What a night.

After weeks of preparation and a bodged attempt, I finally heard the rocks knocking against each other as my quarry started feeding at about 19:45. My hands trembled as I waited for the right moment to start the careful motion of events that will hopefully result in the right moment for a shot. The beast was a mere 12 meters away, and any wrong move on my side would send it crashing away into the thick undergrowth, resulting in the failure of the hard work done by myself and the team.

People that know me, also knows about my absolute infatuation with hunting Bushpigs, the Ghosts of the Darkness like Hilton Sanders rightly named them for the title of his DVD. I have recently converted to hunting them exclusively with the bow for pleasure. This year was not a good year for hunting this most elusive of the South African Plains Game species. Strange middle of winter rains ensured good natural feed, and it was very difficult to get them to feed on the two bait stations.
As I was very busy hunting with clients, I could not really get down to hunting them seriously.

Bushpigs are shy. Almost exclusively nocturnal (I have shot two of the biggest boars to date in broad daylight, one with AR’s very own Terry Blauwkamp), they are difficult to hunt specifically. I have always said, that when you want one, you have to do it with a pro that specialise in it. Not unlike Leopard you know. Come to think of it, there is not much different from hunting SPECIFICALLY for bushpigs and Leopard in South Africa. Both have to baited and shot at night with a specialized artificial light system.

I was VERY fortunate to be sponsored by Aubrey Kent (.458 Aubs here on AR) with a rheostat red light system to test on the pigs. Aubrey phoned me up and asked me if I could test the system out for him, so that they could then commence to do it commercially. There are a lot of these systems available commercially, but all too fancy in my eyes. I wanted something simple, and said so to Aubrey. No remote control or sensors or fancy stuff. Just a good light, connected to a rheostat with a good old fashioned cable, that in it’s turn connected to a small 6V battery. I got the gear in good time and set it all up.

The pig was feeding good and relaxed. I turned the light slowly on, and in the dim redness, I noticed that it was a sow, but could not believe my eyes for the size of her! She was HUGE! The light did not spook her, and she fed on, undisturbed. I waited about 30min to listen if other pigs were feeding close by. The boars always hang around, and come in later. There was nothing. I turned the light slowly to it’s full power.

My Matthews DTX was set at 65lbs, and I carefully reached down and picked up the bow, already notched with a 400gr. GT arrow and a 125gr. Slick Trick broad head. I carefully switched the True glow lighting system on. As I drew the bow, I slowly exhaled. The well lid pins sucked in behind her shoulder as she quartered away from me at only 12 yards! The moment arrived. I made sure the bow did not touch anything in the pop up blind (the mistake I made earlier the week on a small boar) and touched the trigger. The pig did not grunt as she crashed into the thick stuff, and I could hear a death run came to a stop about 60 yards off. I waited 30min and radioed Solly my tracker. The blood trail was like a high way and easy to follow. When found her dead as a door nail, the broadhead sliced her heart to pieces. I was a happy camper. There is just nothing in the world that compares to a successful conclusion to a hard and long anticipated hunt. That’s for sure.

I hope you enjoyed my story, I tried to relate it just as I experienced it. Happy hunting!
Herewith some pictures of me with the pig. She weighed 170lbs.

Charl
Having hunted Bush Pig with you and knowing how hard they are to get. I can only say "Well Done".
Wish I had been there.

Great hunt, nice pig!

Great pig Charl! It looks like the bow is working out well, and the light!

Those pigs are going to be high on my list next time.

Congradulations,
I want to hunt bushpig on my next safari. I just love them piggies.

Nice pig !
Thanks for sharing the hunt.
Andy

Charl;

I'm soooo jealous. I want one of those piggies!

Regards, Darin

Where on the property did you take her... below the dam?

Very nice! I have sat on the rheostat in Zimbawe on bush pigs and it is very exciting to turn that light up ever sooooooo slooooowly. . . . .! Congratulations on a monster!

Charl,
Looks like you figured out how to shoot that bow. I'm happy for your success. A neighbor has a pig problem and they are nocturnal. I may rig up one of those lights and give them a try.
Lewis

Fantastic, one of these days I am going get back over there and shoot one. I have tried several times to no avail. I am very jealous.

a lekker sow. congratulations!!

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Now Judge it was about 30km's away on a wheat farm. The pigs below the dam dissapeared. This is the same place me and Larry hunted them, with mixed success......

Brooks, I'm one of the few Outfitters/PH's specialising (stupid enough?) in hunting BP's without dogs, so if you ever get round to doing one, give me a shout.

I'm off again tonight. Will keep y'all posted.

Hi Charl,

Glad the light worked well. congrats on your success.

Cheers

CONGRATULATIONS Charl,

The smile on your face says it all!!!

I enjoyed the report and pics...

Congrats Charl on a fine porker!