The weatherman forecast a good probability of rain final week a number of days prematurely and upon listening to the excellent news, I started planning.
I’ve obtained a corn feeder positioned near a distant pond and my path digital camera had evidenced the approaching and going of a number of “eater” measurement hogs for the previous month. By the have a look at the photographs it was clear they got here as a lot for the water because the corn my feeder distributed day by day about sundown; they had been often moist from their “dips” within the pond. Wild animals have the innate potential to outlive and with out sweat glands to assist hold them cool, wild hogs naturally gravitate to water when it’s scorching and dry. My provide of spicy breakfast sausage was in brief provide and the stage appeared set for a hog hunt that was lengthy overdue!
With temperatures in higher eighties and the climate forecast for cooler climate proper on track, I felt the necessity to lastly get out and do a little bit of what I name wild pork procurement; lastly there was a break within the sweltering warmth and with the promised rain, an finish to our lengthy, scorching dry spell.
As I settled into my little looking spot, I observed the clouds had been starting to thicken, a darkish ominous thunderhead shaped a number of miles to the south. The prospect for rain on my climate app was solely 15 p.c and no extreme storms with lightning had been within the forecast. The wind modified abruptly to the north and the temperature dropped ten levels virtually instantly. It was nonetheless August and summer time however this previous hunter took the drop in temperature as a promise of issues to come back. My looking blind was merely some burlap camo materials stretched throughout a gate I used to be sitting behind in a snug chair. I had lower taking pictures ports via the burlap at simply the best degree.
A hunter’s thoughts will wander when he’s sitting within the woods ready for recreation. I counted the weeks till October and the opener of bow season, contemplated a hawk that was flying low, hoping to {photograph} him diving on a mouse or rat. The clouds had been thickening and for the primary time in a very long time, I may scent rain.
It appeared the wildlife had been actors in nature’s stage, awaiting their cue to enter motion. Because the temperature dropped, squirrels started leaping within the branches of a close-by pecan, feeding on the half ripe nuts. It was nonetheless a great hour earlier than darkness however a mom raccoon and her half grown brood got here out to test the feeder. Raccoons often enterprise forth below the darkness of evening; it’s uncommon to see them out feeding in broad daylight. A doe with twin fawns got here down the path, sniffed a bit across the feeder and headed towards the pond for a drink, she could be again to nibble corn later when she heard the feeder motor activate and unfold the golden kernels on the bottom.
The sound of hogs I used to be ready for confirmed up additionally, a great hour earlier than typical. Each critter within the woods was on the transfer it appeared. The porkers by no means stopped on the feeder however went straight to drink on the pond. I knew that the wild animals and birds had been experiencing the identical elation that I felt. Nature may be merciless and scorching, dry circumstances aren’t conducive to man or wildlife however issues had instantly improved and it felt virtually like fall.
Then it started to sprinkle rain and I contemplated heading again to the truck however the cool raindrops felt good and I continued to sit down by the gate, “soaking” in every thing round me. The solar had set and my feeder scattered corn below the previous pecan tree the place I had it hanging from a limb. A light-weight drizzle continued however I didn’t actually care. The wildlife present I used to be witnessing was effectively price being a bit damp. It was about half-hour earlier than darkish and I had my thermal scope mounted on my little “hog rifle.” I additionally had my thermal ”spotter,” which makes scanning the evening woods straightforward reasonably than wanting via the thermal scope on the rifle.
The deer, as I had anticipated, had been on the feeder first, nibbling the kernels on the bottom after which got here the hogs to complete up what was left. It was now pitch darkish with no moon and I heard a pack of coyotes pontificate shut by from the dense brush. By the sound I guessed them to be inside forty yards. I’m positive their plans had been to seize a hapless pig however wild hogs are good critters. When the coyotes moved in, they vacated the premises and headed down their pig path in the wrong way to thick cowl. I had already made up my thoughts that I used to be simply right here to look at. Cooling rainfall had put wildlife in excessive gear and I needed to look at the present. In addition to, a shot would disrupt every thing after which I must go to work taking good care of the meat. I’ll return later within the week after the heavy rainfall and “accumulate” my pork.
I stayed at my little “conceal” for a full hour after darkness fell and witnessed a few cautious coyotes sniffing round below the feeder the place the hogs had been. They left on the identical path the hogs used however chances are high good the porkers had been by now bedded up in some thick plum thicket or briar patch the place they may extra simply evade the ’yotes. I used to be by now totally soaked from the sunshine however fixed drizzle. I made it again to the truck simply earlier than the underside fell out and it actually started to pour. Because of trendy know-how, I’d been watching my climate app and left earlier than the brunt of the storm hit. On my ten minute drive again to unload at my little looking cabin close to my house, I used to be at peace with the world. Earlier than lengthy, waterfowl up north will start to stir and wing their method south as they’ve performed for eons and the whitetail bucks I like to hunt shall be on the transfer.
Contact outdoor author Luke Clayton through his web site catfishradio.org and watch A Sportsman’s Life on Carbon TV, carbontv.com and YouTube.
