The hunt started slowly
that day. There was a strong chill in the northern Florida air,
and the overcast sky hung like a gray canopy over the thick vegetation. The
gargantuan boar was difficult to locate, and despite it's size, it eluded trackers. The
wily hog avoided detection, slipping away again and again from dogs and trackers.
After losing the pig a number of times, Fred, Outfitter John Eagan and Richard
Burton were hot on the trail. Fred could hear sounds of dogs barking and dark
movement in the thicket, but didn't see the feral hog at this point in the hunt. The
boar was a feral spotted Poland-China hog with incredible thickness in its chest and
torso. Suddenly, the boar burst from the underbrush. The smell of dog, and now
human scent, unnerved the large swine. The massive boar broke away from the dog
pack, running across a field, fighting dogs as its lumbering hoofs smashed deep
impressions into the soft earth. The big feral hog was quick, despite its bulk, and
extremely powerful. It crashed into a thicket, plowing through the underbrush like a
tank. The boar remained in the thicket, popping its large jaws, sharpening its tusks.
Deep guttural sounds permeated the thickets as Fred marveled at the massive back
that seemed to flow through the dense, nearly impenetrable thickets, like the back
of Moby Dick cresting the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean. Movement was
difficult due to the thick briars. Fred and the boar circled like feeding sharks in the
long grass, the boar ignoring the yapping dogs and focusing on the man. The
monstrous spotted boar charged. Fred gave ground. The beast stopped, it's eyes
aflame with rage. The boar lumbered forward aggressively. Fred again gave
ground, however this time the thick twisted vines seemed to reach up and trip him.
The hunter fell backwards, crashing into clinging green vines. The beast was upon
him. Fred kicked at the boar with his hunting boots. The pig swung its massive
head to and fro, grunts belching forth as it attempted to impale Fred on its tusks.
The jungle was so dense that the hunter was unable to position his 6' 10" Cold Steel
Boar Spear. Fred described it as looking down the barrel of a gun. The pig's eyes
glared in rage. The spear hunter continued to kick and kick at the massive head in
front of him. Fred's fate hung in the balance in those instants. The ground is the last
place a spear hunter wants to be, on the same level as those powerful and deadly
tusks.
The catch dogs were on the truck. Only bay dogs were used on this hunt. Bay dogs are generally trained to bay only, and not bite a pig. One particular bay dog, "Smoke" however, sensed from the desperation in the human voices. Seeing the raging boar and fallen man, Smoke shook off his fear and attacked, biting the giant boar in the testicles. A grunt of pain pierced the thicket. The boar spun like a rodeo bull, grunting and frothing in rage. Fred leaped to his feet, escaping the danger zone. Fred later said that due to the huge size of the beast, he would have had little to no chance to avoid being overpowered. Fred was angry. He retrieved his spear, and renewed the chase. This boar was like no other that Fred had hunted previously, bigger, tougher, and altogether meaner than any others were. Again and again, the pig would break through the circle of barking dogs by simply fighting them off and retreating into dense foliage. Again, Fred moved into position. The boar glared angrily at the hunter. The boar bluff charged. Fred retreated and waited for an opening. Dogs were barking wildly. Suddenly, the boar turned, exposing an open flank. Fred struck hard with the spear, burying the 16 1/2 inch Cold Steel blade deep into flesh. There was no holding onto the spear, as the boar ripped the pale, ash shaft from Fred's grasp, and went running madly. After 30 yards, the boar staggered, faltered, and toppled over. It quivered violently, and was still, death reaching out and taking it. Dogs barked wildly at the deceased mountain of flesh. Fred stood over the gigantic corpse, amazed at the utter massiveness.
Click here to see a newer HUNTING AD featuring me with my 825lb. hog, but be cautioned, it's a large photo, and takes a while to load.
