It had been eight weeks since I had been out for a hunt so as you can imagine I was really looking forward to being back out on the hill. I had arranged a trip down South with my son Sloan and two mates Tony Hogg and Phil Simonson. There was also a pig hunting competition on in Clydevale this weekend so we entered. This trip did lack the big pigs for some reason they just were not around. On a number of occasions we saw smaller pigs breaking out but nothing decent. We did end up with seven pigs between us with the biggest boar being 93 pounds. My body held out well as I walked around the hill and one of my highlights was carrying a small pig 400 meters back to the bike. Sloan was real good as he helped watched over me to make sure that I did not push my body too far and hurt myself.
At one point Tony, Sloan and I were heading to a bail when we came to a tricky piece of ground. We had to climb down a steep rock face about the height of a two story building. I was about to take my first step down when I could see the dangers if I was to fall I could do some real damage to my already broken body. I backed out and left the other two to go and get the 73 pound boar while I went back to retrieve one of the motor bikes. Another pig that the dogs caught Sloan was heading up the gully towards the bail while I went around the top then straight down to the action. Sloan just bet me to the pig, as I was about twenty meters from Sloan two big red hinds stepped out in front of me. They stood there long enough for me to have shot them both but the station that we were hunting on had a policy of leaving the deer alone. But still as all hunters know it is good just to watch these animals out in the wild.
At the Clydevale comp on the Sunday I was surprised to see the deer weighed outnumbered the pigs two to one. This comp was well run with good racks to hang the animals, the traffic flow was good and with every person that had entered entitled them to two hot meat sandwiches and a large glass of beer.
Now that I know my body is going to hold out I can start doing some hunting again, just got to be careful. Thanks Sloan for looking after your old man when I needed it most.
hi,mr westwood,bad luck with the fall.best of luck for future.the places we find ourselves in at times are all self inflicted,but would we have it any other way?my wife of 30 years is over the injuries i have sustained whilst chasing pork.i have been fixated on pig hunting for so long that the wife says that my head is stuck up a pig dogs arse and i can see nothing else.funny thing is that i have never been successful at it.but still i continue to put myself thru hell every time i go for a hunt.something tells us to keep going, right.cos we all know the alternative? looks like you have made pig heaven on your doorstep.hope i can make it there 1 day. cheers murray.
Hi Murray thanks for those words. It is a very addictive sport that helps us to keep fit. It has been my fitness that has helped me to pull trough my injuries so quickly. The only time I will stop pig hunting and interacting with animals will be when I am dead.
Good call on the tricky climb down. You do have a really good son there Willy.