EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

Seems like last August since I made a day hunt...  been way too long!

... with turkey season FINALLY over... rancher called me up and asked if we was ready to hunt... well HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ;D  Although with the knowledge, the neighboring property owner had been letting some hound hunters "run and shoot" on his property since deer season ended... so a lot of the old, smart hogs we'de trained to stay off the property got taken out unfortunately...  :(  ... but such is life.   The boys doin' the damage are a good group of hunters, just doin' what the rancher has asked of them, as would I... just with much less "style"  ;) ;D

... old timer in the group called me up one day to ask me.... "the neighboring rancher's complaining of a PILE of GIANT split ear'd barrs eating his pastures and deer feed up... you don't happen to run rough dogs do you?  ;D" ... the man laughed as he asked me the question, as a fellow, local hog hunter.... he already knew the answer  ;D

... He thanked me, again, with a smile on his breath...(that son of a bitch  >:( ;D) and we exchanged the obligatory "we need to get together some time and hunt" line... knowing well, as much as we might like to, would probably never happen... They shot a PILE of trophy hogs since deer season ended... some of my oldest adversaries... damn.

Oh well.   I tried to look at it like this... with heavy pressure on the outside, the smartest hogs would have no choice but to leave their safe haven, giving us a chance to get on them at some point maybe... (still hoping  rolleyes ;D)..

... so made a round this morning to feel the property out, no sign whatsoever.... very strange for this place...  :-\   ... dry as a popcorn fart in a dust bowl... only water in this "swampland" was in a small ditch that the rancher has been pumping water into from a well for the past few months... there was no worry about seeing any mossicans today  rolleyes ;D...

Kicked Shine and Whaler out first, they roaded in front of the truck for a half mile before pulling in to a palmetto flat and catching a 100#sow... good quick start, I like it  ;D  Tied her to a tree, switched dogs out(Sawfish and Spinner) and let them wind for a bit before kicking them off... another 100#sow... tied that one up, swapped dogs(Camo and Snappa) and caught a lil' boar... switched out and caught another sow...

Good, quick runs, shut down every one... Dogs were smoked by the heat by 9:30am... just never could bump on a good one... hope there's some left on the property  :(

Love this picture... draggin' one out... just beautiful Florida cow woods right there...
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm192/aprilcmetzger/IMAG0298.jpg)

My boys doin' work  ;D  Was a fun hunt
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm192/aprilcmetzger/IMAG0300.jpg)

So... as a hunter... I have assessed the "total" situation...  ;D  I know where the big boys have moved to... but where that is, is deep, deeeep jungle... not something in this heat I would even attempt in the summer daylight.   .... as much as I detest night hunting... seems I have no choice...

... we goin' on a safari next weekend boys... better pack the satalite phone  ;) ;D 

Nice hogs.  You oughta be in that jungle right now with them dogs chasing ol big boy.

Hahaha, yes, that would be nice... but to maintain the equilibrium of my marriage I am relegated to ONE GRAND day(maybe two on occasion) of hunting a week these days...   ... it's OK though... gives me somethin' to look forward to I guess....   rolleyes ;D

Nice looking spot. That's a good thing that your able to switch dogs out like that in this heat, which sucks, we need some rain and lots of it. I think I am going wait until about 3am before I even load the dogs up.

Nice hunt, a good way to not overheat the dogs in the summer is to rotate them like that. May try that this summer when we start hunting again.

Good luck bud,....better carry something that goes bang just in case you get on a real mean one that wants to fight and kill everything it sees.

Noah, you scared of a little sunshine?

good job noah

Them boys sure do look serious! Good job

Just get an early start at it brother! Then by 12 (on a perfect day) You'll have em stopped, tied, and a cold beer in your hand!!!  ;) ;D Good hogs and sounds like a good hunt.

It's about time you started hunting again.  The dogs and hogs were getting lazy from lack of activity.

A friend of mine came over to hunt with me early one morning this week.  He brought two catchy Curdogs.  It was a nice cool morning.  We hadn't gone far when all hell broke loose.  We were trying to get to the dogs as quick as we could but it was over quickly.  It didn't sound good.  As we approached, we saw the big boar standing defiantly then turn and slowly walk off.  One of the Cur dogs came staggering out dragging his guts behind him.  He was cut deep numerous times all over the body, abdominal cavity ripped open, guts hanging out.  It was a bad wreck.  Got everything put back in place to prevent tissue drying and any further damage, closed up, then off to the Vet.  They did a lengthy surgery and the report for survival and recovery looks good so far.  Just one of those bad days.

Dave
   

Nice hunt Noah!!!