BAD OLE' BOAR HOGS
by J.R. Deckert
Well this story starts off like most hog huntin' trips. Me and a couple of good friends decided one night to go to the rice fields and see if we could catch one. This particular place is all fields with woods and several creeks around them. So, about dark we all met up, dogs already loaded and four wheelers. We struck out for the thirty minute drive to Mont Belview to see if we could get on one.
Well, we got there and drove to the back of the place. That's where we figured they would be. The dogs was a 'rarin' to go so we cut 'em loose. They tore it up looking and trailen'. Boy it wasn't long till we heard one of 'em cut loose...but only one thing - they had done crossed the creek and this wasn't no average creek. Where they had crossed the drop off was about twenty foot straight down. So there was one problem, we had to find a place to cross. Meanwhile the dogs was in a hell fire sure nuff' fight in a thicket over there somewhere. We rode and could not find a spot to cross on the wheelers but we had to get to 'em so two of us, Jay and John belled off across there, snakes and all.
Well, me and ole' Jason stayed back till they got the sucker caught, then we would go to 'em if we had to, but I didn't fancy crossing that creek anyway. Well, we waited and waited for 'em to holler at us that they had caught it but when they didn't and the dogs kept getting farther and farther away, I told Jason maybe we go to 'em to help if we can. So, we got off in there and got across. Waded through a hell of a briar thicket, finally getting closer.
The dogs had carried this big S.O.B. I know two miles from where they had started him at. They couldn't catch him, he was big. At one time they had 'em bayed under an old dead tree and Jay was on top of it trying to rope it with some tie string tied together. We forgot the lariat rope on the four wheelers - just our luck. Meanwhile this ole' hog was a' whippen' our dogs to a pulp. Then wouldn't know it the sucker broke and run again, this time to lose the dogs in a thicket and boy was I glad. They had done crossed one creek, a pond, several fences and man I was beat!
We finally got all of the dogs called off the trail and back to us. One of the young dogs, ole Bud, was several places but the worst being under his chin in that soft skin. We couldn't stop it from bleeding for nothing. We had done accepted the fact of losin' him before we could get out of there. Then we came up with the idea of putting dirt in it. We figured what the hell it might just stop it. So we did, and it stopped shortly after. He had done lost alot of blood, but was able to walk. The other dogs was cut but they would be ok. All but one and he hadn't even come back yet. It was my ole' Hammer dog and he was no where to be found. I called and blew the horn but nothing. Every once in a while I could hear him bay then nothing - it was silent so I figured well hell, he has got it pretty good in there and can't make it out to me. I was getting pretty worried cause this was my best dog. I mean when all other would quit there he would be still baying and trailing his ole butt off. Then about that time I heard the palmettos busting and so I shined my light in that direction and shure nuff it was him coming to me. Boy I was happy. I looked him over and nothing...he was clean as a whistle. Not even a scrape I thought. I didn't notice until the next day that he had been cut under the tail in the ham about four inches deep. I could stick a whole cut-n-heal swabber in it. It was deep. But anyway we had all the dogs caught and was heading out, disappointed because we hadn't got the ole' hog. But anyway we had a good fight and bay.
Well, we got all the way across the creek back to our wheelers when that puppy, the one that was cut so bad, started another hog!! We hadn't tied him because we thought he would follow being cut like that. So I said "Man, he is baying!! I really think so!!". So cut the other dogs loose and sure nuff he was another ole big boar hog...
Well, to make another long story short we caught that one and got him out no problem. Them dogs didn't even move the next day they were so whipped. Well all of the dogs have recovered and are doin' fine. That lil' puppy is a hog finding machine now he has got some age one him. Ole Big Head, Ox, and Hammer are doin' as always finding and baying till they can't go no more. I know one thing - since then we don't get in the woods without a rope to rope with. They come in handy....
Good huntin' and catchin'.
J.R. Deckert