I went to Ray's in January and had a ball. I had to go again to hunt that beautiful Cyprus swamp and couldn't wait until next year to do it. I will be leaving tonight.
I hope to see some alligators and snakes this time, not to mention the hogs. I live in the Jersey Pinelands and we have tons of chiggers and ticks, so I will be right at home in the swamp.
Has anyone gone recently? If so how did you do.
Thanks
Gil
Best of luck Gil. Hey did you say snakes? Get you some nice bow backing while there. Have a safe and enjoyable trip. Be looking for the stories and pictures.
Good luck! Take lots of pictures and keep us posted with all the details when you get back.
Dan
Rays as good as gold!
Fun is a given on a trip to Rays. Check out those burns. Should be lots of green goodies poking up. There are also some hidden wallows in there that could be gold mines.
It is suppoosed to be HOT so check the drainages and cool wet lounging /rest areas.....
Thanks I am leaving in a few hours. I know I will have fun and hopefully see an alligator and bring some pork back this time. I am going to make this a yearly event.
I will let you know how I do.
Thanks
Gil
Good luck Gil...enjoy the hunt. Bring leggins as Ray tells everyone...."There's no snakes....hogs eat them..." LOL
Good luck to ya, sounds like a great place.
You are coming THIS weekend?????????
Just kidding!
:biglaugh:
See you later today!
Oh that's funny Ray, looks like it's going to be another one of "those weekends" :laughing:
I love hot weather pig hunting, hope you get out there and do some killin!
Thom
How did the hunt go?
Gil tell us about the hunt!
:campfire:
I have never been more disappointed in all my life! More will come.
Here is why I was disappointed at Ray's this weekend and in southern men in general! I always thought you southern guys were tough and could live off the land. You know the song, 'A Southern Boy Can Survive". Not after what I saw this weekend. I went to Ray's in January 2012 and couldn't wait to get back to the cypress "SWAMP", as you southern gentleman call it.
I live in the Jersey Pinelands. I have been in northern swamps often and have two that surround my farm. One is behind my farm and another is across the street on state land. The northern swamps are bug infested, snake infested, wet tangles of brush you have to fight to get through.
We have bugs called Jersey Bombers. You can hear them coming like a bomber squadron through the woods. The Pinelands are home to many fine military bases. It is rumored that they recorded the sound of the Jersey Bombers and used it in WWII to fool the enemy when there were only two or three bombers on a mission. The enemy was confused by the sound played by the bombers since they thought it was a squadron of hundreds. We also have chiggers and ticks, which infest our backyards, fields, woods and swamps. When these chiggers or ticks bite you feel it for months (that is true).
Ray said to make sure I had a Thermocell and Permanan. I had a Thermocell I never used and bought for my trip a year ago that I had to cancel at Ray's. I lent it to a friend for a fishing trip and couldn't find it after he gave it back (he didn't use it either). I went and bought a new one before I left.
They have a new model now that was $29.99. Naturally they don't include the holster and don't have a belt clip on it, so there goes another $19.99 for the holster. Then since there was probably going to be Yankee killing swamp bugs, I had to buy a refill pack, yep another $19.99. Then since the chiggers and ticks were supposed to be bad I bought two cans of Duranon $9.99 each for 3 day hunt. That is a total of $90.00 to protect me from the bad bugs in a South Carolina "SWAMP".
I also had to bring some Woodford Reserve, since Ray said that was only thing that can sooth the savage "SWAMP" bug bites.
I listened to everyone that said it is best to go in January through March to be beat the bugs, heat and humidity. I fell in love with the cypress "SWAMP" and I thought I wanted to really experience it in the heat, humidity and experience the snakes and bugs, so I re-booked for Memorial Day weekend.
I said the following in my first post.
"I hope to see some alligators and snakes this time, not to mention the hogs. I live in the Jersey Pinelands and we have tons of chiggers and ticks, so I will be right at home in the swamp."
Now that the stage is set, here is the story.
:campfire:
The first evening.
I arrived in Estill around 3:30 PM and stopped at Whiggen's Hardware for my license. I fell asleep outside with the car windows open and the gnats killed me. I thought I was going to be in trouble in that "SWAMP".
Ray arrived early and we headed to Andrew's (the property owner) house. Andrew invited us in and showed me his African trophies. He had gone on 9 African Safaris and had many trophies. He not only showed us around but invited to stay at his home if we didn't want to go to camp that night (genuine southern hospitality).
We wanted to head to camp since it doesn't get dark until late down there and would give us some hunting time. We stopped at Lester's Barbeque for dinner on the way. Ray made sure he ate lots of his favorite musical vegetables. Mike Mitchum (Squirrel Bait) was going to meet us 5:00 AM (Ha!) in the morning and hunt with us.
I was the only hunter in camp due to Ray trying to scare people away with the heat, humidity, "SWAMP", bugs and alligator stories! I got his number in January when I was down there so I took those stories with a grain of salt.
Ray and I headed out to hunt. We still had about 3 hours of daylight left. While still hunting around the short pines that night I saw four deer, two armadillos and a cottontail.
Ray and I hunted into each other. On the way, one of us spotted a big boar in a slough. That hunter missed high and cut hair. Then he ran into 3 more sows that exploded like a covey of quail. I won't mention any names. After that area was disturbed a little (uh huh) I headed on around the triangle field. I had a small pig walk up to me at 3 yards and I let it go.
When I got back to camp Ray and I discussed the evening. I said there were NO BUGs! I asked if it was the Thermocell or if there were really any bugs down there. Ray continued with his story that it was the Thermocell. Another attempt at trying to cover up what really goes on between April and September.
Ray felt I must have been hallucinating about there being no bugs from my long ride and recommended I drink some Woodford reserve, just in case one of those Yankee eating poison bugs got me.
We headed off to bed to get a early start the next morning.
Did ya get some of Bobops famous fried chicken?
:campfire: This sounds like it is gonna be good before it is over!
Amazing story telling! :thumbsup: :coffee:
F-Manny
Friday was my first full day of hunting. Here is what happened in the morning.
We got up early and Ray made coffee and biscuits with gravy. We ate, made our game plan and looked all over for Mike, who was supposed be there at 5:00 AM. No Mike.
Ray knew I loved the cypress "SWAMP" so the plan was I would take the right fork of turkey foot (an intersection where two roads intersect at angles that resemble a turkey track) and still hunt to a feeder at the end of the first road that intersected the right fork. Then I would still hunt into the "SWAMP" past the feeder and keep the palmettos to my left. I will tell you in a few minutes why I keep writing "SWAMP".
Oh I almost forgot, I made sure my $90 South Carolina "SWAMP" bug protection was fired up and sprayed on before I headed out.
I got to the right fork of turkey foot and still hunted down the road. I heard a turkey behind me and on the other side of the road. As I still hunted I came up to a coyote keying in on the turkey. I was camoed up and had a face mask on. We each saw each other at the same time at 10 yards. I now know what a coyote's face looks like when it screams in terror. He was wearing his terror face and took off never looking back. If I had a shotgun I would have rolled him.
I got to the first road that intersects the road I was on and made a right. As I reached a small slough with some water a hog burst out from thick palmettos on the other side of the road 5 feet from me. Two jumps and it was gone without a sound.
