Had a fun filled day Tuesday. Headed to the lease with my dog Blaze for some Turkey hunting. I keep Blaze at my side and use her for a catch dog for any Turkeys I might shoot. The only legal bird we saw was beyond a herd of Hogs and would not respond to a call. There was a hen running with the hogs all morning which I thought odd. The young Jake eventually joined the hen and they both ran into the woods together.



So what is a man to do! Hunt hogs of course!

Hog #1 was actually shot earlier than the above picture. Walking a trail in thick brush on the creek, Blaze picked up a scent and started stalking. I followed through the brush directly behind her. We came up within 10 ft of two bedded hogs. One a small boar. Blaze made an offensive stance when the boar stood up but she ran no more than 5 ft and stopped. Me yelling NO NO NO might have had something to do with that. The little Boar got about 10 yards before I put a bullet in it's neck. We left it to keep roaming and calling for Turkeys.

That first picture above showing the Turkey with the Hogs... I did shoot one of those for Hog #2. When I moved to the edge of the field to try and figure something out on the Turkey, I inadvertently spooked the hogs. I dropped one with a nice off hand shot on a running Pig. Blaze just a spectator at my side during this.





Turkey hunting done for the day, we went back to Hog #1 for a picture. Guess what, it was gone! I watched this hog bleed out and take it's last agonal breath. Not a big hog, but not a baby either. Two years ago I shot a Spring Turkey with a rifle, walked up and shot it again with a shotgun. Deader than a door nail. Same thing. I left for 5 minutes, came back and it was gone. Like this hog, no drag marks, no blood trail, Nothing. Like it was plucked up and taken away. I don't know. Maybe we have a big Cat or something.
So no picture of that one.

Then to the creek for some fishing. Not a single channel cat caught was under 20 inches.





Saw some bones being washed out of the creek side too. At about the same layer or depth that I have found arrowheads washing out on the creek at another location. An animal bigger than Human, maybe a horse.



But this one, I don't know. Any ideas?





Back to Hogs. Late afternoon I packed up and changed cloths to head home. On the way out in the Truck I saw three Turkeys in the corner of our field. In street cloths, me and the dog jumped out with the rifle and my one last cartridge. I only had three with me this day. Turkeys turned out to be hens, but while I was on the edge of the field, Hogs poured in. I stopped counting at 30 mature hogs. As well as about 6 sets of piglets of various sizes. So easily over 100 animals. Due to the spontaneity of the moment, I did not have my camera. Fortunately Hogs are blind as a bat in distance so no big deal not wearing camo. We moved pecan tree to pecan tree into the field and set up for a long shot. Picked a hog, braced on the tree, aimed 10 inches left to adjust for a strong cross wind to the right. And to my surprise Hog #3 fell over with a squeal.



Coming back with the camera for the picture above, Blaze scented another in the brush and wanted to stalk it. She even pointed into the direction at one point as if it were a bird. I just told her "sorry baby, no more bullets" and brought her back to heal. We watched a Sow with piglets walk out right were Blaze had been. There were even more hogs entering back into the field when we left for home.

So I will be going back this afternoon to try again for a Turkey in the morning. Then maybe another live game of Hog Halo. Taking some firepower this time too!

One last picture from the day.

Wow you had a great day indeed hot dog and ham lol congrats

Sniper, You're like G.I. Joe, an all american hero!

Cool pics, and I love that dog! You hunt N. Texas don't you? I've seen you post about Texoma before. We ought to hook up some time?

Sniper John is a modern day Great American Hunter. That dog Blaze is awesome, too.

I really enjoy your stories and pictures.

Hog #3 has some nice cutters and that is a really big water moccasin. Looks like you have a really nice lease, too. As much as you run and gun, I'm glad to see you're getting your money's worth from the lease.

Great stuff as always!

Cool story, Sniper John

Great story and a beautiful place you hunt. You got your money's worth out of that day!

Good pics and great story - as usual, John!

Wow, sounds like a great day, even though you didn't get a turkey. Thanks for sharing the story and the pics.

You've got me salivating for the outdoors again. Nice shots.

Great story glad ya at least got to shoot some hogs,but if would have been you i would have taken out that cottonmouth also
JMO
Great hunt

Great write up, awesome pictures and love your dog.

Sound like an awesome time.

thats awesome!! yall must be overrun with hogs to see em that often!!!!!! looks like a great day!!!!

I'm sooooo jealous of your adventures. It sounds like you have been having a BLAST!!! Great story & pic's. Thanks for sharing your great outdoors adventures w/us.

I enjoyed your story. I was a little nervous when I read "killing spree" in the title. I don't often like the story of a slaughter on hogs with AK's or AR's, it just doesn't remind me of hunting, but your hunt was a great read. You guys have a beautiful lease. Question: The story reads kina like you were alone...who took the pictures?

awesome story and pictures, thanks for sharing

great pics, man

Good day...I'm betting that is a Buffalo femur. Especially if you've found arrow heads at that level. I've seen piles of bones from dozens of Buffalo in southern Oklahoma. Those piles were most likely from buffalo hunters and not indians I would imagine. I have to spend a Saturday excavating if I were you! I dig stuff like that.