Halloween Mountain Hog

[curdogsforhogs]

JohnF, Nathan, James and I had made plans to try and hit the mountains of SC one last time today while bear season for dogs was still in. We only get a week to run bear with dogs in SC. Rough week walking up and down the hills and deep ravines by the waterfalls. We tried all week with out much luck stopping anything with in range of getting a catch dog in. Today we ignored the rain and started up the mountain in an area where John F got on a nice hog yesterday. Curs tried to put the brakes on a nice one but broke and left befor catch dog could make it in. Had to leave two dogs out over night so we went back in that area in hopes of finding the dogs. Luck was in our favor and both dogs were found and his BMC/Big Game Kemmer was sporting some new vent holes, none serious, from yesterdays round with the hog. I carried 5 dogs today, Bill my FBMC Wetherford Ben male, Speck catahoula strike dog, her pup Vegas, Jasper a GSP and Emma(Bird/Bull). We got up near the top and cut dogs loose near where the encounter was yesterday. Speck struck and left out quick with Bill following close. The other dogs hunted hard through the laurel and never packed with Bill and Speck. We started down the mountain tracking the two dogs out at 800 yds across the hills. I started across towards them tracking with my Garmin. It was up one ridge and down the other for more than an hour hear Speck baying and seeing that her track on the GPS was staying in one place. I finally heard Bill baying and knew he was looking at the hog, For him to be baying it had to be rough because usually he has it by the ear. I had Vegas and Jasper with me trying to get them in on the bay but was afraid that they would get there and put to much pressure on the hog which was getting a breather while bayed up. I started making headway and was giving JohnF a play by play as I broke under 300 yds. I managed to get above the dogs which had the hog bayed between a rock shelf on the creek in a draw. I was able to get up over the hog which was backed up tight with the Speck and Bill blocking her exit. I saw bill had a lot of poke holes in his shoulders so I decided to shoot the hog seeing that I was exhausted and did not have a quick way into the hole with them. I waited for a clear shot and placed the red dot on my PT1911 between the ears on the back of the head and she dropped to a knee but quickly jumped back up. Speck and Bill rushed in and caught her ears and held her but she still managed to throw them off. I keyed my radio so the other boys would atleast get to hear the fight and the hog squeal to make them wish they had been there with me. The dogs flew back and I finished her with another shot to the back of the head. The dogs rushed back in and held her down till she expired.
I checked the dogs over and Bill had a good cut under the chin , two pokes on right shoulder and one on the left and two in his right jaw, and back leg bit. Speck just lost some hair on her side. She put up one heck of a fight for a sow and not much for teeth. Again glad it wasn't a bad boar today.
We then linked up and started the 1.5 mile drag out of the mountain. Luckily we managed to get it out to an old grown up logging road where we could cart it down hill most of the way crossing downed trees and the creek 5 or so times. Could have been much worse for sure. Man those deer carts work great when you can use them. No ATV's are allowed in the WMA's here in SC. We finally got down out at around 2 p.m.... And we call that fun...how crazy are hog doggers.. We never weighed her but guess she would go between 150-175? what do you think?

[McGrathCurs]

great story, enjoyed readin it! good lookin sow too. Hope all ur dogs heal up quick.

[curdogsforhogs]

Thanks, great time...Looks like that FBMC is going to have to start wearing a strike vest. Maybe she tsught him a lesson. He is still young and learning on every hog. He has been on everything we have caught since I got him at 10 months old and he 20 mo. I got started working cows and just got to rough way early. totally silent, best nature and shuts them down. Won puppy bay early on. Have a litter from him that I have high hopes on.

[Caney Creek Hog Doggers]

Nice hog, I think it would go way more maybe like 230 or 250

[raider54]

way to go fellas, nice hog

[johnf]

its tuff hunting sc mountains. i hunted 6 days 1st day got on hogs but 10min of dog travel equaled about 1hr of my travel.nothing but hills and hollers.tryed tue wed and thur whithout finding any sign.finaly a bear hunter told where he saw some sign and showed me where.so fri you know where i went.dogs struck pretty quick.after about 15min run jade bayed. shortly after butter my bmc made contact.it sounded like a train wreck.she ended up with a cut under her neck and about 8 poke holes all over.and the hog left with dogs in tow. got last 2 back sat morn. so i was glad curts dogs came through.i was dead tired but i have a nice ham in the frezer.

[Mike]

Helluva a hunt guys! Sounds like some rough country... and rough sows too.

[make-em-squeel]

Now thats hunting, few people can do that kind of physical activity. Great Job! That hog looks to go over 200 lbs in that pic.

[pig snatcher]

Good hog fellows.

I went up that way bear/hog hunting with some friends last year.  Man that is some tuff hunting, not much game and the terrain sucks.  We turned loose and had to drive an hour to get to the dogs when it would have only taken minutes to walk there on flat ground.

Ofcourse those boys came down here and hunted the salt marsh with us.  They hadnt ever dealt with pluff mudd before and I dont think they liked it much. LOL Guess it is all what you are used to.

[curdogsforhogs]

You got that right...after starting the year out hunting the dogs up here in the hills we have to run the dogs down state with anchors tied to their collars to slow them down.lol . Really gets them and us in shape. But your right every place has its pros and cons. We dont have to fight all the briar patches or swamps up in the hills unless we have to cross a powerline. It is nice to hit some flat land every now and again and the time i hunted around the corn fields at night in georgia on atvs really spoiled me.

[lilmisshogdogger]

GOOD HUNT... I SAY ITS OVER 200 BY THE PIC

[curdogsforhogs]

nice looking BMCs on your site

[johnf]

after closer examination of my butter dog today.i saw a bump on her lip. lifted it up and thay broke 1 of her knines off. that might keep her from holding on as well.