tjhunt2 Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Those who know me know how passionate I am when it comes to pig hunting. Yes, I've lost a little of the get up and go but the passion is still there. If I'm going to continue to do the things I love, chasing game, then I better get in better shape and start taking better care of myself. I was in bed by 7:30 New Years Eve and woke back up when the fire works were going off around the house. I only got another hour of sleep after that and was up eating breakfast at 3:30am. I left the house at 5:30 to go pick up my huntin partner, Scott Henderson, and we were on our way. We arrived at our destination and sat in the dark drinking coffee and going over our game plan for the day. As light was starting to show in the sky we decided we better head out with our flashlites since we had a good 45 min walk to our glassing spot. I hear Scott say " I can't believe it but I don't have my license." We were back in the truck and heading home to Mesa when we should have been walking to out glassing spot. After many miles and returning after a long morning of driving we had to change our game plan. I dropped Scott off and headed to another spot that would put us a mile apart but in radio contact. By the time I got to my spot it was 10am and Scott radioed he had pigs bedded. I knew this bedding ground and knew the best possible plan was for one of us to stay high while the other made the stock. I give Scott the stock since he located the pigs and waited the hour it took him to get in on them. He busted them out as I was expecting, but I was able to watch where they went, and guided Scott back in to them after he got the wind in his favor. I had a grandstand view of the whole thing and watched as he connected on his pig around 12:30. The temperature was climbing and be decided to head for the vehicle and skin out his pig and get it on ice. After a short lunch we decided to go back but this time Scott would take the top ridge while I climbed down thru the thickit on the flats. He would be able to see anything I pushed out but the pigs gave us the slip and I decided we had just enough time to hunt back to the vehicle. I radioed Scott and said there was a thicket that was nasty but had seen these pigs go there before when spooked. If we could get to it with enough light I would call since it was our last option. It was 5:05 when we arrived at the thickit and the sun had already set. I motioned to Scott, who was about 200yrds away that I was getting ready to call. I had this same scenario last year and blew it when my arrow fell off the rest but now had a whisker biscut. I attached my release to my string and held my call with the same hand and let out a squeal. The pigs were bedded down across the hill from me at least 200 yrds and stood up and started shaking off like dogs. Not much time for a stock so I blasted again and 5 pigs were heading down the hill for the thickit and right towards me. The bottom of the thicket was 100 yrds so they had to get thru it before climbing the steep hillside I was standing on. Up out of the bottom charging me was this pig and it stopped within 15yrds and frooze. I didn't have a shot so I squealed again and it came another few yrds and stopped. Still no shot and it caught my sent and bolted away to my left and heading for the only opening I had at 20yrds. I drew my bow and waited for what seemed like time standing still. As it gave me a clear shot, angling away, I released my arrow and heard the whack. She turned and ran right towards me but there wasn't enough time for another shot. She passed within 2ft of me. The arrow was sticking out about 4in. from her stomack and fell out as she ran by. I was using a Swacker but there was no blood to be found. The angle of the shot was making her bleed inside and I knew this. Not much light and I would have waited an hour with this shot but light was fading and I had switched packs during the day and had no flashlite. After discussing the shot with Scott he said I bet it's already dead. Against my will I started tracking with no blood but could see where she was heading. Straight for the thickit that was almost impossible to get thru. After 60yrds I couldn't get my bow thru the thickit and left it behind. I could hardly see and my knee was telling me to turn around. With the last of light I saw her lying there dead. I yelled for Scott to come get my pig and carry it out for me. He said " How the he!! did you get in there?". There was no way of gutting her there until we got out of there. It turned out to be my heaviest pig to date. It gutted 45lbs and I thank my good buddy Scott for carrying my pig all the way back to the vehicle which took another hour in the dark. Sorry for the long read but for thse who stuck with it thanks. Here are a few pictures. My good buddy Scott Not a good picture but we were tired and didn't much care at this point. Hanging in my walkin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaffer62 Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Way to go TJ! That walkin is awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Basser15 Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Very cool, congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Woohoo! Way to go TJ! You are a pig killing machine! What does that make, 33 or 34 pigs you have under your belt now? You and I share the same passion for hunting these neat little critters. Great write up! Congrats to you and your buddy! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cramerhunts Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Heck yeah! Congratulations to you both! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Woohoo! Way to go TJ! You are a pig killing machine! What does that make, 33 or 34 pigs you have under your belt now? You and I share the same passion for hunting these neat little critters. Great write up! Congrats to you and your buddy! -Tracy That was #34. I killed my first one in 1976 and missed a couple years. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucky2hunt Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Awesome TJ, way to stick that pig! Congrats to you and Scott! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr8 White Jr Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Woohoo! Way to go TJ! You are a pig killing machine! What does that make, 33 or 34 pigs you have under your belt now? You and I share the same passion for hunting these neat little critters. Great write up! Congrats to you and your buddy! -Tracy That was #34. I killed my first one in 1976 and missed a couple years. TJ Like I said, you are a pig killing machine! I only hope to have that many successful pig hunts under my belt some day. Hats off to you TJ! I hope Peg can put one on the ground next month. Congrats again buddy! -Tracy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhunter4life Report post Posted January 4, 2012 wow 34, that is awesome, congrats to both of ya! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pine Donkey Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Congratulations TJ. I know you love hunting those stinky pigs, and you are very good at it. Glad to see that this year your story of success did not include recuperating for a few days before you head back out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted January 4, 2012 that's awesome!! Way to go!! that's a tough thing to crawl into a thicket in the dark expecting a potentially wounded pig!! Glad you found her and made it back out safe! Big pig for sure! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coues 'n' Sheep Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Way to go Gents! I still have one of those tags in my pocket, can't wait to fill it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted January 4, 2012 It seems like every time I turn on this machine I'm congratulating you, T.J. Success couldn't come to a nicer guy. Bill Quimby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted January 4, 2012 Nice write up Tj. Glad it all came together for you after a rough start in the morning, ended up with a nice pig. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkaddict Report post Posted January 4, 2012 You two made short work of that pig hunt! Congrats! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
