My story starts a few years ago when I first got into archery.  When I 
first started reading about selfbows and seeing pictures in different 
magazines, I became fascinated with the idea that a piece of wood could be 
worked into something that could actually shoot an arrow. Not having the 
money to buy a bow or the knowledge to make one, I had to wait two years 
before I was able to make one of my own.  In the spring of 1998 at a shoot 
at Crooked Lake I won a Mulberry bow stave from Vinson Miner of North 
Carolina. I bought a set of the Traditional Bowyers Bibles and started 
studying. 

I ended up making a nice flatbow.  The next thing I needed was a set of 
arrows.  Buying a set of wooden shafts didn't seem right for a selfbow. 
One day while walking through Home Depot I spotted a perfectly straight 
grained poplar board that just happened to follow me home.  I cut the board 
into 3/8 inch squares and used a block plane to cut the squares into round 
shafts that were arrow size.  I then straightened, finished and fletched as 
normal. 

Most people who have shot the bow think it's a good shooting bow.  I 
decided to book a hunt with Nickie Roth of Archery Outfitters to give the 
bow a good trying out.  I arrived at the camp on a Friday afternoon.  My 
plan was to begin hunting with a longbow that my friend, Sam Mayor, made 
for me, and then switch to a flatbow.  That's not what happened, because 
selfbows, being closer to an actual tree, must have a mind of their own 
because when I walked out from camp to go to my tree stand, I somehow had 
the flatbow in my hand! 

I got to my tree stand, climbed in and waited.  I didn't have to wait too 
long before a group of about ten hogs came in and started to feed.  They 
looked like a bunch of germs jumping all over each other.  I picked out a 
nice little boar hog and started to draw my bow, but he went behind the 
other hogs.  I then found another hog, drew my bow, and he did the same 
thing.  They went on for about five times (this is great exercise and good 
for the nerves; you should try it sometime! I don't recommend this for deer 
hunting!) 

Finally a nice red-colored hog came out front and stayed there a little too 
long. I drew my bow, picked a spot and released.  The arrow hit the hog; 
all the pigs took off running.  I looked at my bow and thought, "man, this 
thing really works." 

I was a little troubled because the arrow appeared to have hit too far 
back.  I decided to give him some time to lay down and die, so I went back 
to camp to get my friend Sam to help me track the hog.  It was almost dark 
when we got back to the tree stand. It took a little doing, but we found the 
hog.  He has only gone about 50 yards before laying down to die. 
Apparently he had turned on me just as I had shot because the arrow went in 
just behind last rib, went on up through his vitals, and finally stopped 
when it hit the shoulder bone. 

I was the only one to bring in a hog that night. The compound guys were 
amazed that arrows from Home Depot and a wooden bow did the job.  They were 
in awe of the massive three-bladed snuffer broadheads.  It was also fun 
letting them know that my outfit only cost about $20.00.  That night was 
spent roasting fresh hog backstrap.  Sam and I showed off our shooting 
ability by hitting beer cans and bugs (yes, I did say bugs) by lamplight. 
I had a hard time getting to sleep that night because I kept giggling every 
time I thought about how my flatbow outdid all the high-tech equipment.   I 
 know I don't have a lot of experience at hog hunting, but I read 
everything I can get my hands on.  Hogs are tough; it takes a lot to kill one. 

There were five hogs taken that weekend.  Three were taken with traditional 
bows and not one of these three hogs made it farther than 50 yards. 
Traditional bowhunters seem to use heavier arrows which give better 
penetration.  They also try to get the best shots possible to ensure quick 
kills. 

The two compound shooters that got hogs didn't have it so easy.  One man 
shot a hog in the hams and the arrow did manage to go forward into the 
vitals, but the pig ran 300 yards before dying as it tried to cross a 
creek.  A seventeen year old girl shot the other hog with a 40 pound 
compound bow, 1913 arrows, and a small 75 grain three-bladed chisel pointed 
broadhead.  She had a very good hit in the lungs, but no penetration, only 
going through one lung.  Her hog ran about 110 yards before dying.  I 
believe that had she been using heavier arrows her hog would have only gone 
about half that distance.  I think her compound has at least as much energy 
as my 54 pound flatbow.  My 575 grain arrows penetrated about 14 inches. 
That was about 10 more inches than her arrow. 

Some people will not like this, but I think the best broadheads for hogs 
are ones like the three-bladed snuffer heads.  Two- bladed heads penetrate, 
but the wounds tend to close up fast, not giving a good blood trail. 

Happy hunting! And remember, it ain't over till the flatbow sings!