The boar busily fed up wind of my position at 100y. It seemed as though the recent bush fire had cooked the pandanus nuts which lay scattered on the sandy river bank. The boars bulky rear end was the only cover I had so time was of the essence. I quickly made my way into 50y but the boar had other ideas, as he moved down onto the low bank of the river. I thought the bush fire roasted nuts had given him a thirst that he would quench in the river. Although my wife at times tells me I am a pig it seems I don't always think like one.

 I was just sneaking into bow range awaiting a chance to sneak over the bank to catch a glimpse of the boar as he watered. I was 20y away caught flat footed as the boar decided he was yet to have his fill on the nuts.

It had been a long hot day with minimal success.  As I left the driveway the thermometer read 90 degrees. That was at 9am and I had travelled at least 5 mile on foot since arriving on the property. I was hunting my favourite river and hoping to catch a couple of nice boars or buffalo bedded up during the heat of the day. A large mob of buffalo where at my usual parking spot, 70y the rangefinder read. Too far for such a large animal and they would no doubt spook as I left the 4WD for a stalk. I made the most of the aircon as I waited for them to head to the river. They were relaxed and not that worried about the car and soon enough moved off towards the river.

There at the back of the mob he stood, Mr big!! He has teased me with his immense horns before and I hoped that would be the last time as they slipped over the river bank out of sight. I gathered up my gear kicked the dust and with the wind in my favour I tailed up the mob but it was not to be.   

I continued up the river for a couple of hours and managed to take a nice solid young boar at 30y for a nice 1 arrow kill.

It was starting to warm up and sweat ran down my face and the wind was up to its old tricks blowing in bursts from all direction. Hog sightings where nonexistent so I decided to head back to the car to check the time.

As I arrived at the car and checked the time I was surprised as it had felt like I had walked longer. Time was on my side and I still had a couple of hours of the heat of the day in front of me.

The fire had made walking easy and quieter than usual.

Ripples in the water were spotted up ahead, it could only be a boar or a buffalo as the cattle had been removed from this side of the property. I slowly made my way forward but the bow hunter's enemy the wind about turned and let the boar know of my presence. He ran across the river and didn't stop in sight. Bummer he was a great boar.

I kept making my way down the river, pig wallows and diggings were everywhere and kept me keen. I rounded a few more bends and there he was the boar at the start of this story.

The boar had caught me by surprise I thought the gig was up but the boar had his mind fixed on filling his belly and not on the bow hunter that sat huddled within bow range.

He was feeding straight to me not offering a shot as I sat curled up like a ball with my bow out in front to try and break up my outline. At 8y he turned and I saw my chance to draw my bow, take aim and take out his lungs.

The boar burst towards me, not because he knew I was there but because I was sitting on the game trail he wished to use...

I hastily circled a tree 3y to my right to give him the slip. He managed 30y and was down for the count.

I like to get at least 1 nice boar per hunt and this guy fitted that bill perfectly.

I took several self timed pictures then headed to the river for some relief of the heat.  I contemplated returning home but I was in a prime spot at the prime time to hunt so the decision was made to carry on.

The going was harder now, the sand was draining my energy and the sun was cooking my head. I was feeling pretty had it when I spotted the next boar. He was position up against the river bank in his wallow. The plan was to sneak down onto the low bank and use the pandanus that lined the river bank as cover.

The plan worked perfectly and I was now 20 yards from the unsuspecting boar. He was quartering away as the broad head found its mark and he was soon in top gear making his way up the river bank but didn't quite have enough fuel in the tank and he expired half way up.

He was a solid pig but only young and sported very little ivory.

The usual pictures taken I loaded my pack and headed further along the river.

500y further on the familiar black shape of a boar in a wallow took shape.  Again the low bank was used as cover and the boar was quickly dispatched.

I now had the long hot walk back to the 4WD to look forward to but it passed quickly as I relived the hunt.

Once back at the vehicle I through my gear in and made my way to the river to cool down.

Ahhh it might be hot but on days like this it is always worth it!