A pig story from the "Pig mass-tah" himself!

[Jared D]

Brad typed up a story from his trip into a Cypress bottom last week (IIRC it was Monday Feb 18th). Great story! We are going back into the open marsh tomorrow (28th) to put my uncle from Maine on some pork!
Enjoy!



The Mobile Hunters
By Brad Walker



A typical winter cold front has just passed by and as the steady rain has now stopped, NW winds, cooler temps and clearing sky’s prevail over the coastal swamps, woods and marshes of SE Georgia . We tell ourselves now is the time to hunt! Quickly we ready our gear for an afternoon of deep woods action. This afternoon we choose to go mobile and reach the distant river swamps. Little be known to us, the roads we would travel felt much farther and were less maintained than we had remembered from 5 years prior. As the sun moves towards the SW skyline, Marty, Ward, and his son Jonathan and myself set out on Bikes to meet the wild pigs who call this area home along the swamp edges. We ride by times of the past when this area was heavily logged. This old truck pictured below with metal rail road wheels still sits on an old railroad track that was used to haul out the virgin timber of yesteryear.



As our legs burn more and more which each passing mile, we wonder if we made the right choice that evening. The old road bed still wet from the rain was filled with muddy spots, sandy areas and blown down trees. Jonathan, being 15 and a catcher for the local high school baseball team was not nearly winded like we were and cracked a smile each time the older hunters wanted to stop for a quick rest. Time was of the essence as the sun was getting lower and the game we pursued was coming out to feed. Little did they know four broad-head carrying hunters were making their way towards them with high hopes. Ward and Jonathan were sent towards a known swamp edge while Marty and I went another 500+ yards up ahead. They spotted one group of hogs that evening with three average sized pigs and a single trophy boar pushing 300+ pounds reportedly. Getting into bow range and making it happen is not always a sure thing as we have found out from our many trips to the woods.


We knew we had hit the jackpot when the old road bed turned into an all out hog disaster area as they had completely rooted up the road. We quickly mark our bikes location with our GPS’s for the return after dark. After a short walk from the bikes we split up to cover more ground along one of the many swamp edges. What a great area we live in to have the ocean, rivers, marshes, wood & swamps to hunt and fish.

One of the larger cypress trees noted above in the area was thankfully left by previous loggers from another generation. Notice the hunter compared to the trunk of this mammoth tree. The cypress tree “knees” as they call them are coming out of the water in all directions and can sometimes be tricky to navigate over as the little ones hide just under the surface waiting to trip any careless traveler.


As I slowly and quietly slip along the edge of the feeding zone my eyes constantly scanning the distant gaps thru the dense timber while also keeping an eye on each step as poisonous snakes and gator holes are always a possibility in the area.


My plan is working out perfectly, as a nice hog suddenly is working its way towards me without a clue I am even in the zip code. The steady wind in my face reassures me my scent won’t reach its number one defense. I freeze in my tracks and my heart starts to race as I did not bring my S&W 357 Magnum revolver on this trip to save on weight. I notice the nearest tree for cover and protection is 7 steps away. With the menacing hog closing distance from 60 yards to 40 yards and coming in fast I have no choice but to quickly ready an arrow and hope for the best. No time to range anything as the animal is not feeding, but instead coming in straight to me at a steady pace head held high. I remain motionless as the now multi-colored tusked swamp creature is at 20 yards and not changing directions. Having experienced a close call sitting on the ground next to some samplings 5 years past with my bow in the same area ( a 300 lb. Tusked Boar Hog that snuck in right at dark 3 steps from me who just about came out of his skin when he realized he had entered my space) I was not going to let this one get any closer. I was getting ready to raise my bow and the now bigger hog suddenly turned and started a broadside path towards my left. At 15 yards it was about to pass by a large cypress tree, perfect time I thought to myself to pull my bow string back with the 55/75 Gold Tip Pro Hunter arrow tipped with a 4 blade 100 grain broad-head. A narrow gap in the trees just beyond the cypress, I noticed was my best shot opportunity as the hog now slowly walked into view again. I put the top sight pin on the spot I wanted to hit and released the trigger. The arrow flying at over 275 feet per second hit with such devastating speed it blew right thru both lungs and skipped on the water surface beyond the hog and came to rest some 30 feet behind it. The stunned hog bolted in a half circle and ran right in front of me at about 8 yards bleeding profusely from the exit wound. I knew it was a dead hog and more hickory smoked hams at that point. I watched the fatally wounded hog run up to high ground and go down in some thick cover around 50 yards away. After a short 20 minute wait with no noise or movement from the area, I moved in to claim my prize.


Now time to put my hard earned work to good use. I called Marty on the cell to tell him the news and see if he could assist. He was already a half mile away so I told him I would take care of the field dressing chores and see him after dark back at the bikes. We took the cleaned critter to a local BBQ joint who had offered to cook the next one I got. He smoked it on his outside personal smoker the whole next day. My Mom, Dad, youngest daughter and I went out for a wild game feast that night that will not soon be forgotten.

