The Cypress Creek Skinning Shed

If you missed the first one, you don’t want to miss the next opportunity to attend Tactical Rifles, Inc long-range shooting class that will be held here at Cypress Creek Hunting Lodge on Sept. 17 and 18.

Just like before, the class will be held on our 1000 yard rifle range and start at 1pm on Friday and run through 5pm on Saturday. All guns and ammo will be provided, and the only charge will be for the ammo used by each student. Shooting during the class will be with everything from the 204 Ruger to the 300WSM, and will be done from benches, a shooting house and from the prone position. Students attending the long-range shooting class can either stay in one of the local motels or pay $100 a night per person to stay at our lodge with all meals provided as well.

If you are not familiar with Tactical Rifles long-range shooting classes, please read about the one we had in May here. I would also encourage anyone that doesn’t know about the incredible custom rifles that Tactical Rifles creates to read some of the reviews of their work from Guns Magazine, Rifle Shooter and Special Weapons.

Registration for the class will be closed when we hit 20 students, so please call us ASAP if you are interested in joining us for this unique opportunity.

South Carolina’s lowcountry deer hunting season starts in just 5 weeks, and we have been working hard in the heat to get everything ready for it. We have been cutting shooting lanes, hanging stands, fixing vehicles and even painting rooms and refinishing the floors at the lodge in preparation for our guests who are looking to shoot a buck in velvet. We are truly excited about getting the season rolling, and we are really looking forward to seeing the many guests that come every year for this unique opportunity to harvest bucks on their summer feeding patterns.

Gene with another Cypress Creek hog

And while we haven’t had many guests lately looking to harvest a hog in all of this hot weather, we are still keeping the pigs close to our stands for those tough souls willing to endure some heat and bugs for a chance at one. Justin even sat a few evenings this summer to see what the hogs were up to, and of course most of the activity was right at last light due to the temperatures. However he did get some great video of a good boar coming into a stand over on Boggy Creek, so check the footage out and make sure and notice how alert the hog is… That is how most smart, older hogs act when they are at a feeding location, and they are looking for ANY sign that things aren’t right so that they can leave immediately. So when you are in a stand and your hogs come in, make sure and stay still until they settle down - then and only then should you raise your weapon for a shot. Many times this bit of patience can make the difference between getting your hog or just watching him run off.

How hot has it been? Just check the thermometer!

This week we also have three pictures to show everyone. First, many of our guests ask about the poisonous snakes that inhabit our woods, and wonder if they will mess with them. Our answer for the most part is NO. However you do have to be very aware of where you are putting down your feet when walking to and from the stands because they are out there… As a matter of fact, just check out the water moccasin that Justin had to remove from near one of our stands! We normally don’t kill ANY snakes, but occasionally we have to remove one that doesn’t want to be relocated. Another picture this week is from our good friend Gene from NC who shot a nice hog two weeks ago and finally sent us a pic of himself with his harvest - Thanks Gene for the pic, and congratulations on another nice pig! And finally we have a shot of one of our vehicle’s outside temperature gauges while we were out working on getting everything ready for opening day - Not for the weak of heart or body.

If you are interested in hunting some velvet bucks, please give Becky a call ASAP to see what dates we still have open during that first two weeks of the season. They bucks will be shedding their velvet by Sept. 1st, so there is a very short window of opportunity to kill one. We hope to see you here!

Andrew with his first hog

The full summer heat has arrived, and our average daily temperature is around 100 with the heat index breaking 110! However even with the oppressive weather, our hogs have continued to move pretty well for an animal with NO sweat glands and that must stay close to water to stay alive.

Now granted much of the hog’s movement is right around the last light of the day when it finally drops under 90 degrees, but as long as you can see them, you can kill them. And fortunately several of our hunters this past weekend did get to see some hogs before complete darkness set in and harvest them. We had a group of 5 hunters down from PA, and while the hogs didn’t cooperate much Friday with only Joe missing one that morning at Boggy Creek, they did see quite a few Saturday night down at the River. That allowed Andrew to shoot a great 150 pound sow, Michael to almost get one and Richard to miss several times.

Anthony and Guy with their two crossbow kills

We also had our good friends Gene and his brother Randy down from NC for their monthly one-day hunt, and they too both saw hogs (over 20 apiece) with Gene taking a nice 150 pound sow down at the River Saturday night. Then as the PA group was leaving on Sunday, Guy and his brother Anthony showed up. And over 3 days they saw quite a few hogs and took 3 home, two shot with crossbows and one with a rifle; Guy also shot a nice coyote over on Boggy Creek on a morning hunt. In addition, the two of them spent some time over at the bow camp’s fishing pond, and they each battled several good fish while landing a couple. So a huge congratulations to everyone that showed up to battle the heat and bugs and have a great hunt! And as always, we truly look forward to having everyone back on the lowcountry as soon as they can make it.