I went on past the feeder and into the cypress "SWAMP", keeping the palmettos to my left. At the feeder was a metal platform stand with a blind.
It was overcast this morning without sun. As I still hunted the "SWAMP" I thought I was heading east, southeast but every time I checked my compass I was either west, southwest or northwest. The rest of the morning was uneventful, except for spotting a few bucks in velvet. I didn't have my watch with me and we made arrangements to meet at the cabin late morning. I was whooped from the ride and thought I would head back.
Originally I was paralleling the road that ran north and south so I thought I would head east to hit the road. Without the sun I kept heading northeast working my way north, then northwest, then west and finally southwest.
I saw the light of an opening and headed to it. There was the feeder at the end of the road, only a HUGE cypress tree fell right on the platform stand and flattened it. I thought I walked in a circle but couldn't figure out how I couldn't have heard that monster tree fall!
Well I did walk in a circle and wound up at the end of the next road down from the road I was on with a feeder that looked just like the other one. Ha!
I headed back and noticed again no bugs, none, nada. I checked and my Thermocell was still on, yet I didn't see any flying around anywhere, not even in the distance.
I got back to the cabin earlier than I intended, but still no Mike. Ray and I sat outside on the deck and still no bugs. I challenged Ray on that and he said, 'Oh yea, wait until tonight". We shall see.
The "SWAMP". The reason I write "SWAMP" like this is because the definition of a swamp differs drastically from the northern Yankee swamps to what these Southern boys call a swamp!
Andrew has a Nature Conservancy Easement on this property because it is a special place. This is old growth forest that hasn't been logged in a very long time. Some of these trees are hundreds of years old. To you other Yankees forget about calling this a swamp, it is a beautiful old growth hardwood forest. There are oaks, holly, sycamore, cypress, locust and mulberry to name a few. If there are any pines I didn't notice them.
Here are some pictures of what a swamp looks like in May in South Carolina, my God what a terrible, inhospitable place (sissies).
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture016.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture015.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture013.jpg)
These are pictures of the palmettos that I hunted the first morning. Scary aren't they?
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture002.jpg)
We sat around and waited for Mike. Mike arrived around noon and we had lunch. We then went out to do some practice shooting at a boar 3d target.
Now being good hosts and showing good southern hospitality and manners, both Ray and Mike made sure they didn't shoot near my tight group of arrows in the kill zone. They would shoot far forward or far back and real low or real high. They said that since I was a guest they didn't want to make me feel bad or damage one of my arrows. Thanks guys.
After that Mike showed me his different heads he knapped out of different types of materials. He had heads he made from chert, obsidian, flint and TV glass. He did some knapping, it was fun and now I will probably have another hobby to take more of my time. Just what my wife wanted me to come back with – another hobby.
We put our game plan together for the afternoon. Ray and Mike decided that I should sit near the slough where the big boar that was missed by another hunter the evening before. That boar was being chased by Mike for several years. That is the truth and shows the kind of guys and hunting partners Ray and Mike are. They wanted me to get a hog more than either of them and the hog they wanted me to get was the big boar Mike had been chasing for several years. I offered to let them hunt him since Mike was on him for years, but they insisted I get him.
I also finally found out what the real trophy on a boar is. It is his nuts! Every big boar that was discussed always ended in, "and he had a set nuts this big!", as Mike or Ray would make a circular sign with their hands the size of a basketball.
Silly me, I always thought it was the tusks! Live and learn, I was close I just had the wrong end of the hog as a trophy.
The evening hunt will follow shortly.
Wow, some story telling. Sure wish I could figure out how to hunt that place in May without skeeters! :dunno:
:campfire:
This is gettin good.
Awesome story telling. Cant wait to read the rest. One day I have get down and hunt Rays
Reading this is JUST LIKE HUNTING AT RAYS! I'm saving this thread in my favorites! Can't wait to find out what happens next!
Thom
:biglaugh: :laughing:
Gil you spin one heckuva good story! :thumbsup:
It's all lies I tell ya! :bigsmyl:
Great story telling.
Friday evening's hunt.
After our game plan was made, I laid down to catch a cat nap. I am used to driving but I messed up planning this drive. Wherever we hunt in the U.S. we drive. We always do DIY hunts so we bring a lot of gear. We drive from N.J. to Montana, Colorado, Maine and Ohio. These are the places we usually hunt. Last year we drove straight through to Colorado on an elk DIY hunt, this year we will be doing that hunt again.
I thought the ride to Rays would be a breeze, but I worked outside all day and headed out at 10 PM. I had a 12 to 14 hour drive ahead of me. Around 1 AM I pulled into a rest stop to catch a half hour of sleep, because I had a hard time keeping my eyes open. I woke up and it was 4:30 AM! Now I had another 11 hours to go and thought I would have to drive straight through to make sure I wouldn't be late to meet Ray at Whiggens. Ray and I were to meet at 6 PM, so it was good thing I did drive straight through since Ray arrived early a little after 4 PM.
When I hit the hay for a cat nap, Ray and Mike took the John Deere Gator to throw some corn out in the sloughs and drainage ditches. These hogs can smell that corn once it gets wet in the slough.
When they returned Ray thought I should head out right away to get to where he wanted me to set up for that big boar. I was supposed to head west on the road out of camp, then make a left at the first cross roads and head south. About a mile down the road there is a large pine just outside of the short pines (you can't miss it). Another road intersects the road I was on at that pine. I was to make a left on that road. Ray said I would see two fingers of "OAKS". He said I should sit just before the first oak finger where the short pines meet it.
Ray and Mike had thrown corn in the puddles in the drainage ditches along the roads I would be going down and they recommended I keep my eyes open.
I knew where these areas were where the corn was from a previous hunt the day before and my hunt in January. I felt I had to make some time to set up for the boar, but I was careful and glassed ahead of me. I always tried to walk along one side of the road or the other to try break up my outline.
I made it to the crossroads and after going about three quarters of the way to the large pine I saw a nice hog cross the road and either go right up the road I was going to turn on or he went into the short pines on my side of the road. This was around 3 PM.
Oh yea, I almost forgot, I made sure that my $90 South Carolina "SWAMP" bug protection was fired up, but I didn't spray on the Duranon. This whole South Carolina "SWAMP" bug thing is becoming suspect to me. You will see why in a little while.
As I continued up the road I still hunted and glassed a lot in case that pig was still close to where I saw it go in. I made a left at the big pine and continued to glass and still hunt up the road to reach the first "OAK" finger. As I reached the first hardwood finger, I thought "ah dis must be da place". The only problem was there were no oaks! Well there was one oak the rest were cypress and sycamore.
I thought to myself, man these guys went to a lot of trouble to get me a shot at trophy hog so I need to make sure I am in the right spot. I continued up the road, came to a small section of short pines and then another finger of hardwoods. You guessed it, no oaks more cypress and sycamore. I thought I went this far so I might as well go a little further up the road to make sure. I finally found an area of oaks but they were on the wrong side of the road, where another road intersected and metal platform stand was knocked over. Now if the oaks were past a road and the metal platform stand I was sure Ray would have mentioned those points to me. At this point I knew I must have not heard Ray correctly since I know he never makes mistakes, so I headed back down to the first finger of "OAKS" at the edge of the short pines.
