| Wild boar hunting is not for the weak of heart. | | | | Suddenly my deep state of relaxation is |
| Wild hogs are intelligent and extremely dangerous | | | | interrupted by the explosive sound of wild hogs |
| animals when wounded. Recently I had the good | | | | running through the Palmetto. Then they stopped |
| fortune to hunt what many southern hog hunters | | | | running and I can hear about six maybe seven |
| believe to be the #1 spot for boar hunting in | | | | different hogs grunting in different locations about |
| Georgia. | | | | 60 yards from where I was sitting. And I hear |
| In extreme southern Georgia near the Florida | | | | they are moving closer. |
| state line and the Okefenokee National Wildlife | | | | No sooner had I raised my Grandfather's hog |
| Refuge is Bear Run. It offers exceptional bear | | | | hunting rifle than a good-sized feral hog of about |
| hunting, hog hunting, whitetails, alligators, and | | | | 200 pounds came out onto the logging trail. |
| turkey! | | | | The hog had obviously met up with some hog |
| Based on my experience the wild hog hunting at | | | | hunting dogs in the past because the ears and the |
| Bear Run must rank among the best southern | | | | tail had been chewed off. All of this registered |
| hog hunting facilities in Georgia. It is located on | | | | very quickly as I aimed. Suddenly I hear the |
| tens of thousands of acres of managed timber. | | | | explosive sound of the.32 Winchester Special and |
| The cover story is mostly Pine, with a few | | | | I see that I had made a clean shot. |
| scattered Oaks. The underbrush is thick with | | | | After waiting a few minutes I walked over to |
| Palmettos, briars, and wild blueberry. In short, | | | | where the hog entered the woods on the |
| perfect terrain and cover to support an | | | | opposite side of the road and on the white sandy |
| impressive feral hog population. | | | | trail was the first sign of an excellent blood trail. |
| The first day of my hunt was opening day of | | | | One of the best parts of hunting at Bear Run is |
| Turkey season. Late that afternoon I began | | | | Jack. He is a huge Golden Retriever trained to |
| walking the logging trails. I was hoping to spot a | | | | follow the blood trail of Bear, Wild Hog, or |
| wild boar on the trail for a clean open shot. | | | | Whitetails. I knew this hog would not be lost due |
| Shortly after starting out I was rounding a bend in | | | | to the dense undercover. So I begin to head back |
| the trail when I spot 9 wild pigs quickly moving in | | | | to the rendezvous point to meet up with the |
| my direction. Moving carefully in the shadows of | | | | others and head back to the hunting lodge for |
| the pine tress I attempt to move in close enough | | | | dinner. |
| for my Grandfather's old open sights hog hunting | | | | After a delicious southern meal provided by the |
| rifle. Five of the feral hogs are about 100 pounds | | | | proprietor JT and his wife we all loaded up in the |
| and the other four are 200 pounds or more. Just | | | | trucks with JT's dog Jack to retrieve the hog. The |
| as I was raising the.32 Winchester Special to take | | | | Palmetto leaf that I had stuck in the logging trail |
| aim on the largest wild boar the wind changes | | | | allows us to find the blood trail in the pitch-black |
| direction and the wild hogs performed an | | | | darkness. After stopping the truck JT straps a |
| instantaneous vanishing act. Poof. They were | | | | cowbell around Jack's neck and in a flash he was |
| gone! | | | | off in the woods. |
| Constantly trying to keep to the shadows of the | | | | All you can hear is the clank of the cowbell and |
| trail and the wind in my face I proceeded to walk | | | | suddenly there is silence. JT yells, "Jack are you |
| the logging trails for hours. On several occasions I | | | | there?" Jack responds by moving a little so we |
| can hear the hogs moving through the Palmetto | | | | could hear the clank of the cowbell. Every so |
| but the underbrush is to thick to see anything. | | | | often JT yells "Jack are you there?" so the guides |
| About 45 minutes before night fall I sit down on | | | | can locate the hog. A few minutes later the |
| the side of the logging trail to take a break and to | | | | guides return dragging the wild hog behind them. |
| past some time so I would get back to the | | | | For me it was the conclusion to a very successful |
| rendezvous point at dark. | | | | day of wild hog hunting in Georgia. |
| Sitting on the trail and enjoying the quite sounds | | | | So if you are looking for a wild hog hunt with |
| of the woods, without any sound of traffic and | | | | almost 100% chance of success and where the |
| only and occasional chatter of a squirrel or a Blue | | | | feral hogs are abundant and huge then Bear Run |
| Jay calling you know you are far away from | | | | is the place to go for some of the best southern |
| civilization. | | | | hog hunting in Georgia! |