It is official, I truly am a "pig sticker". I have gone twice now with my friend Joe Wylie SR, to a place near Santa Rosa. And this is how it shook down:
When we arrived the first night I was sicker than a dog. Not from the flu but as most of you know I get extremely motion sick. So I went straight to bed without finishing an incredible dinner made in the woods. The moon shown bright and the night was alive with animal movement. I thought to myself "with a full moon I doubt the pigs will be moving even in the early hours." Joe and I awaken that morning ready to get after it. He asked me where I wanted to be dropped of, so I chose an area where I saw a nice 200 lb pig last time I was here. So Joe obliged to my request and dropped me in that area. It was a really nice day, but the only things that were stirring was a nice sized coyote which I tried to get a shot on, and a bunch of cows. No piggies showed their snouts. When Joe picked me up mid-morning we had what seemed to be a planning meeting on what to do. Because of the full moon the pigs were not staying out as long as they usually do. However Joe did see some pigs just about 150 yards south of where I was that morning. The pigs were hanging out with some cows.
We returned to camp and ate some lunch and practiced our shots, we had a good time as Joe was trying his hand at using sights for the first time. He did really well. That afternoon I took a hike to see what was near by and the pigs had the place ripped up. (you can see what damage pigs do in one of the pictures of the ground tilled) Evening approached and we knew that we would need to sit later than usual to see if the pigs came out. I asked Joe to drop me off where he saw the pigs that morning.
Joe dropped me off in my acquired location and then drove off to a new place. I found a good look out place where I could glass the whole valley, for I knew that I would need to stock the pigs because of the full moon. An hour had gone by and nothing was happening, then all of a sudden the fog began to roll in and made the time seem later than what it was. I thought that if anything will bring the pigs out earlier it surely will be the weather. So I began to glass more intently. Looking down one of the ridges near a road crossing I spotted 3 pigs run quickly across the road and head for the creek where I was that morning.
The stock was on, I moved quickly and as quietly as I could. I was heading for the creek to cut them off. I had my eye on the black and blond one for I had already shot a black one the year before. So I made a B line to the creek, slipping up on the creek I was very careful not to make a lot of noise. I began glassing and searching the creek very carefully, but saw nothing and heard nothing. I began to get frustrated and bumbed that I may have missed the opportunity to get one this year. We could only go for a couple of days and this really was our last real chance for a pig. So I sat down for a minute and began to think and pray. Then I got up and decided to walk the road a little ways to see if I could see them in another spot. Then it dawned on me what Joe said about the pigs hanging out with the cows this morning. I immediately looked for the small heard that I saw that morning. Spotting them on the hill above me, I began to glass the hillside. Wouldn't you know that those three pigs were feeding with the cows on the hillside.
The second stock began, this time I stopped ever so often to be sure that the pigs were still there. There was not a lot of cover so I used cow after cow to hide my identity from the pigs. After 30 minutes had gone by I was just below where I had last seen the pigs, I slowly raised my head and there they were.
The closest pig to me was a small black one with a white collar, he was about 15 yards. Then the middle pig which was the blond and black stood at about 20 plus yards and the third pig was all black and it was a good 30 yards from where I was. I quickly ducked below the hill again, loaded an arrow and drew my bow back. Ever so carefully raised above the little knoll and focused on the the blond and black. As I drew back on the pig I began to say to myself "aim small miss small", let the arrow go and it found it's mark in the center of the chest. The pig slowly sank back turned then walked away about 15 yards to lay down. The other pigs because of the commotion were barking and running around a little, so I stood very still. The others must have smelled or saw me move they took off in a hurry. I then began to approach where I saw the pig go down. Now by this time it is getting dark and all I can see are shadows. In approaching the area I could hear the pig groan a little. I did not want to push the pig in case the shot was a little high. So turned to wait. Then I saw Joe's truck coming down the road and I wanted to intercept him to help with the pig. I quickly and quietly went down the hill to intercept Joe. In approaching the truck he could tell something was up, he asked if I saw anything. My response was more than saw I shot one. He could not believe it, then proceeded to tell me that we would get it in the morning.
Needless to say I could not sleep that night. The morning came and Joe wanted to set up for one more quick hunt. I was not to interested however thought I should, I just wanted to retrieve my pig. So I had Joe drop me off near the same place and I tried to sit and hunt some more, but I was drawn to see the pig I shot. So I began to climb the big hill once again to find the young bore laying dead against the fence, right where he lay after I shot him. What an amazing feeling, I then drug him down the hill and prepared him for the butcher.
Wow! What a fun thing to experience, I praise God that we live in a place where this is all possible to experience. I also praise God for great friends like Joe who like to share these experiences with young guys like me. I can't wait until next time. May your hunting excursions be half of what mine was and you will find a ton of Joy in the Lord, friends and in the experience.
God bless
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