Right there and then I decided that after the hunt I was going to write a book to translate South Carolina hunting terms into Yankee hunting terms for my northern brothers and sisters in case they head south to Rays for a hunt. I have two terms at this point, like "SWAMP" – beautiful, lush, old growth hardwood forest or "OAK FINGER" – small section of hardwoods, it doesn't matter what kind they are. I will have a few more translations before the hunt is over.
Now I looked for a good spot to setup on the right side of the road along the drainage ditch where Ray (oops I mean the other hunter) missed the hog the night before and kicked up the covey of sows. I found a good spot and cleared away a path to quietly be able to step to the road in the event I had to, to get a clear shot.
I was waiting for you to chime in Ray.
Can't wait for the rest of Gil's lies!!!!
Great story,not as good as being there but it'll have to do for now. Love that place!I didn't find the bugs to bad either time I was there but I was raised on northern Maine black flies,anything seems tame after that.
Ooh! This is a fun thread!!
Killdeer :bigsmyl:
Lies lies lies is that all they know how to do in New Jersey???!!!!!
When someone wants to see an example of "literary license" I'll just point them here!!!!
:readit:
This is so good! Anyone up for a July trip?
I'll bring the Woodford (in case of sanke/bug bites)!
Lies! Lets talk lies - "SWAMP", "BUGS", "HEAT", "HUMIDITY". You know I am about to disclose the truth about what goes on down there between April and September and you are afraid I will spill the beans!
You know I do not speak with fork tongue and there is plenty more to come in this hunting story!
:saywhat:
:campfire:
Gil, I know exactly where you are at this point in the story. That's where I mmmmmiiiissssssed a hog in February.
We've also learned that Ray and Mike speak their own language that no one else can understand. You know, kind of like twins. Kick one in the shins and the other will yell Ouch! Strange dudes indeed.
Hey I resemble that remark!!!!!
Gil, keep it coming NJ boys need to keep spreading nothing but truths.
Ray be careful retribution may come in Nov.
:campfire:
I will tell you that's the biggest hog I've shot at on the property- he was standing tight to the near side bank of that steep ditch, knee deep in water- and was looking UP at me!
The only chance I had to get vitals was to shoot right ON top of the dirt bank to get it into him- so that's what I tried to do- but it 'hit' the bank and kicked up enough to just burn hair.
I've never seen anything run any faster than that-maybe an antelope I shot once but nothing else! Pretty cool to be that close to a dinosaur!
Friday night's hunt continued.
One thing I forgot to mention was that during the afternoon when Ray and I were talking on the deck, I mentioned I had seen an ad on the Tradgang classifieds for the Hunter Smart Seat. Since Ray wanted to me to post for the big boar, I told him I was going to give it try that night.
Also Ray said he was going to run in quick to town for some items, so I asked him if he was going to pass a liquor store. I figured out that the Woodford Reserve "SWAMP" bug relief remedy was really just for Ray since that is his favorite libation! I thought I might as well have some of my own favorite libations so I asked if he could pick up a bottle of Stoli vodka. He said he would.
I have to mention these two points because you will see why later in this story (accurate depiction of events that occurred on this hunt!).
I have been bow hunting since 1968. I found that tree stand hunting is very productive, but when we started bow hunting we mainly still hunted. I am now at a point where I want to get back to the beginning of my bow hunting and still hunt. That is probably why I like hog hunting so much.
I decided that in the future I was going to bow hunt by still hunting, try a Rancho Safari Ghille suit and wanted a hunting chair I could carry in case I wanted to sit for a while, while still hunting. I have a ghillie but haven't used it yet.
Every seat I looked at or tried was too heavy, too noisy, too big, too small, hard to pack, flimsy or uncomfortable for my purposes. When I saw the ad for the Hunter Smart Seat on Tradgang, I went to their web site. They had a video. This seemed too good to be true but it looked like just what I wanted. I ordered the seat, backrest and large strap (used for single tree installations). It not only is a seat but also is a game drag. I thought I killed two birds with one stone.
This information doesn't seem important to this story, but it will a little further along. I will tell you something I didn't tell Ray or Mike about this evenings hunt!
I set up my Hunter Smart Seat between two trees about 3 feet apart. I also set up the backrest. The seat was easy and quick to set up. It packs in a small package and is very light. Here is the bad part – it is too comfortable! It can be used as a seat, rocking chair or hammock depending on how you set it up. It is quiet too. I set the back rest a little too loose so I could use it in any of the three configurations I just mentioned. I chose gently rocking hammock for my configuration!
I sat there constantly watching the road, the slough behind me, the open woods behind me, the short pines across the road in front me and the open hardwoods (oops "OAK" finger) next to the short pines across the road. I could shoot down the road in either direction if I stood up and took a step or two down the path I cleared earlier. I had a clear shot into the slough behind me and woods behind them. The short pines would be tough since they grow close together and the hardwoods I could get a shot into if I stood up right where I was.
I sat there for a while and noticed my Thermocell was out. For a second I panicked and thought, oh no those Yankee killer bugs are on the way. Then I realized it could have been off for hours and I would have never known the difference. I thought what the heck I will light it up again just in case the bugs got bad after dark.
I sat there a while longer and heard something behind me. I turned slowly and saw the biggest armadillo I ever saw. I had only seen two other ones in my life and they were the night before. I didn't have my camera the night before but I didn't make that mistake tonight. This was three times the size of the other ones I saw. By the time I got my camera it went into some palmettos behind me. I waited but never saw it again. It probably had a burrow right there and went in.
I sat until dark and no pigs. I packed up. The seat is as easy to take down and pack up as it is to unpack and put it up.
When I was at Rays in January, Ray kept saying that we could hunt at night and that these pigs were a different animal in the dark. We all heard him but I don't think any of us listened. It didn't dawn on me until I was on the way home. I thought next time I go to Rays I am hunting in the dark as well. Ray said to use a red light if I saw a pig.
I thought I would still hunt back to the cabin in the dark. I still hunted down the road I was on and made a right at the road with the big pine, which would lead to the road that led back to the cabin. I still hunted for a while when I saw headlights coming down the road. It was Mike.
Mike pulled up and asked if I needed help since he and Ray were sure that I probably had shot at a hog. They were so sure that Ray sat along the road at the first intersection from camp glassing down to the big pine. Mike told me that Ray watched a big hog keep going back and forth across the road at the big pine. I told Mike I didn't see any hogs only one armadillo.
I noticed that Mike had his overhead light on and he kept swatting at bugs. He told me he left his window open when he went hunting and all these horse flies flew in his cab. I think the real story is that Mike and Ray planted them to make me think there were really bugs in South Carolina. At first I thought, "ah I will finally have use for this Thermocell thing I had to buy", since Mike invited me to ride back with him. So far the only bugs I have seen have been in his truck cab. I should have known better though. These things were tame flies. They wouldn't even move. You could grab them by the wings if you wanted and throw them out the window one at a time. I finally had Mike and Rays number for sure now and was convinced this bug story was just that!
On the way back it dawned on me what happened to cause that hog to keep going back and forth across the road. I wouldn't dare tell Mike or Ray why though.
