Post by: LongTatLaw on June 10, 2009, 02:33:39 AM
I got home and immediately started setting up and dialing in my brand new Bowtech Guardian with SDP site and new style Whisker bisket rest...also sporting 27 inch full metal jackets tipped with 125 grain thunder heads...oh, and white wraps on each arrow embossed with a pics of my wife wearing nada ;) The bow is a 76 lb draw also! (twisted cable guards) :IBCOOL:
Once my bow was on and I felt 50 yards was locked solid...I turned the Xterra South and headed for Savannah GA. I met up with my buddy Sean and after setting up the Kayaks, my wife drove me to the boat landing. Soon enough we were off paddling our butts off...we got a late start so we had to haul it to get the 4.5 miles done to reach the camp site!
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/me_in_ocean_paddling.jpg)
once we reached the camp site we set up and built a fire to chase bugs off while we had dinner!
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/me_fire.jpg)
Morning came early and we were off looking for some wild boar / feral hogs! After several hours and lots of miles...no hogs! I had to take a break...the heat was less than Iraq by far but dear god the humidity :bdid:
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/sittin_bow_and_acus.jpg)
After we found no hogs and really the sign wasnt what we were hoping to find either :dunno:...we headed up the river for better ground :drool:!
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/close_me_paddle.jpg)
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/paddle_by_island.jpg)
we covered some serious ground between walking and paddling!
Heres a decent pic of Sean taking a water break!
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/water_break.jpg)
We found ourselves headed up smaller and smaller channels looking for game :bash:
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/me_after_sean_up_river.jpg)
This creek turned out to lead to a pot of gold 8)
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/path_to_island.jpg)
We got on the Island and within 5 minutes we spotted a dark spot out on the salt marsh...so far away that we needed binos to figure out if it was a pig or not... it was and it was a nice one... jet black and freakin HUGE! only one problem... it was about 600 meters straight out into a salt marsh that is nothing but needle grass, mudd, and oyster beds. :bash: None the less, we figured an impossible stalk seemed better than no pigs elsewhere! It took us only 15 minutes to get to the closest spot on the Island to the hog..now only 300 meters out into the marsh...the hunt would have been done if I had my 300 WM but with a bow...I needed to cover some distance.
Me and Sean started making our way and to our dismay...it was slower and even harder going than expected and I may have forgotten to mention..we were fresh off the boat so I had on flip flops rather than real shoes :bash:
A stalk in the open is soooo depressing because the prey is RIGHT THERE! :drool:
Any way..as we stalked, the pig slowly fed around and we got over 100 yards closer before we realized there was a mcuh much smaller calico pig between us. That was a good thing because the huge black boar was now feeding away from us faster than we could cover ground in that marsh that was made to cut up people!
I made the stalk in the chest high needle grass pretty easily but the last 100 yards to the calico was knee high green grass. It looked like I was about to try to sneak up on a pig in the middle of a golf course!!! :bash: :'(
I figured what the hell... worth a shot! So, I would take a step and look at the pig... Id only move when the calico was facing and feeding away from me. Sean stayed 50 yards behind me because the oysters crushing under foot made so much noise along with the slosh of the water and the mudd.
So...heres a hint, when your buddy is carrying your range finder...dont let him get away from you :P
No matter. I figured Id just stalk so close I could be sure of the range!
Now, heres one of those dave moments that you would have to know me to understand why but... at around 75 yards...I slipped out of my flip flops. This CUT way down on noise but cut the hell out of my feet with every step... damn oyster beds! :bash: :'( ohhhh..and at 100 meters I took my black tee shirt off... in the dark lush trees of the islands...black is great... in the needle grass of the marsh the black stood out like a neon sign and the grass was similar to my pasty white flesh (minus the tattoos)...
When I reach somewhere around 23 yards...the calico started feeding to the side and figuring I was milliseconds from getting busted I went to full draw! The second I had a little bit of side to aim at I released... before it hit, I knew I was golden! When I saw the arrow hit and vanish right behind the front shoulder I actually said "thats a dead hog" out loud! When it took two steps I could see the angle was so sharp that the arrow exited out of the hog's face on the opposite side! It ran about 20 steps and stopped. It was about to go down but I had loaded a 2nd arrow so I let it go! The hog spun and it hit a lil back but went down instantly!
I field dressed him and threw him over my shoulders and hauled him the 300 meters back to the Island. We didnt have the camera with us so heres a few bad quality cell phone pics of a white trash hunter in GA!
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/over_shoulders.jpg)
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/pig_on_shoulder_and_bow.jpg)
I know...I know...lol
any way,
once we got back to the Kayaks I tried to take a better pic...
