Georgia Pigs On A Thanksgiving Weekend Member Bob Jager
Michigan. As agreed, Dave called me at 3:30 p.m. when his Thanksgiving celebrations had concluded. My pickup was already loaded as I gave my loved ones one last hug and headed out. Dave met me at 5:00 p.m. and I transferred gear into his truck. Then we headed south. Our destination was Unadilla, Georgia, nearly 900 miles away. Driving through the night, we needed to stop only
twice for fuel and a kidney break. We arrived in Perry, Georgia, at 6:45 a.m. We had made good time, as traffi c was scarce. In Perry we enjoyed breakfast and then went to Wal-Mart for our licenses. Calculations hadn’t fi gured Black Friday into our plans but we found an employee familiar with the licensing procedure. It took about 30 minutes to get us through the lines and back on the road. Fifteen more miles would complete this leg of our journey. Arriving ahead of schedule at our hosts’ farm, it
seemed like a good opportunity to relax. That was easier said than done. Excited and full of anticipation, a little rest was appreciated but there was no sleep. Chris, the landowner, and Dave’s friend Darren arrived. Introductions were ex- changed and Chris told us there were several large pigs in the area. The largest was estimated at 350 pounds and Chris was eager to have them harvested. Dave and I glanced at each other with smiles. As guests, we asked about the rules Chris wanted us
When the shooting stopped, these two 115-pound sows lay only 30 feet apart. Larger hogs had been seen in the area but in the author’s view this is about the perfect size to put into the freezer.
the Russian razorback type. A 9-inch gash seen between his Lab’s sternum and backbone was fresh in my mind as the pigs fed in my direction. What little knowledge I have of pigs is their vision and hearing are poor, but they have great noses. Thankfully, a light breeze blew in my favor. I remained motionless, hoping not to blow this hunt. The Ruger 44 Carbine was shouldered, with the crosshairs on the closest pig. For several years fellow varmint hunter and friend
I
Dave Siegers has passed along a standing invitation to hunt pigs in Georgia. Unable to make our annual trip to Wyoming this year, it was decided to make good on this invitation. It took only a couple of short weeks from the time of Dave’s initial proposal to fi nd ourselves committed, a schedule planned, and anticipating a great time. Our adventure began on the afternoon of November 26, 2009. Thanksgiving Day. We arranged to meet in Lansing,
Page 138 July — September 2011
n the gray morning light I had accidentally walked into a group of eight pigs. Our host said they were
to observe. Our licenses included deer and we decided we might consider that opportunity should it present itself. Chris said he had taken only about three big bucks off the property in the last dozen or so years. For him, the only bucks he shot were those intended for the wall of his offi ce. As guests, we were allowed to harvest any deer we liked. Dave and I agreed that we could harvest all the venison
we needed in Michigan so there was no need to take a doe. Shooting a trophy buck might take that opportunity from our host. Our real desire was to take home a couple of pigs. We
were grateful to have the opportunity to hunt pigs and we would be satisfi ed with that. It was an easy decision to hunt pigs only. I was offered a ladder stand to hunt from and Dave
got a constructed raised blind. Each overlooked or was near a food plot. Hunting for us started at about 10:30 Friday morning. Each admitted to taking a one- to two-hour nap on stand. I understood pigs to be noisy creatures and was counting on them waking me if they were in close proximity. No pigs were sighted but we each saw does. Anticipation was high for the next day’s hunt. At dark we were tired and headed off to our hotel. After
cleaning up, arrangements were made to meet with Chris and Darren for dinner. We enjoyed a fi ne meal and were get-
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