Post by: Littlefeather on May 30, 2006, 12:29:00 PM
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/meltgroup2.jpg)
Post by: kyle on May 30, 2006, 12:45:00 PM
Post by: BONE on May 30, 2006, 01:00:00 PM
Post by: Al33 on May 30, 2006, 01:25:00 PM
Fine lookin' group of tradies. :thumbsup:
Post by: Two Arrows on May 30, 2006, 01:35:00 PM
Post by: Ray Lyon on May 30, 2006, 01:47:00 PM
But I'll bet they had fun. :thumbsup:
Post by: Littlefeather on May 30, 2006, 01:57:00 PM
Back Row left to right: Rob Distefano,Dick Easter(Rabbitman), Charlie Lamb, Bob Walker, and Kevin Smith(special guest).
Misssing from the pictures is Chad Jones. We missed him after he was called away on emergency! Glad it all worked out Chad!
Gass-n-up! (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/ck/gassin-up.jpg) :D
First day on the ranch (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/ck/javiinroad.jpg)
Post by: Whip on May 30, 2006, 01:58:00 PM
Post by: Brian Halbleib on May 30, 2006, 02:27:00 PM
-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)
Post by: DarkeGreen on May 30, 2006, 03:34:00 PM
I guess you just leave your money in a coffee can or sump'n.
Watch them sticker while you're crank'n.
Too funny!
Post by: Terry Green on May 30, 2006, 06:28:00 PM
The 1st one deflected off a limb of the only bush between him and the rabbit. And when his arrow arrived on target on the 2nd shot the rabbit was in Oklahoma!!!
!["[tunglaff]"]("graemlins/tunglaff.gif" "\"\"")
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/robjackrabbit2.jpg)
Look just right of the shrub and you can see the jack rabbit facing left.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/robjackrabbit1.jpg)
Post by: Van/TX on May 30, 2006, 06:59:00 PM
Post by: LBOW on May 30, 2006, 08:31:00 PM
Post by: Jumper on May 30, 2006, 08:48:00 PM
Post by: Van/TX on May 30, 2006, 09:06:00 PM
Quote
ten moderators?
So who the heck was minding the store. Y'all have it on auto pilot? :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: .....Van
Post by: Guru on May 30, 2006, 09:31:00 PM
This was the kind of camp that fills a bowhunters head with dreams,but rarely come true.I had expected a lot out of this weekend, but my expectations weren't even close to what this hunt was.....the hunting,the shooting,the stories,the commraderie,the solidification of freindships.....amazing stuff!!
I have a ton of pictures(over 80),and some absolutely priceless video clips!!
I killed four different species of critters I've never killed before...the wildlife down there is hard to believe without witnessing it in person...
....I'll share pix and write as time permits.
Post by: the Ferret on May 30, 2006, 10:11:00 PM
Post by: rabbitman on May 30, 2006, 10:21:00 PM
Post by: Guru on May 30, 2006, 10:39:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06002.jpg)
As we were cruising around,checking spots,I just happened to see a javi cross the main sendero several hundred yards ahead.As we got closer, a couple more crossed.Charlie said, "get ready I'll drop you off,they'll be back".He was right,I made my first stalk on a javi that was about 70 yds from where I was....halfway to him.....I turned around to look behind me and see more coming out,right where I'd just come from!!
I settled back in,found a good hiding spot,and shortly could see more javi's back in the cactus.With my heart rate building,a single javi started out in front of me.I had the wind,the bush I was behind was moving,it was about to happen,and I hadn't even been out of camp an hour!!
I tightened the string as the javi came clear at 12yds....I let it get slightly 1/4 away and started my draw. The shot was good,but a little high,the Carbonwood 4000 tipped with a Snuffer 160 crashed thru it's spine and lodged into the opposite shoulder. She hit the ground and it wasn't long and I had this in front of me.......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06005.jpg)
I knew Charlie was working his way to my,so I waited for him to go after them.They moved off before Charlie could get close enough for a good shot,but this guy came out behind us,downwind...Check this out,I was almost witness to my man Charlie making a javi kill......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06046.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06046.flv)
After that we got serious taking some pix.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06015.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06021.jpg)
A picture I will cherish and appreciate even more as the years go on...thanks bud!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06019.jpg)
The evening hunt wasn't over just yet....my Snuffer would strike again....
Post by: Whip on May 30, 2006, 10:48:00 PM
Post by: Missouri CK on May 30, 2006, 11:03:00 PM
Thanks for giving us our first fix. I can't wait to hear how the rest of the trip went for you guys. Never hurts to have Charlie Lamb as your personal guide to South Texas does it?
Chris
Post by: Holm-Made on May 30, 2006, 11:21:00 PM
Post by: yleecoyote23 on May 30, 2006, 11:50:00 PM
Can't wait for the "Rest of the Story"!!!!!
Post by: Brian Halbleib on May 31, 2006, 01:52:00 AM
-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)
Post by: Guru on May 31, 2006, 05:40:00 AM
It wasn't long and I saw my first Texas blacktail jackrabbit.These things are wired and it's tough getting close for a good shot.There were pair of them that we played cat and mouse with,but one finally stopped at about 20yds.Without thinking I grabbed a judo,and took a quick shot,which I missed.I went and got my arrow and as I got back to the truck I got to thinking I should probably have a little more fire power for such a big rabbit....Charlie confirmed my thoughts,nodding,"yeah,a broadhead is probably a good idea".
It wasn't long and we caught up to another one that must have thought he was invisable behind a little bush.This time I had a Snuffer on the string....I went to one side of the bush...but just couldn't manage to find a spot to shoot,and he took a couple hops to the other side. I worked my way around,got down on my knees,got as low as I could,canted my bow horizontal to the ground and send that big ol' Snuffer 160 on a 15yd. mission.
The arrow took the jack in the hind quarter and came out in it's neck.I looked at Charlie and he gave me a big smile and a "thumbs up". I was happy with the shot,and would come to find out it was the only jack killed on the hunt........
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06028.jpg)
be back later....hopefully more guys will chime in as time permits.
Post by: Huntrdfk on May 31, 2006, 06:34:00 AM
David
Post by: the Ferret on May 31, 2006, 07:19:00 AM
Post by: TexMex on May 31, 2006, 08:44:00 AM
Post by: larry on May 31, 2006, 10:48:00 AM
is that a little grey I see on your chin??
looks like you're catching up to me
Post by: BaldingEagle on May 31, 2006, 11:59:00 AM
Post by: Guru on May 31, 2006, 03:22:00 PM
Post by: Littlefeather on May 31, 2006, 03:58:00 PM
On the leading edge of the hunt, Charlie Lamb and I found ourselves to be the first arriving. We were soon followed by Kevin Smith and we headed into the ranch. Once our gear was stowed we took inventory of all new surroundings at the ranch. There is lots of new construction going on and it's neet to see the new buildings in their infantile stages. Charlie, Kevin and myself stood in the shade adjacent the very large lake that surrounds the camp till a shiny new rental blazer pulled up. The boyz were arriving and just in time for the evening hunt.
I was honored with the task of showing Chad Jones around the ranch the first evening. He was stuck with me for the evening and little was I to know how special it would be. We later bid an early goodby to Chad as he was called away on family emergency. My only regret was not seeing Chad succeed in taking a few game animals while he was here. Chad said it was a neet experience to be in South Texas as the sun went down. Im glad I was there to see it myself. I only saw one javelina that evening as I recall but I did have some fond memories made as the Bull Bats danced the air currents surrounding me not 10 feet away from my head. There is something strange about the way those night birds can pick a camo'd hunter out of the underbrush and wreck havoc of his nerves as darkness falls. The day complete, we found ourselves gathered at the round table for a comparison of the evenings events. CK
Something to keep you interested.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/ck/Charliejavis.jpg)
Post by: Littlefeather on May 31, 2006, 04:32:00 PM
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/ck/gottapush.jpg)
Post by: Terry Green on May 31, 2006, 05:01:00 PM
Post by: rabbitman on May 31, 2006, 06:09:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on May 31, 2006, 06:18:00 PM
It sure didn't start out that way from the get go. Heck! I rolled into Curtis' place and he'd put a moratorium on Debbie's cheesecake cookin and my munchin on it by default.