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/me_with_hog_and_bow_by_kayak_spot.jpg)
After the pics, I took an ocean splash off!
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/washing_off.jpg)
We immediately reset and headed to the far side of the Island. Within 20 muntes we had hogs all over us...in a herd feeding right twoard us but in VERY thick underbrush and palmetto bushes. Well, I went to full drawn on a 300 lb monster at 16 yards but the small pig 5 yards to my side spooked and the big boar bolted with me at full draw waiting for a decent angle!
While we were standing there discussing how awesome that was we realize the back of the herd didnt know the front spooked so here come more! :drool: Well, here comes a 50 lb calico right at me and I come to full draw hiding behind a tree...the pig is at 10 yards and Im about to release but Sean says theres a bigger one...so I wait... but the calico gets to one yard and freaks when it sees me..it could have licked my broadhead even at full draw...lol
as it bolted I tried to release on it but missed... no matter what else happened...know that I never heard the end of the missed 1 yard shot!
so, with that herd now way gone...we decided to circle around and cut them off.
We ended up with 2 small hogs feeding toward us not 200 meters from where we saw the last herd!
After watching a calico for like 10 minutes at 25 yards...the black hog gave me a great shot and at 27 yards I released. It was a thread the needle shot and it hit just a bit back. The pig squealed and ran off. I knocked another arrow and looked up to see "another" black hog trot up. I released and hit home..the pig went down in its tracks!
Turns out it was the same pig and it just doubled back for some reason!
Any way,
After a wonderful day of hunting we loaded the hogs into the Kayaks and headed home!
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/beautiful_headed_home.jpg)
I didnt get a field pic of the black so heres a double pic
(https://hunting-washington.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10191/me_w_two_hogs.jpg)
Now I gotta get these skulls to Michelle for some whitening!
Every single shot was a pass through and only the one yard shot was a miss...so Im pumped for elk season!
Hope you enjoyed this! I know its long but it was my best pig hunt ever and Ive killed huge hogs and over 100 of them...none of those hunts compared to this!
dave
Post by: Gobble on June 10, 2009, 05:11:27 AM
Congrats, nice write up and nice piggies!
Post by: billythekidrock on June 10, 2009, 05:54:39 AM
Post by: boneaddict on June 10, 2009, 06:05:16 AM
Post by: catwithboost on June 10, 2009, 06:11:54 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on June 10, 2009, 07:05:08 AM
Glad you made it back, thanks for what you do.
Post by: TeacherMan on June 10, 2009, 07:17:44 AM
Post by: runamuk on June 10, 2009, 07:26:10 AM
Post by: tmike on June 10, 2009, 07:49:37 AM
Post by: Jason on June 10, 2009, 07:54:06 AM
Post by: M_ray on June 10, 2009, 08:01:11 AM
Post by: Skinner on June 10, 2009, 08:05:47 AM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on June 10, 2009, 08:19:10 AM
Post by: Machias on June 10, 2009, 08:21:29 AM
Post by: bowhunterforever on June 10, 2009, 03:19:32 PM
Welcome back and thank you for your service!! Nice job on the pigs and great write and photos, thanks for sharing!!:yeah: Thats awsome, Congrats
Post by: whacker1 on June 10, 2009, 04:11:53 PM
Post by: mossback91 on June 10, 2009, 04:44:47 PM
NICE JOB!!!
Post by: longear on June 10, 2009, 08:45:29 PM
Post by: cohoho on June 10, 2009, 09:44:51 PM
Post by: bowsandhose on June 10, 2009, 09:50:58 PM
Post by: Slider on June 10, 2009, 10:24:48 PM
Post by: LongTatLaw on June 11, 2009, 02:49:39 PM
It was a blast! Ive killed a LOT of pigs..many with a bow..many spot and stalk but nothing has ever compared to this hunt (pigs that is). I took it easy and left out several blown stalks and close calls... just didnt want this to get too long!
Teacherman, the bugs were terrible :'( :'( while we were there the deer flies and sand knats seemed to be the worst...but the dozen ticks I pulled off my body werent pleasant... and nothing compares to the dozen swollen chigger sores that I have from the shoulders to the feet! :bash: :bash:
Still...very worth it!
As for the eating... wild boar is EXCELLENT table fare for certain! I absolutely love it. Im back in Wisconsin for about 10 days then Im back to Knoxville TN and a freezer full of pig.
