25 September 2009, 04:03
shanksponyThis weeks bowhunt
The pigs round this place have taken a bit of a hammering lately, the're not in plauge proportions like alot of you guys see, so to take 6 in a few weeks is good for here. I'd decided to let things quieten down a bit, but then we got a solid 24 hours of steady, warm northerly rain, perfect conditions for bringing pigs out onto the paddock and I'd been asked to feild test the Atom broadhead, which hasn't seen a lot of use in NZ. That evening after work, I grabbed my bow and made my way up back. the hills were covered in low cloud, visibility was down to less than 25 paces as I approached my bait site. Stopping about 50 meters out, I could hear a strange noise, at first I thought it was running water, but as I got closer I realised it was a pig chewing down a meal, trouble was I couldn't pick it out to save myself. Sneaking on in, I finally spotted a good size boar, half hidden behind a bank 15 paces from me. I tried to approach from the rear, but it was a no go, and reluctantly I moved back to my right, and started a front on approach. just after I cleared the last offering of cover he looked up, froze, and watched me for a leg shaking length of time. finally he decided I was part of the scenery and went back to his meal. To get a clear shot I was going to have to walk right across the front of him, and part way down his left side, with no cover, and within 15 pace's, I'd never tried something so brazen with a pig this size, but nothing ventured nothing gained. The next 5 minuites was nerve wracking stuff, take a step or two, wait as he looked up from his meal, then another step when his head went down, all the while staring at his tusk's and wondering if I really should be feild testing an untried broadhead on this guy.
Finally I lost my nerve, and decided I was going to have to take a quartering forward shot. I drew back my bow, held where I wanted and walked forward a few paces. Eight meters out, and I released the arrow on its way. Twang, SMACK! and with a big WOOOF! he was up and out of there. The only time I had was to think " that arrows poking out a bit much, but later I was to be amazed at the penetration, and It certainly did its job as within 20 meters the boar started running erraticly, blood spurting from his mouth. Twenty meters further on, and he suddenly flipped on his back, then stood again before rolling over. I was sure he was down for good now, but from 5 paces put another arrow in him to be sure. I don't usually show much emotion at the kill, but the pent up excitement and adrenallin kicked in then and I raised my fist in the air and uttered a long Yessss.
