The night before the hunt, Pollan was nervous. He had agreed to hunt for pigs in Sonoma County. As Pollan moved through the woods, he noted how he and the prey were involved in an interlocked game of alertness. Pollan was also disgusted by his own description, annoyed at the euphemisms hunters often use when speaking about the sport. Pollan justified the hunt to himself, recognizing that wild boars are not wild at all. Instead, they were introduced via the Columbia Exchange.

Pollan details his experiences in the woods, seeking a pig. His hunting partner says that he is hunting meat rather than pursuing a sport. He likens his mental state to the influence of marijuana. He is singularly focused and able to tune out everything around him. He describes hunting as a return to a natural state of being. Pollan’s hunting excursion was unsuccessful, but one of his partners managed to kill a small boar. When the group returned to their vehicle, they had a large lunch which left Pollan feeling less motivated. When he returned to hunting and spotted four pigs, he realized he had left his gun unloaded. His partner managed to kill the second pig of the day.