Guy with his boggy Creek coyote

Now we have just 3 in camp for a day or two, then another week-long break before our next hunters. So we will continue to work on stands, cut shooting lanes and set up feeders in preparation for deer season that starts in just 8 weeks! We hope that you will join us.

Anthony and a bowfin aka: mudfish

Anthony and his bass

Mike and his great lowcountry boar

That’s right. It’s the summer and many people are headed to the beach to spend the hot days lying on the sand. However for those true hunters that are going crazy during the dog days and really need an outdoor fix, there is nothing like hitting the woods for a well-deserved hog hunt. And like I have said before, while it might be warm here in the lowcountry with a few bugs, there is very little pressure during the summer, so the hunting can still be very good.

And sure enough, this past weekend proved it again. We had just 4 hunters at the lodge, but managed to kill two nice pigs with everyone seeing hogs and having great hunts. Mike started us off on Friday evening when he shot a monster 225 pound boar with good 2.5 inch cutters over on Boggy Creek while his hunting partner, Adam, also had opportunities for his first hog ever that same night, but chose to watch the meat hogs to see if a bigger one showed. Andruis, down from NY, rounded out the kills when he took a nice 80 pound meat hog down at Boggy that same night while on just a one day hunt.

Andruis with his 80 pound meat hog

We also had Dan and his son down, and they saw some small hogs while here but just didn’t ever get a big one to come out. But that is real hunting, and since they are already planning to come back, we will just plan to work even harder to get them on some good hogs next time. Now we have small gap in hunters, so we all are taking a break for the next 10 days or so when a big group of 11 hunters come in for the weekend of June 12th. We should really do well then since we  just had a BIG full moon this past weekend, and that usually hurts the hog hunting, so we were pleasantly surprised that we had as much movement as we did. So if we had good hunting on a full moon, we should really do well on a dark moon for the 12th. And we look forward to sharing the details of that hunt with you!

Simply amazing!

That is all most of the “students” of last weekend’s long-range shooting class could respond with when asked about the two day event held at Cypress Creek Hunting Lodge by custom rifle maker Tactical Rifles, Inc.

The class was designed to assist the 20 shooters in attendance move past the 400-500 yard mark that most were comfortable with and reach out to distances of up to 1000 yards. This was accomplished with the instruction and guidance of David Rooney, the owner of Tactical Rifles, as well as two professional snipers, Chris and Dennis. We were also truly fortunate to have our friend and special guest, Special Forces Sgt. Greg Stube, assisting them.

Shooters were able to try out an assortment of unbelievable custom rifles made by Tactical Rifles and chambered in everything from 204 Ruger to the 300 WSM, with the lighter calibers being in the M4 tactical, and the heavier calibers in the M40 sniper versions. And on these two styles of rifles were different combinations of every accessory you could think of including muzzle breaks and suppressors that made shooting Tactical Rifles’ incredible concoctions much nicer on the shoulder. In addition, all of the custom rifles were topped by prime optics from both Nightforce and Leupold with both adjustable turrets and/or range-compensating reticles..

The class started with some instruction on the theories and practices of long-range shooting and then quickly went right into the hands-on part where we were basically set up with one of the instructors and a rifle of our choosing to put some lead down range. David, Chris, Greg and Dennis then were able to share with us how to maximize the stability of the rifle on just a bipod, correct for the right amount of bullet drop for a given distance and then assess the wind to compensate for the bullet’s drift. We then shot up to our 1000 yard range’s maximum distance while the instructors critiqued our form in addition to continually helping us reevaluate the changing wind and increasing mirage that came about as the day’s heat increased.

By the end of the two day event, everyone was absolutely hammering the targets out to 800 yards and doing pretty well on the 900 and 1000 yard marks. However David, Chris, Greg and Dennis were not surprised since they contend that any experienced shooter with good form and their precision rifles carrying the best optics should be able to the same!!! And if you are curious as to what makes Tactical Rifles’ creations different from the gun you are currently shooting, please check out their website’s links to several articles/reviews that explain how they achieve their amazing accuracy - with FACTORY ammo no less! Also, please check their site out as well if you are considering purchasing a new rifle… There are 20 students that will guarantee that you will NOT be disappointed!

Cypress Creek and Tactical Rifles are already planning their next long-range shooting class for sometime in September, so if you are interested in getting in on it, you had better call ASAP and get your reservation in.