We got back to the cabin and Ray had dinner prepared. I hate to compliment him on anything but that boy can cook. We had steak and roasted potatoes with sweet Vidalia onions. Oh man was that good. After dinner we had some ice cream with all kinds of stuff in it. It was great, what ever flavor that was. I was afraid to ask because I have some weight to lose before I go back to Colorado in September.
I asked Ray if he remembered the vodka and he said yes, that it was in the freezer. I thought uh oh, he knows about vodka too since he knew it is best to keep it in the freezer. It doesn't freeze and is nice and cold.
Sure enough, Ray says, "Gil you know those bugs were pretty bad tonight, I think I may have to try some of that Stoli. It looks more medicinal than that Woodford Reserve and I think a poison one may have gotten me. I don't want to take any chances".
If I learned one thing in life it is never mess with the cook, especially a good one like Ray. I said sure Ray have as much as you like. One thing I didn't tell him is that if you aren't used to Stoli it can KICK YOUR BUTT! Ray had one and said man I feel a little woozy already, then number two and yep here it comes, "Man this stuff is KICKING MY BUTT, I am going to bed". I should have known that was another southern trick to get me to do the dishes. Just when I thought I may have gotten over him, he and Mike got me again!
We all headed to bed (after I did the dishes!) to get ready for an early start tomorrow. We discussed the game plan and I was roaring to go.
Good story :) :coffee:
:campfire:
wow...another Charlie Lamb disciple....I like it! Even if you tell 'big ones'! :biglaugh:
Ray I am surprised you didn't ask me what I didn't tell you or Mike about my evening hunt where the boar was missed!
did I miss something? Oh, about the smart seat? I figured it would come out sooner or later, right?
"This information doesn't seem important to this story, but it will a little further along. I will tell you something I didn't tell Ray or Mike about this evenings hunt!"
"On the way back it dawned on me what happened to cause that hog to keep going back and forth across the road. I wouldn't dare tell Mike or Ray why though."
Ha!
Here is the thing I didn't tell Ray or Mike about the evening hunt when Ray saw the hog going back and forth on the road.
You see I said the following in the last post.
"I chose gently rocking hammock for my configuration!"
"I sat there constantly watching the road, the slough behind me, the open woods behind me, the short pines across the road in front me and the open hardwoods (oops "OAK" finger) next to the short pines across the road."
"I sat there a while longer and heard something behind me. I turned slowly and saw the biggest armadillo I ever saw."
"I sat until dark and no pigs. I packed up."
I should have said the following:
I chose gently rocking hammock for my Smart Seat configuration. It was so comfortable!
I sat there constantly watching the road, the slough behind me, the open woods behind me, the short pines across the road in front me and the open hardwoods next to the short pines across the road, as I gently rocked back and forth in the hammock. I was in the shade and there was a nice soft breeze. I was so comfortable.
I constantly watched as I rocked back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Then the next thing I know that damned armadillo woke me up! I fell asleep for about an hour in that damn comfortable Smart Seat. I told you earlier, "Here is the bad part – it is too comfortable!". I was out for about an hour when that pig would have been going back and forth across the road. Who knows what else was running around me during that time period.
After that I was sharp as a tack and kept my eyes peeled and feet on the ground in that Smart Seat! No pigs though. I packed up.
Now onto Saturday's hunt. I find hog heaven, I finally see one of those Yankee killing bugs (the Devil's Pillar!) and I find some things that are awe inspiring, plus I see more hogs!
A-HA!!!!!
Saturday morning.
We got up, Ray made breakfast and we were outa there. While on the deck getting ready I turned on my Thermocell, got my gear and headed out. As soon as I was out of sight of camp, I turned the Thermocell off. I didn't want Ray or Mike to know I had their number.
My game plan was, I was going down to turkey foot. I would take the right fork again, but this time I would walk it all the way to the end. At the end there was a field with two feeders in it. One feeder was at the end of the field where the road entered. The other feeder was down at the other end of the field where the road exited the field again. I was going to hunt that road all the way around the property. The game plan changed as I got on that trail.
I checked the first feeder. The corn was gone and there was a heavy trail leading to the other feeder. All the tracks seemed to point to the feeder at the other end of the field. This trail was heavy and ran right down the middle of the field. I was a little confused at first since I didn't see a heavy trail coming into the first feeder.
I walked the trail to the other feeder. All the corn was gone there also. It appears that the hogs come into the field at this end, head to the other feeder and come back on the same trail.
As I reached the road at the other end of the field it looked great. It was a little over grown. The hogs had fresh rooting going right down the road and along the sides. As I walked down the road there was small sections of river cane on my left and grape vines on my right. I thought this would be a great place in the fall.
The whole area along this road looked great. I came across a nice hog run that intersected the road. I thought heck with the road, I am going to follow the run.
As I followed the run I reached the top of a little side hill. The run went right to the top of a slough with a pond about 25 yards long and 20 yards wide. A little further down was another small pond. Tracks were everywhere and the whole place was freshly rooted up. I followed the slough down and there were more very small pockets of water. These were only a few feet wide and long. I came to where the hogs had freshly wallowed. I continued down the slough until I saw a bridge crossing it. About 60 yards before the bridge the tracks scattered and rooting stopped.
It looked like the pigs filtered out both sides and moved on. I was tempted to follow and try to track them but this spot looked so good. I looked around and thought about it for a while. I thought that the pigs were hitting the field at night right above me from this side of the road. I thought that they may come back to this area to water and wallow during the day or at least while staging to go into field. I made my decision.
In this slough there were some awe inspiring sites. Cypress trees can live for 1700 years. The oldest cypress on the east coast is in Bladen County, North Carolina. That tree is 1,620 years old. While hunting the slough I came across this gorgeous awe inspiring cypress.
The bow in the picture is my 62" Harrison El Lobo. This cypress was huge and a very old living organism. If this tree was one third as old as the one in NC, it would have started to grow in the year 1472. Columbus didn't discover America until 1492 and a non-native American hadn't set foot on our shores yet! If the age is right that means that it would have been growing for 304 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed and we became a Nation. If it was one fifth as old as the NC cypress it would still be older than our country.
Now if that isn't awe inspiring and make you feel insignificant and realize how wonderful nature and this place is, nothing will!
Oh, you should take note of the ground in the pictures. It is in the bottom of slough. You can see how wet and swampy it is in the South Carolina "SWAMP". If you look hard at the pictures you will also see all the bugs flying around like in my earlier pictures. Riiiiiiiight.
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture004.jpg)
The following picture is of the same tree from the other side. I was trying to get a picture of the "TUBERS". I made that name up but it fits. I call the cypress knees, tubers. To me that is the word they look like, not a knee. Ha!
These are extensions of the root system. The ones to the right in the picture are about 6 feet tall. The ones behind the tree are about 8 feet tall.
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture005.jpg)
I have been lucky to be awe inspired by many natural occurrences while hunting. I was awed by the Rockies hunting elk, the Canadian Rockies in North West British Columbia hunting Mt. Goat, moose and grizzly, the Maine Big Woods and many other places. This place is no less awe inspiring if you not only look, but see and think about it.
