Hi guys,
After a having had a semi successful hunt last month, with only one out of 4 hunters getting a hog, we decided it was time to redeem ourselves. This time bringing along self proclaimed neophyte Rolando.
The day started with JC and my self in a stand, waiting for the sun to rise, and for Rolo and Emil to arrive. After sitting in the stand for more than an hour, we got word that the others had arrived. We had only seen 3 hogs, none of which presented a hot. JC decided to explore the swamp where we had heard lots of hog activity during our time in the stand, while the guide and myself went back to the swamp buggy at the edge of the property to pick up Emil and Rolo. On our way there I spotted a REALLY FAT sow, and two smaller sows, but also fat, right on the property line. We snuck to with in 30 yards, and I blew out her spine with my AR. I was hesitant in taking the shot as people tend to say a .223 isn't enough bullet to take down a hog, but it seems to do the job just fine when you put it in the right spot. The 2 other pigs took off into the palmettos. We decided to leave her there for the moment, and pick up Rolo and Emil first at the lodge, after which the guide would to meet JC at the stand in the swamp buggie, and then take back my sow to gut and store in the cooler.
After meeting the guys at the lodge we immediately get back on the buggy and return to the hunting property. As we are on the road we hear a few shot gun blasts in the distance. Seems JC is getting some action in the swamp. Emil and Rolo are getting excited, and my adrenaline is still flowing from my fresh kill only minutes earlier. As we near the edge of the property, we spot the 2 smaller hogs that had accompanied my sow earlier. Apparently unafraid of the buggy as we pull up the to them. As the guide stops the buggy, and nods the OK, Emil get up and stone cold rolls over one of the pigs, and finds out the hard way he has the wrong choke on his gun, as her whole side is peppered in buckshot, instead of the tight group he was expecting. The other pig takes of for the palmettos again. After checking out the pig Emil just scored, her sister shows her self in the bush. Rolo takes aim, and in cold blood, shoots her in the face from 15 yards with 00 buckshot. Lights out. Rolo is an animal!
Anyways, we load up the hogs on to the buggy, and set off to meet JC. Turns out he got lucky with 2 hogs in the swamp. A 130+ lbs boar and a nice little sow of about 65lbs. The guide returns to the lodge with the hogs, as the original plan was to start hunting now. We had not expected to already have 5 hogs this early in the day. We decide to head of in to the bush in search for more hogs until it gets to hot, and then call it a day. We sneak up on a few more hogs, but none ever presented shots, until Rolo finally nails one more unlucky boar. Hopefully he'll chime in and tell his part. All I can say is BARBARO!
Anyways, we ended the day with 6 hogs, 5 of which were taken within minutes each other.
Here are some pics.