I had hiked all day in a two-day old snow looking for fresh tracks.  I found a lot of sign from the previous day but nothing new.  Finally, as evening approached and a steady icy rain started coming down, I started making my way in the direction of the car, which was a good six or so miles away.  Along the way, I came across a large group of very fresh tracks heading right into the wind.  Tired, but not wanting to pass up the opportunity, I slowly picked my way along the tracks, all the while, keeping note of the wind direction, and a close eye on the surrounding woods.  After about an hour of tracking, I was gradually making my way across a series of glades when I spotted a little movement about one hundred yards or so into the woods, it only took moments to make out the shape of the, aptly named, razor-back of a hog.  There was a lot of cover, making him hard to see, much less get a shot at.  Thinking about my next move, I noticed a large bolder about ten yards and slightly to the left, of my position that looked like a good place to get a shot from.  I backed off and then slowly crept up behind the bolder.  Clicking off the safety, I raised my rifle above the bolder only to be disappointed.  The hog had disappeared.  I was distraught, cold, wet, and empty handed once again.  I figured he must have seen me, caught my scent, something.  I was ready to pack it up and head home but I figured I'd go down to where I saw him and try to make out what exactly happened.  I couldn't find any sign that the hog spooked, the tracks just seemed to move off, continuing to root for acorns.  I went ahead followed along, carefully.  Coming to another glade, again I spotted movement about a hundred yards across the glade and into the woods.  By lying down and sliding across the ice covered glade on my belly I was out of sight of the hogs and able to get into a good shooting position.  Lying on the edge of the glade gave me a good view of two large hogs, both of which were using their shovel like heads to root and throw large chunks of snow and ice into the air.  At this point, my heart was pounding and my limbs were shaking.  I had to remind myself to take my time, breathe deep, and concentrate on making a good shot.  One of the hogs turned broadside offering me a clean shot.  Settling the scopes crosshairs just behind the hog’s shoulder, I squeezed the trigger.  Recovering from the recoil of the rifle, I looked through the scope again.  I had missed.  Both hogs were standing at full attention, seemingly unharmed.  I quickly released the rifle bolt allowing the spent cartridge to expel and immediately slammed a new one into the chamber.  Again, taking aim, I fired.  This time all hell broke loose.  To my surprise, there was a large group of hogs foraging just out of sight in a hollow below the two I could see.  At the second report of the rifle they all exploded into view, running directly in my direction.  Immediately, my head was spinning with all the exaggerated tales I had heard of these animals tearing hunters limb from limb.  My first thought was to stay on the ground and hold still because the hogs had obviously not seen me yet but it was quickly apparent that this strategy would not work because the whole group was cutting a straight line for me.  At this realization, I jacked another shell into the chamber, stood up, and waved my arms in the air.  The hogs saw me and split off to go around me, a couple on my right, and the rest on my left.  Right away I noticed one of the hogs on my right was favoring a leg.  Knowing this must be the one I had shot, and not wanting to be responsible for it escaping only to parish slowly later on, I aimed my rifle, fired, and an instant later it lay still on the ground.  To my left there was still a steady stream of hogs moving past.  Again I raised my rifle and fired, dropping a second hog only ten yards from my position.  From the very first shot, the events that took place seemed like an eternity but, in reality, it was all over in an instant.  Gathering my thoughts and coming to the realization that all my effort over the winter had just paid off, I made my way down the hill to admire the larger of the two hogs.  Needless to say, I was elated, that is, until I tried to move the animal.  This brought me to face the reality of just how difficult it was going to be getting them out of the woods.
 
I climbed to a higher position where I could get a signal on my cell phone, and then I called everyone I thought I could talk into helping with the task ahead.  I could only reach my friend Brian Scheidt.  Brian agreed to help out, and was to gather up flashlights and rope before making the hour drive to the wilderness area.  In the meantime, I would go ahead and field dress the hogs before hiking out to a trailhead to meet Brian.  By the time Brian reached the trail head the night had fallen and so had the temperature.   We made our way through the cold dark woods until we found the hogs.  We were both worried if the chore ahead was even going to be possible, and in the end, it turned out that it just barely was.  We worked hard long into the night dragging those two hogs out of the wilderness but, despite the difficultness of that chore, the overall experience of the hunt, along with the knowledge that I was doing my part to preserve and protect Missouri’s woodlands, made it all worth it.