Bowhunting For Wild Hogs - 2007
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2007 - A Wild Hog Bowhunt In Progress
This year we've had three months of rain. And the hogs are back.

June 10 - Eye To Eye

Driving to the Hammer Hole I saw a group of wild hogs off to the side of the road about 100 yards past the Point. I drove another 80 yards and stopped, and since the hogs seemed unconcerned about me I doubled back to see if they were still there. 

They were.

I eased into a small stand of trees to watch. They were on the opposite side of the fence that runs parallel to the road. I took a picture.

They must have liked getting photographed because they came a little closer to me. 

Several fence crossings are at this area of the fence and I made a quick look see to find the closest -- and then skulked ahead of the hogs and stood in some trees by the crossing. In case things worked out I nocked an arrow and leaned my bow against a sapling so it was ready for action. Then I range findered some trees for reference. It didn take long for the hogs to show up. Now, they were even closer to the fence, which was a good thing, it might mean their intentions were to cross the fence where I was waiting. 

Just like I had them on a fishing line, they come on over. When they were 10 yards from me, and almost to the fence the brown hog looked right at me. 

I was kneeling, half a step inside the edge of a some trees, and it was all up to my camouflage now. I pressed my luck and zoomed in closer on the brown hog -- which only took a slight movement of my index finger on the zoom lens. Other than that I was motionless.

Why did I zoom? First, I wanted a closer picture. Secondly, animals almost never notice me when I am taking pictures. And bingo, it happened again. The hog stopped looking at me and proceeded toward the nearby fence crossing. 

Not to be left behind, the other hogs fell in with the brown hog. A big black hog was bringing up the rear. 

However, the black hog pushed his way into the lead and shoved its body under the fence first. The whole deal could fall apart right now ... because once the hogs were on my side of the fence they were less than 10 yards away and directly down wind from me. 

But they did not pick my scent up. The brown hog was the last under the fence. From the time I took the last picture until now I had not moved a centimeter. But if I wanted to get a shot it was time to get going. And I planned on getting a shot.

The camera's strap was around my neck and I let it take care of my camera. As I said earlier, I was kneeling instead of standing, which helped break up my outline and I could get a hold of my bow quicker -- (it was leaning against a sapling next to me with an arrow knocked on the string). In one motion I gripped the Guardain's handle, caught the release hook on the string loop and came to full draw.

The  pin was so bright it looked neon green as it floated along the length of the brown hog's body to the lung area. There was barely any sound as the broadhead and arrow popped through the hog. The hog ran fast and rolled to a halt in 25 yards. I nocked another arrow -- the black hog was still in range.

But not long enough for a shot. As soon as the hogs were gone I picked up my arrow and went to the brown hog. Then I got my tripod and took my own picture with the first hog of 2007.

EQUIPMENT COMMENTS:

• Sticks N Limbs Camouflage - I know, when you look at the picture above you think my camo is easy to see. But that is how you see it -- it is NOT how nocturnal eyes see it. The unique design makes hogs and deer focus on the black limbs (just like you do when you see a black and white checkerboard) and the hunter's outline disappears. These hogs were less than 10 yards from me, eye to eye, and even when a couple looked at me they never made me out.
• BowTech Guardian - Quiet, accurate and fast. This BowTech Guardian is the quietest bow I've ever hunted with. When I practice it groups arrows tight and on this hunt it put the arrow right on the money. It is set at 65 pounds.
• Grim Reaper RazorTip - In through the ribs on the left side, through a lung and then the heart. out the right shoulder and onward to stick in the ground. Grim Reaper put this wild hog down in 25 yards. Grim Reapers flies like field tips and it is easy to sight in your bow as well as practice. The RazorTip has a razor blade cut-on-impact tip.
• NULLO Scent Eliminating Tablets - I've taken Nullo since last summer. They are scientifically proven to eliminate breath odor and reduce body odor. And they do. 
• Fletch Hook by Jim Fletcher Archery - I doubt the shot would have happened with any other release. All I had to do was catch the string loop with the release's hook and then yank the bowstring back. Calipers take take longer and there was not time for longer. 
• KingsWay Archery Triad One Pin Bowsight - The pin on this sight is the brightest and most visible that I have ever shot. The sight is doing a good job for me this year.
• NIKON Monarch Laser 800 RangeFinder - This one hand operating range finder allowed me to get a handle on the distances of things around me so I knew what the shot possibilities were.
• THERMACELL - Mosquitoes, gnats and even some flies closed in as I set up to take my picture with the brown hog. A Thermacell was in my truck and I got it out and It kept the bugs away while taking pictures as well as during gutting and when I boned  it out. 
• Scent Killer Clothing Wash - I had just taken my hunting clothes out of the washer and drier before this hunt. And my boots were sprayed with Scent Killer.
• Arrows: I used the easy to use and accurate Arizona EZ-Fletch to put Gateway Feathers yellow died barred feathers on MAXIMA 350 carbon arrows (Carbon Express) with bright yellow arrow wraps from EZ-EYE Arrow Wraps. I have these arrows left over from the 2007 Spring Grand Slam bowhunt.

Other Bow Accessories: VENOM peep sight system, Trophy Ridge Drop Zone arrow rest, and FINE-LINE Hunter bowquiver.

More Wild Hogs Bowhunts: | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999
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