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The wait was more than Cambo could handle. Spur was anxious as well!
Even though J.J. and Roy recommended heading out just before 7 p.m., Spur and
Cambo couldn't hold out any longer and convinced me to drive them out at
5:30.
At 6:40, I "brushed up" in my Brush Country camo and the rest of us
headed to our stands. I pointed Bud in the direction of his stand and then
dropped David off at his tripod several hundred yards from mine. As I
neared the wallow on which my tripod location was situated, I drove up on a
group of small hogs that were already there! I should have followed Chris
and Cambo's lead and got on stand earlier! As the hogs scattered, I drove
a couple hundred yards down the road and parked the truck, then walked quietly
back to the tripod.
The skies had become overcast again, after having cleared a bit earlier in
the day. It appeared that a line of thunder storms was developing to the
west, but with the prevailing wind blowing from the east, it appeared that the
storms would pass by us. I was not real concerned, even when the turkeys
gobbled in reaction to the thunder. It didn't take long to realize,
however, that the storms were drawing closer. With about 30 minutes of
light left, I decided I would sit until dark and then go back to the truck to
get the ICE Blind, which would offer protection from the rain.
Just before dark, I could tell that the sky was getting ready to let
loose! I walked quickly back to the truck, grabbed the ICE Blind and
started back toward the wallow to set it up. About half way there, the
rain started coming down. At first I decided to quicken the pace and get
set up, but then I realized that if I stayed, that meant Chris, Cambo and Dave
would be required to stay out in the rain as well, without the protection of a
blind. The lightning made me think twice about that option. Just as
I decided to high-tail it back to the truck, I heard Cambo calling on the
radio. I dropped my gear and ran back to the truck as I radioed back to
Cambo that I was on my way.
I drove quickly back to pick up the guys. As I approached my stand, I
saw hogs going everywhere! In the time it had taken me to walk back to my
pickup, the hogs had come back into the wallow and were feeding in the
rain! If I had waited ten more minutes, I'd have either had a chance to
shoot a hog. . . or get struck by lightning. For sure I would have gotten
wet! The rains came down hard, and the roads flooded quickly. I
barely made it back to camp with my two wheel drive.
We all regrouped back at camp until the rain subsided. Bud had shot two
hogs before the rain hit. One is down for sure, the other is iffy.
It might be a difficult tracking job after the driving rain storm! We're
heading back out now (about 10:30) and will report back tomorrow.
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