Hogs, great food, new friends and an Angel

[BowHunterGA]

Just got home from a weekend with Ray Hammond at Hog Heaven. WOW, what a great weekend!

Drove over to SC on Thursday and met up with Ray and a few new Trad friends. The first evening was spent around a roaring fire, preparing gear and discussing the property, things to expect while hunting the property and a good bit of shot placement advice. Ray was very reassuring and made everyone feel immediately comfortable and at home.

The next morning began with biscuits, sausage gravy, eggs and coffee. With my map of the property in hand I headed out after breakfast with wonderful sense of anticipating, this being my first attempt at hogs. I hunted most of the day, stopping only about 20 minutes to grab some lunch. No hogs for me this day but I saw alot of deer, a few Armadillos, turkey and even a couple of GIANT fox squirrels. When back at camp that evening I learned I was in the minority as everyone else had seen hogs. I soon forgot about this when I walked inside and smelled the pork shoulders Ray was cooking. Let me tell you all, Ray can COOK! Filled up on Pork, veggies and a Salad. Then out to the fire for lots stories and a few jokes.

Day 2, another great breakfast and off to the woods. I hit the jackpot, ended up seeing at least 40 hogs by the end of the day. Passed on a couple of smaller pigs at 12 yards, and later singled out a VERY large hog in a group of 20 or so hogs and piglets. At 30 yards a tiny little piglet I didn't see squealed the alarm and away they all ran. Ray found a good bit of humor in my re-telling of this event and I have to admit I got several good laughs out of it as well! HUGE New York Strip steaks for dinner and a lot of awesome conversation.

Cold front moved in over night and this morning it was mighty frosty. Everything was frozen and it made stalking a bit tougher but it was still a beautiful day. No hog for me this trip but next time for sure! I spent the drive home thinking about the coming months and how I might fit in a return trip before deer season.

Great food, great people and a great area to hunt hogs. To Tom, Ken, Doug, Dan, Ray, and Jay, it was great meeting all of you and I hope to share a hunting camp with you again one day. To Ray Hammond, you are a class act and you run a great hunting camp. I will be back! Probably much sooner than the wife would like.

I kept a camera with me at all times and found some great backdrops for a few photos. Hope you enjoy them.


First day and I find the Angel. Is that a beautiful backdrop or what?!
 


"Blue Lake"
 


You just know there is going to be a hog around every corner.
 

 


I see Georgia!
 


Lots of Cypress logs make great spots for mid day breaks! (notice my wind feather, wind aws really blasting out of the north this day!
 


WOW! (That is a 68" longbow with a full length arrow. Lots of these giants around.)
 


Managed to find a little evidence of hunters from long ago. (Middle piece is piece of Native American clay pottery)
 


Thanks again Ray!!!!!!!!

[Rick Butler]

Ray is a class act for sure! Heading back down in April and can't wait!

[RC]

Cool stuff. Ray is a good Feller for sure. You can get just as addicted to the artifacts as you do the pig hunting if your not careful.RC

[Mudd]

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by RC:
Cool stuff. Ray is a good Feller for sure. You can get just as addicted to the artifacts as you do the pig hunting if your not careful.RC

Very true! I did my best to limit my artifact searches to the walk back to my truck. However the one on the left was in the dirt piled up by a digging Armadillo, what are the odds?

[Shinken]

Most-excellent journey!

Thank you for sharin'!

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken

 

[Covey]

Perty dang cool!

Jason

[ti-guy]

Nice pics! Thanks for sharing

[twitchstick]

Great stuff!

[wildgame]

   

[kbetts]

6 more weeks.....6 more weeks

A great place and a great gentleman.  Can't wait to get back.

[tradlongbow]

Thanks for sharing the Journey. I'm lookin forward to hunting and meeting you next year on our HillGang Hog Hunt.

Darren

[JAG]

     

Thanks for taking us along!
Johnny/JAG

[Mike Vines]

Thank you for the update.  Our St. Jude hunt is coming up quick, and I'm looking forward to getting down there.

[Red Beastmaster]

Two more weeks......two more weeks!

BowHunterGA, where abouts did you run into the hogs on day 2? I've been there three times and might be able to picture where you were hunting.

The whole place is great with sign in the pines, the palmetto flats, down in the swamps, and even right around camp. And you are right, Ray is a great host and cook!

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by Red Beastmaster:
Two more weeks......two more weeks!

BowHunterGA, where abouts did you run into the hogs on day 2? I've been there three times and might be able to picture where you were hunting.

The whole place is great with sign in the pines, the palmetto flats, down in the swamps, and even right around camp. And you are right, Ray is a great host and cook!

North and northwest of blue lake and the angel. Shoot me a PM if you want to discuss further. I will say though, everyone saw hogs over the weekend.

[awbowman]

Thanks for sharing

[jcar315]

Ray's place is top notch all around!

Thanks for sharing and love the pics

[Matty]

very cool!  Ray is good people for sure

[Red Boar]

Good stories...yes, I am familiar with that enchanting beauty: