unbelievable hog hunt

[howie1968]

I  just  returned  from  what  turned into  an  unbelievable  hog hunt.  Every monday i  go to  a  ranch  where  i  hunt  hogs   to fill  up  feeders  chec  for  new  sign  and  all  when  i  got  to  the  last  barrel feeder  which  we  put  wheat  bran  and  corn in  it  for  the  deer   i  decided  to  check  the  creek for  hog  sign.   I  was  carring  my  trusty  marlin 30-30  which  happens  to  be  my n favorite  carry  gun  and  being  a  lefty   i  can  get  a  fast  second  shot  if  need  be.  as  i  approaced  the  creek   i  found  2  massive  hog  walows  the  wind was  in my  favor  coming  from  the  south  so  i  decide   to  walk into  it     and  look  for  more  sign.    I  have  been  hunting  this  huge  bor  estimated  weight close  to  500lbs  he  is  truly  huge  and  have  only  seen  him  on  2  occasions  since  january   as  i  was  walking  the  crek  i  heard  movment  on the  oppisite  side  of  the  creek  so  i  hunkered  down  behind  a  tree  and  watched n   some  sall  pigs  and  a  sow  come  out  and  was  feeding    or  rooting.  all  of  the  sudden  i catch  a  glimpse  of  my  hog   he  was  amazing  pure  black   massive  shoulders  and  hair  that  appeared   to  stand  several  inches  high.   i  was  pretty  exciteds   so  i waited  till  he  was  clear  of  some  brush    pu  my  crosshairs   behind  his  shoulders   and  squeezed  the  trigger.   i  thought  yes   i  watched  him  run  off  i  waited  about  15  min  and  went  to  the  spot  where  i  shot  him.  there  was  no  blood   hair  or  anything  i    walked  everywhere  for  over  2  hrs  trying  to  find  him  no  luck   so  i  went  to  the  location  and  sarted  looking  around  agaun  wgen  i  I  noticed  a  tree  about 2.5 inches  in  dameter  havig  a  clean  hole  throuh  it    my  heart  dropped   i also  noticed  that  it went  through  another  limb  and  gues  what???  i  found  y  billet  about  10 feet  in  front  of  the  tre  i examied  it  and  did  not  find  any  blood  or  hair    I  was  kind  of  relieved   as  i  did  not  wound  it   I  take  great  pride   in  one  shot  kills  and  humane  kills.   I  learned  a  valuable  lesson  today  even  though  i  like  to  think  i  ma  a  seasoned  HOG  hunter   you  still  have  to  be  patient  and  wait  for  a  clear   shot.  I bhave  hunted  so  hard  for  this  hog  and  have  used  many  of  the  ricks  you  all  have  shown  me  fro  kool_aid  jello  todigging  a  hole  fillig  with  corn  and  soda   these  hogs  are  truly  wild  and  tough  to  hunt  they  are  smart  and  i  have  to  admit   they  are  my  favorite  animal  to  hunt   Thanks  for  all  the  tips  and  help  and   I  am  going  to  coe  up with  a  new  game  plan  now   any  tips  will be  helpful

[shb]

That is a great hunt, now what is your next plan for trying to catch up with him?

[howie1968]

I am  up  early  this  morning  debating  on hunting   common  sense  tells  me  to  stay  away for  1  week  and  let  him get  used  to  the area  again   this  is  not  a  preserve   just  wild  east  texas  forest    very  thck  under brush mixed  with  pine  and    very  few  hardwoods.   I  am  thinking   sinc  the  hay  ios  startig  to  come  up  maybe  i  can  catch hi  in  a  field  rooting  in  there  which  his  tracks    have  been  found  i  the  fields,  i  have  thought  about  walking  the  creek  again,  but  this  boar   is  vry  nocturnal  and  just  the  second  time  i have  seen  him  since  August   i ma  plannig  on moving  a  ladder stand  to the  crek  where  the  wallows  are  at  and  baiting  with  corn   shoot   i  dont  know   so  many  options    ya  never  know  where    to  start   i  am  truly  stumped  maybe  you  can  helkp  me  out   I  heard  there  is  this  attractant    that  smells  like  a  sow  in  heat  that  really  attracts  them  he  was  with  a  sow  and  some  piglets  so    that  is  a  thought  also

[shb]

are his tracks still showing up in the area since you missed him?

if so, supply him with a steady food source and let him relax a little bit. Then you might be able to pattern him again. Once you get a good pattern of his nocturnal activities established, your gut instinct will tell you where you have the best chgance of killing him.

[howie1968]

after  eating  breakfast  that  is  what  i  have  decided  to  do   We  must  hunt  using  the  same  tactics  hehe.   i  will  hone  my  shooting  skills  some  this  week  shooting  off  hand,kneeling  laying  down    i  feel  like  i  ma  in  training.   His  tusks  are  pretty  long  they  actually  angle  back  so  i  know  he  is  a  wall  hanger

[Ironwood]

Howie.... If you need any help with that ol' hog let me know and I'll run down there and help ya!  :grin:   Have 7MM Mag, will travel.   :grin:

[markc]

this is just a thought,  but since he is hanging out with a sow with piglets, you could give a pig squealer a try.  You might get the sow to come in looking for an injured piglet, and maybe the big boar won't be far behind.  
markc