After an anxious lunch we hit the trail again. It was drizzling when we saw two boar an hour later. The pair was in an angry mood and ready to attack anyone. We positioned ourselves for an ambush. I was 60 yards away from a boar who was rooting along the way. Armen and the guide tried to drive the animal toward me. When the boar got within 20 yards I pulled my bow, determined to get him this time. "What are you waiting for? shoot, shoot!". Armen's voice crackled in my headset receiver. A smaller boar was moving closely beside my boar. They were walking slowly, broadside. 
 
"Shoot now, now!" My radio receiver blurted. At that point, my boar was out of range. But I did not shoot for fear of hitting the smaller boar. They were too close to each other. I did not want an accident. 
 
The animals continued walking uphill. We stopped chasing them, I needed a brief rest. I got so tired after those long hours of stalking up and down hills and crossing streams. It was cold, foggy and drizzling the whole time we were out there. The muddy terrain was draining my energy. I was not even sure I could hit the boar's lung area as I aimed at the spot a while ago I was on the verge of panic. My husband understood my situation. He sat beside me and wrapped his arm around my waist to comfort me. I felt better.... I knew my mate was tired and hungry too like everybody else in the group. It was getting late in the afternoon. 
 
Rod the lead guide joined us. His group , the fellows from Michigan had bagged their game. Upon learning about their success, a surge of energy rose from within me. " I can't give up now, I must go on until I finish what I have set to do.", I thought to myself. 
 
Rod figured there might be boar bedded somewhere among the thickets ahead. The two animals were moving uphill the last time we saw them an hour ago. Rod moved slowly toward the thicket. All of a sudden, he crouched low with fingers pointing toward a wallow behind a big fallen tree 20 yards ahead of him. "There is a bunch of them in there" Rod whispered. 
 
He signaled for me to go behind the nearest tree on his left, 20 yards from the wallow. He signaled Armen to do the same on his right, behind the nearest tree 25 yards away from the same bedding place. Armen and I were about 20 yards apart. Rod circled wide around the wallow and approached it cautiously from the other side. He picked up a rock and threw it toward the suspected resting place. Two Russian boar jumped out running in different directions. Rod threw another rock to make sure there was no more danger as he approached to check if any more were in there. The rock landed right in the middle of the resting place and out jumped another huge Russian boar, agitated from his sleep and seemingly ready to charge anyone in sight. He excitedly circled around and stopped 18 yards away from me looking so mean and angry. The animal faced me with a menacing stare. As I drew my bow, I saw the bristles on his back stand up making him appear even bigger and meaner. Those 3 inch long tusks sticking out from both sides of his snout looked like Freddie Kruger's nails. 
 
"Look him straight in the eyes... He'll charge if he senses you're afraid... Make him fear you...Don't back off."... Robert Hoague's advice echoed in my mind. A sudden adrenaline rush from nowhere filled me. At that very moment, there was no fear in me, no hesitation. I never broke eye contact with the animal. I was not even blinking. I stood there at full draw with all the confidence of a true hunter, my aim fixed at the only spot exposed to my sights.... the spine...a narrow line of bone at that distance, running from the base of the head and up between the shoulders and back toward the tail. That was the only choice I had at that moment....... suddenly, he broke eye contact and turned broadside toward Armen. I released my arrow. 
 
It hit him in the spine area 6 inches back of the right front shoulder as it was turning away from me. He gave a loud growl and ran past my husband's position. The boar somersaulted 40 yards away. "He is gone" Rod said. 
 
Armen hugged me. I just stood there staring at the game, barely smiling while everybody was congratulating me. The adrenaline had gone from my body and no ounce of strength was left. I felt relieved that I was not going home to face everyone empty handed. Are these the thoughts of a hunter? What thoughts should I have? All I knew was I felt elated. While these thoughts were occupying my mind, a guide from another group yelled. "There is one down here!" 
 
The guide had seen another boar down near the creek. We left the animal I just shot and went hurriedly down the hill. It was 80 yards away. Suddenly feeling strong, all by himself I went hurriedly to the area ahead of Armen. Rod went on a wide circling maneuver to head the boar off. Another half hour of maneuvering passed and finally we were able to get to within 15 yards of the boar. I was breathing heavily. 
 
The boar moved away as my husband closed in for a shot. Another half hour of stalking passed before he could get off a 20 yard shot. The arrow hit and passed through the lung area. The boar turned toward Armen and he sent a second arrow into the lung area. And the animal ran away. 
 
It started raining. We were all wet, tired and hungry, there were no trails left behind by the boar, because of the rain. The only thought I had in my mind was a hot meal, a shower and a warm bed but I had to push the thought to the back of my mind and gather my strength to help Armen find the boar! 
 
 It didn't take long. The boar charged the guide who was quick enough to get out of the way. The animal's movements were unsure and weak but he  turned around showing signs of charging. Armen nocked an arrow. 
 
The gap between the hunter and the hunted narrowed to 12 yards. My heart was pounding. Armen had no hesitation and no fear. I guess, he had the same feeling as I had earlier that day. I did not say a word. Armen came to full draw. My mind was screaming, "Shoot! shoot! you're getting too close! The large boar wobbled and suddenly dropped. 
 
"Congratulations!" Rod said. Armen acknowledged Rod and they shook hands. The two arrows he shot to bring down the animal bothered him. All the video tapes we have watched never showed no signs nor hints that we needed multiple shots to handle the creature. Boars are tough animals to handle. The video tapes usually showed a one arrow shot for these creatures and how easy it was. Reality sometimes differs from video. 
 
It was almost nightfall when we walked back to the camp. I asked Rod the guide what the average number of arrows had to be shot to harvest a Russian Boar in the preserve. "Well, based on our statistics, it's not unusual for it to take more than a single arrow. Boars are unyielding and strong animals". 
 
At the camp everyone congratulated each other for the successful hunt that day. We took pictures of each other for remembrance. All the hunters had the same thought in their mind... ......... a restful sleep!