Can't stop smiling

"Thanks guys! My 10 year old can't stop smiling!"

Went hunting Saturday night. It's been a WHILE, too long. It was a little chilly.

Boss, Colonel, Bull, Doc, and Mop & company hunted. We took Carl, Bonehead, Alice, Ammo. Doc took Cash, Hickory and someone else (a lil help here Doc?), Bull brought Gator and Blu.  And the Col didn't bring anyone, but it didn't matter.  The actual hunt was a massacre. We used a night vision scope with the dogs. Its nice to have toys like the thermal scopes. We had four confirmed kills. 11 total if you side with the pro-life team. Hey, Col, what does that bring the total to?

On a side note, the Georgia House of Representatives recently passed a bill regarding the hunting of feral hogs (HB 475). The bill was read to the Georgia State Senate on 27 March, and a committee reported "favorably" on the topic. We eagerly await the vote. A summation of the bill: they are trying to open up the season on hogs and allow hunting without a license. You can read an Atlanta Journal Constitution article on this subject here.

As many of you know, feral hogs are nuisance non-native wildlife. They tear up crops and natural habitat... And they make delicious smoked Kielbasa. (Hey, Dad, how about a post on making sausage? -Summer) If you are curious about recommendations from DNR on feral hog control, read here.

Danville, March 6-10

Mike, Christopher, Jim Kennon and Bill all showed up at Stuckey Boone Lake RV park in Danville GA on the afternoon of 6 March and set up camp. On Saturday, 7 March, they hunted at Bear Alley Hunt Club just up the road. In the morning, got a Sow and 4 piglets. Dogs involved were Hunter, Bruiser, Pistol, Bo, Alice and Hollie. Bill's family arrived from Michigan  (Mike, Tina, Chris) and joined the hunt that afternoon, but didn't get any hogs. On Sunday, 8 March, the whole gang returned to the same area and Chris stuck his first pig, with Christopher getting to the hog first and getting it under control. It was 200+ pound boar. Later that morning, across the road, the dogs caught another 200+ pound boar, with Bonehead and Karl making the catch and the other dogs joining in. Dogs involved were Bo, Bonehead, Sandy, Karl, Colt, Hunter, Bruiser and Sweetie. That afternoon, went over to Eric's land and hunted the swamps there with some guys down from Ohio, but didn't get anything. Sunday night, Mike and Christopher left camp. Monday morning, Jim  left camp while the rest of the crew, with 2 of the guys from Ohio, hunting Bear Alley again. Dogs were Bo, Alice, Bruiser, Hunter and Sweetie. The dogs caught a 150+ sow and got two other bigger hogs running out, after the Ohio guys stuck the pig, tried to catch up with the other pigs, but only got one more piglet, although it is likely there were a few other small ones crunched along the way. Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, hunted around camp and in Bear Alley again, but didn't get anything. Broke camp on noon, 10 March. Total for the weekend was 9, bringing the yearly total to 53 down, 147 to go! Pictures still being rounded up from this hunt.

Hogs gone Wild..Cautionary Tale

In lieu of a safety message on this BLOG, this video is provided to remind just how risky hogs can be..or just to remind yourself of the thrill of the hunt when you are cooped up inside and wishing you were hunting instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAoADOgG8tI

Hog Slaying, 26 Feb - 1 Mar

Doc and Eddie headed down to 500 Acre on Thursday, 26 February, getting 2 x 200+ hogs there, then going over to the Duckroost that day and getting three small hogs there. The next morning they turned the dogs out and got three 120-150 pounders all around the same time. Those 7 hogs are the best 24 hour take so far this year. On 1 March, Dave Johnson and Mike turned out at Jim Cabaniss's fields and caught two hogs. Those 9 for the weekend bring the yearly total to 44 down, 156 to go. There will be more pictures of these two hunts in the coming days. Bill didn't hunt this weekend, as he had a previous commitment to a Willie Nelson concert with his sister on Friday night, that picture of Willie is added also. All around, a GREAT weekend for hog hunting amidst all the cool temperatures and rainy weather.

Mississippi Hunting Trip

Bill and Doc headed to Mississippi on Thursday 19 February. First hunt was Friday morning, getting 2 small hogs and a boar on Friday, 20 February. Mike joined us early Saturday morning, to a rain filled day and no hogs to be found. On Sunday morning, before leaving, the dogs got onto 2 more small hogs, with lots of the young dogs getting in on catches. Total after these 5 is 35 down, 165 to go.

Tying up Loose Ends...Hogs killed since last post

The weekend of 14-15 February, while Mike and Bill were putting in a corral at Casa Miracle, others were hunting. Christian got one and Drake and Brian Boree got one, bringing the yearly total to 30.