3 other hill billys and myself are leaving for FL tonight for Osceola outfitters. We're going later in the season than planned but trying to get a schedule that worked for all was a little tough.
I hope to bring home some longbow pork if the hogs or skeeters don't eat me. I've never hunted hogs before so wish me luck!
See ya'll in a week or so.

Good luck and take a ton of pics.

Good Luck

Tell Hoppy Jack says hey ! Take a thermacell !


Jack

Thanks fellas,
I tell him Jack. I've got the thermacell and many refills packed and in the truck. I just talked to the crew and will be pulling out in 30 minutes. Yahoo!

You're gonna have fuuuuuuuuun!  Love hunting hogs at Hoppy's and go every year.  By now I guess you know what it's like--let us know....Dave

Hey ya'll
We're having a ball. We've taken a few hogs and was lucky enough to be able to go with Hoppy and Mike to take a problem gator.
I'll post some pics when I get home in a few days.

I would appreciate if you would give Hoppy my best, we go way back.  Tell him I will see him this winter and I am alive and well Tom Massaro

Hi Tom
I didn't see your post until I'd already left. Hoppy and crew are good folk for sure.

Post some pics when you get back.  I hunted with them 9 years ago and had a great time

We made it back this afternoon. I had a absolute blast.
I used my Lost Creek that I bought from another Trad Gang member. It's the 56" Black Bow that Chad built for him. I planned to use it as my back up bow but it shoots so well for me it became my go to bow and ended with putting 4 pigs in the cooler.
The first morning I took this boar with dogs and things got a little interesting. He had an attitude and things got pretty exciting a time or two on top of a canal with brush too thick to get through on both sides. Not much room for 3 guys and 2 dogs to keep out of the way of an upset boar.



Mike Coleman was with me running the camcorder and the after we had the first boar on the ground, the dogs took off on the second and bayed him up just within hearing. Mike had no bow with him and used mine to take this one.



I took my second boar out of a tree stand the second evening. He went into the palmetos and made it about 50 yards and piled up.



I tried my hand at stalking a quite a few times but was busted before I could get close enough for a shot. I'm amazed by the noses on these hogs.
My good friend Carl Coleman took 2 boars. The first with his Great Plains B model and this one with a long bow made for him by another friend. Carl took both boars with dogs.



I took a smaller sow the last day as I had the boars made into sausage and wanted one for roast. I didn't have my camera with me but one of the other guys took some pictures for me and I don't have a copy yet. Mike is making me a copy of the video and I'll be watching it until I get back next year.
The fellow that sold me the Lost Creek hadn't had the chance to hunt with it. It's been broken in good on this trip.

BCWV, I bet I know the canal you speak of!  Been there and you're right--not many places to go when things get exciting.  Hoppy really gives you a great hunt doesn't he?  Congratulations on the pigs.  

Awesome.Id love to hunt hogs with dogs some day.What kind of dogs did they hunt with?

Izzy,
They use a bull dog/hound cross cur type dog. They've bred their own strain and the dogs do a good job. Here's a picture of 2 dogs with Carls first pig.

 

The larger boars will make your blood start pumping when the dogs bay them. It's a lot like running bear with dogs, a lot going on at the same time. Of course you get the pucker factor when that old boar makes a run at you or the dogs. You have to be able to take an quick, accurate shot when it presents itself.
I'm sure not a pro as this was my first time. We have many fellows here that this is hardly nothing, but for me it was great.
If you get a chance to try hogs with dogs, jump on it. It's a ball!

   

David,
Yes, Hoppy and that bunch are some of the nicest people I've ever met. They sure make you feel at home and give you a fine hunt.
I put a deposite on a hunt next year for me, my son, brother and nephew. I can't wait to see them there enjoying it next spring. We had a great time.

Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Brad, looks like you had a great time. I also love to see a great bow being used . That's what it was made to do. I will be sending your new bow out tommorow. I hope I can keep it away from my nose today. Chad

Hi Chad,
Yep, we sure did have a good time. That bow fits me like you built it for my hand and it points where I look. That's real handy when that boar was looking at me with blood in his eye. Speaking of blood in his eye, how do you feel today?

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on that new bow but be careful for heavens sake. I know that your Lost Creeks have been putting blood on the ground but it's not supposed to be the bowyers.
Just pickin!

Sounds like some great fun!!!!!!