Sorry guys, none will make the 4 day drive to WA so Im just gonna have to eat it all right now...MUHUHUHUHHAHAHAHAHAHA :drool:
Now bring on the ELK! ;)
Post by: cascademountainhunter on June 11, 2009, 03:04:31 PM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on June 12, 2009, 10:45:10 PM
Post by: LongTatLaw on June 20, 2009, 09:43:27 PM
Post by: Aneoakleaf on June 20, 2009, 11:29:38 PM
We have wanted to go on a pig hunt forever! Congradulations on Quite an adventure . :yike:....and you brought home the baccon Too!! :chuckle:
That's a great write up I really enjoyed reading it and can't wait to hear about your next adventure( bears are up next!) :chuckle:
Post by: ICEMAN on June 21, 2009, 07:03:36 AM
I showed your hunt pics here to the wife, and she said she was really glad to see soliders return and get out and have a good hunt back in the good ol' USA.
Welcome home you stud!
Post by: BK Dave on June 21, 2009, 09:18:42 PM
Welcome back and thank you for your service!! Nice job on the pigs and great write and photos, thanks for sharing!!:yeah: Thats awsome, Congrats
:yeah: X2
Post by: LongTatLaw on June 23, 2009, 01:13:27 AM
Yes I am an Army Infantry Officer!
The hog hunt was a blast!
I plan to try a repeat here in about two weeks...see if I can find a shoulder mount sized hog to kill..may take the rifle as a cant reach em with a bow back up...Id really like to get a fat calico to put beside my 350lb solid black Ive got already!
Thank you Ice...you make a guy feel pretty! and special!
check out my newest adventure (22 June) in Fishing!
Thanks for viewing and especially for commenting everyone!!!! ;)
dave
Post by: Rhinoron247 on June 23, 2009, 01:25:52 AM
Post by: Intruder on June 23, 2009, 02:32:31 PM
Post by: saylean on June 23, 2009, 04:32:49 PM
Welcome back, of course! Great to see you post again.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on June 24, 2009, 01:09:45 AM
You want a good grilling and smoking pig anything less that 100lbs. My favorites are the size that LTL killed. They are not as wild tasting.
One thing you can do to kill the wild taste on larger animals if you want to grill, smoke, or cook them is to 1/4 them up and put them in a cooler with ice. Make sure the Ice gets between all the 1/4's and pour about 1/2 quart or Apple Cider vinagar over the whole cooler full of ice and meat. Let it set in their over night.
Post by: LongTatLaw on June 24, 2009, 07:31:44 AM
These that I just killed here taste yummy. Do they taste good...you decide. I did a lemon pepper and pepper corn hand rub and then fried them 2 nights ago and fed them to my 9 month pregnant wife and her 21 year old abercrombie wearing sister. They both ate itand the lil sister has never tried wild meat before and Miranda would spit out a 40$ steak these days!
Ive eaten thousands of pounds of wild pig and like it well above deer or any version!
Best pig I ever had? I was coming out of the woods during Muzzle Loader season in GA...I had just shot off the load....was driving out and a sow crossed the grassy trail with a string of piglets following ducks in a row.... :devil:
I ran over, backed up over more, and ran over again. I ended up with a half dozen pigs in the 15 lb range... and they were delicious!!!
Im sure someone will discuss how thats mean or unethical or something but Ill explain to them that hogs in GA are considered as useful as roaches! FT Stewart and the state of GA frequently hire professional hunters that shoot them by the hundreds and let their bodies rot...just to thin the numbers. So me using the chevy on them and then eating em... fine by me ;) :P
back to the point...they are yummmy and I always cook them as if they were chicken...not pork. Im not sure why I do that but it works every time ;)
Im almost outta meat so I may try to run back down there soon... :drool:
Post by: saylean on June 24, 2009, 10:17:38 AM
Thanks Michelle, Tat~
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on June 24, 2009, 10:28:55 AM
When a few people found out that I'd waste my time to clean them they would load them up with the sow and give em to me. Good eats.
Like what LTL said. The Wild Pig population down their is unreal. Farmers hate them, just a small groupe of them can rip apart an acre in no time at all. It is not uncomon practice to shoot them, drag them off to the woods and let them rot. Everytime I see a new topic about Wid pigs in WA I cringe. Yeah it would be some new and different game to hunt but I guarantee they will screw up some good hunting areas for Deer and Elk.
Post by: LongTatLaw on June 24, 2009, 08:58:10 PM
Id love to hunt em but they ARE NOT AT ALL worth the affects on the native game!
Post by: Alchase on June 25, 2009, 07:22:59 AM
I ran over, backed up over more, and ran over again. I ended up with a half dozen pigs in the 15 lb range... and they were delicious!!!
I don't care who you are that right there is the funniest thing I have read in a while, :chuckle:
Post by: MuleySniper on June 25, 2009, 07:58:03 AM
MS