Awesome pics guys, looks like a good time. One of these days I would like to come hang out, kill a few critters. I just need to get some money! Jason

Great story and picts so far.  I certainly missed being there.  I'll have to really start saving to return again. Keep the stories coming, and the picts.  Solana is a place that gets under your skin and never really leaves.  I am enjoying lots of memories as at I look at the new ones that were made.

Lookin good so far.Beautiful country and good folks all around.O by the way Izzy.    
Bill

Thats way to funny Terry.  I've seen way to many critters pull that matrix move. Ha ha...
Keep the stories and pics rolling boys.

Let me start out by saying this was the best hunt I've ever been on. I base this not on what game was taken but on the overall experience. A lot of very special events took place on this hunt.
One of the things, we all would change, if we could. But he was with us in so many ways. Most of us could just look around while in the stand and find something that once belonged to him.
This hunt was for our buddy.

A good many of the hunters on this trip were TG'ers that we had never shook hands with. Skyler and I knew them through the forum but not personally. Life-long Friends were made here and future hunts are already in the works.
Skyler has covered early events well so I'll start with Wednesday afternoon...We gathered together at the "the tables" all ready to go. I was shooting my Widow when my string broke...and this was just hours before we were headed to our evening stands. Talking about letting the wind out of the sails.
Larry Surtees came through with a new SBD String. We were ready for a lot of stretch but no problem...Skyler, Curt and I shot it a bunch and in a matter of an Hour, I was ready to go.
We headed out and I went to a familiar Tree that I had killed out of in the past. I was there just a short time when HE showed up. A big 19-20" buck and he was headed my way but he was slightly downwind and that was enough. It was slow until around 30 minutes before dark. I looked across the pasture and around 20 hogs were racing to me. I let them get settled for a few minutes (3 seconds) and picked out a huge spotted sow with a black spot just behind her shoulder. The shot was good to me and she ran off with the arrow buried nearly to the feathers..quartering away.
I felt good about it but hogs were running everywhere and I lost track of her. I was listening for anything and looked up to see a nice 8 point headed my way. It was getting dark quickly and he wasn't going to make it in time. When he got there it was just too dark for a shot. He was nice and I would have loved the opportunity.
When the rest of the crew came to pick me up, I GOT DOWN EXPECTING TO SEE A MASSIVE BLOOD TRAIL that wasn't there. We looked for a while and decided to come back in the morning. We've shot enough hogs to know that they don't always bleed good. I knew where I hit her and it was good. But there should have been blood. At daylight Sunnyhill was hunting there and saw my fletching sticking out of a "dead as a hammer" hog from the treestand. I don't know how we missed walking over her the night before. The "dead as a hammer" quote is from Terry.....Bigger than I thought and very happy....    

We drove out this year and Skyler said a dozen or more times that he had a few things that he wanted to accomplish on this trip...He came through and then some.....  

Great stuff Don. Even Though I got to talk with Sky some I cannot wait for his stories and all the others that are yet to come.

Curt.  I agree,  it was great to meet you too.   Only wish i had spent more time with you and and the guys.
Its weird how fast the time went.

 
There is definitely some MOJO in those gloves.
   

Izzy and Robert
 

Izzy's Buck

Nice hog Don!

Here is one my favorite pics from the trip. Curt and Skyler headed out the first evening.....

WOW...THANKS TO ALL THE TRADGANGERS FROM THE THE SOLANA HUNT FOR SHARING THE MOMENT OF TRUTH WITH US,AND THE MEMORIES THAT U GUYS HAVE OF THE TIME THAT U SPENT TOGETHER MAKING THEM...AWESOME,,HATS OFF TO U ,DW,HUGE PIECE OF BACON ON THE GROUND..
THE ENERGY OFF THIS THREAD IS CRAZY. EVERY TIME I LOG OFF I PICK UP MY BOW,AND JUST HAVE TO LET SOME FLY TOWARDS MY GLENDALE,JUST CANT HELP MY SELF.....            WAY TO GO CUZ NICE 8...  P. R. O.STYLE

 

Keep it coming guys....great pic's and stories! Nice hog Don.

HEY IZZY, GOOD LOOKING PIECE OF WOOD THERE IN YOUR HAND...BET THATS YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE NOW...LOL

Jack and Skyler...serious Buddies in a matter of hours.....

A few of the "bow testing"

"no bunnies were harmed in the taking of this picture"
This is the Chief, David Shepard, with a baby cottontail that he caught and released alive one night while we were blood trailing.

David fast enough to catch a cottontail?! Must be photoshopped .LOL He never ceases to amaze.

Here is a photo of Stabow, his hog, and Rigger the faithful tracking dog. He's a Texas Blue Lacey

My first nights hunt resulted in this hog ...
I saw ten or so deer and then in came about 15 hogs and this guy was the lucky winner.