New year’s eve Granger report. No kill, but lots of fun.
Well with a rare OK from my wife, I made it out to Granger in the afternoon, though she only gave me three hours -one hour or which was driving time. I hadn’t been to Granger in almost three years and was thrilled despite the short time allotted. I packed my gear, loaded my canoe and was on my way within 20 minutes. I think I saw Sneaky (based on last week’s hog success photos) at the small boat launch area getting ready to head out. He gave an over the shoulder wave, but looked intent on heading out, as was I, so with a wave back, I continued to the parking area and dropped in with my canoe.
I paddled for a while until I saw some good hog trails leading to the water and decided to hoof it from there. A short walk into the woods and I saw a big bodied deer through the trees, but I am only out for hogs, so I paid little attention. My strategy was to circle around upwind (yes upwind), then complete the circle and stalk slowly downwind for stirring hogs. This is my version of a one-man drive. Along my upwind route, as I was creeping steadily through thick brush, I stirred up three deer that must have been bedded down in the thick brush. I continued not more than 50 yards more and the brush exploded like a combination of a quail covey blasting up and a stampede of buffalo. No mistake, these were hogs. I froze and listened. Things got quiet, but I heard some grunting and squealing and knew they were settling back down. Just then, I got a call from my wife, which I am currently duty bound to answer. I’m working on revising this family “rule”, but it’s just the way it is right now if I want to make it back out in the woods anytime soon. I address the “crisis” in hushed whispers, and hang up the phone. Then, as quietly as possible, I crept downwind through the crunchy leaves and brush headed to a creek bottom where the hogs were last. Every now and then, I would stir the leaves lightly with my hands to sound like a bird rustling for bugs, as I struggled through holding yoga-like poses to worm quietly through the brush on all fours. The stirring of leaves is my attempt to mask crunchy footsteps. But by the time I get to the creek, the hogs had silently made their exit.
So, I continued my upwind flush/search and about 300 yards later caught up with a sow and about 3 or 4 -30 pound youngsters. Not the entirety of the stampede I had heard earlier, but a break off ground no doubt. Aware of my pursuit of them, they doubled back and headed back to the creek. As quietly as possible, I walk/ran parallel to them to try to cut them off. The saying “the hogs got their nikes on” really made sense to me at this point. When I got near the creek, the small sounder had joined back with the larger group, and they were all milling about. Interestingly, they were milling about in an area that I just walked through not more than 20 minutes earlier and didn’t seem overly concerned about my scent. I guess they’re used to it. With time running out, I crept in for a shot and managed to get a 75 pounder within 25 yards and pulled to full draw. My target hog was in some light brush and I considered how much deflection the brush might cause. The brush was not more than 3 feet in front of the hog, reducing the amount of deflection possible prior to impact, but erring on the side of caution, and not having time for a long track, I let down seconds before the hogs melted away into the brush.
I tried one more time to head downwind, then upwind up the creek, but the hogs were on to me once again and I could not make up the distance. Out of time, I headed back to my canoe, pushing the hogs some as I went. Along the way, I saw a big boded buck with a small rack- perhaps the same one I saw on my way in earlier that afternoon. I didn’t glass him with my binocs, but I think he was probably a six point with a nicely shaped, but small rack. I also saw a pop up blind back there- not sure if it was occupied, but I backed out the way I came and circled widely around to minimize my disturbance. If it was occupied, I hope I pushed the hogs toward you, and hope I didn’t push any deer away from you. I got back to my canoe, paddled to the boat launch and headed home satisfied with another great outing in the woods. A much needed outdoor re-fill for my soul. Plus, I had a great bed-time story to tell my son that night.
Thanks for reading.
Well with a rare OK from my wife, I made it out to Granger in the afternoon, though she only gave me three hours -one hour or which was driving time. I hadn’t been to Granger in almost three years and was thrilled despite the short time allotted. I packed my gear, loaded my canoe and was on my way within 20 minutes. I think I saw Sneaky (based on last week’s hog success photos) at the small boat launch area getting ready to head out. He gave an over the shoulder wave, but looked intent on heading out, as was I, so with a wave back, I continued to the parking area and dropped in with my canoe.
I paddled for a while until I saw some good hog trails leading to the water and decided to hoof it from there. A short walk into the woods and I saw a big bodied deer through the trees, but I am only out for hogs, so I paid little attention. My strategy was to circle around upwind (yes upwind), then complete the circle and stalk slowly downwind for stirring hogs. This is my version of a one-man drive. Along my upwind route, as I was creeping steadily through thick brush, I stirred up three deer that must have been bedded down in the thick brush. I continued not more than 50 yards more and the brush exploded like a combination of a quail covey blasting up and a stampede of buffalo. No mistake, these were hogs. I froze and listened. Things got quiet, but I heard some grunting and squealing and knew they were settling back down. Just then, I got a call from my wife, which I am currently duty bound to answer. I’m working on revising this family “rule”, but it’s just the way it is right now if I want to make it back out in the woods anytime soon. I address the “crisis” in hushed whispers, and hang up the phone. Then, as quietly as possible, I crept downwind through the crunchy leaves and brush headed to a creek bottom where the hogs were last. Every now and then, I would stir the leaves lightly with my hands to sound like a bird rustling for bugs, as I struggled through holding yoga-like poses to worm quietly through the brush on all fours. The stirring of leaves is my attempt to mask crunchy footsteps. But by the time I get to the creek, the hogs had silently made their exit.
So, I continued my upwind flush/search and about 300 yards later caught up with a sow and about 3 or 4 -30 pound youngsters. Not the entirety of the stampede I had heard earlier, but a break off ground no doubt. Aware of my pursuit of them, they doubled back and headed back to the creek. As quietly as possible, I walk/ran parallel to them to try to cut them off. The saying “the hogs got their nikes on” really made sense to me at this point. When I got near the creek, the small sounder had joined back with the larger group, and they were all milling about. Interestingly, they were milling about in an area that I just walked through not more than 20 minutes earlier and didn’t seem overly concerned about my scent. I guess they’re used to it. With time running out, I crept in for a shot and managed to get a 75 pounder within 25 yards and pulled to full draw. My target hog was in some light brush and I considered how much deflection the brush might cause. The brush was not more than 3 feet in front of the hog, reducing the amount of deflection possible prior to impact, but erring on the side of caution, and not having time for a long track, I let down seconds before the hogs melted away into the brush.
I tried one more time to head downwind, then upwind up the creek, but the hogs were on to me once again and I could not make up the distance. Out of time, I headed back to my canoe, pushing the hogs some as I went. Along the way, I saw a big boded buck with a small rack- perhaps the same one I saw on my way in earlier that afternoon. I didn’t glass him with my binocs, but I think he was probably a six point with a nicely shaped, but small rack. I also saw a pop up blind back there- not sure if it was occupied, but I backed out the way I came and circled widely around to minimize my disturbance. If it was occupied, I hope I pushed the hogs toward you, and hope I didn’t push any deer away from you. I got back to my canoe, paddled to the boat launch and headed home satisfied with another great outing in the woods. A much needed outdoor re-fill for my soul. Plus, I had a great bed-time story to tell my son that night.
Thanks for reading.
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