If you take your time and enjoy the whole experience and not have tunnel vision on your goal, it is much more rewarding. It took me a long time to learn that and now my hunting partner and I enjoy the journey and adventure as much if not more than the destination.
I decided I would post here until it was nearly dark, then still hunt to the field and hunt the field since I would have more light and better shooting as it got dark. I found Hog heaven and I decided to stay put.
So your sorry butt was ASLEEP ! I can't shoot them for you!! Good lord, sleeping ! :banghead:
Only for a little while!
Back and forth , back and forth zzzzzz zzzzzz.
Man I am enjoying this story! Very entertaining just keep it coming!
So far all I got out of it was that Ray missed a big one..........
Ray have you noticed everyone likes to bust your chops?
Saturday's hunt continued. I finally get to see a swamp bug (the Devil's Pillar) while at Hog Heaven and more hogs.
It was now 8:20 AM when I decided I would I post here for the remainder of the day. Then I would still hunt to the field and hunt it right before dark.
We weren't on a time schedule, but I thought I should send Ray a text message to tell him I wouldn't be back until after dark. I sent the following.
"I may not be back until after dark. Found hog heaven. Don't worry if I am not back."
Since reception isn't too good at the property, Ray didn't get the message until later that morning. When he did he responded with the following text.
"Good we will bring a cooler with water and a sandwich to parking spot." Too bad I didn't get the message until I was in Estill on the way home. When I left camp I did take two waters a lemon seltzer but no food. That wound up being good enough for me.
You see if the truth be known (you can't tell from my writings!) Ray and Mike are great guys and fun to hunt with. They are very considerate. They packed a cooler with ice, a nice big sandwich, apple, orange, malomar, water and seltzer. They dropped it off at my car and left it in the shade. I didn't know it was there but I took it for the ride home and enjoyed it then. They would make great mothers or wives. I even asked Ray at dinner this night (as I ate this delicious stuffed pork with home made coleslaw and buttered mash potatoes – mmmmm mmm) if he was really married. He said yes and asked why. I told him I was thinking of asking him to come home with me. Ha! My wife may not appreciate that but the food is worth the fight!
I found a nice spot along the slough for my Hunter Smart Seat. I set it up so I could shoot in any directions but still had some cover. I set the backrest a little loose again and sat down. I started to rock back and forth, back and forth and I thought - oh no I won't do that again (zzzzz zzzzz). I reset the back rest so I had to keep my feet on the ground and used the chair configuration this time. There will be no zzzz zzzz at hog heaven (well maybe a few minutes here and there).
This is the view across the slough. The picture is deceiving since the trees in the background are huge! The light colored tree in the background on the right is an oak with a diameter at the base of about four feet.
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture007.jpg)
I sat there for a few hours when I heard something behind me again. Another armadillo, only this one didn't wake me up, I was already awake and I finally got a picture of one. The pictures are blurry but it is an armadillo.
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture010.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture009.jpg)
I sat there for several more hours. My Thermocell was packed in my fanny pack. I had turned it off as soon as I was out of sight of camp and when it cooled down I put in my pack. Well finally around 3 PM one of the Yankee killing South Carolina "Swamp" bugs reared it's ugly head. The dreaded Devil's Pillar (or should I say Pilar) appeared out of no where. By the time I saw it was at the level of my throat!
Here it is. It had these devilish red/orange horns, fangs that could tear mans flesh from his body, you can't see them because I was camoed thank God and didn't want to move until it was facing away from me! These Southern boys are right to be afraid of the bugs in a South Carolina "Swamp" (big sissies)!
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture006.jpg)
I stayed until the sun was nearly gone and started to still hunt up to the field. I was a little creeped out after the Devil's Pilar experience and kept watching my back trail.
As I still hunted back to the field I reached the river cane and grape vines I mentioned earlier. This time the river cane was to my right and the grape vines on my left. Right before the grape vines a nice hog jumped out of the river cane in front of me, ran about 4 yards down the road straight away from me and jumped into the grape vines. There was no time for a shot. I listened but didn't hear anything. I glassed and crept forward hoping the pig was still there. Nothing! These things are escape artists.
I continued to still hunt and put up three more pigs as I got nearer to the field. No shot.
I got to the field and the wind was perfect. It was getting dark so I still hunted along the edge to get to a finger of trees and brush that jutted out into the field. This put me at about 15 yards from the trail the pigs used. As I got close to the trees and brush I looked down and found a shed. I thought this is a good luck sign.
As I got to the finger of brush the wind changed 180 degrees, so much for good luck deer antler sheds. I would get busted with the wind and it was getting pretty dark. I still hunted to the road heading back the way I came in, in the morning.
Once on the road I had to turn on my red light. It was dark this night. I went about 50 yards further down the road and with the red light a hog let me walk right up to it. It was in the brush just to the right of the road. It waited until I was right next to it to explode out of the palmettos and scared the, "you know what" outa me. I nearly came unglued, especially since my earlier encounter with the Devil's Pilar!
I continued to still hunt back to my car. By the time I got to the car it was 9:20 PM. I headed back to the cabin for that great stuffed pork dinner and some Stoli (if Ray hadn't drank it all).
Back at the cabin, Mike and Ray said you didn't see the cooler! Didn't you get my message? They passed by and picked it up at night, when they saw I didn't eat any of the lunch they made. I said, I am glad you got that message, I didn't want you guys to worry and head out to look for me, thinking I may have gotten lost or had some other problem. Naturally Mike joined in and said, "What makes you think we would worry about your sorry butt or go looking for you? Heck man you are on your down here"!
Now I know that is a lie and if you guys come on down, they are very protective of you and look out for you. Me, now that's a different story!
Ray made the best stuffed pork, home made coleslaw and mashed potatoes. The pork had some kind of cheese in it and the slaw had some small pieces of granny smith apples. The apples were just enough to give a slight apple taste but not overpowering.
There was a lot of pork. After my third helping, I noticed that Mike wasn't eating the fat on his pork. Now everyone up north knows that the most flavorful part of meat or fowl is the fat. But it is also unhealthy for you. From my years of eating the fat I have become immune (plus with the help of modern colesteral medicine), I figure I can now eat all the fat I want.
Now I like Mike a lot so I don't want anything to happen to him. At the window by the table there was this funnel web spider den with a spider by it. I warned Mike about the spider and told him to keep an eye on it. Mike did keep an eye on it and out of further concern for him I cleared his plate of that nasty fat! Another good deed by me. Always thinking about you and your well being Mike.
After dinner Ray had made an apple pie. Mike cut up the pie (which was still warm) and put some of that great ice cream on it. After this hunt there will be a few extra days in the gym for me to get ready for Colorado.
Now we broke out the Woodford Reserve and Stoli. By now you probably guessed what happened next. Ray and I drank a few Stolis while Mike had the Woodford Reserve. Sure enough, "Man this Stoli is KICKING MY BUTT, I am going to bed". Guess who did the dishes – AGAIN.
We were going to get up real early so I could get to that slough and field I hunted today as early as possible. The next day was it until next year so I wanted to make the most out of it. It didn't go exactly as planned but it winds up being the day I saw the most hogs of the trip.
