| First-Time Hog Hunt | |
|
||
Back to Page One
We popped the hood of the truck, only to see flames erupting from the firewall! Apparently the firewall was doing its best to live up to its name. I tried beating the flames out with a couple of feed sacks that I'd found in the back of the truck, but the burning rubber was tenacious. Rusty quickly took off his cap and retrieved a capful of swamp water to toss on the blaze, which killed about half of it. Kenny finished it off with some warm Dr. Pepper, and that was the end of the flare-up.
The continuous growling and squealing told us that we didn't have any time to dilly-dally looking at the smoldering vehicle, so we beat it into the woods. As I dug out my camera to get some action shots, Kenny told me that if I wanted, he would take the photos while I handled the hog and Rusty stabbed it. It was a deal! I hustled into the melee that Kenny affectionately calls a swamp brawl and snagged the porker by its hind legs, stretching it out and controlling my end of it.
Rusty brandishes his hunting knife while I get ready to grab the porker.
Photo by Ken Banaciski, copyright Russ Chastain, all rights reserved.
Trigger and Gyp had found a different pig, not the red one that Goldie had been hunting, and they had the front end of the squealer well under control. Rusty quickly drew his knife and gave the swine a proper finish, with no hesitation whatsoever. Just that quickly, it was all over but the adrenaline rush -- which was considerable!
Here, I've got the porker stretched out while Rusty does the honors. Trigger and Gyp have the critter securely held by the head.
Photo by Ken Banaciski, copyright Russ Chastain, all rights reserved.
I was a very proud uncle, to say the least... maybe even as proud as Rusty was of himself. To see the pride and sense of accomplishment that a successful hunt brings a young person is one of the best things in life. And at the same time he is gaining a new understanding of the cycle of life, while bringing meat home to help feed the family. But aside from all that, the big self-confident grin on his face was the best reward for our hard work!
Rusty and a boar that he will never forget.
Photo copyright Russ Chastain, all rights reserved.
Rusty decided that a shoulder carry was the way to go... never mind the bloody mess it will make.
Photo copyright Russ Chastain, all rights reserved.
Rusty poses with his pig and the tool he used to dispatch him. Didn't I tell you he was gonna make a bloody mess? Between the adrenaline and the thrill of a successful hunt, he didn't mind a bit.
Photo copyright Russ Chastain, all rights reserved.
After getting that porker back to our camp, quartered and into the cooler, we helped Kenny get the Stranger back over to his house, where it rested in the shade of a grand sycamore tree. Then we all took a nice long tour of the game ranch next door to Kenny's place, where whitetail deer mingle with axis, red, and fallow deer, among other exotics.
After some fond farewells, Rusty and I hit the road for the drive back to my place, where we spent several hours on Sunday cutting and packing pork. That is certainly my least favorite part of the process, but it's necessary and there's some great stuff on either side of it... the hunt before, and the good eating afterward.
Now and then as we worked on the meat, Rusty would look over at me and say, "Hey, guess what I did yesterday!" and we would grin at each other as we remembered the exciting collage of gun smoke, swamp water, fire, mud, and blood... and, of course, our great big adrenaline-laced grins.
Kenny had Emailed me even before we got home on Saturday, inviting Rusty back to hunt with him again. His message mentioned being "hooked on hunting," which is what he and I both are already, and Rusty is rapidly becoming. It's a beautiful thing to see.
If you want to add some real satisfaction in your hunting, give a little and take a young person hunting with you. I don't think you will regret it. And if you hanker for a hog hunt in north Florida, you would do well to contact Kenny and book your hunt with him. After three very successful hog hunts in a row, I certainly don't regret arranging for our Forum Hunt to be held at his place... and I know any young folks in the crowd will be treated especially well.
Note: Unfortunately, Kenny's no longer hosting hog hunts. Bummer!
One happy young man who won't be forgetting his Slaughter Bros hog hunt.
Photo copyright Russ Chastain, all rights reserved.
Russ Chastain
