I was hoping to get a crack at a nice big boar before the trip ended, but I wasn't about to go home empty handed
if a good sow presented herself, especially after the first couple of frustrating days. On the last evening of my hunt, things turned
for the better. The morning was not productive, so we decided to try a new spot that Shane had shown us our first day in
With about an hour left of daylight, three small black hogs came at a full
trot to the feeder in front of us. Trailing them was a nice big black boar that approached with great caution. I can't express enough
that these animals, especially mature hogs, are very wise and alert. He seemed to know something wasn't right and stayed just out
of bow range. Every time I thought he was going to make the mistake of venturing in close enough for a shot, he would change his mind
and circle again. As bad as this big boar wanted some of that corn, he just was not willing to let his guard down. As the smaller
hogs finished up their meal, they trotted back off into the brush in the direction they came from, taking my anticipated pork loins
with them.
About the time discouragement was starting to settle in, I leaned out to look at the other feeder to the south. There stood
three really nice sows gobbling up what was left of the corn from the feeder. This was my last hope. "What are the chances they will
come to this feeder once they finish up," I whispered to my buddy, Clint Vanetta, who was running the camera. Almost on key, they
turned and walked at a fast pace towards our feeder. The small pack included a white hog, a reddish brown hog and a dark black one.
We
agreed that the reddish brown sow was the largest of the three. I knew there wouldn't be much time, because there was no corn left
under our feeder. I instantly drew my bow as they approached. The hog I was aiming at stopped dead in her tracks and looked straight
towards us. Luckily for me, she was standing perfectly broadside just 25 yards away. I wasted no time letting the arrow fly, which
hit its mark with only a few minutes of daylight to spare. I could not have been happier. I can say with confidence that I was as
pumped, nervous, excited and packed with as much adrenalin over this hog as I have ever experienced while hunting.
A Little Wild Hog Background
The domestic hogs and their feral relatives found in the