Awesome...Seriously A BB is on my list... Has been for years Now that I have a garage I can do it in, theres no excuses

That bamboo. Looks great. Is there a stain on that or is it the natural colour and texture of the cane?

Tom,

That is the natural color of the "dirty bamboo".

Pretty stuff.

Mike

I appologize it has taken so long but I wanted to get some more pictures uploaded.

Well, on to the story.  I have never taken any animal with any type of traditional bow and I figured that there was no better way to "crack the ice" than to go chase some hogs...So off I went to Tolar Texas and the Sycamore Creek Ranch.    

I met a good friend from "Legacy Outfitters" down there on Friday night.  We would be joined by 4 other gentlemen from Legacy as well.  Everyone was excited to be there.  Friday evening did not see any hunting, just preparing for the following days hunt and enjoying the companionship.

Our home for the next couple of days would be cozy and comfortble.

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z39/stick_string/?action=view¤t=1stTraditionalHunt-Hog1-31-09001.flv

Matty,
I would get one for sure...when I get the cash again I think that I am going to have to get another one and up the poundage.  The Dryad guys are awesome and make great products.  

We would wake up about 5:30am to get ready for our outing.  Everyone trying to stay as scent free as possible, while at the same time trying to get breakfast and coffee so we can stay awake in the stand.    

After a morning ritual of spraying down and getting many layers on (it was around 30 degrees that morning - which in Texas is cold); we hoped on the buggy and our guide took us to the stand.

I would be in a ground blind that was constructed out of hog panels and T posts, then filled in with brush.



My home for the next few days.

After putting my stuff in the blind at 6:30 (shooting light is 7:00 - even though in Texas you can shoot at night), I stepped off the distance to the feeder so that I would know exactly how far I am shooting.  To the far leg of the feeder was 21 yards!!  I told myself that I would not take a shot over 20 yards...no matter what.  

**I would like to interject that holding myself to a distance was not as limiting as I thought it would be.  Instead it made me test myself to see how good a hunter I could be, and ask myself, how close could I let them get**

I threw some corn down at 10 yards to see if I could get them closer to the blind but did not know if they would wind me at that range...I did not even get settled in the blind when I hear them coming in a group.  

I see a small group of about 6 to 7 pigs at the pile of corn I just put out at 10 yards.  Because the sun was not up yet all I Can see is the silouette of the hogs and I can tell that they are all facing me with a couple of them facing the exact opposite direction!!

At this point I have my bow in hand and I am shaking like a leaf!!   :eek:  So I try to focus on all the mechanics of making a great shot, running it all over in my head.  After sitting there for 15 minutes I have turned into "Nervous Nelly" and have started diligently looking for the hog that is going to get an arrow!!        

The group would run off in a stampede over one another and after a couple of minutes two more come in and begin to eat under the feeder between 16 and 20 yards(it had gone off right after my first shot).  

At this point I am mad at myself for missing and letting the emotions get to me in the shot    .

For 10 to 15 minutes they are wandering back and forth crossing eachother and not giving me a shot, so I pick a hog and follow it until it gives me the shot opportunity.  I pick a spot on it and.......

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z39/stick_string/?action=view¤t=1stTraditionalHunt-Hog1-31-09005.flv

Did you post the wrong vid? I don't see any pigs.

Nope....I did not actually get the shot on film...that video was right after the second shot!!

BTW...for this hunt I am using my Dryad Bow Blank "Windtalker", 2018 arrows, and a Magnus 2 Blade!!

Congrats on the porker      

The Hog I had been watching was finally turned broadside at 18 yards and I never stared at a spot harder in my life!!  I let the Magnus 2 Blade fly and................WHACK!!!

The hog stumbles back to the hits the back leg of the feeder!!  I almost jump out of the blind I am so happy!!  (The video posted above was after about 20 minutes)

I hear the pig grunting and he is stumbling as he leaves which only gets me that much more excited becuase I know that he is hit hard!!  My arrow is sticking out of both sides of him as he saunters off.  I hear him groan and crash!!  I get rediculously excited and start jumping up and down!! (probably not the smartest thing to do at that point but to be honest I was so excited about everything...building a bow and taking my first ever traditional harvest...I didn't care.....I WAS PUMPED!!!!)    

I would sit there for a while and watch pigs come in and out...



But the whole time I couldn't wait to go get my harvest!!

I get out of the stand and walk the path back to the cabin to get Scott as I knew he would be back at the cabin fixing breakfast.  I jumped through the door and relayed the story.  He through his clothes on and we went back to the stand to start the tracking.  about 12 yards from where I hit him we found......

I was shooting a two blade so I did not know how good the blood trail would be, but I was suprized to see how good it really was...

We kept following the drops of blood and then....

Quickly followed by..........





It looked like the blood was being poured out!!!

Just beyond the weeds we found this on the ground........