Well, I went on a hunt over the weekend. A group of 6 went to a small Island on the Georgia coast. First day was scouting. We all seperated and selected our stands. I chose a small Oak ridge on the edge of a swamp (Full of Gators mind you). On the other side of the oak stand was a wall of Palmettos. the place was absolutely tore up by Pigs, and had a small deer trail meandering through on the edge of the palmettos. Nice scrapes scattered through out, but little in the way of other deer sign (specifically scat and tracks) was seen.
I chose a large straight Oak that was just barely thin enough to hang the climber on 20 yards from the trail. Then I backed out. The next morning I wished I had placed the stand farther in the ridge. I saw 8 hogs come out 40 yards away and meander away, then come back to the same place they left. A little later a doe goes by. I drew when she finally went behind a tree, but she stayed there for a minute, so when she finally came out from behind it, I wiffed the shot, missing cleanly. (35 yards).
On the way out, I was heading back to camp, and came accross a HERD of hogs. 25 atleast. I put the stalk on, and managed to get with in 35-40 yards, and nailed one. However I smacked a dirt clod infront of the pig, and thus didnt get good penetration (we found the decimated arrow, and apparently only got 3-4 inches and it looked like hit the shoulder blade. Couldnt find enough blood to track. VERY DISAPOINTING! (I had wiffed another shot missing cleanly before the one I hit... another 35-40 yard shot, the VERY outter range of my ability, and I promise, a lesson was learned)
That evening I had planned on going back into the same oak ridge, and moving the stand about 100 yards to where I saw the pigs congregating. I got there at 3pm, and wouldnt you know it, a nice boar is feeding DIRECTLY below my stand. I shed my pack and put the stalk on, but wind shifted and he scattered. I decided to hunt the same tree instead of moving due to that positive.... unfortunately, that screwed the evening up for me. 3 different groups of pigs entered the oak ridge that evening and all fed under the tree I planned on moving the stand too. Literally 30 pigs came out, and I was sitting in a tree that I decided that morning wasnt the "right one" for this ridge.
After 3.5 hours of this, I decided to blow the last 30 minutes of hunting light and move the stand. I only had the morning hunt left before I had to head out. I made the move and slept well thinking of all the pigs I would stick in the AM. Well sunrise found me in the stand. Perfect weather.... cool (for us) and clear skys. I could have used a bit of wind. Nothing but Armadillos and squirrels until 9am.... then a doe pops out, and does the look back... you know... where shes got something behind her. I wait, then out pops another doe... a piebald. All white except for her nose and a patch on her shoulder. No shot, the were on to me, but did get a few far off pics (to post later). They left, and an hour later I hear a buck grunting on the other side of the ridge as me. Hear him busting through palmettos.... tried to grunt him in, no takers. 10 minutes later 2 more does feed out in front of me, but couldnt get to full draw as they took turns looking at my tree. They feed off and away when another 2 does do the same thing.
I finally realize I am beat. I go pack out my camp, and tell Brad to hunt the stand that evening. He sits in it that night and nails 3 pigs. Oh well.... glad he was able to. We had a blast. Out of the 6 people in camp, 4 got shots off. One guy nailed two bucks within an hour of each other (both bigger than 8 pointers). All but one of us saw game. I saw the most, with only 2 morning hunts and 1 afternoon hunt.... I saw 50 + pigs and 8 deer (one buck on the way to the boat to leave). Never have I seen such movement within the wilds. Great hunt even with out a freezer full. Learned I need to work less and hunt more.... something I forget from time to time!
Very nice report Jared D. Although I do not hunt much, I feel that I can related with scouting a new area, setting up on the right spot and giving yourself an opportunity to hunt.
Kinda like bottom fishing new water, huh?
SeaBiscuit
Thanks all. Its funny, I LOVE to hunt and fish. BUT, I am a natural fish killer. It just comes easy to me. Always has. Hunting on the other hand is a challenge, and something I just cant get enough of. I am at work (on a Sat) looking out the window at a rainy day, but little wind. This is by far my favorite hunting weather. Unfortunately, I am here instead of out there. Someone please kill something for me today!
I think I am going to try to go fishing Monday though.
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