A little southern Vermin Control

[Darkhorse]

All in all, it's been a pretty bad year. Healthwise I got a total knee replacement last May. No choice as the old one was past needing replacement. I thought this would take care of my leg problems but while the knee is doing real well replacing the old one seemed to exacerbate some underlying problems.
I had been having some pain in the left hip (same side as knee replacement) and also lower back and leg pain in both legs (Sciatica (SP?) Most likely caused by a ruptured disc according to Dr.) but about the time I got off the walker it all started getting worse, and hasn't let up one bit. Also I tore something in the right knee last year. The ACL I think as I tore it in the other knee some years back and it feels about the same.
But as one doctor told me some years back " You are missing 2 discs in your neck and 1 in your lower back from old injuries. You WILL have problems to deal with as you age."
So, all season long I have been using a 4' hickory staff or a shooting stick to help me walk in the woods. I fell twice. The second time I hit the ground so hard it stunned me and it took awhile before I could get up. I am the only hunter on this property and that could make things tough if the worse should happen.
But I still hunt. It's what I do. I can hurt just as well in the woods as I can at home in front of the TV.
Whitetail deer is the game of choice here at home and the season has been both a success and a failure. A success because I've seen several new shooter bucks on the property. Most from a distance. And I've worked out the patterns so I'll be ready next year.
A failure because I haven't been able to get the crosshairs on a single one. Bad luck on my part and good luck for those bucks. This property has a strong second rut as a lot of the young does come into their first estrus in Dec. and Jan. and I saw a good buck chasing one last Sat. I have a ground blind set up where they've been crossing the powerline so I sat in it both Mon. and today.
No deer either day but about 10 AM these 2 sows showed up with some smaller ones. As our deer don't like hogs, and will leave if hogs move in, it becomes neccessary to thin them out when ever possible. It is real thick and on 3X I couldn't get a shot.
But when I cranked up the Zeiss a little it was amazing how those little openings just showed up crystal clear. The first hog I tried a head shot but the pig was moving and I shot just behind the head and through the neck. DRT. The second hog took off for safer swamps and I got it low in the shoulder through the heart. A 25 yard tracking job.
Now I've got to drag both of them about 75 yards to the powerline. Got it done!
I had a plan to load deer using a comealong but it broke on the first hog so I had to do it the old way. Got that done also.
I can hardly walk right now. Probably can't at all tomorrow so I hope to get back out for the last day on Thursday.
Just got to do it.
Almost forgot Tikka T3 lite stainless LH in .308 Win. Zeiss Conquest 3X9X40 and Hornady Superformance 150 Gr. Interbond.

 

[SJB358]

Great hunting and well deserved killing! That Tikka looks real nice laid up on that pork chop!

 

[FOTIS]

Nice scope too!

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations on persevering in the face of a rebellious body. You're an inspiration to many. Two fine hogs down that won't hurry back along that particular right-of-way.

 

[6mm Remington]

That's very cool. WE need to completely eliminate those very damaging animals. I bet they are good eating!!

 

[Guy Miner]

Nicely done there Darkhorse! Congrats.

Nice rifle/scope/ammo package too.

And wow - you hang in there. Way to go, dragging and loading up those critters!

Guy

 

[truck driver]

Dark horse if you ever think about needing help I'm up for adoption. :roll: We would make a good pair but between the two of us we could move a mountain.

 

[JD338]

Nice work DH, way to go.
Nothing better than fresh pork.

Good luck with the old injuries and knee replacement. I know what you mean about the dedication to being in the woods. I just had shoulder surgery 4 weeks ago and am on the mend. Dr. was surprised when he went in and saw just how big the tear was in the rotator cuff tendon. He told me he was surprised I had the movement I had despite the injury. If he only knew my rifle season was a major snow storm. 16" snow and a 1.5 mile snowshoe hike from the truck to the blind. It was tough and painful but I did it, builds character I guess.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

JD338

 

[Rol_P]

Congratulations on the hogs Dark Horse... Good Luck on the last day out.. Great show of spirit to keep on hunting in spite of some physical pain. Great role model for the rest of us..

Thank you and Best Regards, Rol

 

[Darkhorse]

That's very cool. WE need to completely eliminate those very damaging animals. I bet they are good eating!!

