I wasn't ready to post that lol, not sure what happened........
Anyhow we continued on to the block of woods and got to the downwind side and I turned my smoke, zoey and camo dogs loose and let em roll, they strolled out on their own tracks and one of em came bayed on what we are pretty sure was another sow and pigs, the other 2 made it to em and they all broke different directions but were headed back in our general direction, zoey and smoke closed the distance to roughly 100yds and we heard squealing and then nothing (typical of these rough mutts ive been running......hahaha) well after about twenty minutes of hearing pigs squeal they lost interest and I holler at em to come out, zoey came back to us and camo crossed the road in front of us and rolled off into another block of woods............ well my ol smoke dog came into about 30-40yds or so and sat down, I hollered at him a few times and passed it off figuring he was doing what he had done multiple times in the past thinkin he was more than likely enjoyin a piglet dinner.......... well after about 20 minutes of him still not coming out and still showing treed I decided to go see what was going on.......I walked in to him, got close and realized that he wasn't eatin on anything and that sadly he had passed away........
I knew quite a while back that his days were numbered as he was getting way up in age however I made a deal with the man that I got him from that I would hunt him until he wouldn't go anymore and I did just that........ I was sure sad (and I still am) to see the old man laying there lifeless but at the same time it was hard for me to be too terribly upset. That old dog lived for 1 thing and it was hunting/working hogs and in his earlier days cattle and I can't think of a better way for him to go out than being in the woods doing what he loved.........we looked him over for quite a while trying to figure out what could have caused it and couldn't find a knick/bump/bruise/cut/poke or anything that would explain what happened.....I honestly think that the old mans heart finally just gave out on him....... Smoke was born in a barn on Mr. Witherspoons yard in early 2001 and was coming close to the 14yr old mark.........a hell of a run for a dog in the line of work he was in and I can honestly say that he hunted as hard for me saturday night as he did the first time I dropped him a few years back . I am still kinda lost knowing that he won't be around to hunt with anymore but because of him (and Mr. Witherspoon) I still have a yard full of dogs that will keep me happy and in the woods chasing pigs.
It's gonna be a long while before I find another dog that will make me smile as often as he did and make me as proud as he did on a regular basis but it will come. Zoey is a close relative to smoke and a gyp I really wanted to breed to him before he passed (i was actually waiting on her to come in to make it happen but I never had the chance......such is life I reckon.). His son skeeter just turned 17mths of age and has really been doing a fine job rolling out and making a hand himself so hopefully he will step it up a bit more and fill the void. Camo is doing his part as he has since the day I purchased him and God willing he will stay healthy and keep on rolling along. Those three along with bonnie and the others in my yard can and will still get it done but its gonna be a long time before I get used to the old man not being around.
I know im rambling but I feel like I owe it to the old man to say a few words about him. I will never say he was the best dog i've ever hunted behind but you can bet your last dollar that even in his old age he was the best dog i've ever owned and he is going to be sorely missed by me and family and hunting partners for a long time. Here's to you smoke, hope to see ya again someday.
I would post a couple pics of him but my tapacrap app won't upload on my phone anymore and I never did figure out how to post a pic off my computer lol, hell he wasn't much to look at anyhow just a good ol goofy lookin curr dog that managed to get it done here and there