[WAHOONBOX]

WILL SOMEONE BUY THIS DUDE A HEAD CAM ...A BOW CAM AND A BOOT CAM !!!!!!!!!!!

THE STORY IS SUPERB....YOU SHOULD BE WRITING IN OUTDOOR LIFE OR HOG CENTRAL MAGAZINE CAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE GOT IT GOIN ON!!!

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU COULD DO FILMING YOUR ADVENTURES ? HOG HUINTING IS YEAR ROUND IN MOST PLACES AND OFFERS GUYS A LONG SEASON.....

DUDE.........DUDE! DO I NEED TO SELL MY TRUCK AND BUY YOU A HEAD CAM?

IMO.....ABSOLUTELY THE BEST EXCITEMENT BY FAR ON SFC IS COMING FROM YOUR THREADS & PICS......

[Jared D]

It would make for some exciting footage. Its amazing at how diverse the outdoor opportunities are around here. Brad and Marty know all the places to capitalize on them as well! I am very fortunate to have the invites to tag along, thats for sure!

Yall stand by, we are gonna really try to make sure my Uncle has the hunt of a life time! Its not a fun hunt if your hairs not standing on end atleast 3 times!!!

[WAHOONBOX]

I THINK I MAY HAVE A SC HOG HUNT COMING SOON......I JUST RENTED A FIULKL GROWN PIT BULL WITH A CASE OF 30 DAY MANGE AND CHAINED HIM TO A POLE IN THE YARD....THEN SQUIRTED HIM WITH THE GARDEN HOSE FOR 3 MINUTES TIL HE WAS ABOUT OVER IT.....THEN, RELUCTANTLY,... I PUT ONE LEG IN ARMS WAY FOR AUTHENTICITY AND STARTED TO TAKE SOME PRACTICE SHOTS......


MAN DOES THAT HURT!

[seavee capt]

What an AWESOME story. You made me feel like that "multi colored tusked swamp creature" was coming right at me through the monitor. Great stuff, great writing, great shot on the porker! Friggin awesome stuff!!!

[Apex Predator]

Brad could't even spell hog before we started hunting together!

We definitely are blessed to be able to share such adventures. Brad and Jared both are top notch! One day they will leave those arrow launchers at home and become a bow hunter!

[weekender]

what a super post. Fantastic story and pics. Keep them coming. Hope to be able to share one our pig stories soon.

[xxmacplherexx]

Cant wait for your next post!!!!!!

[Jared D]

Good or bad, there will be another story being created today. Marty, Brad, myself and my uncle are going after them this afternoon. Hopefully yall get another detailed report from one of us!
For the record, there are lots of hunts where we see nada and stories never are told... this is true hunting. We (Brad and Marty definately) put time in for each one of the kills. This isnt hunting over bait, or food plots (not that there is anything wrong with that)... its hard walking, tiring, and frustrating at times. But all of that makes a kill all the more sweet!

Stay tuned... more dead piggies to come!

[WAHOONBOX]

SOMETIMES THE DAY THAT YOU SEE NANNA MAKES THE BEST STORY!

THE BIKES...THE CYPRUS....THE OLD TRUCK...HECK, REMINDS ME OF THE MANY DAYS I HAVE ADVENTURED WITH "WEEKENDER"


FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WEEKENDER....HE IS MY 1ST COUSIN....RAISED NEXT DOOR TO EACH OTHER.....AND 5 YRS YOUNGER....

HE WAS IN A TERRIBLE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT IN 1974 I BELIEVE AND ALMOST LOST HIS LEG.....AFTER 4,OO SURGERIES AND YRS OF THERAPY...HE IS STILL GOING AFTER IT IN CANADA...ALASKA...AFRICA..GOD KNOWS WHERE ELSE ...WITH HIS WIFE BESIDE HIM AND WITH A BOW...


I CAN REMEMBER PUTTING HIM ON MY BACK WHEN HE WAS IN A FULL LEG CAST....AND CARRYING HIM UP A HOMEMADE LADDER INTO A DEER TREE STAND NEAR LAKE TILLARY , NC WAY BACK WHEN......25 DEGREES.....AND A SHATTERED LEG............

LATER ON ....AND STILL MENDING...HE CLIMBED A 80 FT TREE TO LIVE CATCH A SMALL COON FOR DOG TRAINING......NEEDLESS TO SAY .....A LIMB BROKE ..........LITERALLY....AND DOWN HE CAME.............


YEP HE IS STILL GOING AT IT LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED


KEEP THE ADVENTURES COMING TO JARED.....

HECK, I THINK YOU GUYS COULD MAKE GROCERY SHOPPING A COOL STORY