Isn't this forum a wonderful tool? Last Thursday Oldyardog and I headed up to my lease on the plateau. We actually camped in a cave, negating the need for tents. The trip started badly when OYD lost a wheel from his van on the way to my house, woops! Eventually we got everything sorted out, loaded the truck and headed out. After ferrying our large collection of equipment to the cave, I thought only women took so much stuff for one night, we jumped on the ATV and headed into the woods. OYD had previously hunted BSF with us and had seen some hog sign but.....He was amazed to see hog superways at the lease, not to mention areas that looked like a rotortiller had torn up. Thursday evening started to descend, OYD was in a tree stand overlooking an old logging track and I was 200 yards along, reclining against a tree. Around 5pm I heard 4 shots, I hoped to see something run by but, alas nothing. I hurried along to OYD to see what on earth had happened. Turns out that 4 hogs were making their way down the track, when it looked like they were heading off down the hill, OYD in an excited frenzy loosed off 4 rounds at 2 of the hogs. We could see one hog on the ground about 60 yards down the hill. OYD went looking for the other one he had shot at and I went down the hill to collect his "dead" hog. Seems that the dead hog had other ideas, it got up and ran. I ran after it, trying desperately to make an accurate killing shot. Running and shooting accurately are not good partners so... the hog eventually stopped side on to me, I took careful aim and blasted it through the ribs with my new 45-70. WOW, I like this rifle, there was a plume of blood from the side of the hog and it was all over. OYD had apparently missed the other hog. We now had a hog 200 yards down a hill, OYD was disappointed that it was an 80lb hog, I was glad as I had to drag it up the hill.
Friday morning I met Maximus on the nearest main road at 5.15am. The three of us spent the day in the woods and it was a great time. Regrettably Maximus only saw 1 dead hog and lots of hog sign, his turn next. I spent the afternoon on a hill overlooking a heavily travelled track. At around 7pm I heard hogs coming down the hill towards me. They came up behind me but never detected me. When they had moved a little ways from me, I eased up and stood by a tree. It was now getting dark but I could see them clearly through the scope. It was an amazing experience, they were rooting around, grunting and eating. From the crunching sound, I presume they were eating hickory nuts. I never shot one, it was getting dark and late. I really enjoyed watching them and didn't want the hassle of dragging one out, then dressing it etc. The experience of watching them was truly wonderful and I was delighted to be so close them. I learn something new every time I hunt, I truly hope that Maximus can get one next time and lurker Lonnie needs to get up there too.
Here is OYD with his hog.
