First Pig hunt of the year

[RC]

Got my "chores" done early today and about lunch time I headed over to the Swamp.Kinda disappointed because all my Buddies were busy and could`nt go.So I made the trip myself. I went to my Favorite WMA to ramble and ramble I did....
   I first went to a few Deer spots to scout for next years hunting. You can really learn a lot about your deer hunting with late season scouting and I find a lot of hot spots for next years hunting like this. I found a heck of a funnel with a few good rubs and also a small grove of crabapples I did`nt know of.Found a few "new" persimmons as well. Loaded them all in the between the ears computer and headed to check a few food plots for sign. On very cold days as it is here today pigs and deer will hit the rye and oat plots all day if a fellow wants to set on them. Myself for pigs I like to walk...
 Foodplot with plenty of sign...




After not finding any pork on the plots I headed for the deep swamp. My favorite way to hunt pork.

 I dropped off in a bottom and headed toward the River...



After a 1.5 mile walk through the swamp with no critter sightings other than Swamp Roosters which we don`t have a fall/winter season for I made it to the River...





  The plan was to hang out and listen for a pig till near dark then come back through a thick palmetto flat near a clearcut. I hoped to catch pork coming out of the clearcut and headed in the swamp to scrounge for acorns that were left over.Our acorn crop was pitiful this year by the way.Usually the last 30 minutes or so are the best. Well...the plan worked good exept I feel asleep leaning against a big oak and slept from 2:30 till 4:30 and woke up when I started getting cold.....
 Plenty of time for my hunt back but no telling what I did`nt hear while I was snoozing..lol
  After about 15 minutes of easing back towards the "hill" I heard pigs. I quickly gained ground and got to 30 yards easy. The leaves are dry and noisy so I waited a bit . It was getting late so I had to do something I circled around in front of them and shuffled my feet a bit through the leaves and a couple pigs started working there way to me.Every time I went towards them instead of trying to be quiet in the leaves which was not gonna happen I "rooted" my feet through the leaves and got killing distance.The first pig got through a lane I had and the second pig went by to fast. I turned to work around again and spotted a black pig walking toward me. I drew and shot it in a softball size opening through the brush at about 5 yards. The hit was in front of the shoulder and would come out about mid rib or farther back. Not exactly perfect for a pig.I watched a pig run a ways and marked a gap I saw it go through last. I marked where I was standing and circled ahead to get on blood. I know I got one lung and liver at the least and it was thick enough the pig would bed quick if it was not already dead.I looked and looked and could not find blood. Ran several bearings and nothing. I then headed back to the shot to start at the beginning. I walked where the pig was standing and with my light as it had got dark already I spotted my reflective tape on the arrow...



Blood was aplenty...



 Woodsmans bleed purty good...

The pig ran less than 15 yards.



It was thick and the pig I saw bust out of the brush was not the pig I had shot. I spent a long time trailing the wrong porker...


A perfect size pig for a mile and a half in the swamp.I quickly boned it out and put it in the meat sack and headed for the truck. Thank You Lord.RC

[Wannabe1]

Congrats on a fine way to start the year!

[rastaman]

Way to go RC!    

[wildgame]

Great story and congrats!

[GRINCH]

Nice afternoon RC thanks for taking us along.

[Bishop]

That is very cool! Congrats on a great beginning to 2012.

[jcar315]

Congrats RC!!

Liked your idea of shuffling your feet....I just may file that one away for use later.

Thanks for sharing.

[Mike Vines]

Good way to start the year off.

[S.C. Hunter]

Nice deal, way to get it done. Looks like it would have been a great day without the pig. Reminds me of the woods and swamp back in S.C.

[David Mitchell]

Man, this dude is deadly on pigs!  

[BaldingEagle]

[BOHO]

sssaaaawwwwweeeeeetttttt !!!!  great eatin. congrats.  great story as well.

[RC]

Thanks guys. I gotta thank Steadman for the String it works great.Thanks Bud,RC.

[DesertDude]

Sweet RC,,,,,,Way to start the year...

[steadman]

Your more than welcome Bud!! Your pickin up right where you left off! Congrats!  

[dnovo]

This year is gonna be better than last year. RC's gonna kill enough stuff to feed all of us.

[Duncan]

Love your pig posts RC! Good shooting.

[WJackson11x]

Congrats! What WMA were you on, if you don't mind telling your honeyhole? Just got into traditional and would love to shoot some hogs during the offseason.  Do you go often?

[medic77]

I LOVE pig hunting.  Congrats

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats RC!