by Keith Whitcomb
With 5 well-trained dogs out and about we walked for about an hour. Willie
said, "If we get a hog weighing less than a hundred pounds you can forget
about using your gun."
When the dogs caught the 1st little pig I could hear it Squealing a long ways
off. Honey was locked onto the pig's right ear. Coon was locked onto
the pigs left ear, and the last dog had a firm grip on the pig's snout. It
couldn't do anything but squeal and it was doing a real good job of that until
my knife found its heart and ended the battle. I remembered to bring my
camera this time. I got some pictures and the dogs were off working while
Willie gutted the pig.
The barking of dogs announced the 2nd little pig. We ran and ran to catch
up with 4 very happy dogs that had latched onto the ears and snout of one very
unhappy pig. It squealed as loud as it could. That was all it could
do until the knife ended its life. More pictures were taken. Another
pig was gutted and we started back.
The carcasses were hung on a fence post. Willie and his partner Hoit
headed off for the truck. A little while later I heard barking off in the other
direction. I ran to check it out and found that Coon had bayed a 3rd
little pig all by himself. When I got close enough to take a shot I could
see they were both tired. The two were going round and round. When I had a
good sight picture I had to stop because Coon got in the way, then the pig would
turn his but toward me. Finally the pig ran to the brush line and sat
down. A moment later Coon gave me a clear shot and bang, it went down.
A second shot finished it off.
The farm manager arrived and gave me a ride back to pick up the other two pigs
and took us to Willies truck. I used my pocketknife to dress the 3rd one.
When I finished Willie and Hoit arrived. They listened to my story and
explained that they got sidetracked on the way back by a 350-pound boar.
They killed it. But that's their story.
Thanks for another great hunt. I think I have enough pig meat for a while.
I had not planned on doing a knife hunt but I was certainly not disappointed.
Willie specializes in knife hunts for big hogs. If you want a real hunt,
go out with Willie; I don't think its possible to be disappointed.
Remember he doesn't sell hunts he sells excitement!
Keith Whitcomb