If only we could eliminate them all. They are good eating but I gave both of these to an old friend of mine who helps me putting up stands and all. We don't eat them anymore. I have killed and trapped so many I can't seem to wash the smell off.
I used to tie a rope around a hog/deer's head them tie the other end to a stout limb. I'd hold this with both hands behind my back and just dig in and pull. Can't do that anymore. I now take a long step, stop, grab the rope with both hands and haul the carcass as far as I can. Then take another step. Etc.
Of course I should have loaded up my old Polaris 600 Twin Sportsman. With that I just tie them to the bumper, pull them out of the woods and right up onto the trailer. I guess that's too easy for me.

 

[Palouser]

Wow that is really cool. I have always wanted to go hog hunting. Way to nail both of them! How much do they weigh?

 

[Darkhorse]

My friend estimated the larger one at 150 lbs. It felt at least that much when I picked it up to my tailgate.
Strange thing is, as much as some of us think of them as vermin and as much damage as they do to crops and pastures and just in general, there are a lot of hunters who are begging for an opportunity to hunt them. Private property access is very difficult to obtain. Most farmers have select dog hunters come in when the hogs move in and don't allow general hunters on their property.
For most the best bet is getting on a lease that contains hogs of which there are no shortage here in Georgia. Hogs are smarter than deer with superior noses so hunting the wind is everything and that can't be stressed enough.

 

[Elkman]

Great story, you must be tough as hell. I know that stopping is not the solution, but pain can be a great advocate for doing nothing. Take it slow and make you body last as long as possible. You will enjoy the good days.

 

[Darkhorse]

Tough? Well I don't know about me but there have been some tough ones in my family. For instance my Mother battled cancer for years and refused any kind of chemo treatment and never once took a pain killer. Not even at the bitter end.
Her father, my maternal Grandfather never allowed a dentist to use novocaine. He just took it I guess. I know I could'nt take that.
I'm second generation Ga. backwoods mentality. And 1st generation Florida backwoods sawmiller redneck. Grew up on tales of the hunt with frequent trips to field. Just can't let those good old folks down by quitting.

From personal experience here's the Darkhorse guide to joint and spinal health;
1. Don't play football! Don't let your kids play football.
2. Don't become a long distance runner as it wears out the joints.
3. Dont become a Martial Arts Instructor. And don't compete in full contact Tae Kwon Do tourneys.
4. Don't ever train and break horses. Period.
5. Don't ride horses if you can find other transportation. There's a reason Colorado does'nt hold the outfitter responsible for horse related injuries, and this is well posted at camps and corrals.
6. Learn the proper technique for lifting heavy weights. Injurys happen at work also.
7. Don't forget the above. I can trace most all my problems to one or another thing on this list.
8. When something feels wrong get it checked out and fixed. Don't just grit your teeth and keep going because that wears out another body part. The reason I have arthritis of the left hip is because I didn't get the left knee replaced years ago.

 

[Dwh7271]

From personal experience here's the Darkhorse guide to joint and spinal health;
1. Don't play football! Don't let your kids play football.
2. Don't become a long distance runner as it wears out the joints.
3. Dont become a Martial Arts Instructor. And don't compete in full contact Tae Kwon Do tourneys.
4. Don't ever train and break horses. Period.
5. Don't ride horses if you can find other transportation. There's a reason Colorado does'nt hold the outfitter responsible for horse related injuries, and this is well posted at camps and corrals.
6. Learn the proper technique for lifting heavy weights. Injurys happen at work also.
7. Don't forget the above. I can trace most all my problems to one or another thing on this list.
8. When something feels wrong get it checked out and fixed. Don't just grit your teeth and keep going because that wears out another body part. The reason I have arthritis of the left hip is because I didn't get the left knee replaced years ago.

Man.....I'm like 0 for 8. :|

 

[Palouser]

From personal experience here's the Darkhorse guide to joint and spinal health;
1. Don't play football! Don't let your kids play football.
2. Don't become a long distance runner as it wears out the joints.
3. Dont become a Martial Arts Instructor. And don't compete in full contact Tae Kwon Do tourneys.
4. Don't ever train and break horses. Period.
5. Don't ride horses if you can find other transportation. There's a reason Colorado does'nt hold the outfitter responsible for horse related injuries, and this is well posted at camps and corrals.
6. Learn the proper technique for lifting heavy weights. Injurys happen at work also.
7. Don't forget the above. I can trace most all my problems to one or another thing on this list.
8. When something feels wrong get it checked out and fixed. Don't just grit your teeth and keep going because that wears out another body part. The reason I have arthritis of the left hip is because I didn't get the left knee replaced years ago.

Man.....I'm like 0 for 8. :|

I was thinking the same thing!