Trad Gang

Well, Terry Green and I decided it had been too long since we were in the woods, so yesterday we met up to chase hogs on a local WMA. After a fuel stop at a local greasy spoon (amazing how many good forays begin or end at such establishments), we were in the woods by 1pm. The woods were absolutely gorgeous.   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture014.jpg)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture016.jpg)

Less than a mile later, we were onto fresh rooting sign. Following a good seep that was criss-crossed with game trails, we came upon two seperate oak flats that will make prime areas come deer season. The trails had obviously been well worn by about every kind of critter you could find in the woods. We saw quite a few signs of hog and even bear activity.

Following a creek up into a saddle, we found a beautiful wide flat ridgeline that just looked "gamey" so we slipped on in search of more sign.   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture019.jpg)

We had to move carefully, the area was full of dreaded stump monsters. Thankfully, we were able to dispatch most before they got a chance to charge.   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture022.jpg)

Lots of rooting sign, but no hogs. We found some civil war era stone walls, in the middle of no-where.   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture026.jpg)

Wildflowers were in bloom everywhere   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture025.jpg) and every native tree was in full glory   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture029.jpg)

More to come....

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture031.jpg)
So enough of that area, no steamin hog sign so we hiked back to the truck to change plans. Head a little lower and find denser cover.

Heading over to the clear cut areas, Terry hollers and before I can get the truck stopped, bails out a runnin. Hog tracks at the edge of the road so fresh the sand grains are still falling off the edge. Park the truck and we split, Terry on one set and me on another, out into the cut down. An hour or so later, I've still hunted and tracked the hogs to an open spot where it looks like they've had a party and find a pile so fresh it stinks. Cutting across a loggin road, I hot foot it back to where Terry and I split to tell him the good news and see if we could track the group down together. Along the way, I hear the strangest bird.... the elusive Tarzanwarbler, and eventually follow the sound only to find Terry et it before I got there. After giving him the good news, he just smiles and says, "You gotta see this to believe it!".  We make our way up this weird, obviously man-made berm that looks like the remnants of an old dam. Peeking over the side   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/6b2f82fe.jpg) we see what should be a South GA swamp, not a North GA foothill. Everywhere, I mean everywhere there were wallows, rootings, mud rubbed on trees 3 feet or more.   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/0fc321ce.jpg) Hair standing on end, we spend the next 3 hours still hunting through what looked like hog paradise.   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/a1e8a80b.jpg)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/097c0300.jpg)   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/ca21a4e9.jpg) Unbelievable to find what we found where we found it, kept having to remind ourselves we weren't on the GA/FL line somewhere. Again, everything but a dead hog. BUT, it was a glorious day to be in the woods, great friendship, and we found a place we are sure will eventually produce hogs for us.

A long hunt back to the truck found us heading home under a glorious full moon.   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v701/recurvhuntr/4-23-05%20Hog%20Hunt/Picture047.jpg) A fitting end to the perfect day afield. Ya'll get out there and hunt something....and drag a buddy along with ya!

boy that sounds awesome. and the pics made me feel like i was there in the action.
we just had a 90 degree day last wed. and now we are in a 6 inch snow belt! and were supposed to get more!
it sounds like you fellas found a hog haven. good luck in the future on those pigs.

sure wished i was closer , got the flyer about the TBG hunt and almost cried . guess you all have ruined me but i love it .soon the Morrison will talk ----- herb

Great pics and story.  Thanks.....Van

JC,
 Great pictures and in what looks like a great area. Stick with it, I'm sure meat will be on the smoker before long! Good huntin' my friend, Scott

Like Van said, great pictures and good story, especially when you consider I'm heading to the garage to get out the snow shovel!  Can't believe this Ohio weather.  Maybe next time will you will have some meat, but it sounds like you still had a good trip.
Good luck.
Goose

JC sounds like you an ol Tarz has just found yoselves a sure nuff hunee hole real good lookin flickstoo. Yall take care.
Eric

Dang JC,

With incentive like that, I'm about ready to hit ya up and spend one weekend out there in GA just to tag along with ya on a little walk in the woods.  Maybe I'm just feeling like I need to take one good walk in the woods out there before I quit Delta and head back to MO sometime in May... Gonna look for work here so I can stay home with the family like a normal Dad.

Hey Dave that Kbar is still shavin hairs off them stinky little varmits. Thanks again.
Eric

Great write up and pictures, JC.
Looks like you two had a great time.

  :thumbsup:

ah and how lucky can ya be.  jsutg think ay didn't have to wrestle 200# of muddy, stinky hog, didn't have to field dress the dang thing, and didn't have to stay up till midnight getting it all done.

:)

rusty

LOL, Rusty

Thanks for sharing JC.

JC,

Thanks for posting.  Great pictures, it is good to see that it is green somewhere!

Ken

JC- You the man BUT your partner???  :knothead:  

Is that a salad for lunch on his head or what?  :bigsmyl:

Cool pics JC. Looks like you guys had a great day, even if you didn't see anything.  Nothing beats a hunt of any kind with good friends.


David

Hey, thanks for a great post!  I "got out" in the woods today thanks to you!! Keep pluggin' you'll score!

Nice pics Joe! Sounds like a good hunt bud!

Looks like it'd be soo cool to stalk pigs in that country!

Yeah...it was a great afternoon...and the excitement grew all the way till the sun went down.

Nice pics JC....thanks for taking them, they turned out really nice.

Mudfeather,....what Mikey said    

Thanks JC !

Awesome pics, they tell quite a story. It just goes to show you how much one can enjoy the great outdoors, even when the game of the day doesn't cooperate by showing up. Thanks again for sharing the day's adventure! Batman

great pictures thanks

JC, That's some fine looking pictures. Thanks for sharing the hunt.

Enjoyed it.

Warren

Great pics for a great day Joe! Thanks for sharing! And I actually got to touch Tarz's hat in TX, it's actually very ingenious although I was able to track him just from the "leaves" he left behind  :D

Yeah Doug...that's the 'tear away' feature.  Works real good in the thick stuff...keeps ya from gettin your hat yanked off.

You folks sure live in some beautiful country.

beautiful pictures...makes me miss ol GA

Enjoyed it all! Thanks for sharing.
That wild azalia is there for the first hummingbirds of Spring; very nice!

http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek050415.html

I found out today that this area was mined...that explains the 'strange' terrain JC and I experienced.

Terry ,
when i read mined ,brain flashed on landmines and figured that would sure add pucker power to a stock . sure is pretty country .grass just starting to show through the brown stuff here-- herb