"They Would Make Good Wives Or Mothers." Dang what an ugly mother or wife that would be. Very funny though. This has been a very entertaining read. Look forward to the rest.
(Jeez Ray, didn't this guy sign the special Yankee Non-Disclosure Statement?)
Dear fellow yankees,
South Carolina is scary. Really scary. It's full of swamps with giant man eating alligators. There are poisonous snakes under every plant and log. Ticks are known to suck all the blood out of a fully grown man within an hour, leaving just bones and dust. The spiders are known to scent stalk hunters at high speed by the thousands. I also know there is a deadly sasquatch that has stalked through those swamps on occasion. Oh and there are no hogs in South Carolina, that's just a mean lie.
Thom
(BTW Ray, I need to get my next hunt scheduled.)
Thom, Ray forgot to have me sign. He thought I looked too stupid to figure out the lies. I sure fooled him.
Ha, just goes to show you, you can't judge a book by its cover!
Just wait until the end. I am going to really disclose the truth about this place and include my Yankee dictionary, so our Yankee brothers and sisters can cut through the bull when Ray tries to talk them into January through March!
I will teach them not to judge someone by their looks in the future.
I may have to do it fast though, because sneaky Ray is friends with Terry. Terry is another southerner and they stick together. Plus Terry hunts hogs in that area too.
Ray will try to have this thread deleted and me banned. Not at least before I can get the whole truth out, I hope.
I may have to have you spread the word and finish this factual tale of real events that occurred down there, if I bite the bullet on behalf of our comrades in arms!
I am willing to fall on my sword and sacrifice myself, in the name of truth, justice and the American way of life!
:clapper:
HEy Mike
Nickname? Rip Van Verwey!!!! :goldtooth: :biglaugh: :laughing:
:campfire:
Well Ray promised to set the alarm so I could hit the slough early and we went to bed. Around 2:30 AM I had a call to nature that woke me up. I was in the back bedroom with the two bunk beds.
Now if you are not familiar with Ray's camp here is the layout. Ray has single wide trailer with a big covered front deck. When you walk in the front door the bathroom and a bedroom are to the right. To the left is the kitchen, followed by the living room and then the back bedroom where I was staying.
When you make the left facing the back bedroom there is the kitchen table on the left and on the right is the sink, stove and refrigerator. As you walk into the living room there is a couch on the left and chairs on the right.
I was sleeping in the back bedroom and Ray sleeps on the couch. When nature called I got up and walked into the living room. I was half asleep (as usual) and looked down at the couch. I saw the pillow and crumpled up blankets and thought Ray was sleeping. As I went a little further I saw Ray reading at the kitchen table. I yelled, " Hey Ray I thought you were sleeping"!
Ray must have had an encounter that day with the Devil's Pilar too. Just like when that hog exploded right next to me and scared, "the you know what" outa me, Ray hadn't seen or heard me and I scared, "the you know what", outa him. I wondered if it was as good for the hog that scared me, as it was for me when I scared Ray.
Ray just about jumped outa his skin and yelled, "man you scared the you know what outa me". I just said nature called headed on to the bathroom and chalked up Ray's fear to an encounter with the Devil's Pilar earlier in the day, like mine.
On the way back to bed Ray said he couldn't sleep so he thought he would read. I told him he ought to have another Stoli, that would make him sleep. He said, "are you crazy, if I have another Stoli I will never get up tomorrow morning".
Well Ray went back to sleep, but he should have had the Stoli since he didn't get up anyway! We got up the sun was shining, the birds were singing and the hogs were long gone past my slough.
I decided that I was going to take the long walk around the road and slough and just enjoy more of the "SWAMP" before I left.
It was gorgeous day. There was supposed to be a big storm moving in (Tropical Storm Beryl) but it wasn't here yet. You would think that with the lush forest it would be muggy, hot and humid, like a greenhouse effect, but it wasn't. It was quite the opposite. While it was hot everywhere else, in the "SWAMP" it is 10 degrees cooler. There also seems to be a nice breeze most of the time, at least there was the whole time I was down there.
I walked the roads for a long time. I was trying to find the river. In NJ we have holy trees and bushes, but down here I saw a holy tree that was 70 feet tall. I have never seen a holy that big and never knew they could grow that big. I saw some mulberry trees with leaves like elephant ears. Man the tree wasn't that big but the leaves made up for that. I thought I had gotten close to the river because I thought I had heard a baby alligator. I thought I must be wrong because I didn't see any water anywhere.
I decided to turn around and head back so I could clean up and head out to beat the storm. I did not want to drive 14 hours in downpour. I started to head back and heard a couple of hogs fighting. I tried to pinpoint where they were but they stopped after a few seconds.
I headed back to the cabin. I showered for the ride and packed up my gear. Ray and Mike were packing also. Ray offered to let me hunt and Mike is always ready to go (unless it 5:00 AM) and wanted to hunt. It was getting close to noon and that storm was heading in, so I thought I had a great trip and didn't want to push it.
I gathered and packed my gear. On the way out I thought I would sweep up the cabin. I put the remainder of my stuff down on the couch, swept out the cabin and headed out. Ray is going to mail me the stuff I forgot on the couch this week!
I hate leaving that place as anyone can tell you that has gone. I said goodbye to Mike and Ray. They said drive save and waved as I headed out.
Now I bet you are saying man he said he saw the most hogs of the trip on this day, what happened. Here is what. I swear this is true.
I headed out the long driveway from the cabin to the road. I noticed my GPS wasn't moving so I thought I would stop at the end of the driveway and reroute it. I stopped and when I was done resetting the route I looked up and here they come! At least 20 hogs run 30 yards from my car on my right from the other side of the road into Ray's property. They were all jet black and 5 were monsters. The big ones actually looked like they had big shoulders and a mane running down their necks.
I couldn't be sure they were trophy boars since they were quartering towards me and we all know now that the trophy is on the other end!
I swear that I saw three of the little ones stick their tongues out at me and I thought I saw four of the big ones flip me the bird. I backed up that long driveway at about 40 miles an hour. Ray and Mike were outside by the cabin and they looked at me like I was nuts.
I yelled there are 20 hogs that just ran into the property 5 were huge. They just looked at each other and smiled and said, "oh yea". I knew right there it was another low down southern trick played on a Yankee. I figured they hid them hogs over there and while I was in the shower went across the street and re-released them since I was heading home.
As usual Mike wanted to go and hunt, Ray's knee was killing him (I think he sprained it when he jumped when I scared him the night before) and I had to beat the storm. I was tempted though.
I really did try to give you a good idea of what it is like to hunt at Ray's. I may have used a small (very small) amount of "literary license" to make it more interesting, but what I said in this story is all true.
The property Ray has is very special. It is diverse and healthy. It is part of Nature Conservancy Easement because it is so special. There are plenty of hogs and other wildlife to keep you on your toes and enjoy the hunt. Every moment I thought I would see a hog.
The woods are similar to northern hardwood forests with additional flora like cypress and palmetto. There were absolutely no bugs. I used my Thermocell the first night and first full day of hunting. After that I left it off because it was not necessary. I did not see one mosquito, gnat, tick or chigger. I did not get one bite.
