Using one of the fresh hams from a 60-65 lb sow my son took 1.5 weeks ago I rubbed it with McCormick Grill Mates Pork Rub then let sit in the fridge for 24 hours.
For a bottom layer I did a bacon weave using thick sliced bacon. On top of the bacon I sprinkled brown sugar and rubbed it in. Then I set the ham on top.
Rubbed ham
First bacon weave
A lil’ brown sugar
Ham
Making a second bacon weave I placed that on top of the ham then poured molasses on the bacon and brushed it in.
Top bacon weave
Brushed on molasses
From there I sprinkled more brown sugar and rubbed that in too. I’m already salivating…..
Ready for the smoker
With a Green Egg at 250 ˚F and with soaked Mesquite wood chips it only took 2 hours to bring the ham to 160 ˚F where I pulled it off.
Smoking on the Green Egg
2 hours later at 160 ˚F
Pork lovers
From there I doubled wrapped it in foil then placed it in a cooler waiting for dinner. Unfortunately I wasn’t gonna be able to enjoy it as I was going out to try for another piggy. Leaving explicit directions to take photos of the cut pork I started packing gear to leave for a night hunt.
Night Hunt
Things finally lined up with the right wind direction, no evening meetings or Boy Scouts, kid sports and no commitments in the morning so I could spend the night hog hunting. An added bonus was that I was gonna be behind the trigger. It was warmer than I cared for but it’s only getting hotter……
The plan was to hunt off a two man stand and hope for another piggy. If it took all night I was prepared with a light blanket if it were to cool off. Leaving the house I told my wife not to feel bad as I was leaving her to sleep with the piggies….
Wearing a complete bug suit over hunting clothes it was a tad warm with the outside temp at 85 ˚F. After walking through the woods to the stand I realized I had left the 2 man padded seat cushion on the truck so I had to hump back to the truck doubling the distance I had to walk as I sweated copiously (DUH!). I was not gonna spend the next 14 hours sitting on a metal grid without any cushion. Once on the stand it took a while to cool down but even then it was still hot. A ThermoCell helped with the mosquitoes and I learned that Thermocells don’t work on yellow flies.
After sunset I heard a deer snorting in the distance and about 30 minutes later I heard a pig “woof”. Ten minutes and a few hog grunts later a single black hog works through the palmettoes. Turning on the green hog light I see her moving through the palmettoes & with a clear shot she drops and it’s more porch chops to play with………
70-75 lb sow
I haven’t yet tried last night’s “Pig Candy from He l l” but will for lunch today. Apparently it was pretty good but unfortunately no photos of the cut meat were taken…….
Brian
