It was 5:15pm and I told myself that I needed to start heading out of the mountains by 5:30pm, because I needed to go to a dinner.  At 5:25pm, just as I decided to turn around and head home, I heard some rustling in the leaves above me about 75 yards away.  As my body filled with adrenaline, I got to me knees and glassed to see if I could get a glimpse. First to confirm that it was a hog, and secondly, to make sure that it was a "shooter".  The rustling crept closer and closer.  At about 50 yards I picked up motion with my binos.  It was a hog, it wasn't big, but it was a "shooter" in my books.  Now it was time to establish a game plan.  The wind was in my favor and it seemed as if the hog was headed my way.  Because of all the dry leaves around me, I decided to huncker down and sit tight.  The hog slowly rumaged his way towards me as if on a string.  I established my shooting lanes and tried to keep my cool.  He finally made his way directly towards me but, at about 15 yards he stopped as if he knew that something was up.  With his ears perked and nose in the air, I figured he was ready to bolt.  I thought to myself it was now or never.  He took two more cautious steps, and presented me with a quartering away shot.  I drew, established my sight picture, and released my arrow.  The arrow hit home, the pig squealed and took off.  Feeling good about the shot,  I immediately took out my phone to make the "sorry, but I'm going to be late for dinner again" phone call.  After giving the animal enough time to expire, I decided to take up the trail. Here is where the fun begins, because blood trailing in this thick stuff can be rather tough!

 

This is a picture of the area.  This is a head high picture.  I'm a small guy, but still, this area is really thick.
Ryan

Here is a pic from the inital shot.  If you look good you can see the red feathers from the back half of my arrow under the leaves.



Ryan

Here is the pic of the front end of the arrow.



Ryan

This is a pic of the grass tunnels that the pigs funnel through.  The stalks of this grass is covered with fiberglass like fibers.  Sometimes you can just plow through it but other times you just have to get on your hands and knees and crawl. During the times that I crawl, I just hope and pray that the disturbed pig is not waiting for me on the other end!

 

Ryan

Good Blood!



Ryan

Still on the right trail!

 



Ryan

All Smiles!    

 

Ryan

I shot him this past weekend with my brand new 54" Bob Lee recurve.  This bow got mojo!



Ryan

Wow! great story Ryan, That is a nice hog. Sometimes it pays to be late for dinner  

Excellent thread Ryan,
Thanks for sharing that, great pics.

I've been there and done that here in SE Ga!  Pig tunnels give me the creeps.  Around here the gators lay up beside them hoping to ambush a pig!  Good job, and thanks for sharing.

Nice job dude!

Nicely done!

Congrats.  
What is your arrow set up.  It looks like you footed the end of the arrow shaft.  Is that a section of aluminum arrow?

Congrats Ryan!! Must be hard to draw the bow with only your thumb and little finger on your right hand. How'd you lose them?
 

QuoteOriginally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Congrats Ryan!! Must be hard to draw the bow with only your thumb and little finger on your right hand. How'd you lose them?
     

 


Congrats Ryan!!!

Boy that's some thick looking cover.  :eek:

Congrats  

good job. I did the same thing the other day but a liver hit and there wasn't enough blood to follow.

From the swamps of South Louisiana I feel your pain on thick cover.

Thanks for the kind words guys!
LOL Charlie!
As to my hand, thats the "shaka" sign which originated here in Hawaii, a symbol of "aloha". It supposedly started with a person who only had a pinky and thumb.  

Texas Trad,  yes that is a sleeve on the front end of the shaft.  It's a 1.5" peice of 1916 on a axis shaft.

Howzit Brahdah Ryan,

Congrats on da hunt! Da bugga going be ono on da grill or smoked.

Nothing like crawling through tunnels to get da blood going eh? No matter what da size---- Jus don't know whats at da odda end.

Aloha,

      Mark