The pines are like any other pine forest, but the swamp is anything but a swamp. It was dry. As you can see by the pictures it is a beautiful, lush, old growth forest. There aren't many places left that have that age forest. It is worth the trip to just walk amongst those giants.
Now there has been a drought down there for 5 years and I would imagine that if they get a lot of rain for an extended period time, the Savannah River will rise and fill the sloughs with water, but now it is easy great hunting. The swamp is 10 degrees cooler than the areas surrounding it. In the swamp I did not feel any humidity while I was there.
In May the flora is green and healthy and it is quiet walking. When I went in January the flora was brown and it was noisy walking. If you wanted to still hunt through the swamp you had to walk the tops on the sycamore leaves. In May you can walk anywhere and be quiet.
If you look at the pictures in Ray's sponsor thread, you will see Jeremiah with a nice hog. I was on that hunt with Jeremiah. Look at the background of that picture. Then look at the next picture that was put up on May 13. That is the same spot and you can see the difference.
I am going next year again. I have my choice to book anytime I want since it is so early. The first quarter of the year is nice and the fall Mike likes the best because the acorns are falling and the grapes are in. The weather in the fall was like it was when I went Memorial Day weekend. In the fall I go on trips for elk, deer or moose so I am out of luck for the fall. I can go between January and March, having done both now I am choosing May again. I am going to pick the weekend at the end of May that has the best moon for hunting hogs. If none of the moons are favorable I will shoot for July.
I miss that place already and can't wait until next year.
I have one more thing I promised and will finish this thread with that. That will be "The Poor Mans Guide and Dictionary to Hunting Terms of the South". Tomorrow I will update the thread for the final time. I bet you guys are saying finally and thank God!
No sir....hate to see it end! :(
I am glad you enjoyed it David.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did experiencing it and writing about it.
Thanks
Gil
Gil,
You are one funny guy! Having had Ray's hospitality and hunting just up the road, your take on the Savannah River area is a gas. The Chiggers are just up the street if you are really looking for them :) Thanks...Jeff
Jeff you are a fellow Yankee. I guess Terry has you brain washed about the bugs too. I didn't get one bite at Ray's.
I came back to the Jersey Pinelands and a friend needed firewood for a fire pit at a barbecue. I walked down to where my firewood was. I put about 15 pieces in her truck. I wound up with 15 chigger bites. One for each piece of wood. I even got a bite in my belly button. Now anybody that has ever been bitten by a chigger knows how annoying a bite in the belly button would be. Especially when you have a belly button like mine and need climbing and mining gear to get down in it to itch it! Boy is that annoying.
I will send you an autographed first edition of The Poor Mans Guide and Dictionary to Hunting Terms of the South. It sounds like you may need it with the crew you are hunting with also.
Gil
Gil,
Great story, I don't believe there was any Literary License at all. Pretty much how I remember it, but my mind is going. Can't wait to get back to Hog Heaven again. Ray Reid and I usually try for late Jan.
Glad you had another great adventure.
ALDO
Great story. I miss the place too.
Guys here is the final installment.
The Poor Mans Guide and Dictionary to Hunting Terms of the South
Here is the dictionary for my brothers and sisters from north of the Mason Dixon line.
I will give you the term, then southern hunting definition and follow it with a northern translation.
"SWAMP"
Term used in the south to prevent people traveling south of the Mason Dixon line between April and September. It is used to provide privacy and keep some of the best hog hunting for themselves.
A term used to describe a beautiful, lush, old growth forest with historical significance. A place where southern people migrate to during April through September. A place in the south where it is generally ten degrees cooler and less humid than the surrounding areas. A place where caterpillars and butterflies dwell.
"BUGS"
Same definition as "Swamp" above and used for the same purpose.
A general term to describe butterflies, catapillars and Verwey horseflies. The horseflies were named after famed naturalist Gil Verwey, because as soon as they stop moving they fall asleep and are easy prey.
"Gil Verwey"
Pig repellant.
Seeker of the light and bastion of truth.
"SNAKES"
Same definition as "Swamp" above and used for the same purpose.
Things you don't see in the "SWAMP".
"ALLIGATORS"
Same definition as "SNAKES".
"OAK FINGER"
Local term for small section of hardwoods. Any kind of hardwood. Often used to confuse people north of the Mason Dixon line.
No need for a translation here.
"Trophy Hog"
A hog with nuts the size of basketballs.
People of the north would rather use the other end of the hog to judge a trophy.
"POST"
A place to set up in wait for a trophy hog.
A quiet comfortable place to sleep.
"Still Hunt"
A method of hunting used to slowing pursue your quarry, often stopping and glassing.
A way to stay awake and enable you to possibly see your quarry as apposed to posting which enables the hunter to rest and dream of their quarry.
"Thermocell"
What people in the south tell people of the north to bring down to keep the catapillars and butterflies away. Also used to help increase southern 401Ks, since people of the south are heavily invested in the company.
Can be used up north successfully in the spring, summer and early fall to keep the annoying biting bugs away.
"Permanone"
What people in the south tell people of the north to bring down to keep the catapillars and butterflies away. Also used to help increase southern 401Ks, since people of the south are heavily invested in this company too.
Can be used up north successfully in the spring, summer and early fall to keep the ticks and chiggers away.
"Woodford Reserve"
A remedy for annoying swamp bug bites.
A favorite libation of people of the south. They are pious people and do not buy it, but feel is OK to drink OPs (other peoples).
"Stoli Vodka"
A stronger more medicinal remedy for annoying swamp bug bites.
A favorite libation of people of the north. The pious people of the south also do not buy it, but feel is OK to drink OPs (other peoples). It is used when they do not feel like doing dishes and need an excuse to sleep in, in the mroning.
"Get up early"
Maybe.
What you can not expect to do all the time while hunting in the south.
"Rudabaga"
A favorite vegetable in the south.
Musical vegetables, that produce a cover scent. At all costs should prevent southern hunting partners from consuming. It could prove disastrous later on, if you are not successful.
"Map"
Something that southern people refuse to provide to their hunting guests in order to enjoy the moment after they are found while being lost in the "SWAMP".
Useful hunting tool to prevent getting turned around in a "SWAMP" and plan a successful hunt.
"Topo Quadrant"
A secret name that is held close to their heart and kept secret in order to ensure their hunting guests get a little turned around in the "SWAMP" in order to increase their own self esteem and ensure that there will be plenty of hunting opportunities for them between April and September.
Another tool used by hunters to scout, effectively plan a hunt, increase the potential of a successful hunt and ensure proper navigation in the wilderness.
Aldo say hello to Ray.
Good luck in the fall. If that is Mike's favorite time down there it must be pretty good. You should have great weather and some good hunting if you do November.
January should be great too. Keep me posted on how you did.
Gil
Special thanks to Gil for the dictionary. As a member of a northern tribe who have been described by southern gentlemen Ray and Mike as "short on brains", this should prove invaluable on future trips to the Hog Heaven swamp. And to think Ray had us hunt into the northern like briar and brambles of the short pines as we probably would not survive even a morning in the swamp.
Oooo Mike that bugger Ray made you do that? Ouch!
That is where the most pigs are, but man those briars are like fish hooks aren't they?
The first time I went in there one grabbed me and I was afraid to move for a few minutes until I could figure out how to get that tiger claw out of me.
