Jerms
03-06-2006, 09:59 AM
Couldn't stand being indoors yesterday, so i went out scouting some new areas, a mere 25 minute drive from my garage.. I got there and a couple of kids were down at the creek with an sks shooting it up, so i didn't expect to see much. Walked down to them to get a feel for where and at what they were shooting, just some targets they set up on the opposite bank. The bank was a good 10 foot high, so at least they were being somewhat safe about it, which is more than i can say for a lot of people these days..
With the kids making so much racket, i pretty much resigned myself to looking for sign and not much else, followed a few trails and after about a half mile stopped to "mark some territory" and take a listen.
10 minutes later, i was really happy i had. At first it sounded like somebody was walking thru the brush as i had been doing earlier, but then i heard it.. Big Boar Gruntin'... Couldn't be more than 25 yards away in the thickest brush i've seen in winter. Knelt to the ground, then froze in position, watching, listening.. Wind was in my favor. after 10 minutes of listening to big boar crash around and not seeing a thing, i carefully made my way to the top of a little hill right next to the brush for a better angle.. With bend in the creek and very high/steep banks due to the lack of moisture we've had this winter i had big boar cornered, or so i thought.. as i went to the top of the hill, i heard him circling around the other side of me.
We were playing a nasty game of ring around the rosie with that brush thicket.
From the top of the hill, i still couldn't make him out, much less get a clear shot at him... so i decided to keep circling hoping i could flush him out along the creek. He had other ideas.
As i got into the brush i noticed i was leaking more and more blood along the way outta my hands and forearms, damn thorny vines, wild raspberries i think, tearing me up fierce. i stopped to untangle myself, then i realized i couldn't see more than 5-10 feet thru the brush in the direction the hog was. and here comes the crashing... my heart was POUNDING in my chest as i wondered why i hadn't brought a sidearm. With the guide gun at the ready, i said DAMN THE THORNS and made my way to the creek and clear area.. No longer cornered, the boar decided to get the hell out of there, and the only thing i saw was a hairy black ass & tail disappearing thru the trees.
Lesson? be a bit more patient. I should've waited on top of that damn hill with him cornered for the clean shot. It was getting towards dark tho, and my kitchen pass was expiring.
From the scat i'd seen, there is some BIG boar in the area. i got a 200-250 yard look at one thru the trees and across the creek. Lots of torn up ground, one or two plots were a good 1/2 acre of tilled up dirt, could've planted potatos there.
But i will be back.. The boar has only a slight reprieve from my dinner plate.
with my forearms and hands SHREDDED from the damn thorns, showering this morning STUNG LIKE CRAZY... next time i am wearing long sleeves and gloves, don't care how hot it is...
With the kids making so much racket, i pretty much resigned myself to looking for sign and not much else, followed a few trails and after about a half mile stopped to "mark some territory" and take a listen.
10 minutes later, i was really happy i had. At first it sounded like somebody was walking thru the brush as i had been doing earlier, but then i heard it.. Big Boar Gruntin'... Couldn't be more than 25 yards away in the thickest brush i've seen in winter. Knelt to the ground, then froze in position, watching, listening.. Wind was in my favor. after 10 minutes of listening to big boar crash around and not seeing a thing, i carefully made my way to the top of a little hill right next to the brush for a better angle.. With bend in the creek and very high/steep banks due to the lack of moisture we've had this winter i had big boar cornered, or so i thought.. as i went to the top of the hill, i heard him circling around the other side of me.
We were playing a nasty game of ring around the rosie with that brush thicket.
From the top of the hill, i still couldn't make him out, much less get a clear shot at him... so i decided to keep circling hoping i could flush him out along the creek. He had other ideas.
As i got into the brush i noticed i was leaking more and more blood along the way outta my hands and forearms, damn thorny vines, wild raspberries i think, tearing me up fierce. i stopped to untangle myself, then i realized i couldn't see more than 5-10 feet thru the brush in the direction the hog was. and here comes the crashing... my heart was POUNDING in my chest as i wondered why i hadn't brought a sidearm. With the guide gun at the ready, i said DAMN THE THORNS and made my way to the creek and clear area.. No longer cornered, the boar decided to get the hell out of there, and the only thing i saw was a hairy black ass & tail disappearing thru the trees.
Lesson? be a bit more patient. I should've waited on top of that damn hill with him cornered for the clean shot. It was getting towards dark tho, and my kitchen pass was expiring.
From the scat i'd seen, there is some BIG boar in the area. i got a 200-250 yard look at one thru the trees and across the creek. Lots of torn up ground, one or two plots were a good 1/2 acre of tilled up dirt, could've planted potatos there.
But i will be back.. The boar has only a slight reprieve from my dinner plate.
with my forearms and hands SHREDDED from the damn thorns, showering this morning STUNG LIKE CRAZY... next time i am wearing long sleeves and gloves, don't care how hot it is...
