Joice Jr Pig

**hntndux** · 03-07-2011, 07:48 AM

My youngest boy continued the luck of his older brother, who was drawn for this hunt 2 years ago, and was drawn for the JR hunt last weekend. We both lucked out and had the pleasure of once again hunting with a great dog handler Levi. I want to thank DFG as well for allowing the dog handler to accompany the hunting parties for this hunt.

The morning started out with a surprise in that all of the ponds were still full with water. We started the hunt wearing our boots and jeans and within 1 hour we were all soaked up to our waists. We didn't find much sign until about 9am we spotted a huge boar running from the tules and the chase was on. The dogs got on the big boy and he came out of the tules about 40yds away, but I told my boy not to take the shot because I was worried about the dogs who were most likely close behind. Since he just turned 12 six days ago and didn't have mush experience shooting slugs I opted for the safe choice. The boar spotted us and ran in front of us through patches of tules, he took his first shot and we all thought he hit it but it just stumbled in the peat. His second shot was over some tules and he shot high and the third shot as he came into the open was high again and we watched him put some miles between us. My son was excited and sad all together. Levi estimated the boar at about 300 and would have been a true trophy, but the experience itself wasn't bad either even though a pig wasn't on the ground. We hunted until about noon and decided to rest the dogs and our sore feet and pick the ticks off of us and everything we were carrying.

After a short nap we headed back out and as we were making our plans we noticed 4 pids heading across the pond to the other side. We watched where they went and the chase was on. Already wet we got right back into the water and off we went. I've never made so many trips across joice in the water in my life and my son never slowed down. After a round trip the dogs finally got a young pig cornered and my son quickly dispatched it from close range. The pig was just under a 100lbs and will be great eating. We went back out Sunday since my son still had that boar on his mind, but the steady rain didn't help and we called it a day by 11am. It was a great time by all and dad couldn't be prouder. Thanks again to the great help from Levi, his canine crewJoice 1.jpg and his buddy Dan, we couldn't have done it without them.

**biseger** · 03-07-2011, 08:30 AM

Good work and thanks for getting your youngster hooked. I am sure you are a proud father.

**elkguys** · 03-07-2011, 08:33 AM

Thank you Dad for taking the time to teach the outdoors to your sons! the time that you all get to spend in the outdoors toghter will be talked about for many years to come.I so enjoyed the time I did it with my kids to bad they grow up so fast and its harder for us to get out toghter theses days as they have there own life.

**Kentuck** · 03-07-2011, 11:19 AM

Awesome. Love hunting there. Congrats to your son!

**db 183** · 03-07-2011, 11:56 AM

Great job man!

Did you hire/bring the dog handlers or did DFG provide them for the hunt?

**hntndux** · 03-07-2011, 12:59 PM

Thanks guys, these are the moments that keep me going everyday.

The dog handler is a friend from a previous hunt out there with my oldest boy a couple of years ago. Nicest guy and fantastic with the kids.