As for the hunting here in the lowcountry, things have been pretty slow due to the heat and lack of rain (until yesterday!) as well as due to not having but a few hunters at the lodge. However two of our good friends from Canada, Todd and Jamie Ford, who were down for the shooting class were both able to take nice hogs. And the week before the class, our good friends from NC who come down once a month, Gene, Randy and Joe, were in for their usual one day hunt, and Gene killed one while Joe hit a hog that the guides couldn’t find.

We are now entering June, and we should continue to have just a few hunters here and there for the summer, but at least with the last two days of rain, the few hunters we do have in camp should do well. Stay tuned!

Dennis spotting for Jamie

NC's Gene with a good Boggy Creek boar

This weekend Cypress Creek Hunting Lodge will host our first ever long-range shooting class on our 1000 yard shooting range with instruction provided by Tactical Rifles, Inc. with special guest Special Forces Sgt. Greg Stube. The class is completely free to anyone interested in learning from some of the best shooters in the business as well as getting a chance to try out Tactical Arms incredible custom rifles. The class runs from 1pm to 5pm on Friday, and 8am until 5pm on Saturday; We will also have a hog cooking Friday night. So come and join us for some great fellowship with fellow hunters/shooters and learn important shooting skills. Just give Becky a call at 1-877-520-2245 if you are interested in joining us.

And while our long-range shooting class will only be this weekend, our great hog hunts will be available all summer. So for any of you hunters out there that need to quench your thirst for hunting and can’t wait for the fall, come on down and join us for some real fun hunting hogs. Yes, it will be hot and the bugs deep in the swamp will try to carry you off. But that is why they make thermacells - the anti-bug contraptions that allow hunters to sit in shorts to keep the heat at bay without ever getting bit. So grab some cool clothing along with a fresh pad and butane cartridge (the two things that make the thermacell work) and head on down to the lowcountry for some great summer hunting action… At just $275 a day, you can’t beat it. Again, just give Becky a call to check the availability of the dates you would like to hunt. We hope to see you soon.

Rick from WV with his massive boar

What a monster!

That is all that needs to be said for the giant boar hog that Rick L. from West Virginia killed last week right behind our Luray lodge. The 400 pounder strolled out for some corn just after daylight and into Rick’s crosshairs, which helped him accurately deliver a good shot to the massive pig. And while he did run back into the woods a ways, Justin and Quentin where able to recover Rick’s first wild hog ever so that he could not only take home tons of great tasting pork, but put his huge head on the wall to remember his hunt forever. So congratulations to Rick on his first hog and Cypress Creek’s biggest porker in some time.

As for things around the lodge, we have mainly been working on getting things ready for August 15th by moving stands, cutting shooting lanes and putting up more feeders in our best spots. We have also been doing quite a bit of work around the lodge and out back on our 1000 yard shooting range in preparation for our long-range shooting class that will be held next weekend. And while we don’t have many hunters during the summer, we will have a fairly steady stream of small groups looking to put some pork on the ground despite the heat and bugs, so make sure and keep checking back for more stories and pictures!

Kendyl and her dad Gary with their two longbeards

At sunset on Saturday, the 2010 South Carolina turkey season officially ended for us after 6 weeks of hard hunting, but not before producing two more big, mature gobblers for our last two turkey hunters Kendyl and her dad Gary.

Justin with his limbhanger

Down from NC for their second attempt in just two weeks, the father and daughter team  joined us again for the last two days of the season in hopes that they could harvest a big bird together. And after two full mornings of hunting with Justin, they had come close but still not sealed the deal. So their chances at getting a turkey were pretty much over as everyone drove out of the woods and back towards the lodge - when 7 big gobblers walked across the dirt road in front of them and towards a small watering hole full of tall grass. That small brake gave them a chance to get out of the van and circle around in front of them for a couple of calls and a shot as they came up and out of the small depression… two shots to be exact, which produced two nice longbeards! So congratulations to Kendyl and Gary on two nice birds, and to Justin for helping us and our guests to finish up the season on such a high note.

Jeff with his boys Bo and Will Hunt and his big gobbler

And since we were winding up the season this week and only had two hunters left, Justin and I also had a chance to hit the woods to see if we couldn’t get a gobbler too. And after some hard hunting and a few close calls, we each were able to harvest a nice bird a piece. So after calling and hunting without a gun in hand most of the season, it was a nice change for us to hit the woods ready to do business ourselves.

