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Large Coyote or Small Wolf

The answer is "Yes"!  We do know the difference between a coyote and a wolf, but you have to admit the coyote's body size, coloration and facial features are similar to a red wolf.  This picture was taken by a neighbor's trail camera and supports the fact that coyotes are becoming acclimated to urban and suburban environments.  While rabbits, squirrels, turkeys and deer have historically been on the menu, the revised menu includes cats, dogs and small farm animals.  Moreover, always keep an eye open when small children are at play in the yard.  For those who do hunt...consider taking up coyote hunting as there is no closed season for coyotes, feral hogs and armadillos in South Carolina on private lands.

Doe Day 11/24/2012

While South Carolina has one of the most lengthy and liberal deer seasons within the United States, you must clearly understand the Rules & Regulations to maximize your legal opportunities within the State.  The State is segregated into private versus public lands within six geographical game zones for residents and non-residents using archery equipment, black powder firearms and modern firearms.  I am a resident who hunts on both private and public lands within Game Zone 2 and Game Zone 6.  Beyond the Rules & Regulations you need to be at the "right place" at the "right time" based on diligent and sometimes persistent scouting.  Scouting from my perspective is spending time in the woods to pattern travel routes and food sources.  It does not rely on gimmicks, although I routinely test various hunting products to determine their effectiveness in the field.  Listen carefully...nothing and I mean nothing is more important than scouting to increase your odds for success with the possible exception of well managed food plots.

As a proponent of "quality deer management" I have been selective in my harvest.  I have had 19 deer (4 bucks/15 does) in my scope this season.  I elected to harvest only one...a mature, healthy doe pictured above.  This doe accomplished two objectives...(1) it helped to balance the overall deer herd and (2) it provided a source of venison which my family does in fact eat.  Technically, I can harvest 10 deer over the course of the season, but being from the "Old School" I do not harvest anything that I do not personally eat.  Deer hunting is not a numbers game to me.  It is a management tool and one to be treated with respect and dignity.  Further, it is a time to be spent with family and friends of like mind.  This morning my son, Brian, hunted with me which made the hunt (not the kill) all the more memorable.  I look forward to many more hunts with him including his favorite game animal (wild hogs).

 

Don't Tread On Me

The early American colonists were familiar with a white flag depicting a rattlesnake with the caption "Don't Tread On Me!"  If you hunt the Low Country of South Carolina, you will eventually encounter the real deal.  We call them Mr. No Shoulders for obvious reasons.  When you meet Mr. No Shoulders face-to-face, your 17" snake boots seem like ankle top tennis shoes.  You become acutely aware that your heart is functioning perfectly because you can hear it pounding in your chest.  You gain the added benefit of cool breeze as the wind evaporates the perspiration (or sweat, if you prefer) on your back or other body fluids in a slightly lower region.  I can assure you that nothing and I mean nothing makes you feel more alive than the adrenalin rush from meeting Mr. No Shoulders up close and personal.

Tippy Toes

The South Carolina season for the upstate is quickly coming to a close, but not before the I scored on a reasonably nice Tom.  This Tom was taken at 9:00AM and never gobbled.  He silently made his entrance with another Tom into one of the most beautiful oak flats in the upstate where the I was sitting.  The entire hunt took less than 30 minutes and unfolded as follows.

The night before the hunt found rain coupled with lightning and thunder (not a good scenario for an impending turkey hunt).  Waking at 5:00AM, the I was confronted with a light rain, but no lightning.  I decided to wait it out and at 8:00AM decided to make the drive to the hunt area.  He arrived at 8:30AM to find the rain had completely bypassed the specific area where the hunt was to take place.  Well...Why not go ahead with the hunt given the effort taken to get to the hunt area?  Shortly, after putting on his snake boots, loading the shotgun and pinging the car with a Bushnell Backtrack GPS the I was free to roam the woods at will.  I decided to hunt a long gently sloping ridge loaded with mature oaks and peppered with pines.  Walking deliberately at a turtles' pace, he gradually made his way to a huge pine slightly tilting to provide the perfect backrest for a turkey hunt and maybe a short nap.  Kicking out a depression in the soil and placing a cushion over the depression created a contour seat with the huge pine serving as the back support and rear safety.  After settling down, the I floated a soft, pleating yelp to any Toms that might be in the hunt area.  After 10 minutes with no response, he raised the volume of the next yelp followed by a few clucks.  In turkey talk the message was clear...if you are out there Mr. Tom I would like to meet you for a possible short-term relationship.  After another 10 minutes of silence, movement in the shadows approximately 100 yards down the open oak ridge showed two turkeys moving silently in the direction of the Big Man's position.  However, the shadows and distance could not confirm the sex.  At 80 yards they entered into a patch of sunlight filtering through the leaf canopy and the white head and black breast feathers confirm not one, but two Toms showing a interest in meeting the Hen making the calls.  At 60 yards the forward march of the Toms slowed as they scanned the woods for the mysterious Hen who had called to them.  The scenario was take a step and scan the woods.  This process repeated itself for approximately another 20 yards.  Waiting for the right moment the I watched the procession in absolute silence and stillness.  And then it happened...the Toms stepped behind a large oak and 'magic time' as the gun was up in an instant.  When the Toms emerged, the lead Tom was in the gun sight and BANG the hunt was over.  The end was swift and definitive with the 12 gauge 3" shells in a #5 shot at 35 yards.  As required by law the I tagged the Tom and made a prayer of thanks for a safe and successful hunt.