I am adding them to the dictionary. Thanks for reminding me.
If you think of others don't be afraid to add them. This is a collaborative effort by us northerners to protect us from the predatory and deceptive ways of southern hunters and terms.
In January I went in there and got tangled in those things. I told Ray they were like fish hooks. Naturally Ray gave me a Mike answer, "well that is why the pigs like it"?
I bet they do. They probably have a deal with Ray. He sends the hunters in there after them and the pigs roll on the ground laughing at the hunters screaming and struggling in pain to free themselves.
Gil
Well done Gil! Thanks for the pix & stories. Hunting w/friends is great stuff!
Gil thanks for the great stories and pics of your hunt.
Jesus we will have to make a story of our own at the Hill Hog Hunt. I hope we can get together down there in March.
Gil
"fish hook" is a good description of those thorns!
Fortunately for me a thunderstorm came thru about the time I was exiting the short pines. While I got drenched it did wash most of the blood out of my hunting clothes. Those things are hard to get out, I am reminded of them every time I put those hunting pants back on.
Here are a few more for the Hog Heaven dictionary...
Yankee -
- a person who lives north of the Mason Dixon line
- a source of entertainment for the pigs Ray has corn fed and lovingly raised from piglets. They also harmlessly fling arrows at pigs making them more wary and a bit more of a hunting challenge for the southern man
- a person who spends more time stump shooting and looking for arrowheads than attempting to hunt.
Ditch -
- a low place filled with water where you throw corn to attract the pigs.
- a good place to have a yankee watch while the pigs are at the feeders.
Feeder -
- an automatic corn spreader set to go off 5 minutes before Ray said it would causing the unsuspecting yankee to wet himself.
- a good place to have a yankee watch while the pigs are feeding in the ditch.
Ridge -
- a slightly higher place in the swamp where pigs bed during the day.
I think I was walking along one of these ridges and took one step completely off of it into the swamp. Of course I was then hopelessly lost. Soon Ray came by in the truck and I was able to make my way back to the road which was about 20 yards to my left.
Controlled Burn -
- burning the underbrush beneath the pines to help them grow faster.
- the burn proof briars are not affected and grow even thicker to better trap a yankee.
_____ Cheese -
- I can not remember the name of this cheese, maybe Ray can help, it grows underneath things in the south and is served to yankees on biscuits in the morning.
Ha, Mike that is some funny stuff right there. I think we all would like to read some of your stories at Ray's. I bet they are a hoot.
Gil
Fumunda
I will never eat stuffed pork roast again!
You tell a great story! I enjoyed it from beginning to end. To define a good hunting trip doesn't always include killing something. Thanks for sharing, and good luck with the elk in September! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Thanks Bernie, you have the right idea.
Too bad most of my hunts are like that though, so I get good experience writing about them without any bloody fingers.
Hopefully I will have a different tale from Colorado.
Last year we hiked in 10 miles and stayed in for 11 days. There were a whole lot of misadventures on that one.
This year we are doing the same but are going in and out on horseback. I am sure there will be some additional funny tales to tell about this trip too. Especially the ride in and out.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks
Gil
Gil
That was the best Hog Heaven story tellin' ever! Man, I was right with there with you.
Your story reminded me of my own call of nature in the middle of the night. "Darth Vadar Ray" was zonked out on the couch strapped into his CPAP mask. I had to tip toe past the machine, air hoses, and cords, all the while hoping not to trip and impale myself on Darth's light saber! At least that's what I think he was clutching with both hands. Anyways, I made it there and back without a life changing mishap and lived to tell about it.
I've survived two unbelievable thunderstorms in the back top bunk, with certain death only 17" from my nose! On a good note, I believe the lightning fried most of the critters running around in the ceiling!
We've had some great times at Hog Heaven, your story reminds us that the hunting is just the icing!
The Fa Kow Ee say, "In the swamp no one can hear you scream!"
Dave
QuoteOriginally posted by Gil Verwey:
I will never eat stuffed pork roast again!
:scared:
Mike has got "ditch" and "feeder" pegged, but it was "ridge" that put me on the floor laughing!
Thom
Darth Vader Ray, Darth's light saber, I think all the guys that go to Ray's must have a good sense of humor. That is some funny chit right there now.
Imagine if all the guys that went to ray's were in one room together. It would be like the comedy club.
You guys would have me in tears.
Yea Dave, I remember that...I had kicked Mike off the couch as I am too long for the bunks and Ray was setup in the cot across from the couch. For some reason there were a lot of nature calls...too much yuengling and spirits perhaps?...I would just get to sleep with the Darth Vader glow and suddenly the floor would start shaking and a hulking figure would blot out the glow. When you are in that half awake state in an unfamiliar swamp all kinds of things go thru your mind when that happens...What the Hey!
Hey Mike does this look familiar. That quiver and the bow quiver look awful familiar to me. I am just not sure where I saw them before.
I was getting home sick and going through Ray's sponsor thread and came across this picture. The bow looks to me to be a Northern Mist Classic. Is that what it looks like to you too? I know you are familiar with them so I thought I would ask you.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/IMG_0253.jpg
Ray and Mike probably forgot to tell you about their Ditch restocking program.
(http://i48.tinypic.com/5l84cw.jpg)
I quit jumping over ditches after this guy popped out of the culvert.
(http://i50.tinypic.com/c10sl.jpg)
Man Rick I wanted to see an alligator in the worst way. I see Ray and Mike sent you some pictures from their Florida vacation.
:biglaugh:
Yeah Gil, that's the Classic. Man can't take a knap anywhere !
Yes it sure is a Classic, the picture not the bow!
What was that about a sorry butt earlier? Who is sorry now.
I see this day you chose the Yankee post method, of the Hogs come to you. Using this method I saw (dreamed about) the biggest hog of my life.
See you next year, I can't wait.
Need to see if Ray will put that picture of Barry Wensel's love child up here. Might as well since it's my day in the barrel!!
I had that picture from January, but I can't find it or else it would be here.
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e322/rayhammond123/e1d40d25.jpg)
You mean This one?
Thats the one.
We call them red briars "cat hooks". Just like a kitty's paw.
Kitty! More like here tiger tiger.
That's it. Man that is a good looking fellar !!!!
Gil,
Are you talkin' about the same X-ray vision Ray that sent me into the briar patch :scared:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Hog%20Hunt%20Ray%2007/IMG_2463.jpg)
Ha! Now that is another classic.
I may put that up as my screen saver, just to make sure I am awake before I start working.
It must have been very windy that day by the looks of all that hair blowing in the wind! I bet the hogs were hard to hunt that day and bedded somewhere out of the wind!
no wind- that hair situation is caused by how fast I move when I'm on a hog's trail- FAST man, like a marsupial!
Just playing possum, here. :biglaugh:
Killdeer
Ray I picked this up for next year to make sure I am safe if I run into one of those giant boars.
Now I am a complete hog hunter since I have a pig sticker too.
Tell Mike I said, "Mine is bigger"!
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture023.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture022.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture025.jpg)
(http://i696.photobucket.com/albums/vv324/distantmeadows/Picture024.jpg)
Just bringing this one back up so a friend can read it.
Sorry for the repeat.