Guess I do owe him a favor for that. I can't resist Debbie's cookin and need to drop some pounds (ok, a lot of pounds).
Good thing that boy don't like sweets. He have to put his arms out to the side to tell if he was walkin or rollin otherwise.
We limbered up that afternoon with a stroll around his property. We checked out the hog sign that always seems to be there when I am and shot our bows in anticipation of the coming day's hunt.
Morning came more or less on time and we headed off down the single lane black top toward I-35 and Laredo.
I'll get on this a little more in the morning. I've got a bad case of truck lag goin on from the long drive home. I'm sure in the morning, with a tummy full of hot coffee, I'll be in more of a mood for tellin the gory details of our moderator melt.
Post by: Guru on May 31, 2006, 08:35:00 PM
Good to see ya home safe and sound bud.I know, we talked about how long those trips home are,compared to the trip going to a hunt
!["[moon]"]("graemlins/sleeping.gif" "\"\"")
Back at camp the first night was great, having all of the guys to share my success,and story with.We compared sightings, ate a fabulous mexican meal(all the meals were outstanding!!!!).
I would then find out that I would again have the priveledge to hunt with Charlie in the morning!!
The fun would continue and the critters were in big trouble!!! Stories, pix and more video to follow.........
Post by: IB on May 31, 2006, 09:43:00 PM
This is great guys keep them comming.........vance
Post by: Steve H. on May 31, 2006, 11:38:00 PM
Post by: Guru on June 01, 2006, 06:08:00 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06047.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06047.flv)
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 01, 2006, 08:08:00 AM
There was an advantage to it, but it was more in the department of finding my way around the ranch than any real game gathering edge and I‘d find that my memory wasn’t all it could be in the navigation department.
The Texas brush is consistent in that it’s comprised of all things sharp and pointy. That sure hadn’t changed! What was different was that it all appeared to be much thicker now. Weesatche and Whitebrush were in full foliage now where it had just been blooming during my previous trip.
Of course it didn’t hamper a guys vision when trying to pierce the cover with binoculars. It wasn’t really any thicker than before... South Texas brush is always impenetrable. The difference seemed to be the availability of succulent greens was far and away better than it had been.
This could mean it would be harder to find game in any concentrations like before. We also were looking at dealing with stifling heat. I for one was interested in how that would affect game movement and for that matter how it would affect MY movement.
It was still mostly spring time back home and the temps were in the forties at night and barely reaching eighty most days. I knew it was gonna be an adjustment.
As it turned out we got a break from the oppressive heat. A strong breeze and uniform cloud cover masked the affects of what I‘m sure would have been goat choakin heat and unmerciful sun.
Post by: Ray Hammond on June 01, 2006, 10:47:00 AM
Post by: Bob Walker on June 01, 2006, 10:52:00 AM
Post by: beachbowhunter on June 01, 2006, 11:49:00 AM
Let's have some more!
Post by: bow loving man on June 01, 2006, 11:53:00 AM
Post by: Bob Walker on June 01, 2006, 12:11:00 PM
Yes, several of us hunted with the "twins". There is a seperate thread at the top of PowWow for those postings.
Norbert, If the writing brought back memories, wait till next post and I'll include a video clip that will really do it for you!
Post by: bow loving man on June 01, 2006, 12:26:00 PM
Post by: Spur on June 01, 2006, 12:48:00 PM
Post by: Bob Walker on June 01, 2006, 01:22:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/th_MOV00147.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/?action=view¤t=MOV00147.flv)
Post by: Bob Walker on June 01, 2006, 02:57:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/DSC00154.jpg)
Post by: the Ferret on June 01, 2006, 03:13:00 PM
Post by: beachbowhunter on June 01, 2006, 03:38:00 PM
Post by: Bob Walker on June 01, 2006, 03:54:00 PM
Norbert, You ain't kidding about the feeling. Just wait till I tell you about the afternoon hunt.........
Post by: Tom on June 01, 2006, 04:09:00 PM
Post by: Joe D on June 01, 2006, 06:02:00 PM
Post by: Guru on June 01, 2006, 06:56:00 PM
After a quick "breakfast",we all said our "Good Lucks" to each other,and charlie and I were off.
We went out behind camp first.Within minutes we had a big black hog spotted quite a ways away up the road.Charlie being the gentleman he is asked, "do you want to go after him?"...no way,I wanted the big man to have at this hog!!!
He pretty much dissappeared before he got to do anything with him.
We were off again to a tank(pond) Charlie wanted to check out........
I'll be back with stories,pix,and video clips of Charlie!!!!!
Post by: IB on June 01, 2006, 07:38:00 PM
HURRY UP Man...... This is gonna be a goodun
Post by: bayoulongbowman on June 01, 2006, 07:53:00 PM
Post by: Whip on June 01, 2006, 07:58:00 PM
Post by: Steve H. on June 01, 2006, 08:09:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 01, 2006, 08:20:00 PM
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/oldgasstation.jpg)
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 01, 2006, 09:30:00 PM
Curt Cabrera made his way through the gang and thrust a strong tanned hand my way. I'd been looking forward to meeting Curt returned his firm grip and infectious smile.... and that smile is a beaut, let me tell ya.
I had to give him a little rib about his hunting accident and asked to see the bullet hole in his leg as proof of who he was. Seems I wasn't the first who'd pulled that gag that day. LOL
Through the crowd I spotted Rob DiStefano, reserved and smiling in his own friendly way. We soon clasped hands and sealed the friendship which we'd built over the years. No more computer relationships! This was the real deal and I thought to myself how natural and right it all was and how it was long over due. And I marveled a little at how great it all fealt to be with these men, as I always do when meeting Trad Gang members. They always seem to be the best of the best.
One by one I greeted each man. Brothers of the moderators wars, we'd long stood beside each other behind the scenes fending off the occasional disgruntled member that our duties had forced us to offend when making a tough call on a post. Each and everyone of us had experienced that even though each had done his best to handle the situations in the most diplomatic and fair way possible.
We'd counciled with each other on the tougher problems that had arisen and there is always comfort in knowing you can draw from a bank of wisdom such as this group of friends so aptly represents. No arrogance or vindictiveness either. Just good solid guys... one and all.
New to me was Dick "Rabbitman" Easter, the quick witted, jovial bowman from Ohio. We'd spend time cruising the cactus patches before it was all over and Dick is one fine companion.
I'd met Chad Jones before and was glad to have him with us for the hunt. Chad's a quiet guy and another one of those dang Ohio boys that makes a habit of laying down big whitetail bucks often enough to make me quite envious.
Bob Walker was one of the big guys on the hunt. Tall and good natured, he'd proven to be a hard and diligent hunter at the Texas Sweat.
Bob had arrived with little problem, but his bow had somehow been routed to a different destination. Without so much as a bat of the eye, Bob picked up one of the St. Jude's bows and with a few arrows I donated to the cause was good to go.
Joe "JC" Coots was there to and I was happy to be spending time with him again. I'd become very close to Joe. Sharp as a tack and as fine a stickbow shooter as you'll likely run into anywhere, he seems to have a permanent smile on his face and a mischievious glint in his eye to match.
Soon we were filling out the required paperwork and turned shortly after that to assembling bows and gathering gear, pulling on camo of a variety of patterns to suit the needs and philosophies of each bowman. It was damn hot outside in the midday sun, but we didn't care. We soon had divided up in two's and three's and split from the camp house in our respective vehicles.
Each newcomer teamed with a veteran of the Texas Sweat and each Sweat Vet with an idea just exactly where he'd start looking for game on the expansive 12,000 acre ranch.
Curt Cabrera and I jumped in my truck and headed out behind camp to an area that I'd had lots of Javelina action in during Texas Sweat '06.
Just a couple hundred yards from camp you turn up a sendero along that stretch and you can see for a half mile or better. I fully expected to see Javies as we rounded the last bend in the trail, but we didn't.
Pulling the gear shift lever down into "Stalk" we slowly cruised the sendero watching for blunt, round tracks of hogs and the diminuative, almost birdlike tracks of Javelina.
