Bowhunting For Wild Hogs - 2007
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2007 - A Wild Hog Bowhunt In Progress
This year we've had three months of rain. And the hogs are back.

June 6 - Hanging On

Two tripod stands are at the Hammer Hole, one on each side of the woods' road that ends there. Several game trails cross the road in the first 30 yards from the end of the line. Some times you can see into the trees, some times you can't. Right now you can't. On both sides of the road the woods are lush and green. But the road is dirt for about 25 yards --  then it becomes the standard two track farm road -- that almost never gets used by anyone else but me.

The first hogs I saw appeared at the edge of the brush and stepped out and into view. My camera read 7:37 when I took the first picture.

More hogs were coming and when I looked up after taking a picture an adult black hog was in the road.

I took its picture and looked around. Standing a few steps away was a big mud covered boar with long, bristly hair on its neck and back.

More hogs had come out of the woods and the bristly back boar charged at one of the bigger ones. Several hogs darted across the road and stopped 5 yards from my tripod. I took a quick picture and looked for the boar again.

 When I took the boar's picture (below) I didn't notice that he had dried mud caked on his right ear.  But I did notice that this was a big boar hog ... today's hunt was on. 

So I went from Sony to BowTech, but carefully because several hogs were close by and if I spooked one they all would spook. Again, carefully, I eased the Guardian into its stops.

I'm sure it's not obvious from the last 3 pictures but there are sapling trees and  limbs all around me, and I cut 4 shooting lanes so I would have places to take pictures and to shoot.

The episode kept repeating and I started feeling the pressure of the draw. But the hog kept moving and I held on so I'd be ready when he got in a shooting lane.

Finally he stopped ... wouldn't you know it ... several saplings and limbs were in the way. The other hogs turned back and went into the woods. Single file. Right where I first saw them -- it looked a pig train. The boar stood watching them . My arms felt like rubber.

As you know, letting down can spook game if it is done sloppy or too fast. I eased the bowstring forward, I needed a few seconds break. Half way down the boar walked to the edge of the woods where the last pig had disappeared. Somehow I gutted it up and wobbly armed the bow to full draw. He was walking slow and turned broadside. It was now or he would be in the brush. I got my pin on him and pulled the release trigger ... my form was jerky ... and my arrow stuck in the ground under him.

Later, with 15 minutes of daylight left I climbed down. Half a dozen steps later I heard a hog grunting in the brush. I kept walking and he continued grunting until I was a ways down the road.

This afternoon I didn't get the hog. That's twice in a row. Disappointed? Absolutely not. I'll be back. And I'd bet ya money that boar will too.

More Wild Hogs Bowhunts: | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
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