It had been many years since I had killed a wild pig so when February delivered the second snowiest second month on record in New Hampshire, my bride Debbie and I headed south to sunny Florida for some warm beach time and a couple days hunting pigs with Jim Dussias at True South Adventures.
We left NH in another impending snow storm and breathed a sigh of relief when, after de-icing the aircraft, we got underway. Well, mother nature delivered one of her humorous moments with the coldest temps of the winter in Florida this year. Result-no beach time, but when it came time to hunt Deb stepped up to the plate and hung tough with me to video the hunt.
Jim and Irv (Eichorst) have a very nice property in their lease on a cattle ranch with some fallow orchard land and some adjacent working citrus orchards. Both are trad oriented hunters and showed it with thoughtful stand placements at the feeders.
The first day Deb and I saw a couple decent pigs both morning and evening sits but with no shot opportunities. The rampant squirrel population didn't fare so well, however. An unusual lucky shooting spree on the rodents earned me the 'Rodent Master' title. It was cold.
Our final (second) day we sat in a pop-up blind adjacent to an overgrown orange grove. Nothing showed in the a.m. The wind was whipping for the evening and final sit in the blind. The ever changing cold, gusty wind didn't inspire confidence, but as often happens shortly after sunset the wind died and silence settled around us.
As the light of day faded, I was thinking of packing up. Filming light had failed as I heard swishing in the grass from the grove behind us and suddenly he was there, a great lump of a boar with plenty of European heritage. Obligingly, he stood broadside at 11 yards.
I shot, dropping the big boar on the spot. A high but effective hit which proved to have cut the high artery in the back and shattered the backbone. I quickly exited the blind and cautiously approached to put a finishing arrow in. After he was down for good, I got the shakes. When that stops happening, it's time to hang up the bow.
Irv came out to help bone the boar out on site as dragging the brute out would have over -taxed the both of us. Irv guessed him at about 200 lbs.
Despite the weather, Deb and I had an exciting hunt and we can't wait to go back again next year hoping for at least a little beach weather.
Jim, who has mastered Photobucket, is helping this e-challenged guy out with some photo posting.
I hunted with my Hummingbird LB, 54# @ 27" shooting Carbon Express shafts and VPA 3 blade totaling 600 grs. with 300 grs. up front.
Here is the great boar Todd was talking about. Definitely some Euro heritage in this pig. He's going to make a really nice European mount! (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/toddsboar.jpg) (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/teethonboar.jpg) (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/closeuptoddboar.jpg)
I'm sure Irv was glad they didn't have to track this guy into the woods!
awesome! glad ya got one!
L.R.
Very nice, :thumbsup: .
Some trail cam pics of the beast(or a close relative) (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/glowingeyes.jpg) (http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/tarponnut/bigblackboaratditch.jpg)
Way to go sir! : :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations. Awsome looking boar.
:bigsmyl: :thumbsup: :archer2:
I would love to hunt some hogs... Maybe one day.
Good shooting!
:bigsmyl:
Great Hog Todd!
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Thats a great hunt!Congratulations on a fine animal!!!
Nice . :thumbsup:
Great hog. Congratulations!
Now that's one way to escape the snow. Congrat's.
Whoa, big cutters on that guy. Congrats!
That's a big athletic looking hog for sure. Well done.
CJ
awesome!
Very nice, congrats :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Way to put him down!
I need to get myself out there!
Very nice!!
Great looking Boar! Congrats.
:thumbsup:
Nice pig Todd, Jim and Irv have some big ones at the dead horse!
Nice Hog! That will make a great looking mount.
Beautiful!! :archer2:
Ohhhh Yeahhhh....this is making it a looong 2 weeks!! Congratulations!! he sure is a beauty!!
Sean, the toms are really sounding off,too!
Nice looking head on that boar, congrats
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great vacation...nice hog too! :thumbsup:
very nice congrats :thumbsup: :clapper:
Now that is a winter get away!
With all this hog talk, I'm hoping to tag out on the gobblers early!!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Awesome Todd !!!!!
It was enjoyable to guide nice folks like these on this awesome hunt. Nice job under adverse conditions. While field dressing this big boy in the dark, we actually had another hungry one growling at us to hurry up. I think Deb wished the car was a bit closer right then. Congratulations to you both!
Irv Eichorst