Larry was my hunting partner on our latest adventure. We traveled together down to South Carolina for a feral hog hunt. I asked Larry if he would be willing to tell his story for the blog and he willingly agreed. In fact I think we might see some more of Larry in the future, as he has agreed to write a few product reviews for Augie’s Adventures.
Larry’s Story of our South Carolina Hog Hunt
About a month ago I received a text message from my buddy Andy of Augie’s Adventures asking if I would be interested in going to South Carolina for a public land wild hog hunt. With the trip only a few weeks away it didn’t take me long to clear my work schedule and say I’m in.
Being instantly excited about this trip, I started doing some research. I opened up google and started typing in South Carolina public hog hunts. Six years ago I went to Florida for a hog hunt and thought it might give me the upper hand in knowing what exactly to expect. Boy was I wrong. In Florida I sat in a tree stand and waited for the hogs to come to a feeder, which they never did. I also hunted using dogs and that didn’t work out in my favor either. This hunt was going to be completely different.
Our plan was to float the Pee Dee River running through Woodbury WMA in search of land that had rooting and markings of hogs. As we made the drive to Woodbury we noticed houses surrounded by water, the river was extremely high and wooded areas were flooded. I started thinking, “Are we even going to be able to hunt around here.” We arrived on the long dirt road of Woodbury WMA and it didn’t take long to hit water. The road was flooded. Andy looked at me and smiled, “let’s see how far we can get.”
The details on how we made this hunt happen
Over two feet of water covered the road in places and the surrounding woods were completely under water. After a few miles we found what looked like some higher dry land. We quickly got out and found hog tracks and rooting right off. I mark this spot in my GPS.
We continued down the main road with water up to the doors of the truck. After a little bit of driving we found another area that Andy liked and decided he would hunt there in the morning. After a long day of scouting, we headed back to camp and had a nice steak dinner. We met a few other hog hunters staying in camp, so we stayed up a little while and shared hunting stories. Then it was off to bed, 4 am will come quick is what we all said.
Hog Hunt Day 1
Now for the reason we were here, the hunt! 4 AM, alarm went off. We awoke excited to start the real adventure. After a nice breakfast of eggs and bacon, we drove the twenty minutes to our hunting spots. There were no other trucks where I parked. I was excited about getting in and having the woods to myself.
I quickly grabbed my rifle and backpack and started hiking. I remembered an area from the day before that was really tore up from hogs and wanted to sit there in the morning to see if anything would come by. As I settled into my hunt, a couple other hunters enter the woods. I thought, “the more the merrier. Maybe they will help push some pigs my way.”
Not long after shooting time I heard a shot from a hunter close to me. I waited thinking maybe there was more than one hog and it might come my way. After thirty minutes I decided to slowly walk the woods and see if I can stalk into an area with pigs. As I started I came across the hunter who had shot and he was dragging a two hundred plus pound hog. I thought, “That is awesome, they are definitely here.” I stalked and still hunted that area until dark, but no hog encounters.
The first part of the trip was to find some solid ground to stand on.
Hog Hunt Day 2
On the Second day, I decided I wanted to try the same area, but instead of sitting in one spot I was going to still hunt as much of that area as possible.
Daylight arrived as I slowly walked tree to tree in the swamp. The hog was ninety-five yards away and in some really thick brush. Finally, my first encounter and he was a biggie. I noticed a slight opening where he was headed and I got in shooting position. As the boar quickly passed through the small opening, I pulled the trigger. As the hog turned and ran off in the direction it came, my hands shook.
I headed over to where I shot the hog and started following tracks, I found no blood. As I followed the tracks and saw no sign of blood, I started to wonder if I had missed. Just when I am about to give up I find fresh tracks that shortly lead me to a blood trail. I felt a huge sigh of relief. As I followed the blood trail, I jumped the hog. I decided to slow down and give it some time.
Forty-five minutes later, I started back on the trail. What seemed like a steady blood trail went on for two hundred plus yards then disappeared. I spent the rest of the afternoon until dark searching for this hog. I felt pretty bad about making a bad shot and not harvesting the hog. On the ride back to camp I start questioning myself, “did I rush the shot?” The excitement and nerves were at such a high level it was difficult to replay the situation in my head.
I wanted to add this to the story because it is real hunting, things don’t always go as planned. As a hunter we are responsible for being prepared and making ethical decisions in the field, even with great preparation and smart choices things can still go wrong. Something I do not take lightly, nor should any hunter.
Hog Hunt Day 3
At the suggestion of Andy, I went exploring a new area on the third day of the hunt. The next morning I got up early and headed to the special spot. I went to the wrong gate and unloaded my kayak and gear only to realize I was not in the right area. I loaded everything back up on the truck and found the right area, but not before daylight arrived. So much for getting in early.
I kayaked out to the island and started walking the main road. Andy was not kidding, this place had more hog sign then I have seen the whole trip. After walking for a few hours without seeing any hogs, I headed back to the truck and ate lunch.
This place had more hog sign then I have seen the whole trip
I headed back out around 1:30, but instead of going back to the island, I kayaked around it. I remembered the older gentleman telling us about how the hogs hung out in the water when it is hot out. I paddled back up into the swamp and tied up to a tree to see if I could spot any hogs cruising around the water’s edge. After about fifteen minutes I head splashing off in the distance and it definitely sounded like pigs playing in the mud.
I paddled toward the direction of the noise and spotted two hogs about five hundred yards away on the opposite shoreline. I slowly worked in their direction for what seemed like hours but was probably only minutes. I got within twenty yards. The kayak was so quiet the hogs had no clue I was there. I was able to position myself and take a perfect shot.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on that pig. I headed over to the hog and snapped a few pictures. Now the real work began. I needed to load him on the kayak and paddle back to the truck about a mile away. It was the most pleasant paddle I have ever experienced. I took in the scenery and reminisced about the hunting trip.
Once back at camp, Andy and I then talked about the trip and how great it was to put this together last minute and how for fewer than four hundred dollars we had one of our most favorite adventures to date. This was one I will always remember and I can only hope that my next adventures will be as rememberable.
Packed up and ready to head back north following a successful hunt and adventure.
The details on how we made this hunt happen
