last hunt before bow season (story)

[longshot]

Went out last Thurs and had to make a solo hunt since my buddies had to wuss out and work(lame excuse to miss a hunt ).

Dropped dogs at daylight(7am) and went a few hundred yards West down a sendero and all the dogs went to working a track. After a good while Poco struck up a boar and they bayed him solid(2curs,Jagd and Jagd pup) within a few seconds. Cut loose 2 catch dogs and they went screaming to the bay and each grabbed a ear. I made it shortly through the S.Texas brush and cactus to stick the boar. He was maybe 130lb on the hoof with small teeth.(7:25am)

Watered the dogs and kept hunting. At 9:15 we completed the loop and was back at the truck. The bay dogs still had a lot of hunt left so I decided to make a small loop to the east. Reached the end of the road while driving in 4-5ft tall weeds I was unable to see the dogs leave out. I parked under a shade tree and relaxed for a bit till I heard Ginger strike. It broke shortly and then I heard Poco and Kat kick up and they were solid. I drove a few hundred yards to them and got within 40yards. They were in a blood weed(or some type of nasty overgrowth) that was 8-10feet tall and mature for everytime I touched a stalk a puff of pollen would fill the air like smoke.

I cut catch dogs and tried to run into the blood weed patch and was met with great resitance and the air filled with pollen making it almost impossable to breath. I tried to crawl but only got tangled more. The only way I would make progress was to stand up and walk in a swiming motion.

Twink my Jagd pup bayed a seprate hog to the right of me while my other 3 dogs were still bayed solid. I heard the catch dogs hit and he was caught and huffing. I tried to hurry to the catch but I couldnt speed my arrival in the bloodweeds nor could I see more than arms lenght due to the thickness and pollen filling the air.

When I reached about a "pickup truck" length to the hog it seemed as though he was carriying my dogs away from me faster then I could fight to them. When I felt I was gaining ground on the caught monster he gave one last huff and proceded to "thrash" my dogs and left as if he could have left anytime he pleased.

I made it to a creek and found it easier to walk in the water and found where he crossed in the mud after working my pack over and although I was a few feet to him I never saw him but know he has a mighty big track!

Later I found that both catch dogs had not made it to the hog. One(rhino) peeled off to the Jagd pup who couldnt hold her bay and spent the better part of a hour chasing small pigs in the weed thicket with the pup. MY other AB catch dog obviosly was the one caught he came back with various cuts and very hot. Poco also got the worst of it. All the dogs are gonna live to hunt another day but it was shady there for a while(good thing I carry my cut kit on the mule).

I picked up the last dog Ginger almost 2.5miles away (over 1hour from the time they were caught)on the San Antonio River where I think she lost him in the river. loaded dogs and left at 11:30am

I was gonna go drag out the 1st boar since it was a good eater but after the but whooping and sewing I was beat!
I am gonna repost this pic cause this is the pigs I came home with straped to the mule NONE:

The jagds did enjoy riding on the new platform in the front.
Longshot