to Alaska. Glad you had a great hunt!
Nice shooting Ryan!
Thanks for the info Ryan. And again..nice shooting!
Fine job!
I love the pics with the Jack Howard Gamemaster Jet. Nice pics and a cool hunting adventure Ryan. ~Steve
I'm heading to S. Tejas for hogs in about 3 weeks. Hope you left a few out there! Nice hogs! :thumbsup:
Nicely done...twice!
Bob
Jack Howard lives on! Great shooting Ryan.
Dave
Good shootin brother!
Bacon!!! Congrats! :thumbsup: :archer2:
Very nice. Sharpening up some Snuffers for a piggy hunt next week myself.
Congrats on the pigs
Outstanding. Always like to see snuffer pics.RC
Real cool.
Nice oinkers from the Valley of Texas. :thumbsup: