February 11, 2005, we were finally on our way, heading to northern Michigan for a Russian Boar hunt. For seven months since booking the hunt the anticipation was building. I had never hunted boar, in fact I had never paid to hunt before. All of my hunting experiences amounted to whitetail deer, turkey and small game, mostly on my property, so to say I was excited was an understatement. My husband and I headed out early Friday afternoon and my Dad and friend Rich would be joining us by early evening.

We had booked a 2-day hunt, but unfortunately my husband and I had to cut it short. Our brother-in-law and hunting buddy had passed away three days before we were to leave, and we would need to be home for the services. We had briefly discussed canceling all together, but after talking about it decided that "Bob" would want us to go and make the most of it. We decided to dedicate the hunt to him and headed out.

David’s Hog Wild 2000 is located in Northland, Michigan and owned and operated by David and Laurie VanElsacker. They offer a very reasonably priced hunt, with lodging and meals provided. We arrived and checked in at the main house. Laurie pleasantly greeted us and directed us to the hunting cabin. The cabin was a beautiful log structure, a work in progress but completed to the point where it was comfortable. We had just gotten settled in when David arrived. We informed him about our situation and he assured us not to worry. We discussed the next day’s hunt plans, received answers to all our questions and directions to a quaint little country bar where they had a fantastic Friday fish fry.

On Saturday morning we met at the main house for breakfast then headed out to hunt. Before us lay 67 acres of Michigan cedar swamp. We had our choice of tree stands, ground blinds or spot and stalk, and between the four of us we had it all covered. As David headed to the backside of the swamp to begin the spot and stalk he dropped each of us off at the stands we chose. I had opted for a tree stand and up I went and got settled in. Quickly I started assessing the area, picking out the trails worn in the snow by the hogs and determining shooting lanes. Within 30 minutes or so I heard a shot, but my sense of direction in the woods isn’t always that great and I couldn’t determine which stand it had come from. Suddenly I heard crunching noises in the snow and through the brush I could see the hogs coming in my direction. At that point I didn’t have a clear shot and they paused briefly at a fork in the trail. If they went to the right I figured they would be headed in the direction of my father’s stand. If they went left they would pass directly in front of my stand. They came in my direction and they were coming fast. If they kept moving like that I wouldn’t have much chance for a shot. I picked an opening in front of them on the trail and when the next hog stepped into it I pulled the trigger. The hog kept moving but within 10-15 feet was bouncing off the trees and within 10 yards he was down. I really wasn’t sure what to expect next. I could still hear the hogs in the brush and wasn’t sure if they would circle and go after the dead hog. I decided I would stay in the stand just in case and wait for the guide. Within 15 minutes David appeared and we went to my hog. We made sure we got plenty of pictures then David went to retrieve the 4-wheeler and get the hogs out of the swamp. The shot I had heard was our friend Rich, who took a nice sow with a pistol on the spot and stalk. Two down-two to go. We decided to pick up my Dad and spot and stalk our way back to my husband’s stand then take a short lunch break.

Several times David pointed out hogs moving through the brush. I was amazed at how difficult it was to spot them. We picked up my Dad and continued back toward my husband. Suddenly David stopped and pointed out a nice boar to my Dad. He placed a perfect shot and we were now three down and one to go. We continued toward my husband’s stand but before we got there we heard a shot. My husband had taken a nice boar from his tree stand.

David got the hogs out to the game pole where we took more pictures and David field dressed all the hogs for us. He did compliment our group on our shooting and shot placement skills. Apparently on more than one occasion he has had to track wounded boars into the brush, a dangerous job. By then lunch was ready for us so we headed back to the cabin. David knew my husband and I had to leave that day and told us he would skin them out and have them quartered for us by mid-afternoon.

So was it worth it, yes it definitely was. Was it what I expected, yes and no. Was it a hunt or a shoot, I guess it depends on what you are looking for and your own situation at the time. For me it was just the mid-winter break I needed, especially at such a sad time in my life. For a first time hunter or a child it couldn’t be a better set-up. For anyone looking for a friendly enjoyable weekend you won’t be disappointed.

I’ve added this hunt to the many memories of times in the fields and woods. This experience, along with all my other hunts, will be drawn on for future hunts and help me become an even better hunter.