Cornwall Carl

Weather plays an important part in the success of any hunt. One of the most famous weather indicators is Pauxatauny Phil of Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania.  Every February 2nd Phil tells us whether or not to expect a continuance of winter for the next 6 weeks.  We have a weather indicator closer to home called Cornwall Carl.  Carl does not seek the fame and fortune afforded to Phil.  He is more pragmatic. He seeks loaf bread as compensation for his predictions.  If Carl eats 1/2 loaf of bread, spring is here.  If he eats an entire loaf, winter will continue for another 6 weeks.  Carl resides at my Dad's backyard in Cornwall.

Whitetail Deer

Although primarily a Hog Blog, we do have other interests that tie into hunting feral hogs.

    Shown above are some of the deer that we have taken in the State of South Carolina.

Mr. No Shoulders

 Mr. No Shoulders

If you hunt the Low Country long enough, it is just a matter of time before you encounter Mr. No Shoulders.  This is a name we give to snakes; especially, the poisonous species such as diamondbacks, canebrakes, copperheads, moccasins and pygmies.  The picture above shows a water moccasins or cottonmouth.  He is a prime reason to wear snake boots in the swamps and thickets of the Low Country.  He is also a good reason to have a reliable, bright light when entering and exiting the route to your favorite deer stand.  Personally, I like the immortal words of Teddy Roosevelt when he said, "Walk softly and carry a big stick."   From my perspective this is one lucky snake in that the encounter and picture was made by Chris who deemed it no threat to him.  He left Mr. No Shoulders to keep the rest of us on our toes. 

Random

The tales of successful hunts

This is a repeat picture from "The 5 minute hog hunt" post.  Brian knocked this one down 5 minutes after sitting in the stand.  He was a little large so I was worried about the meat tasting "gamey".  To our surprise, it turned out to be pretty decent.  The pork loin was as good as one "store bought".

Hog hunt turned Coyote hunt.  A Forester once said, "the only thing we have more of than hogs around here are ...coyotes".  Well, now there is one less.  Wayne knocked this one down on an early post Thanksgiving  fall morning.  In fact, we've all taken a recent liking to hunting coyotes and hope that we can bring you more pictures of successful coyote hunts soon.

A very nice sow.  Brian caught her on an early wet morning.  He actually pushed a group of them in to the woods as he walked to his stand.  They were dumb enough to hang around and he harvested this nice piebald one.  In fact, she made the best sausage we've had to date.  If you are shooting for meat, always choose the piebald hog.  Trust me. 

Chris was just about to give up after sitting 9 hours in the rain.  Finally at last light a group of 12 meat hogs appeared at the feeder.  Chris was able to knock down 2!  The pork shoulders from these guys were great.  

Brian was riding the property line and on the way home after an unsuccessful morning of hunting.  With the radio up and windows down, a group of 15 hogs shoot across the road 200 yards ahead of him.  He jumped out of the truck, loaded his rifle and took pursuit on foot.  A few minutes later he was successful in knocking this one down.  He walked back to the truck to find it still running, the door wide open and the radio still blairing.  At least he was focused on the hunt. 

This is an old picture but a memorable one.  Brian's first hog.  Not much to brag about but this is the one that started it all. (Note:  This pig did not have a tail.)

Wayne got this one on a 98 degree May afternoon.  This is the most memorable hunt to date.  We met face to face with this big brute while working our hunting property.  We shot at and missed this boar before seeing him again when filling a feeder.  This old guy actually chased Brian as he was corning the road behind our feeder.  Brian ran back toward Wayne who then shot the boar only to have his gun jam.  Wayne grabbed Brian's gun and chased after the Big Boar.  The final shot was at less than 10yds and suddenly our big adventure was over.  Wow!  What a nice boar.  He was nice and ripe too.  Imagine the stench this guy kicks off on a 98 degree day in the swamp.  Trust me, it will be stuck in your throat for 3 to 4 days easy.

 

There is another interesting story on this one.  Brian and Chris were stalking the soybean field in July.  They found 3 groups of hogs spread out across the field.  There were more than 50 hogs between the 3 groups.  The wind was just right and they started stalking the middle group.  100 yds to their left, a coyote was stalking the piglets in a group of hogs.  It was a very memorable event to watch the coyote working beside us with the same idea in mind.  I'll never forget it.  Long story short, they were able to knock down this nice boar.  Another successful day.  

The Boars Nest

We have a lot of respect for boars clacking their teeth together (sharpening their tusks) and drooling as it means that they are ready for action and it isn't far off.

Feral boars on our property exhibit characteristics of Spanish, Farm and European strains.  The Spanish are a solid color with large spots.  Typically, brown/red with black spots or black with brown spots.  The Farm are black with white bands, solid white, solid black, solid red/brown or mixed black/white. European are black, red or gray with large heads, humped shoulders and small rear ends.  Europeans are assertive and all boars in the rut are aggressive.  Sows with piglets are dangerous as they will charge under the right conditions.

Hogs are omnivores and eat virtually anything.  Popular belief is that they don't eat salt or mineral blocks because they cannot sweat and the salt dehydrates them.  Hogwash!  The trophy rock we placed below a feeder tells a different story.  They devoured this mineral block as well.   

  I am thinking pork chops, ribs, pork loin and Bar-B-Que (Eastern style of course).

This one is extremely lucky.  He outsmarted both Brian and Chris on 2 separate ocassions.  Neither individual was able to get a clear shot.  The splotch on his left hind side was the identifying mark.  He should be in our freezer but we've never seen him again. 

A nice boar. 

This is one of the most unique hogs we've captured on camera.  He has the most distinctive Mohawk I've ever seen.

This is a real brute that we're all itching to put down . Hopefully the upcoming 2011 summer months will keep them moving and we'll have another productive year of hunting.  Think BIG PIG!