I was a bit surprised that we saw little of either.
Post by: Guru on June 01, 2006, 09:33:00 PM
...We got back to the truck and got ready for some serious rabbit hunting!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06001.jpg)
..I shot a couple bunnies...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06003.jpg)
....As we cruised,Charlie saw a rabbit and got out to get a shot....as he was getting ready he motioned that there was another one on my side,so i got out,and as I started after it, it moved off a little,but not too far,I wasn't really paying much attention as I was more interested in what Charlie was doing,my bunny took off for the brushline,then Charlie made a great shot!!
Then as Charlie was going after his bunny,I heard a big commotion over where the bunny I had been after had entered the brush,I look over see the bushes shaking and out comes the rabbit,twice as fast as he when in!!!!!
I get to thinking,"what the heck could have chased that bunny out of there but a snake",so as Charlie was getting his bunny I went over,VERY SLOWLY, for a look......As I got closer,I could see that my hunch was correct......A BIG DIAMONDBACK!!!!
Well,It took some tree trimming, some machete' work on a cactus, a couple shots,and, as Charlie said, "getting a little too friendly with that cactus bud"....I had my sought after rattler!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06014.jpg)
...and Charlie's bunny....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06025.jpg)
....for the next day and a half I paid dearly for getting too close to that cactus!!!!
The javi action was slow,but we made up with it shooting rabbits.Here's Charlie with a couple warning shots and then a third,(same rabbit) deadly missle....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06048.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06048.flv)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06049.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06049.flv)
....here's a single deadly head shot...the master at work!!!
The shot.... (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06050.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06050.flv)
The walk up....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06051.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06051.flv)
I'm so grateful for the time I got to share with Charlie.He's a very special person, with so much experience.It was a pleasure and a priveledge bud!!
Post by: Brian Halbleib on June 01, 2006, 09:36:00 PM
Did anybody get pictures or video of the Curtis Kellar rabbit cleaning technique?
-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)
Post by: Guru on June 01, 2006, 09:42:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06030.jpg)
Looks like Charlie and I were writing at the same time....I've had enough for tonight....have at it bud....
Post by: slow walker on June 01, 2006, 09:54:00 PM
Post by: JEFF B on June 01, 2006, 10:03:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 01, 2006, 10:09:00 PM
Post by: Al33 on June 01, 2006, 10:40:00 PM
I will be seeing JC this Saturday and I will definitely be soliciting his tales of this adventure.
Al
Post by: the Ferret on June 01, 2006, 10:43:00 PM
Post by: Joe D on June 01, 2006, 11:17:00 PM
Post by: Paul R on June 01, 2006, 11:23:00 PM
Quote
how come I can't see any of these videos? I click on them and get a blank photobucket screen. Anybody have any ideas?Same thing was happening to me mate, after the blank photbucket screen comes up go back and click on the video link a second time and it should work. :)
Post by: Jumper on June 01, 2006, 11:30:00 PM
Post by: Tom Mussatto on June 02, 2006, 12:15:00 AM
Post by: Littlefeather on June 02, 2006, 06:45:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 02, 2006, 07:37:00 AM
As we came down a long straight away on the main sendero, a Javelina darted out into the track ahead of us some 150 yards away.
I wasn't surprised. This stretch had come to be known simply as "the truck stretch" and had provided several of us with stalks during Texas Sweat. An old Chevy pick up sat just off the road here, rusting slowly into oblivion and providing an unmistakable landmark for anyone hunting the area.
As we passed the spot where the Javie had disappeared I had Curt drop off with his bow as I jabbed a finger in the direction of a mesquite which sat just downwind. I eased on up the road in my truck and found a handy spot to park. I was going to slip back down and watch this show and if it got good enough, join in the fray.
I can't speak for Curt, but I had the usual doubts running through my head. "Would the Javie come back out?" "Would he come out where Curt could do something with him?" " Would there be more than one?" It didn't take long for my questions to be answered.
A couple of Javies crossed the sendero beyond where I thought I'd put Curt and I soon saw him slip from the brush and head in their direction. If they had stayed close in the brush on the other side of the fence he'd surely get a shot... and if Curt shot I expected we'd be taking photos of his trophy soon. He's as good a hand with a recurve as you'll likely run across.
I could tell by his body language that the little stink pigs had gone on and he was getting ready to move back across the sendero when he suddenly melted into the sparse cover along the fence. That could mean only one thing.
Soon several more Javie's entered the sendero from the side he had started out on. Curt seemed in a bad position. Even though his camo (some kind of Predator pattern, I think) made him virtually invisible against the mottled green brush of the fence row, he'd be hard pressed to close the distance from where he was.
Not long after entering, the little pigs darted skittishly back from where they'd come. I held my position, not wanting to interfer, and watched Curt slip quickly across the open to his original hiding place.
This was all too good to be true and it was just a matter of seconds after I lost sight of Curt, that another bunch of Javie's moved out into the sendero. I just knew that at any moment I'd see the flash of an arrow and one of those musk pigs would take off like a scalded cat, bearing a mortal wound. I was partly right.
Taking the whole scene in through my binoculars, I found myself holding my breath as the seconds ticked away. I knew that often when veiwing through binoculars, that distance is compressed and the animals would look closer to the hunter than they really were. They could be well out of range for all I knew.
Suddenly there was a flurry of activity as the whole pack scurried out of the sendero, but none seemed to have been hit.... at least not that I could tell. Something had happened down there and I closed the distance to find out what.
As I approached Curt's position I caught movement in the fringe of brush along the edge of the sendero. A Javelina, Curt's brightly fletched arrow protruding from it's side, lay kicking out it's last.
I wanted to yell out, but remained quiet and eased on down toward Curt. More Javie's came out into the open at that point. Man! What a thrill. It looked like it just might happen twice.
They disappeared and I closed the gap. Soon I was shaking Curt's hand as he spoke in low tones. We had Javie's all around us.
Curt touched my shoulder and whispered to get ready that he'd just seen a Javelina moving toward the sendero behind me.
Had I move a little quicker in the direction he'd pointed I'd have been in a better position to shoot, but the little pig made it to the open while I was still to far for good shooting. Little did I know that Curt had his camera on video (I just love the new camera technology...stills and video all in the same camera) and was taping as I tried to close the distance.
I'd opted to wear a tank top instead of a camo T-shirt when we left camp. I figured Curt was the new guy here and should get all the action. I just wanted to stay cool as possible.
The Javelina took in an eye full of that dark purple tank but didn't exactly bolt` right away.
The angle and distance never did get quite right and soon the Javie left the sendero for parts unknown.
Post by: RayMO on June 02, 2006, 08:23:00 AM
Charlie, I sure would like to team up with you one of these times and head down south
!["[laffsmyl]"]("graemlins/laffsmyl.gif" "\"\"")
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 02, 2006, 08:47:00 AM
I'd shot the last picture on my camera that the battery would handle on the way down to the ranch and would now pay for it. My camera sat idle and battery-less back at camp while the little power tubes sat in the charger. Rooky mistake for sure!
But Curt had his fully charged and we were soon snapping away and admiring his trophy.
After that it was a short run back to the camp house where we deposited the Javie in the walk in cooler. A cold drink and a check to see if my batteries were ready (they weren't) and we were back on the road headed for our original destination.
Except for a few bunnies the rest of the afternoon was pretty slow. We checked several sendero's that had produced just two months before only to find little sign. The sendero I really wanted to check somehow eluded me... just couldn't remember exactly how to get there. So much for being familiar with the ranch!
I guess maybe we'd been granted all the excitement we were allowed for one day as we didn't have anymore Javie encounters.
In our travels, we did run across some of area's jackrabbits. Not as big as the jacks I was accustomed to in the northern Wyoming rockies (whitetail jacks and the biggest of the breed), these south Texas hoppers were of the Blacktail subspecies.
Long and lanky, with ears that were all out of proportion to their body size, these hares were wired tight, just like every other critter in those parts.
They are very hard to get close to, but Curt did a fine job of closing the distance on one and added him to the bag with a well placed shot. A razor sharp Snuffer took the jack in the backside and penetrated him lengthways, exiting it's neck.
