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.

 

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"    

 

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"   .  

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  

 

 

Sounds intense can't wait to read more!  

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      :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:  


 

 

 

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.

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.