Nolton Creek Hunt

To say that I was a bit apprehensive about Team HawgLite’s first bow hunt would be a gross understatement. We made our way south to Nolton Creek Bowhunting just outside Sabinal, Texas with a cloudy day and weather conditions that weren’t too promising. We had already discussed that we best put our best arrow forward early since the weather didn’t appear to be pleasant after Saturday afternoon or so.

We met up with Larry and Tina Zimmerman who own and operate Nolton Creek and to my surprise I had met Larry late last year on a hunt over at the Bar E in Hondo. We shared some laughs, reminisced a bit and decided to change clothes and hit the blinds.

I got settled into my tripod and not long after Tina made the food run did I hear that familiar crunch and grunt of hogs devouring their supper. I could see movement thru the brush and what appeared to be about 10 to 12 hogs making their way towards me. I picked my spot and got myself settled watching them feed towards me. Hogs anywhere from 100 to well over 200 lbs were making quick work of the corn and I decided to take the first volunteer that stepped into the shooting lane. I nice 100lb red hog offered a good broadside shot and I let fly. The thump, the squeal and the scurry was on. I could see my arrow still in him, just a bit low maybe but a good hit. Through the brush and up the hill I heard a squeal and figured he was down.

After some talk on the radio with Kelly and Larry the tracking job was on. Larry told me to wait for him and Tina since ‘some of that stuff gets thick’ !! I gladly waited and we found good blood where I shot and the track was on. About 40yds up the hill we found my arrow covered in dark red blood. Still tracking we hit ‘that thick stuff’ and Larry and Tina both were down to the belly crawl tracking blood. We looked until almost dark and followed what were now mere specks before calling it quits and heading over to pick up Kelly and his hog. I was disappointed to say the least.

We went back to camp and Larry and I watched Kelly clean his hog, offering all the expert advise we could muster of course!! Dinner in town at a little Mexican food café was awesome.

Once back at the ranch we made our plans to hunt the 2 feeders with lights and give the HawgLite its test. Kelly was using the blue lens and I had the red lens when we approached the feeder to what we thought was about 25yds. Kelly hit his light and there were hogs everywhere and not a one spooked from the light!! They acted like we weren’t even there. This was great!!! I hit the red lens and the same response. HawgLite was performing great!! Kelly whispered for me to go ahead and take one. A nice size hog was directly under the feeder so I draw the bow, hit the light, release, and THWACK!! The strangest sight and I wasn’t sure what had just happened. The Lumenok arced its way over and at the sound of the hit it looked like I had lit a sparkler. UGH!!! Feeder legs have no taste and are extremely hard to clean!!!

We shared a laugh and some ribbing on my part of course, and decided to try the other feeder. Got us some stools and set up about 15yds away. The night was dark and quiet and we heard some pigs making their way toward the feeder thru the barbed wired fence. We made our plan, divided up our shooting lanes and waited. The feeder went off sending the adrenalin pumping. But nothing compared to what happened next. I could hear the grunting and walking and turned to Kelly. He nodded that he heard it too and it was just over my shoulder. I’m still not sure just how close that hog passed by me and probably don’t want to know!! We waited some more, let them all get comfortable under the feeder. With the feeder light we had no trouble seeing 2 extremely large hogs, covered in mud and rather ghostly looking. We were almost ready. Then from out of nowhere, and for the first time all night, a very light breeze from our back toward the feeder and poof, they were gone!!!

We more or less slept in Saturday morning but the wind and rain was coming in as advertised. After a break and the obligatory trip to Wal-Mart, we headed back out Saturday afternoon. The wind and rain was getting worse. We talked on the radio and decided to try our hand at spot and stalk. We rounded a corner and there they were working their way down the road. Kelly and I bailed out and set up the ambush. I was warm and dry in my FroggTogg’s but man they are noisy!!! We hunkered down and the first volunteer presented itself. I didn’t even get drawn and he bolted. We moved a little further back off the road and Larry called on the radio and that they were still coming. A nice sow made her way in front of me and I drew again, THWACK!! She ran about 30yds and that was it, I had some pork for the cooler!!!.

I can’t thank Larry and Tina enough for a great weekend of hunting. Nolton Creek Bowhunting is a must stop for any bow hunter. Nice clean and spacious lodging, full bath and shower, well stocked full kitchen and all the wild game you wanna see or go after!!

Looking forward to going back in May with our drawing winner.

Have fun, be safe, get out there and enjoy our great outdoors and always remember…

“A bad day hunting is better than a good day working.”

See ya in the woods!!

Ronny Poston

Pro-Staff Team HawgLite