Jacks are always surreal in their toughness, but this one gave up the ghost quickly to the giant three blade.
I've yet to add a blacktail jack to my "list" and was a little envious of Curt. But I was having a blast watching him shoot and seeing the joy in his eyes as he savored every encounter.
Back at the camp house that night we all stayed up a little later than we should, but I guess that's par for the course. We caught up on the days adventures over an excellent meal prepared by our talented cook.
The next morning Curt was up and eager long before anyone else was stirring. He could have come and woke me up, but showed some restraint and just let us all get up on our own.
It turned out we were a little late getting away, but it wasn't really a big deal except losing a few minutes of the cool part of the day.
Once again Curt took the shotgun position in my truck and we headed for the back sendero.
Far up the track we spotted a black dot against the light gray dust of the sendero. A quick inspection with binoculars showed a nice size hog putzing around in the open.
Knowing that the "drive, drop, and run" routine seldom worked on hogs, we quickly had the truck hidden in the brush and prepared to assault the hogs position on foot.
We had a good wind to work with, but with the distance being great and nothing in that section of the trail to hold his interest the hog melted into the brush long before we could get within range.
Soon we were back at the truck and not wanting to waste the morning coolness we headed out for the sendero I'd tried to find the previous evening. Curtis had straightened me out on my directions and I was soon pulling through the hub area and into the long straight sendero where I'd seen so many Javies in March. Not to mention a couple of hog sightings and encounters with coyotes.
As the morning grew warmer we failed to see any Javelina or hogs and a quick stand with a varmint call turned up nothing. We did, however, find a few cottontails to harass and I'd be happy just doing that if there wasn't another animal on the ranch.
Curt was able to capture a couple of shots I made at rabbits on tape. I can't say I was tickled with my performance on the first two shots at this one particular bunny, but redeemed myself as he stopped one last time at greater range.
At another rabbit stop, we both had opportunities at bunnies, Curt going right while I went left.
Curt's cottontail hopped away into the brush before he could send an arrow that way and immediately came high tailing back out of the brush at light speed. Curious!
There's been some kind of commotion back in there where the bunny had entered the thick stuff, but Curt turned his attention to videoing my stalk and shot on the bunny I was after. I made that shot count and we turned to see what had happened on Curt's side.
In short order we found the cause of the rabbit's quick exit, curled up at the base of a weesatche bush. A nice size rattler had been the author of the bunnies consternation and frightened flight. He lay there angrily buzzing at our approach.
Scanning the cover close by for any company he might have we pushed out way into the thick of it to settle with Mr. No Shoulders. Holding the brush out of the way so Curt could bring his deadly Kwik Styk into play Curt soon had an arrow in the snake. The shot was a bit off the mark due to deflection by the thick stuff that surronded the diamond back, but soon a second arrow whacked into the snakes skull.
Now all we had to do was get him out of there. Curt made a couple of vain attempts at reaching into that maze of cactus spines and thorns, but we decided it would be best to get the machete from my truck and open things up a bit to speed the process and minimize the blood we were leaving on the local flora.
Soon I had an opening that Curt could work with and he was soon dragging the very dead snake from the tangle. Of course it wasn't before Curt had gotten a little to close to some adjacent cactus and learned the lesson of the spiny pads.
It usually doesn't seem all that bad at first, this brushing against cactus thing. But what at first seems a minor irritation soon gets to be a major pain. Curt had gotten some spines in his side and with their usual malicious character were firmly implanted in the very nerves which drive you crazy while working their way to your very core. I'd learned that very lesson long ago... several times.
We decapitated the dead rattler after taking the mandatory pictures and deposited him in the back of the truck with our mornings take of rabbits. Unfortunately I'd left the tail gate on the truck down and somewhere on the route to camp the headless snake had made a last bid for freedom.
We never did figure out where we lost the snake and I felt really bad about it. It was a fine trophy of the hunt and truly representative of the country we were hunting. Though we backtracked over every sendero we'd come down, the snake was nowhere to be found.
It would have been a fine replacement for the snakeskin backing Curt had recently done on his recurve, but which now was showing signs of failing in the finish.
I know Curt was disappointed, but he is a good sport and took the loss in stride.
Post by: Bob Walker on June 02, 2006, 10:19:00 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/DSC00136.jpg)
Post by: JC on June 02, 2006, 10:33:00 AM
I'll slip in a couple throughout the day. I'll say this for starters. I was having a lil shooting issue...that thanfully I finaly realized was 1/2 mental and 1/2 a new glove. But ol Charlie and Curt put some kinda schoolin on me at the target butt. And I doubt there's few who could have stood against them even if the challenger were "on". Shooters they are boys, no other way around it.
Just took me a while to get over breakin charlie's sight..... :knothead:
Post by: Terry Green on June 02, 2006, 10:54:00 AM
I could have swarn it was Al Gore's internet? :D
Post by: Littlefeather on June 02, 2006, 11:49:00 AM
JC, Whats Curt laughing about? You pushing those thorn's or pulling them?
Terry, Who's Al Gore? CK
Post by: Walkingstick on June 02, 2006, 11:57:00 AM
Post by: IB on June 02, 2006, 12:11:00 PM
Or was this all about driving around SHOOTING things and taking PHOTOS :thumbsup: :notworthy:
I need to send off for more Krispy Kreams and coffee.........vance
Post by: Jumper on June 02, 2006, 12:43:00 PM
Post by: Bob Walker on June 02, 2006, 12:51:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/th_MOV00178.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/?action=view¤t=MOV00178.flv)
Post by: Bob Walker on June 02, 2006, 01:14:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/DSC00174.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v381/Muddiver/DSC00177.jpg)
Post by: JC on June 02, 2006, 01:54:00 PM
Post by: Al33 on June 02, 2006, 03:40:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 02, 2006, 05:06:00 PM
Geez, this hunt has been the most fun and excitement this ol' boy has had in far too long a spell. What a great pleasure it was to see a face, shake a hand, and verbally/visually communicate instead of making cyber keyboard strokes to a cold, glowing monitor. There is no way I could have ever thrown in with a better buncha like-minded fellers than these folks that I shared roof, food and hunt with for nearly 3 days. Kindred spirits and true brothers of the bow.
I'd never been desert hunting before, never hunted outside the New England area. I learned a heckuva lot, and certainly in more than a few ways I'll be way better prepared for the next SoTx hunts. You betcha I'm going back!
The ranch accommodations were great and included A/C and satellite fed cable TV ... and the food, oh those great TexMex dishes ... yum, yum! And for a coupla nights we were privileged to have Kevin Smith tune up his geetar and belt out summa the dandiest songs you’ll ever hear – take it from me, that boy drips talent!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moderator Melt Memoirs - Friday 5/26
Curt (Guru) and I caught a non-stop flight outta Newark, landed in San Antonio around noon and hooked up with Terry and JC. We drove 2.5 hours southwest to Laredo and the 13000 acre ranch, stopping only to stock up on water and have lunch. The entire hunting party met up at the ranch house, got room and gear situated.
The ranch is huge and wild, with sandy/gravely senderos spidering over incredibly dense and thorny terrain. At least 99% of all plant species bear some form of prickly thorns that measure from inches to millimeters. Typically, at least one side of each sendero is fenced with barbed wire and can be a bit bush sparse at some of the edges, where you can carefully hide and maneuver a stalk whilst attempting to avoid the thorns and getting spotted by critters. There are also some fairly open sandy areas, with some sparse and small vegetation for cover.
What I've just described pretty much sets the scene and the tenure for hunting in this hostile and dense geography - locating game and then a combination of stalking and still hunting.
After camo'ing up we grabbed our gear and did some preliminary scouting of the senderos, seeing where the game was holed up, and unlike the last Texas Sweat, where game was literally in front and behind you, we saw nothing. But it was early, and in all likelihood the evening should find the critters on the move for food and water.
Terry, JC, Kevin Smith and I drove out past the 'hub' (where lotsa roads met, like the center of a spider's web), eventually dropping off JC and Kevin to scout about while Terry and I moved to another 'tank' (pond) area, parked and checked for signs and hopefully movement - again, we saw nothing. We walked back to the car, watered up and walked out on another adjoining sendero.
