Photo: Something saying Nothing, but its something @PigProblemInc.
Max guided last night and saw Nothing. When there is nothing to see there is nothing to get, Nothing to take a photo of. Nothing to write a story about. Nothing to remember. Nothing to chop up and eat, Nothing to share, Nothing to brag about, Nothing but foggy darkness. But I gave you something to read. And our customers will be back to experience something.
Photo: Thermal Hog Hunting @PigProblemInc.
Guide Capt. Wes Jones was squeaking through the field like a rabid mouse. It was actually the new front brakes on the van. Wes wanted to challenge himself as a hunter. The squeak giving wild hogs a fair chance to run before he drops some boom boom on them. Is it Wes’s tactical beard that give him the advantage? Or does he just eat, sleep, and dream about hog hunting? I found him sleeping upright in the van like a psychopath late yesterday morning. If you enjoy Night time Wes you should see him during the day. Book A Hunt to experience this majestic bearded guide. (Boom Boom is slang for shooting hogs)
Photo: Annihilator Broadheads Archery Night Hog Hunt @PigProblemInc.
The Annihilator Broadheads team came down to Americus, GA for a non traditional Archery Hunt. Spot and stalk archery hunts are typically not done in the dark, but at Pig Problem Inc., we only hunt hunt at night night. We do not hunt over bait, fenced areas, or out of stands. We use the latest Thermal Optics to locate wild hogs in open farm fields. We then close the distance trying to get as close as possible to make the shots. Brandon and Micah shot the same arrow/broadhead at multiple hogs over two nights. They pulled them out of the dirt, wiped them off and finally connected with this hog. To use the same arrow, broadhead, fletching, and nock is a testament to the durability of their broadheads and products they use.
I approached Micah at the Great American Outdoor show in Harrisburg, PA about making this hunt a reality. The premise for the hunt was to show customers that silence, and hunting ability is still a thing even while hunting at night. Archery hunters have to be concerned with every faucet of their equipment. Quiet footwear, clothing, hardware, and personal skill all being factors for the distances that are typical of bow hunting. We spot and stalk hunt similar to western style hunts. Most eastern bow hunter don’t typically shoot past 35 yards, where as western hunter practice at 65-100 yards regularly. The Annihilator team being out of Idaho would understand the challenges we would face during this hunt.
The first night was trial and error, we dialed in techniques and equipment to start off the night. Guide Clayton McArdle worked tirelessly perfecting and explaining where the archers needed to be to see their pins since electronic sights are illegal in Georgia. Using a torch and spotlight creates shadows so they needed to work as a team to figure out where each person needed to be. We were able to engage on multiple encounters through out the night. The first being text book perfect, except the hog changed angles after the arrows were in flight, producing a clean miss. Micah was able to connect on a wild hog out of a sounder, a pass thought shot but no blood. We looked for the hog in the brush, with no luck. The recovered arrow was greasy resulting in a shot farther back than desired. With a change in strategy to be more aggressive on the next encounter which also yielded in no hogs down.
The second night called for rain and wind, with faster winds it should have made it easier. The first two encounters yielded no opportunities dues to hogs moving out of the field. A pair of boars were spotted in an open field next. Guide Clayton got Micah and Brandon within 30 yards to break the shots. Micah’s arrow missed, while the hog was running Brandon connected on a 55 yard shot. The hog ran a few hundred yard before settling in some brush. Micah connected with a second shot anchoring the hog to ensure the wild hog was done.
To see a over a dozen arrows shots over two nights between the Annihilator crew was incredible. Most archers may have 2 real shots a year, its hard to learn from mistakes with limited opportunity. We are grateful to have had this team down for our first Night Archery Hog Hunt. Learning the equipment selection needed to make this hunt happen was eye opening. The glow d loop, the prototype victory nocks, and the broadheads were things I would have never expected. Stay tuned for the full video.
Thermal Archery Hog Hunt? Is This a Hunt we should offer? Defiantly an adrenaline packed hunt with Micah and Brandon of Annihilator Broadheads. Special Thanks to Total Outdoor Pursuit, Commando Outdoors, Pulsar Thermal Optics, Pard Thermal Optics, Annihilator Broadheads and Pig Problem Inc’s Peanut Protector Guide Clayton McArdle.
Clayton why does Max look so Husky? I though TV made people look less Beefy?
Photo: Peacock Towing Americus, Georgia @PigProblemInc.
Well, Friday nights hunt was slowed down after breaking a steering connection. We were able to kill one hog before having to delay the hunt until the other van arrived. Thank You Peacock Towing out of Americus, GA for coming to the rescue. I have had to use their service a few times to get pulled out of the mud. If you have hunted with us, getting stuck sometimes happens more for Max than the other guides. We are grateful for having a Tow service that is dependable and willing to get us back hunting.
Photo: Glock @pigprobleminc Surefire
The stories this thing could tell. I was chasing a wild hog down and tripped and fell burying my sidearm in the mud. I was laying on my stomach face to face with a screaming pig. I shook the pistol to dislodge any mud in the barrel and pulled the trigger. It was a fiercely rainy night with a family of hunters intown from Wisconsin (Becker family). This photo was from the next morning after being rained on and somewhat cleaned off. I have entrusted this sidearm with my life and the safety of my customers. Not many changes over the years all stock internals. Warren Tactical Sights, Tango Down Vickers Mag Catch and Slide Stop. Apex Fail Safe Extractor, Surefire XC1 light was swapped for a StreamLight TLR8-AG, and I added a MagPul Magwell for Gen 4, Speer Gold Dot +P 124 Grain ammo. The most important part of a sidearm is the holster Raven concealment Perun or Safariland ALS is what I use.
Photo: Pig Problem Inc.
Our Season has come to an end for summer. We are booking Hunts starting in October. Wes, Clayton, & Max will all be fishing in Alaska. If your interested in Fishing trips check out Alaska Saltwater Adventures for Halibut & Salmon Trips. Thank you to all our customers who hunted with us this spring. The ocean is calling, we must go.
Photo: A Soldiers Child Foundation @pigprobleminc
The story isn’t black and white. All have lost a parent or husband serving in the military. I am grateful to be apart of something they should have experienced with a parent or friends. A Soldiers Child Foundation brought 5 wonderful hunter to night hunt with us. We laughed, joked, and the girls danced after drinking energy drinks at 2 am. Its a Good Deal To Be An American. We get to choose what we want to do. Choose to be good to others and help everyone.
Photo: Hog Hunting @PIgProbleminc.
Photo: Hog Hunts @pigprobleminc.
It was like being back in Vietnam when the rain came from all directions; from up above, from all around, and even from down below. The corn stocks transformed into jungle terrain, and the pigs into vicious Vietcong who brought suffering to ourselves and our brothers. We weren’t just shooting pigs in the dark anymore last night; just like back then when we weren’t fighting for God and Country anymore. Last Night, we were shooting for each other.
Capt. Wes Jones’s short story of last night. We have Fun in the Dark.
