We can say hunting season is officially open now. Last month I ventured into Bass Pro and purchased a new Toxic Bow, added all the bells and whistles to have what I considered the ultimate hunting machine. After spending several days practicing to make sure I was efficient with the new bow, I decided it was time to go to the woods and see if all the technology and practice paid off. I was up before day light and ventured to what is known on Wilderness Calls as the 8 point stand, which is a lock on stand with skirting around it for extra cover. As day light broke I was enchanted by all God's creatures coming to life and scurrying around in search of food. What was a quit peaceful woods became alive with all the animals waking up. I had been in the stand for about an hour and a half, when I observed a nice wild hog enter the area. I have been hunting for several years and I will admit when she entered the area my heart began to speed up in anticipation of harvesting such a fine animal. To make it more nerve racking was the grunting sounds of other wild hogs in the area. I could see Hogzilla breaking into the area any second, but if he was in the area he did not show himself. After observing the hog feed for over thirty minutes she turned to where I felt comfortable to stand and take a shot. As I was standing up and pulling my bow back the adrenalin began to flow, making it seem to take forever. I then took the shot, it was perfect, and now all I had to do was wait before locating the wild hog. I waited for what seem to be hours, before starting to track the nice hog. I trailed it for only about twenty yards before locating the wild hog. I will be the first to admit all the practice and technology paid off for me that morning.

Hey readers I had another good hunt at Wilderness Calls. I saw the pics of Hogzilla and figured I would give my dad a call and see if they had any wild hog hunts booked for the weekend. So I went up about a week ago it was my first afternoon on the stand the birds where chirping and the August heat was not holding back. After about 1 hour on the stand it went to raining. Then it started to cool off so I started checking out the back of my eye lids. I was excited when I woke up there in front of me was what I thought was the legendary Hogzilla. I eased my 270 Savage out the window of the box stand and squeezed the trigger when the smoke cleared he was laying right where I shot him.We took him to the local processor where he weighed in at 398 pounds.My dad had the trail pics of Hogzilla, which we compared to the hog I shot. We could tell the wild hog I shot was not Hogzilla .Well thank you Wilderness Calls and dad for another awesome hunt! I will be back come bow season in hopes for one of those giant GA whitetails.

Sam Jr

At Wilderness Calls we believe in deer management hunting and conservation, in order to have a well developed herd of deer. I have been a member of Hatch Bend Hunting Club for over 25 years, which is located in north central Florida. In the hunting club's beginning, whitetail deer were scarce and there was a no doe hunting rule. This was instituted to build the herd size. When the herd became large. the idea of harvesting does was presented but met with strong resistance by some of the members that could remember when a whitetail deer being visible was rare on the property. Some members still believed that if you harvested a doe the hunting club would revert back to where you could not enjoy seeing deer when you visited the club property. Through debate and education they realized the value of harvesting does to ensure lack of inbreeding and ratio of buck to doe during the rut.

So I chose the second weekend of gun season in Florida to travel to Hatch Bend Hunting Club and harvest a doe. Knowing how important it was to control the doe to buck ratio, I always attempt to do my part. A cold front was just entering the area that Saturday morning and the weather was cloudy and windy. Samuel Jr. had scouted the area and set me up on a leaning tree stand (which brought back memories of my still hunting beginning) on the edge of a pond. At approximately 8 am three whitetail deer entered the area and began to feed on some acorns and corn near the tree stand. There were two large does and a yearling. I decided to pass on the 3 deer, because Samuel Jr. had told me of a large 8 point buck he had seen in the area. As the whitetail deer left the area I remembered that I was there to practice deer management hunting and was a little disgusted with myself.

That afternoon I returned to the same stand as the cold front was fully over the area, scattered showers and wind. Yes it was a perfect afternoon for hunting. This was one time however that I was glad to be in a ladder stand only 15 feet off the ground and not in a climber 30 feet in a tree as the wind howled in the area. At 5 pm the same 3 deer I had observed that morning entered the area and began to feed approximately 30 yards from my stand. The stand was placed in some bushy trees and the deer did not notice it was there, feeding within 5 feet of the stand on several occasions. At this point the howling wind and light rain did not seem to be so bad, as I prepared to harvest the doe that was without a yearling. As part of the deer management hunting, it is always better to harvest a doe that may be past her reproduction prime. The doe finally turned slightly broadside and presented the perfect shot. I took the shot and the doe only went about 20 feet before falling, another perfect shot, making my hunt successful. A total of 9 does had been harvested before I left, which will make the herd stronger for the coming year.

It was an over cast day in Florida. I was hunting in one of my clubs that I have been a member of for many years, it was doe week in Florida so I decided to take a mature doe. I had been hunting for a couple of days and saw many deer but not the one I wanted. It was my last afternoon hunt I had about 30 minutes of light left when a nice mature doe stepped out I lifted my 270 savage up and squeezed the trigger and the doe went straight down. I tell you what those 150 gran Remington core locks don't play. It was another successful day in the woods.

Sam Jr.