As we slowly sauntered along, eyes scanning left to right for game, terry spotted a bunny a few yards off to his left and gave me the 'here ya go bud, yer shot' sign. I was some yards to Terry's right and I slowly pulled out an Ace 175 Express tipped Hex Pine and nocked it on the Pacific Yew TD longbow's Dacron string, slowly came to 52#'s of full draw, held and aimed for the bunny's brain, and let fly.
Whack!
The broadhead did some very serious damage to the neck area, with lotsa blood gushing out and the arrow still stuck through, but did that bunny keel over and give up the ghost? Nope, these Tejas critters are *tough* and he kept skittering about, dragging the arrow. After missing a second shot, I finally was able to grab the stuck arrow and quickly put an end to Mr. Rabbit's ordeal. We propped the rabbit up high on a thorn bush and continued the hunt and scouting.
After an hour or so, as the evening light was about to give way to stars, we got back into the car and began the drive back. Following a different sendero, we jumped three javelinas meandering about the road and they scooted to the brush as we drove closer. We picked up JC and Kevin and they also reported seeing javies and game - too dark now for action, but a much better portent of good things to come!
Post by: IB on June 02, 2006, 05:29:00 PM
Keep everything commin MOD's........Thanks
Post by: Jerryg on June 02, 2006, 06:42:00 PM
Jerryg
Post by: Littlefeather on June 02, 2006, 07:40:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 02, 2006, 07:56:00 PM
Check out Jerry's banner "Pedernals Bowhunts". :thumbsup:
Post by: Guru on June 02, 2006, 08:55:00 PM
...Well Charlie and I ended the morning hunt with a pile of cottontails,a 5ft rattler,and a ton of fond memories.
Then my first disappointment of the trip would come.....Chad was leaving!! I hardly got a chance to talk to my cyber bud,but he certainly did the right thing heading home. Thanks god it all worked out bud....Till next time!!!
My afternoon would be spent with the one and only Terry Green!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: cjones on June 03, 2006, 01:17:00 AM
After getting settled in and talking to everyone, CK and I headed out for the first hunt. We were driving along talking when i told Curtis i wish i had shot a few practice shots before leaving camp. He said no problem and slid the truck to a stop. We jumped out and within seconds i had arrowed my first south texas cottontail! I soon learned that while heart shot rabbits fall in their tracks, my 2nd bunny liked my hex blunt and carbon express so well he took it home with him!
I settled in watching my sendero and didn't see anything until almost dark, when a whitetail who had just started growing his antlers stepped out about 50 yards away.
I met CK at the truck just in time for hime to rub in that there had been 40 Javies standing in the sendero right in front of the truck including a couple that looked like they were just born.
Later that night Keving Smith sang for us after dinner. That boy can flat out sing! Thanks again for the cd Kevin. :scared:
Bob and I managed to get in bed at 4:30am, just a little before everyone else got up. I sure am glad i got to spend the night out with Bob because I had to head out at noon the next day.
My time there was way to short and i hope i get to share a camp with these guys again somewhere! They were all a pleasure to share camp with.
!["[heman]"]("graemlins/heman.gif" "\"\"")
Post by: Guru on June 03, 2006, 06:04:00 AM
Getting ready for the afternoon hunt....
The super talented Kevin Smith,That boy can flat out SANG!!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06033.jpg)
Kevin, Terry, Curtis, and Joe's black socked feet...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06032.jpg)
Terry and I headed out with the intention of checking out some senderos,then as sundown was getting closer we'd head of to "Jumpers pond",we'd found a lot of hog sign there.
It was real HOT, so we just cruised for a while,"prepping" some key areas.We had just got done doing one sendero where Charlie and I had seen some javi's and a hog the day before, and were heading back out when we ran into Charlie and Dick(rabbitman).We chatted a bit,nobody had seen a thing.We bid each other good luck and we were off.Tery and I hadn't left Charlie and Dick 20 seconds ago when we rounded a turn .....JAVI'S !!
They were off the road in a perfect spot to stalk,with broken cover,and the wind blowing hard right at us! Terry had already shot his state limit of 2 javi's at The Sweat, so these were all mine.
The plan was for me to get out ans start my stalk,while Terry backed the truck up and parked it out of sight.Then he would come down and watch the stalk unfold.......
About half way to them,I heard something off to my left,I look and see,at about 10 yds,a small bunch of highly alerted javi's. Dang,I was so keyed in on the others that I made the mistake of not paying more attention to what else might be around!!!! I played cat and mouse with then for a bit,but they were on to me and finally had enough and melted into what I would soon find out was one of the nastiest places on the face of this earth.........
Post by: Huntrdfk on June 03, 2006, 07:01:00 AM
David
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 03, 2006, 08:51:00 AM
I'd thought all along that I'd spend a little "siesta time" during the midday lull, but that was not to be. I just couldn' make myself lay down. Like a kid at Christmas, I was afraid I'd miss something.
Curt and I ended up doing a little practice shooting at a block target that was sitting out beside the camp house. With his usual relaxed style Curt was slapping his new to him Carbonwoods into the center of the block with effortless ease.
I seemed to be struggling to keep them on the block anywhere. For a while I thought it was just me, but the longer I thought about it the more that fealt that the bow was a little sensitive to flaws in my form and the hot wind that was kicking up pretty good.
I later twisted up the bowstring a little and it immediately made a difference. A few shots by myself showed an improvement.
I have to admit that I was a little slow getting out that afternoon. The heat had a grip on me and apparently on the rest of the guys and it was difficult to even think about stirring around in the swelter.
Dick "Rabbitman" Easter and I teamed up that afternoon. Dick's a veteran of many years in law enforcement and kept me entertained with stories of his adventures in that field, while I tried to force a meeting with some of the four legged targets that had to be running around the ranch somewhere. Dick was on the ball, while I was dropping the ball... badly.
We managed to harrass a few jackrabbits and the odd cottontail, but that's about it. We'd cruised back to my "never fail" sendero from Texas Sweat to no avail and ran into Curt and Terry Green coming from the other direction. They'd also seen no game. I guess it was the dang heat.
Dick and I decided to hang out for a while along the edge of the sendero. Sometimes lack of game is a blessing in that you get to spend quality time with your hunting partner, learning about and bonding with each other. We took advantage of that time.
On the way into this particular sendero and just a couple hundred yards from the camp house was a stretch that I'd come to call "the Wall". I'd ambushed a nice hog there during Texas Sweat in March and although the hog was mortally hit he'd made his last dash into an impenatrable thicket the likes of which I'd never seen on this continent. Curtis is game for about any tracking job and he'd helped me try to recover the hog that night. Diving into the cover head first like he is prone to do, he soon found that the only way to navigate through the thicket was on his belly. Since I'm about as tall laying on my belly as Curtis is when he's on hands and knees, it was out of the question for me to go in there... I'd tried and came up short just a few yards into the tangle.
Even Jerry Gonzales' tracking dog was put off by it, when he gamely offered to recover my hog and that little dog is game for anything!
Curtis had reported that in the interiour of that mess was hog heaven. Thick and dark, it smelled of pig and hosted a thriving population of ticks and fleas. Moot testimony to the hogs love of that place.
We'd reluctantly backed out of that place without finding my hog, but the coyotes lost no time in locating it, as we soon after heard them tearing it up in there in the same basic location that I'd last heard the death throws of my hog.
I'd spread a little corn along the sendero there just for kicks and grins to see what it might show me in my comings and goings. I figured there'd be hogs out in the sendero at some point, even though I had no intention of trying to shoot anything there. I'd learned my lesson.
Maybe if a guy could have gotten between "the wall" and feeding animals they would have been forced to exit away from it when shot, but the predominate wind precluded that tactic.
Nope! It was an observe and learn spot only in my book.
Little did Dick and I know that shortly after leaving us, Terry and Curt had rounded the corner of that very sendero to find Javies feeding lustilly on the corn offering. What happened next was inevitable.
