I'm pumped!

After 3 "guided" hunts for hogs over the past half dozen years, my brother and I finally decided to do it on our own.  All of the "guides" were great, hospitable guys – but none of the hunts resulted in either of us taking an animal.  I'll never go back.  Nuf said.

On this occasion, I flew to Georgia from Idaho and drove 2 hours to meet him, after a 4-hour drive of his own, on the border of Georgia and Alabama.  Neither of us had been there before, so the learning curve was bound to be STEEP.  Up until the wee hours of the morning, catching up, talking old hunts and unwinding from the long days, we got a short night's sleep and headed out.  It took some time to figure out access to the area and do some on-site homework, but we got into the hogs on the first afternoon.  No shots, but plenty of action.  Taking some local advice, we decided to try a little different area the next morning.  Two dead-ends and a bridge out before we finally made it to our hunting area around midday.  As we rolled up – BOOM, THERE WERE THE HOGS.  We closed in on the first group, which resulted in taking the brown pig below.  We cleaned it and headed for the truck where we promptly found a nice shady spot and grilled up the back straps.  There is just something about putting a fresh harvest on the grill right away.  So satisfying.

After lunch we headed back into the woods and promptly got into more hogs.  The arrows started flying and pretty quick the black hog below was on the ground.  This was a TOUGH shot – about 6 yds, broadside.  I actually completely busted the front left leg (bone was in two) and passed through the animal.  I guess those 700+ gr lam birch arrows, tipped with a Winsel Woodsman, shot out of my Grizzly Bow did the trick.  I had hogs all around me when I shot – what a rush!





This pretty much sums it up:

Airfare from Idaho to Georgia:  $963.00
Out-of-State Georgia Small Game License:  $40.00
2 lbs of BBQ and a gallon of sweet tea in a "restaurant" with see-through walls:  $20.00
Killing 2 hogs in one day, eating the back straps in the woods for lunch and walking through the Marriott lobby muddy and bloody:  PRICELESS!!!

-   MV

Congrats and nice story.


If you don't resize your pics they are going to get pulled though.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=045582

Good call.  Will do now.

good for you, Michael! Glad you were able to put the puzzle together...now, there's no stoppin' you!

That's a beauty bear in your profile, by the way.

Thanks Ray!  Means a lot coming from a hog guru like yourself.  Sometimes the moons have to align just right I guess.  It is no Hog Heaven, but fun nonetheless!

Congrats Mike! Still trying for my first.

Benny

Congrats! sounds like you had a blast. Theres no rush like stalking up on pigs

Right on    

Now you went a did it. Your hooked for life, no turning back now.

Nice job.

Thats awesome! I love hog huntin! Backstraps in the woods so cool, way to go!

Nothing dearer to my heart, except for my family.  Great job!!!

And a fine job!I bet that Grizzly Takedown kind of helped out maybe a little too.

Awesome!!!

Georgia hogs are falling like rain!

Great story!

Thanks gents!  Apex is EXACTLY right.  I would travel around the world to go hunting with my brother(s) and/or Dad.  I also can't wait until our children get old enough to pass along the tradition.  That's the best part of this forum...just good folks sharing great stories and advice.  

Benny – you'll get yours man, just keep hitting the woods.  Hope all is well.  

Thanks again guys.  Anyone else out there score on hogs this weekend???

-MV

Mike

I'm diggen brotha. Hope our paths cross again.

Would like to spend another campfire with you and Joe.

Peace
Benny

Congrats  

Niceeeeeeeeeeeeee

Jer Bear

Atta Boy Mike! Congrats on the hogs. You got the baits up and runnin yet. Man I'm missin the bear hunting this year.

Congrats! Great pics and story.