Anyone want to hog hunt east tx? (4/22-4/26) already making plans for next year!

Wudstix · April 26, 2015, 03:15:00 PM

Getting antsy about pics.

Wallydog · April 26, 2015, 03:30:00 PM

Randy took a bunch of pics. Ill bet he's waiting until he has time for a long download time.

Crittergetter · April 26, 2015, 06:06:00 PM

I'm back! And I'm fixin to take a dang nap! Had some great action the last couple of days. Not gonna go into to much detail cause I would rather the guys tell their own stories. Wally is right. It's going to take a little while to get my pics loaded and I promise I'll tell my adventure from my point of view with lots of pics.

akdd · April 28, 2015, 11:25:00 AM

Just made it home last night. All I can say is what a great bunch of guys.
Here is the group. L-R Wally, Jim, Dan, Darren, Jon, Randy,Marty

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Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 11:50:00 AM

I had to leave Saturday mid-afternoon and have been running since. It has taken me a while to get all the pics from phone to Photobucket. I think i may have been the only one to not see a hog, so I'll let pictures tell most of the story from my perspective. I will say that like all group hunts I've been on, this was a blast and the guys were great. As we were sharing about past hunts, I realized through Trad Gang I've been on group hunts for deer, rabbits, squirrels, elk and now hogs. Between these group hunts and the St. Jude auction, I've been blessed to hunt in 7 different states. TG has been an awesome resource for making friends and exploring hunting opportunities across the country. Thanks to all who have been a part of that!

Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 11:58:00 AM

First of all, we ate well. I brought some chili that took me 2 days to cook.

Marty brought some Copper river salmon that he and his family caught. He grilled some for us along with potatoes and onions. We added some chicken-of-the-woods (sulphur shelf) mushrooms I'd found in the swamp. Marty also treated us to some different flavored smoked salmon. I was too busy eating that to think about taking a pic.

Also no pics of Jon's excellent breakfast of bacon, pancakes and eggs from his own chickens or Kristie's incredible fajita dinner. Thanks!!!

Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 12:46:00 PM

Wally, please pass along my condolences to Jim and his family for their loss. But I know they are also celebrating a new body and eternal life for their loved one. I really enjoyed getting to know you guys and Dan since I grew up in IL and we have trod some of the same ground.

Here is Jim and Wally doing a little pickin' and grinnin' while we sang along to some good gospel and bluegrass tunes.

akdd · April 28, 2015, 12:48:00 PM

I cannot thank Randy enough for putting this together.
The campsite was great.

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Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 12:50:00 PM

Even though the entire WMA has been wet for a couple months, there were still a few "dry-ish" spots where we found some good sign.

Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 12:56:00 PM

Hunting a swamp can be difficult. Finding the beauty of God's creation in one is very easy.

Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 01:02:00 PM

Swamp beauty cont.

There were many other flowers that I didn't get pictures of or the pics didn't turn out.

Wallydog · April 28, 2015, 01:56:00 PM

Great pics Marty and Darren! That Copper River salmon was awesome. The chili was great too. It was a lot of fun to hunt and eat great food with like minded archers. This was my first ever group hunt with all traditional archers and it was a lot of fun!

Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 01:58:00 PM

Fungi forever....

The one directly above is the chicken-of-the-woods which I easily spotted from a couple hundred yards away in knee-deep water. I only took the top half due to the bottom half being submersed when the river got out of its banks. I'd estimate I put about 10-12 lbs in my pack. Randy took a little home, we ate some at camp and we've had 3 meals off it at home already. Probably have about 3 lbs left.

akdd · April 28, 2015, 01:59:00 PM

When I arrived after introductions and unpacking we went on an evening hunt on the upper end of the WMA. Dan, Darren and I hiked up the power line and then worked through some of the thick stuff. Once we got off the power line I was really glad to have a compass as to me everything looked the same. We found where some pigs had been rooting but seen no pigs.

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Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 02:04:00 PM

Fungi cont....

akdd · April 28, 2015, 02:17:00 PM

When we got back to camp Jon had arrived. The next morning it was raining so we hung out and got acquainted while Jon fixed us breakfast.

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Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 02:22:00 PM

We had a few friends show up.

Some variety of water snake.

A turtle crossing the road. We stopped to help him across so as not to get smushed.

I've only run into 6 or 7 cottonmouths, but in my experience they've all been somewhat ill-tempered. This one broke that rule and I had to poke it with tip of my bow to get it to move. I'm guessing it was lethargic while digesting a recent meal. I had to poke it 3 times to get it out of my way.

Even the ubiquitous fire ants had grown weary of the deluge. This little mound was built on a log a couple feet off the water.

Also saw a swamp rabbit, gar rolling in the river, a couple grey squirrels hopping from tree to tree above the water, frogs and tadpoles by the thousands and Dan saw a good-sized gator, but couldn't get a pic. He does have a very cool picture of a couple of our wild hunting companions, but I'll let him post and show it. All kinds of birds, %@#&! ticks and, of course, SKEETERS!

awbowman · April 28, 2015, 02:25:00 PM

Thanks for sharing, especially the photos.

Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 02:29:00 PM

It was difficult to look at these burls and not imagine what kind of gorgeous veneers could be had from them.

Hackbow · April 28, 2015, 02:43:00 PM

The Intrepid Capt. Randy and crew motoring up river to a reported dry spot. It really wasn't very dry - LOL!

4/5 of the landing party on one of the very few patches of dry ground. Randy, Jon, Marty, Dan.