Using the same approach I had on my hog, Terry quickly had the vehicle in reverse and backed out of sight. Curt slid from the Blazer, crossing the fence and into the nice lane which paralleled the sendero, the brushy fence row providing ample cover and a stiff wind making it a cake walk of a stalk.
Curt moved to within striking distance and set up for the shot on the javies which were busilly munching their way toward him. He'd let them close the distance as he waited in ambush.
As the javie of choice fed just past him he sent a razor sharp Snuffer 160 into it's shoulder. The little musk hog was as good as dead at that point, but raced headlong into the brush beyond.
Curt and Terry and just discovered "the wall".
When Dick and I came along shortly after, it was apparent to me what had happened and I knew just what lay ahead for the two friends. I offered moral support and encouragement, but knew in my heart that unless that Javie was laying dead in the very fringe of the cover that they'd have their hands full and might learn the same hard lesson I had just a couple of months before.
Post by: Terry Green on June 03, 2006, 08:53:00 AM
Don't forget guys.......send my your pics on a disc if you get a chance.
And did anyone happen to get a pic of Chad the 1st evening?
Post by: Guru on June 03, 2006, 10:16:00 AM
...As Charlie said.....My 160 Snuffer/Carbonwood appeared to slam the javi a bit forward.Usually that's not a bad thing. I listened for a few seconds and could tell the javi had cut into the cover behind me.Then all was silent.......
I walked out and looked back to see where Terry was,and was surprized to see him only about 40yds behind me with his camera up in the air....He had taken a video clip of the whole thing.
We checked things out,started finding blood and did our best to "defeat the wall"!!!
Terry has got to be one of the toughest, most determined trackers I've ever shared time with.Though the sign looked good(according to Terry who has a lot of more experience tracking javi's than I do),it just didn't work out.I believe we found sign most wouldn't have.That was the most brutal place I've ever been in my life!!!! The bugs didn't help either!!
Thanks again for the effort bud!!
It was tough to walk away,but we sure gave it what we could and had the blood flowing to prove it.With my head hangin' a little,it was a tough evening for me.But the fellas in camp made me feel a whole lot better,and we settled in for another great meal............
Post by: Terry Green on June 03, 2006, 10:34:00 AM
I really enjoyed watching Guru stalk....with the wind and the little trees blowing, it was quiet celestial. It will be a memory I'll look back on as a perfectly executed stalk....and glad I got to witness it.
The shot looked good to me, expecially with at 160 graind SNUFFER!!! How that javie made it past 10 yards in brush is beyond me....and we tracked it for at least 50 yard by blood...and that's a lot of blood for a javie.
I'll see if I can get the clip up in a bit...but like I said, unfortunaly, I was zoomed too far out to get much....and Guru is well hid even though he is in plain sight.
Post by: Alex.B on June 03, 2006, 12:03:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 03, 2006, 02:19:00 PM
Post by: Randy Morin on June 03, 2006, 02:55:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 03, 2006, 08:24:00 PM
Around 6am or so the hunting party camo'd up again, 2 and 4 person groups formed, and JC rode shotgun to Terry while Kevin and I rode the back seats of our big Ford truck rental. We headed back to the hub area, look for new signs of game and to get ready for the morning critter movement - at least that's the way the last Texas Sweat happened, where game was abundant in front of and behind vehicles cruising the senderos. We drove around and around, hitting lotsa different senderos and sprinkling corn on key road areas.
Nothing. No hogs, no javelinas. Hmmm, what's going on? The March Texas Sweat was like "Javie/Hog Central", with bustling game literally everywhere. Well, back in March it was very hot, very dry, and no rain - that probably kept the game on the move, making lots of treks to the watering holes. Here at the end of May, there was lots of water left from an unusually heavy 5" rainfall a few weeks back. With water just about everywhere (and we saw that for a fact), the critters just didn't have a need to constantly move. At least that's one logical theory.
On the way back down to the fenced and gated hub area, one of the fellers spotted a big jack rabbit hopping about a very sparsely bushed open but fenced in area. JC got out and began a stalk around one side of the field whilst I stalked close the fence area. I saw three jacks in all and though they were nervous about the truck, I don't think they spotted the hunters that exited and were on their trail. Two jacks got wired and hopped off in spurts of high gear while one big feller hung out around some of small bushes, "hiding out". I stalked him and got pretty close, then he got nervous and sped off to my right and settled down next to another small bush. I stalked him again, keeping low to the sand, watching where I put my hands to avoid any prickly stuff. Again he took off, this time to my left, about 25 yards away. I used a low bush for partial concealment, drew back an already nocked shaft, took careful aim and he jumped the string - and I mean "jumped!" - dang, those jacks are *fast*! My consolation was a good feeling of a pretty close stalk on that jack, but no meat for camp.
We got back into the truck and drove a short way, past the hub gates and fences, and spotted another jack in yet another fairly open field. As I recall, JC and Kevin took off together, scouting around the fences, while Terry and I took off after that lone jack. I got the honor of this stalk as well, while Terry was snapping pix, and eventually I crept up to less than 20 yards, with the jack just behind a small bush. I drew back the pre-nocked Hex Pine arrow with Ace Express broadhead, held at full draw while I took careful aim on speck of fur on the shoulder area of Mr. Jack that was visible through the brush, and released. Close but no cigar as the broadhead deflected off a bit of the bush. I stayed down low and made no other movement.
The jack bolted to my right, over a dirt mound and under a barbed wire fence and into an adjoining fairly open field. Down low on in the sand, I could just about see his ear tops over the long mound of dirt that held up the wire fence. He was a good 40 yards away, and I started yet another down-low stalk that eventually got me again within 20 yards of the jack. I drew back the wooden shaft, and my aim was dead on as the arrow sailed right through where the rabbit was - yep, jumped the string again. JC and Kevin had just entered the field from my right and witnessed the disappearance of the jack. Again, another good stalk, but no kill, so the day ended for me at: jack rabbits 3, Rob nada.
There were some shots on jacks and bunnies, but no game was taken, and as the super hot sun started burning holes in our bodies we mounted up and wheeled back to camp for some late morning vitals, and get rested up for the evening adventures.
Post by: Terry Green on June 03, 2006, 10:12:00 PM
I got to watch Rob put his sneak on those 3 Jack Rabbits...and even though he hadn't hunted in a while, he showed NO signs of rust. He's a sneak in the brush let me tell ya, and he's a heck of a shot.
I also got to witness Curts javie stalk as I mentioned earlier and then there was Rabbitman's....
Dick and I had been checking some areas in a frantic pace....just knowing javies would show sooner or later in one place or another....and we finally ran into them.....
This was a great 45 minute stalk....Dick was in the lead and I was following filming. When the javies would scurry down the road in high gear, I would then get ahead of Dick and try my best to find the quickest route in the brush to catch up...then Dick would take the lead again. this scenario took place at least 4 times. Lots of excitement and anticipation....and so many 'almosts' it wasn't funny.
Luckily through some pretty aggressive maneuvers, we were in position when they decided to call it quits in the road and move off into the brush....Dick was set up, and got a shot but it sailed right over the javie's back....he almost got a second opportunity on the trailing javie...but he veered right and didn't come out behind the shrub as his buddy.
I had a plan for hogs if I got the chance to hunt one evening alone......that story will come later..I'm behind on clips and pics of other's at the moment......stay tuned......
Post by: cjones on June 04, 2006, 12:00:00 AM
You can see my arm and the top of my head in one of the earlier pics! :D I didn't mean to be camera shy, i swear.
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 04, 2006, 06:01:00 AM
Much to my delight I paired up for the evening with Curtis and we drove out to the "corral" site. We parked in sparsely bushed open field next to the fenced in areas and scouted around a local pond. It was early and there were rabbits all around so we decided to bunny hunt while waiting for the real evening action (we hoped!) to arrive.
We shuffled through the more open thorn bush and cacti areas and Curtis smartly whacked one dumb bunny who thought sitting under a prickly pear made him invisible. Then he shot at another bunny, and skewered it through the butt and out the shoulder using a 3 blade broadhead. Now, that rabbit took off like bat outta hell and was gone in a New York second, lost in the bush. By all that's logical, that rabbit should have been dead as the arrow had to have penetrated all the vitals. Yep, darn tough Texas rabbits all righty.