We arrived at Wilderness Calls on the evening of the first day of hunting season; there was a chill in the air and the anticipation of a successful week of hunting. The next morning the temperature had dropped into the lower 40s and perfect for the first week of gun season. That morning I decided to hunt at the beaver dam, where Little Samuel had seen several deer and hogs a week before during bow season. I observed four deer feeding through the area, but was not able to get a shot, due to the bushes in the area. I then observed three hogs enter the area. To make a long story short, I took a rushed shot at one of the hogs and yes a piece of my shirt is hanging on the wall of shame.

Through noon that day we scouted the many other areas at Wilderness Calls, where I observed several fresh tracks of deer in the tree food plot. (Named because of the large oak tree in the middle of the food plot) I got settled into the lock on stand in the large tree at approximately 4:30 PM, a slight wind was blowing and you could fell the chill in the air. About an hour later a large sow and 8 small pigs entered the food plot, underneath me. Something in the woods startled them before I could get a shot on the sow, causing them to snort and leave the area. I still enjoyed watching them for the period of time as they fed under me. At approximately 6:00 PM the wind settled down and calm fell on the area, almost breath taking as it was so peaceful. I then observed two deer entering the food plot from the west. As the two whitetail deer entered the food plot I could see that it was a large doe and mature yearling. As the large doe ventured farther into the food plot, I got into position to take a shot. I have hunted for many years but I could still fell a rush of excitement as I knew I was going to have the opportunity to harvest such a fine animal. When she turned broadside, I placed the cross hairs of my Buckmaster scope just behind the left shoulder and took the shot. The doe whirled and ran approximately 30 feet before falling to the ground. It was a clean shot and I had harvested my first whitetail deer for the 2008 season.

It was a freezing afternoon hunt at Wilderness Calls. I was nestled in one of our lock on stands. I heard birds and squirrels playing in the leaves, but I had not seen any deer or wild hogs. It was almost dark when I heard the woods come alive out of no where 3 big sows came running into the food plot I picked the biggest sow out and made a perfect shot. After I loaded her on my Honda rancher I headed back to the camp. Later that night we sat around the fire and traded our hunting stories after eating a nice meal.

Sam Jr.

After hunting in North Florida a few days it was time to return to Wilderness Calls. It was Thanksgiving and a tradition started five years ago, so it was time to hunt the wilderness of Wilderness Calls. I was fortunate to harvest two wild hogs the time I spent during the Thanksgiving holiday. A cold front had moved through the area before I arrived on the day before Thanksgiving and the temperature had dropped into the low 30's, a perfect time to hunt. Bill was already at the camp when I arrived, we immediately retrieved the spy cam to see what was caught on film. The camera had been set up just east of the Tree food plot and several bucks and hogs were caught on film. I decided that was where I would spend my Thanksgiving morning, setting in the lock on stand in the Tree food plot.

It was a perfect morning, not a cloud in the sky, frost on the ground, the hunting gods had smiled on me this morning and I was looking forward to a successful start of my Thanksgiving hunt. I settled into the lock on stand, located in the large oak tree before day light. I am still amazed at all the creatures and wildlife that comes alive as the light begins to break for the day. It is like the quiet of the wilderness comes alive with song and all the little animals scurrying around for food.

Then at approximately 8:30 A.M. a large sow entered the food plot underneath the stand I was in, eating acorns. I watched her for several minutes before she moved about 20 yards to my right, presenting me with the perfect shot. I took the shot and she fell right where she was standing. My Thanksgiving week had started off successfully.

It was the last day, Wednesday before I had to return to work when I was fortunate to harvest my second wild hog. I had hunted for a week and seen several doe, bucks and yearlings, none that I wanted to harvest, but each time I observed a deer I set in amazement of their splendor. I had observed several large wild hog tracks at the tripod feeder on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. I decided then that I would spend my last evening hunt in the tri pod stand, located north of the feeder and attempt to harvest another fine wild hog. At approximately 10 minutes after the sun had set behind the trees and the temperature begin to fall rapidly; I heard the sounds of hogs in the woods east of my stand. I began to get excited as they grunted and snorted while they approached the feeder. To my surprise six wild hogs entered the area, all about the same size. Now the real hunt began to figure out which one to harvest. A large wild hog turned broadside and presented me the perfect shot. I took aim and he fell where he was standing, the other 5 wild hogs grunted and ran off. It was a 100 pound young boar. My hunting trip had been much better then I could have imagined, two fine hogs in one week. It will be hard to wait for Christmas and go hunting again when the bucks should be in full rut.

Hey Wilderness Calls I figured I would stop in and tell ya'll how my bow season is going in FL. Opening weekend in FL. I shot a 7 point, the next weekend I had a nice 8 point- redneck 9 point come in chasing a doe. My heart was about to pound out of my chest with anticipation that I would get a chance to take such a fine buck. All my hard work and practice was about to pay off. I finally got a chance to pull my bow back; I hit the trigger the arrow hit perfect right in the shoulder and he dropped in his tracts. Well I can't wait to get back after those GA. bucks.

Sam Kight Jr.