A 400 LB boar from behind the lodge

Our only other hunters this past week were two down from Greenville, SC to bow hunt some hogs. And while they didn’t take any pork home, one was able to get a good opportunity at a big hog right behind the lodge. Unfortunately he couldn’t capitalize on his chance after his arrow fell off of his rest and spooked the pig. But as we always say, that is real hunting; and if it was always easy, it really wouldn’t be as much fun

And I don’t know if it was the same hog or not that was missed, but I just got a text message from Justin that one of the hog hunters here today just shot a HUGE 400 pound boar on the power line right behind the lodge this morning! Just check that massive sucker out in the camera-phone pic! I promise to have the full story and better pictures of the monster for next week’s posting, so make sure and check back to see more.

What a MONSTER HOG!

Now after 6 weeks of almost non-stop hunting, we have a few days to do some work around the lodge to get caught up on all of the to-do list items that have been put off. Then it is time to start moving stands and trimming shooting lanes in preparation for the deer season that starts in just over 3 months. However while we will not have near as many hog hunters joining us during these hot, buggy summer months, we will also be working hard to keep the pigs fat, healthy and undisturbed so that on the days (mostly weekends) when we do have hog hunters, we can make their time in the woods as productive as possible. And when our hunters are dropping 400 pounders and the trailcams are catching big packs of meat hogs running around in the middle of the afternoon as well as other giant pigs hiding in the night, we will be eagerly awaiting  you for some great hunting!

Meat hogs at 3:30pm...

Justin's mom Jamie with her Boggy Creek hog

With all of the hot weather lately, the hogs have been keeping the majority of their movement confined to right around dark when it finally cools off. However early in the week several hogs at the River didn’t wait quite late enough and found themselves in the crosshairs of Tim who hammered two nice ones while WV’s Smiley (Nathanial) killed one. Then a nice downpour Saturday afternoon dropped the temperature considerably, and the hogs rolled out even earlier and right in front of all of our hunters. Joe and Gene, two of our NC crew that come down once a month, dropped good pigs while Jamie, our guide Justin’s mom, shot two and his dad Dave missed one.

Justin's dad Dave with his River gobbler

But hogs weren’t the only thing moving in the woods this past week; our turkeys were working pretty good as well. So Danny took the Hunting the World Southern Style TV camera crew

Hunting The World Southern Style with their big gobbler

and their shooter down to the River where they got some incredible footage while harvesting one big gobbler and missing another. Our other turkey hunters this week were Justin’s parents who were doing the hog/turkey combo, and Dave missed one before connecting on a giant bird while Jamie missed one of the three that her son called in for her right behind the lodge. She then tried to make up for it by hunting super hard in the driving rain and wind with me down on the River on Sunday, but to no avail.  But just let me say that many hunters could learn a thing or two from her about hunting hard and not letting bad conditions keep you out of the woods!

Now we have less than a week to finish off the 2010 South Carolina turkey hunting season.  So in addition to our two hunters this weekend, the guides get to hunt a few mornings too. And we can’t wait to see how the Cypress Creek crew finish the season out and then let you know how everyone did.

NC's Joe and Gene with River hogs

Also please note that if you haven’t contacted Becky about attending our long-range shooting class in May, you had better call ASAP to reserve your spot. Because once we reach a reasonable number of students, we will be cutting off registration to ensure that everyone gets lots of personal attention. Hope to see you there!

Smiley with his big hog

Tim with one of his two River hogs

Wayne Jr. with a nice Boggy boar

Like I said last week, we are entering into our slower summer hunting period now that the warm weather has arrived. However that can be great news for those that are still seeking some hog hunting fun despite the high temperatures. Because while we have a lot less hunters during the mosquito days, that also means the hogs have a lot less pressure on them. Then throw in a $50 a day discount for hog hunts from April 1st through September 31st, and you have the makings of a great summer hunting trip. Just give Becky a call so that she can help you set things up.

Mark with his meat hog

As for our last week’s hunting, we just had a few hog hunting groups including two men that were also turkey hunting in the AM. Out of those, Wayne Jr. from PA shot a nice 130 pound boar over on Boggy Creek along with Shane who harvested a nice, small meat hog. Also killing one after missing one was Mark from IN who also killed a nice meat hog. And even though they didn’t all get a pig, some of the other members of their hunting parties saw over 20+ hogs that were either too small, too fast or too late to shoot. But as we always say, that is real hunting.

Robert and his son Chris with a young gobbler

Robert, down from VA with his son Chris, also killed a young gobbler during his time with us. Now we just have a few more hunters to join us before turkey season ends, and I already have word that two of them have harvested big birds including the Hunting the World Southern Style TV crew who came back for just one day. We look forward to sharing those successful hunts with everyone next week.