This particular area was a meeting place of a North/South and East/West senderos, and at that juncture was a fenced in corral area to one side, and a fair amount of near open ground dotted with a few small bushes on the other side, which is where Curtis had parked. Looking way up the North road, perhaps way more than a thousand yards away, Curtis spotted a huge lone hog feeding right on the sendero and he decided to try for a stalk, while I began a walk towards East on the adjoining sendero in an attempt to find game.
I paced off no more than 50 yards when I spotted 2 hogs near the top of the road's highest crest, I guess about 300 yards away. So I started a stalk along the North side of the East/West road, sneaking from bush to bush, and thankful that I was downwind as there was a goodly breeze directly out of the East. At about 150 yards away, the bush on my stalking North side of the sendero ended in a large, low spit of sand - no cover at all. Across the road from the sand area was an opening in the barbed wire fence and it looked like the bush on that side was sparse with room to maneuver around the thorn bushes. I watched the hogs and when their heads went down to feed on the road corn I hunkered over on all fours and slowly 'grazed' over to the other roadside. It worked perfectly and the hogs weren't the least bit concerned.
However, after about 30 yards the sparse bush on the road's south side closed up to wall of thorn bushes. Not good. Now what to do? No choice, I had to cross back over the road, and get past the 20 yards of open sand and over to the bushes just beyond it. Again, watching the hogs, I kept my head down and slowly took my time to cross the road - if I saw the hogs look up, I froze, and when their heads went down or faced away I continued the long shuffle to the bush on the other roadside. I was lucky and made it over without alarming the piggies. After another 50 yards or so I noticed there were really 5 hogs, a big black boar, a black spotted brown sow, and 3 gray little piglets - all feeding on the corn we'd spread out on the way down to the coral.
Well, with about 60 yards left to go, the sheltering nooks and crannies of the bush finally gave out on the North side and I had to make another diagonal move across the sendero where there were two small branches of mesquite bush overhanging the fence and about 3 feet into the road. By now the daylight was giving way to the low evening light, and that coupled with being downwind allowed me to once again cross over to the other side and the safety of the bush.
The last 40 yards of the stalk were painfully slow and took the better part of nearly a half hour. With the light almost gone, I was less than 20 yards away from the sow, who was right in the middle of the lane and a bit higher than my position as she was nearer the crest. I could make out her outline and see a bit of her hide as I drew back the Hex Pine arrow, picked as small a spot as I could imagine, and released. A spark flew up on the trail as the arrow deflected off a road rock and skipped off to a tree base. As best I can gather, the arrow went just under the hog's belly. I kept my hidden position as the whole hog family lit their afterburners and skidaddled off.
While I was crestfallen over the blown shot, I was elated on the long and successful stalk - it was a thrill to get so close the game. Walking back to the truck I found Curtis smiling - he had watched my stalking action after returning from his hog stalk. As we drove back to the ranch house, one thought kept looping in my gray matter - I'll be back!
Post by: Guru on June 04, 2006, 06:48:00 AM
.....My time hunting with Terry was done,as I would switch partners again for the morning.The few hours I had with Terry were great,despite what I put him thru.Terry's as "real deal" as it gets!!
...The am would find us having a quick "breakfast"
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06034.jpg)
....Today it would be myself,and the "hog killer extrodinair" ! The one and only "Littlefeather" himself. Before the hunt we talked about making sure that we at least get a little hunting time together.It was a long time coming.
When I got shot(almost 3 yrs. now),Curtis was one of my biggest supporters thru the whole ordeal.From that we've formed a strong cyber friendship.For almost 3 yrs now he's been trying to get me down to Texas to hunt with him.This would be our time!!
We corned a few senderos,then started great morning of still hunting.At first we were hunting together,and quickly encountered a couple bunnies.It took us a few shots to settle in,and soon Curtis had a couple bunnies.Despite what he may say about his own shooting,don't believe it,when it comes to killin' critters,that boy gets it done!! Curtis has an eagle eye.......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06035.jpg)
So we separated and each work a diff. side of the sendero.It was cool looking over and seeing Curtis ghosting thru the brush,occasionally hearing that Horne bow pop a bunny,or hear a little grunt when he missed.
CK saw a bobcat that was actually on my side of the sendero,but because of the brush,I never knew it was there.It was a big one,with nary a spot on it,Curtis said. I did finally see one javi down a huge sendero about a half mile away.The wind was wrong,I'd have to go around it,get past,then come in from the other side.Odds where way against me,as it looked like it would be gone at any second. Ck said..."your call,go for it if you want". Since it was the only one I saw all morning,I had to try.
The javi was swallowed up by the south Texas brush before I could get anywhere near it.It was sure worth the try though.And I did see a velvet buck while trying to get into position.
Here's a video of the famous Dung Beetle aka "turd roller". Ck and I laughing like little boys.....Ya just can't help it watching them things!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06037.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06052.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06052.flv)
All said and done we had a super morning,and had a bunch of bunnies to show for it.This pic was a long time coming .......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06039.jpg)
I'll be back with another video of a special gift for Bob Walker :bigsmyl:
Post by: Littlefeather on June 04, 2006, 07:38:00 AM
I wouldn't have traded this hunt for anything.
CK
Post by: rabbitman on June 04, 2006, 08:24:00 AM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 04, 2006, 03:43:00 PM
My first day hunting with Charlie and boy was I stoked! Hunting with the Master, how cool is that? We saddled up in Charlie's truck and took off ... yep, back to the corral. On the way we checked for signs, and corned the sendero. I told Charlie of my stalk there last night and that I was hoping those pigs would come back. We parked nearby the coral, in the more open area, and since it was pretty early we cased the place out and did a bit of bunny hunting. I think Charlie got at least a few, I didn't connect on any.
Charlie wanted to go up the North/South sendero, where Curtis had been, and I'd walk the East/West road, looking for a return of yesterday evening's hogs. We parted with much hope, and I started slowly walking the North edge of the road, wind in my face out of the NorEast. I didn't get very far when I spotted a large black hog maybe 500 yards up on the sendero ridge, rooting around the road corn. I started my slow stalk East. The hog seemed a bit jittery, wandering all over the ridge area - sometimes in view, sometimes out. Then another fat, muddy black hog stepped out of the bush onto the sendero about 100 yards or so closer to me. I slowly continued my downwind stalk and a good 100 yards or so from the first muddy black hog, but he lit out back into the bush. I managed to get a little closer to the high ridge hog, but was stopped when I hit that open sand pit area and had to cross the sendero to the South side, under the barbed wire fence.
I could only go so far and hit that wall of bush. Drat! If all that dense spikey bush wasn't there, I'd be able to creep in real close to that pig for a nice shot. He was still up on the ridge, but also seemed a bit jittery. So I made a decision to see if I could hack a crawl way through those pricklies and get closer for a good shot. If only I had a pair of cutters (mental note: NEVER go on a SoTx hunt without pruning shears!), so instead I used a nice new Helle knive to slowly whittle off thorn bush limbs and make an entrance into that living hell.
Approaching the brush wall I saw a fat bunny at its edge. Arrow to string, string to eye, a fine loose and the deed is done. Surprisingly, that was a fairly quick kill. But I wanted bigger game and had that hog on my mind, so I draped the bunny over the fence post and continued to hack out a sendero side trail. After about 20 yards, the bush wall gave way to a small game trail the pigs and javies used to travel South to the pond near the corral. I just about crawled to within 30 yards of the ridge - just in time to see the black hog trot off into the bush. Dang! Well, at least I now had a private side road to wander up and down the sendero in seclusion, and it was downwind all the way.
I squatted down low and eased over to the strung barbed wired, stuck my head under the bottom wire and took a look Westward, down the sendero ... a javelina was grazing the road corn a coupla hundred yards away! I scooted real fast through my private trail way and as I neared the feeding javie I could hear it snorting while it crunched away on the corn kernels. Ever so slowly I stalked closer to a thorn bush that grew around and through a fence post and barbed wire. 20 yards, 15 yards, 10 yards ... soon I was no more than 7 yards away from the jet black javie boar, who was facing away from me, slightly quartering to the right. Kneeling on the ground, keeping my eyes barely covered by my camo cap, making ultra slow movements to lift up my bow arm, clasp my tab around the 14 strand Dacron string, getting ready for the draw, totally focused on the javie's rib cage just behind his elbow, when ... I heard a coyote call coming directly from across the sendero.
