Decided to try the morning hunt this time. Last time I went (evening) I killed 3 hogs (with rifle) and saw about 25 of them. Got to the feeder about 5:50, sprinkled some corn on the ground (more on this later) and when I turned to walk to the tripod, saw about a 75-lb pig running across the field towards the creek bottom.

Got in the tripod and started getting settled in--Thermacell, quiver on a limb, spare arrow on the limb next to me, head net on. Hot already, and not a breath of air stirring. Finally had to take my glasses off as they wouldn't stop steaming up. At 4 minutes after 6, 5 little piggies, about 55-65 lbs show up. They go to the corn and that's when I figured out that I put it in the spot where I couldn't shoot due to a sagging limb on the mesquite next door to the tripod!

The snacked a bit, the all of a sudden, they all alerted, looking back in the direction they came in from--big boar coming I thought. They spooked, with a red one stopping in a shooting lane. Began my draw and just as I anchored, Red spooked on out.

About 10 minutes later, Red came back, but was squirrely and didn't come into the open where I could get a shot. Eventually, spooked away to the creek bottom. Is it the Thermacell? Or did my scent just pool and eventually make it to the feeder (17 yds away)?

Rest of the sit was uneventful--hen turkey with 4 poults about the size of a good frying chicken, and a doe that must have allergies. All she did was snort and stomp and stomp and snort. She was in the same area where the pigs were--so maybe they were smelling something. Still no wind according to the "wind indicator" thread on my stabilizer.

Oh well, heard the cattle man come into the pasture to check cows, so I got down and headed home for breakfast. After breakfast, I came back with the riding mower to cut my shooting lane (rifle shooting). Dang sunflowers were 4-5' tall, but now I have a nice fairway to the feeder from my 'hide'.
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That's the difference with bow hunting vs rifle hunting.
I prefer a rifle as it ups the odds of nailing game, but you have to admit that bow hunting is more challenging and a different kind of rush.
The biggest problem I have with bow hunting is the amount of game I've experienced being lost. As thick as it is where I hunt, you take great chances of losing your animal due to inability to blood trail.
I've often thought of taking a scoped pistol with me as well as my bow.
GWB

Whew, I thought you were talking about something entirely different when you mentioned "another dry hole".

Yes Norton, and when you think there is the chance of dry penetration, there you are.

I hope you are smiling. since this is intended as a friendly "poke".

KB

No worries, KB.....just part of understanding the "ins and outs" of this forum.

Been bowhunting since mid-70s and I've lost a few along the way, and it is discouraging to say the least. But, the rush when an animal is standing so close you can see the droplets of moisture on its whiskers is great. I usually don't get the bad, bad shakes until after the arrow smacks home, then it really takes over. The self-imposed, mandatory 30 minutes I sit in the stand after a hit gives me time to settle down for the blood trailing job.

On the other hand, it is so "routine" with the rifle that it's like going to the gas station and filling up the truck--almost all automatic. However, that won't make me quit as I am a predator!

Dustoffer,
I'm mainly a rifle hunter.
However, some of the guys I hunt with hunt on bow only leases. I get to for free to take deer, hog and turkey if I use a bow. Also adds a month to deer season. Usually bow hunt all of October. Sooooooooo.
I shoot a Matthews FX. Use carbon arrows on deer, aluminum on hogs. Last hog(s) I shot with a bow was opening weekend of bow season, last October. I had set up my pop-up ground blind 22 paces from a spin cast feeder, in a copse of juniper(cedar). It was hotter than hell that afternoon and I was sweatin' like a poitician telling the truth. I was hopin' I didn't smell enough like carrion that those piggies didn't pop their noses under the pop-up thinking I was garbage for the taking. I always keep a pistol on me, but I sure don't want to get raked by a big ol boar before I can pull my shooter.
Anyway, it was just about dead dark when a whole herd came in. At first I thought I was hearing thunder. Next I heard some low grunts that sounded like they were a foot behind the ground blind. Times like that make you think it would have been a lot smarter to be in an tripod, off the ground. Well those piggies came around and beside me, paying no attention that I could tell and hit the corn and soybeans I had salted for them. It was dark enough that I could barely see indistinct forms. I picked out a big one and let an arrow fly. I heard it thwack the way a broadhead does. That old boar let out a squeal and took off running. The others scattered for about 30 seconds and came back. No report, no sound other than the thwack on impact and the boars scream so I guess they thought it was no problem. I nocked another arrow for a second try. By this time it was dark enough that I could see my pins but just see shadows. I basically knew where to aim, and the hogs were bunched up, so I let another arrow fly. I connected, but couldn't see where. Just could hear that ol' pig squealing bloody murder as he ran off. He probably ran 50 yds. and stopped. I could hear him panting and after a few moments his death rattle. I waited another 30 or so minutes, making an offering to the skeeters that were foolish enough to take a stab at this old fart. Pretty soon they told their bud's I didn't taste so good and they left me alone and went in search of other prey. After waiting 30 or so minutes I called my buds on the radio to come help me track, as it was dead dark. They did. The second one was pretty close, and took no time to find. The first one was a big ol' boy and he went a ways. If you remember the song by Johnny Horton about the "Battle of New Orleans", well this hog must have had some "Brit" in him cause he "ran through the briars and he ran through the brambles,and he ran through places that a rabbit couldn't go. I thought I was going to die the death of 1000 cuts after I trailed him on hands a kness over rocks and through cactus for about an hour before I found him. Next time I wear more than shorts and a pair of crocs.
Best
GWB

Gedubya--Shorts 'n Crocs on a hog hunt? You'd be bled dry and dead if you came dressed like that around here. I have memories of a "hands and knees" trailing episode on a doe I shot broadside with my .25-06 once--down in the brush country. Ended up crawling down a trail of some sorts about 30 yds into a thicket to find her hung up in a tree crotch by the neck. I imagined all kinds of things as I crawled in--from rattlers to a big old hog wanting the right of way, to a chupacabra.

I think I'll go back to the tripod in the AM--if I don't take the rifle out tonight for a bit of "revenge".

I have 2 carbon arrows from WM, out of 6 I bought to try--lost 4 of them to Robin Hoods, something I've never done with an aluminum shaft. But, all my hunting is strictly with aluminum and Bear razorheads.