WAITING TO FLY- FINAL Update-Day 4-conclusion w/ pics

[GrassyKnoll]

Congrats on your hunt so far.. I'm enjoying reading about it.. thanks for sharing..

[wabi]

Congratulations on the piggies!!!!!!!!!!

[Starvin' Hillbilly]

Good job and great story! . . .cant wait to see some pic's when ya can

[amythntr]

......feels like we are sitting right there with you Paul....except for the cold...sounds like you are having some fun at your buddy's place....sounds like you are making a strong case for the toxics....might want to revisit them again next year....even though I sold mine unused....

Anthony

[paulaboutform]

Day #3 is in the can and I'm ready for some shut eye. After the cold temperatures, snow and heavy winds through the day and night we woke up to a big dump of snow and drifts everywhere. Our morning didn't start with a hunt, it started with shoveling snow and clearing a trail to the blind with the bobcat just to be able to get there in the Argo. After that it was inside for a quick breakfast and I hung all my hunting clothes by the wood burning stove to try and dry them off before heading out to sit in -18 below zero. Not a good idea to start a sit wearing sweaty clothes. They were mostly dry so it wasn't too bad but thank goodness that wind died down. My buddy dropped me at the blind then headed off to clear more snow around his property with the bobcat.

I guess it was mid morning when I made it to the blind and didn't even see a track. Hmmmm, what's that about. I guess with the wind and cold the hogs hunkered down to wait it out. I was sitting for two or three hours seeing nothing but magpies and a couple ravens again when out of nowhere comes a yearling pig from this past spring litter. I guestimate around the 75lbs range. I get the camcorder out of the trusty hand muffs stuffed with a hand warmer and get it ready on the tripod. Little pig is focused on tearing away at the meat scrapcycle so I had time to adjust the zoom and get my bow in my hands. I'm levelled on the young sow but need the proper angle. Even though I could blast through her at any angle I don't want to risk losing any more meat than is necessary. It didn't take long till I had the slight quartering away shot at exactly 19 yards and let the arrow fly. Perfect hit. I watched the Luminok backed zombie hit then disappear exactly where the ballistic firedot reticle was shining in my scope. The hog made the death run all of about 18 yards. I know that because I ranged from where I I shot her and where she piled up. Talk about a quick recovery. I contemplated going and bringing my hog back to the blind but as I'm thinking about it I see another hog making it's way toward the bait. I quickly re-set the camcorder and loaded the bow.This was a young boar in the 80-90lbs range. I settle the crosshairs and was presented with the right angle almost immediately. Off goes arrow#2. Hog number 2 runs off and makes it a total 17yards. The extra good news is that I was actually able to get video of both hogs being arrowed and crashing. Excellent. I stayed put but nothing else showed up. I went out and found the first arrow straight away and while looking for arrow #2 I noticed a spray of blood and what appeared to be a .301 diameter hole in the snow. A little digging and voila, recovered arrow. When the toxic blasted through the little boar it seems it actually pulled a spray of blood out the hole of the far side. I know these are small pigs but I've seen little ones make some good distance. These toxics really are deadly. I used the same arrow for three of the four pigs i shot. I also used the same ferrul but did change out the blades. That's it for today and I can't keep my eyes open another second. I'll be sitting in the blind before first light tomorrow and that'll be it. I'll check in with the final day's hunt tomorrow. Hopefully there'll be some exciting stories to share. Good night all.

Paul

[Kegbelly]

That's awesome Paul! A double is hard enough, even more so with pigs!! Please post the vids on youtube when you get a chance, I'd love to see them! Four pigs, that's a very successful trip, congrats!

[amythntr]

Paul...you need one more little piggy to tell the "5 Little Piggy" story that my kids "nonna" used to tell them when they were babies....many a moon ago...may she rest in peace...

Sounds like you be having a great time...and thats what its all about!

Anthony

[backnwhack]

This is great! All (well almost) the fun of the hunt without freezing my butt off! lol Thanks for taking the time to share.

[ehntr]

Excellent Paul. No way I was going hunting in the weather you braved yesterday. I shovelled snow for 4 hours and had a nap afterwards. Here it is just after 0600 and my plan before retiring last night was to be out the door at 0615 for my last deer hunt of the year. Don't think so.......not this morning anyway. It is suppose to warm up to -21 this afternoon........I'll wait for some of that warm........present conditions in central AB.

[amythntr]

....flip flop weather

Anthony

[mr meat]

Congrats on the hunt so far!!

[tremps01]

Paul Hog Hunting

[paulaboutform]

Saturday was the last day to hunt and I wanted to get as much time in as possible. Under much protest, my buddy came out with me at first light. I didn't think it'd be great but this was my last day and I wouldn't be back for at least another year. It was -31 and my buddy almost lasted an hour and said call me at the house if you get something or come to your senses. I was on my own. I spent the next four hours looking at frozen bait and snow. Even the magpies that had kept me company the last few days hadn't stuck around much. Just around noon my buddy showed up and I was ready for a little lunch and a warm up back at the house. I had a couple more hours to hunt before having to pack my gear and get to the airport. I remembered to stick the foot warmers to my socks this time, thank goodness! ....back out we go. It wasn't looking good today. My buddy had joined me again and we sat for about an hour to hour and a half seeing nothing. Suddenly, out of nowhere we've got about ten little pigs on the bait. An old sow shows up, being followed and harassed by the monster boar from the first day. He was feeling romantic but she wasn't giving in to his advances just yet. Better to leave a breeder like her alone. She took off pretty quickly, she knew something was up and she was right. She even looked right at the blind at one point and blew at me. I singled out what appeared to be about an 80lbs little roaster and let fly. This shot coaght the bottom lobes of the lungs and absolutely destroyed the liver. Wd had to hurry and dress him out and I had to get ready to leave....and that little piggy made five hogs in four days. One arrow killed four of those five. I'm keeping the bigger sow and two of the bigger yearlings. Once the butcher is done those little piggies will be going wee wee wee all the way to my home. It was a wonderful few days with dear old friends that I love like family. Tremps will be posting some pics for me soon so I hope you all like them. Please be aware there are some VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES. I solely used the 100gr Toxic Broadheads and my Big John arrows. I will be switching to 125 grain toxics with my setup as i believe it will be more accurate. I did want to mention that all the broadheads performed perfectly on all five pigs. I swapped out blades but used the same ferrul and arrow on four of the five hogs. Some of the hogs left blood trails straight out of a slasher movie and some were just normal.The blades were all intact but as i mentioned the frozen ground was wreaking havoc on them. It's been great sharing my story with you all.

[RexKay]

Just an awesome read!! Congrats on your trip!!

[Kegbelly]

Congrats again Paul! I don't think I could have endured those temperatures, I'm happy it paid off for you!!!