A real hoot 'n' holler followed, with at least a few coyotes screaming and crying. Didn't seem to bother the javie much at first, and I figured to give it a few seconds to settle back down to corn munching and maybe it would offer up a bit better side shot when, zing! the javie's back neck hackles went up and he wheeled around and quickly scooted *towards* me, under the barbed wire and on the other side of the thorn bush. He ended up about 25 yards away under mesquite, but was nervous and agitated - I quickly drew back, took quick aim, let fly. Too late, that critter was off and running and the shaft ended up in the mesquite, right where he had just been standing. DANG!
I waited a bit, then got up, shaking my head. I was so close to this javie that I considered it dead meat, a done kill. Now, nothing left but the vivid memory of a good stalk. Heart wrenching, I tell ya. I walked a hundred yards or so back to the corral area, checked out the "tank" again for sign, walked over to the field, watching Charlie do some "bunny roving". Charlie had an idea, a haunt to revisit, a pond where he had harvested a big hog during the last Texas Sweat.
A short ride later we parked off the main road, went over the wire fence and took a slow walk down to the pond. Along the way we took some shots at bunnies and Charlie connected with one and propped it up in a tree by the pond for picking up later. I circled around to the South side and slowly walked through the brush when 30 yards ahead of me a big ol' black hog came crashing through the brush, fleeing the pond and scooted into the bush. I continued to scout around that side of the big pond while Charlie worked the pond's ridge dam. I found lotsa signs and trails - this place is in constant use by both hogs and javies.
I circled back and caught up with Charlie who had just sighted a javie cruising below the ridge, but no luck to draw it out in the open. We stalked around, sighting a few bunnies, walked back to the truck and drove it past the gate to the pond, and Charlie began setting up a still hunt area right at the pond's edge, under a large tree. In the meanwhile, I was back at the truck, dressing out Charlie's rabbit. Charlie keeps a cooler full of ice and after dressing out and watering down a bunny, he slips it into a ZipLock bag and stows the bag in an ice cooler. I like that!
It was getting late, around 11am, and we drove back down to the coral sendero and corned the ridge. The evening's game plan was for me to work the corral ridge while Charlie still hunted in his spot by the pond. Okay, back to the house and get some good lunch!
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 04, 2006, 07:02:00 PM
Terry get's fussy if he doesn't have new hunting stories to go with his morning coffee. :D
Post by: JEFF B on June 04, 2006, 09:25:00 PM
Post by: Guru on June 05, 2006, 05:42:00 AM
So back at camp we found out that Bob had been successful,killing a javi with a very well placed shot.....congrats again bud!!
We all got together and had brunch,and swapped stories about our morning hunts.Then it was time for the presentation...........turn up your volume
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/th_modmelt06087.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/?action=view¤t=modmelt06087.flv)
Post by: Ray Hammond on June 05, 2006, 06:43:00 AM
Post by: Brian Halbleib on June 05, 2006, 07:02:00 AM
-Brian
www.bowyersjournal.com (http://www.bowyersjournal.com)
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 05, 2006, 08:55:00 AM
Danged if I can remember what we had to eat when we got in that night, but I do know the bottled water caught hell. Turned out to be the hottest day we'd had so far and even though we hadn't spent much time out in it, I was feeling the effects.
With darkness coming so late now, it was nearly ten o'clock before we were finished with supper.
A little story tellin and I was more than ready to hit the sack.
Most everyone who goes down to Texas hunting will ask this question. "What about snakes"? Seems you hear and read every horror story ever told about snakes down there and how they're behind every cactus.
I have to admit that when I first started hunting Texas it was on my mind... a lot! But over the years I've become comfortable with it and found to my intense relief that snakes WEREN'T laying around everywhere with dripping fangs,waiting to murder me.
Matter of fact, I've only seen a few (mostly killed by others) in all the years I've been hunting down that way. Hell, I finally killed one of my own this year during the Texas Sweat and I'd gotten to where I kinda wanted to do just that.
But it does pay to be careful and I guess that's where this is going. Walking over to the bunkhouse at night I'd be sure and have a light with me. Shucks, I could see the bunkhouse just fine from the main camp house, but it was plenty dark and I sure didn't want to step on anything squishy while making that walk.
No. I never saw a snake going from building to building and that's just fine with me. My point is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of antivenom in my book. Same goes for out in the bush. Just watch where you are going to step and don't stick your hands or feet anywhere you can't see and you'll be fine.
Curt was still in turkey hunting mode, so he became the official Mod Melt alarm clock. The boy was awake at 4 o'clock each morning and made sure we were all stirring in time to get a snack and out the door.
Javelina hunting can be a leasurely pursuit because they don't seem to be stirring all that early, but hogs demand rising with the chickens or Curt Cabrera. That makes it pretty cool actually. About the time the peak hog time is over, the javie action is just starting to roll.
Rob DiStefano and I teamed up the next morning and headed out to the area he and Curtis had been the day before. They both had plenty of action from what I'd heard around the dinner table and since I'd had zero, it sounded like a good plan.
With just enough light to see by Rob and I rolled into the junction of two major senderos and parked the truck. I'd take my little stool and head one way and Rob the other.
Except for a few rabbits for the cooler, it was a pretty nonproductive morning for me. That figures! Curtis had seen javies all over this same sendero the day before and a nice enough hog to make him take a really long walk. I saw zip!
Back at the truck I half expected that Rob had had the same experience. Not so. He'd gotten in on the hogs he'd seen the day before and had a jolly old time. Not to mention putting the whomp on another fat bunny.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/RobDwithbunny3.jpg)
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 05, 2006, 08:59:00 AM
Very quiet and unassuming, he's very knowledgable (been at this stuff since Hector was a pup) and shoots a mean stick.
I thought I was gonna have to rough him up to get this picture. He may be a touch camera shy. :D
Post by: rabbitman on June 05, 2006, 09:35:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 05, 2006, 09:52:00 AM
I'd done quite well on a small pond near the entrance to the ranch during the Texas Sweat. It had always showed me javelina's and I'd taken a pretty nice hog there as well.
When Andrew and Chris Kinslow hunted it, they too had had action with Javies and Chris arrowed a hog there as well. I had high hopes for it.
Considering the heavy rain the area had received a few weeks prior to this hunt, I shouldn't have been surprised by what I found when Rob and I walked in there.
Like all the rest of the ponds I'd seen, this one was brim full as well.
I had a good idea where I wanted to look for fresh sign, so we approached the water I split off to the right and Rob went left.
I slipped along the top of the pond bank, keeping an eye open for the javies I hoped were somewhere near... it was that time of day.
As I approached the end of dam a movement off in the brush below me brought me to a hault. A lone Javelina was walking through a clearing in the cactus some 25 yards below me.
I waited until he'd gone behind some shielding brush and moved quickly forward, thinking I'd catch him coming out the other side and with luck, up toward where I waited.
I guess he had other ideas, because that was the last I saw of him.
A quick inspection of the head of the pond where the water pinched down to a point showed lots of hog sign and some javie sign in the hard packed dirt. Fresh deer tracks in the mud at the waters edge showed that most of the animals in the area were using this point to access the water and would make it a near perfect ambush spot. I went to find Rob only to find him easing toward me along the dam.
We held a quick conference and Rob headed back toward the truck while I prepared a spot to hide during the evenings hunt.
I found the perfect location under the spreading limbs of a large tree at the waters edge, not 15 yards from the point of most sign. A steady wind blew quartering toward the far end of the pond, so I was covered in that regard.
A little work with saw and rachet pruners and I had a perfect hide out.
Now all I had to do was wait for evening. Rob met me on the walk out and we returned to the truck... and then retraced our steps to recover the rabbit I'd shot and had stashed in a dead tree on the way in. Duh!!
Back at the camp house we shared the morning's adventures with the rest of the gang and filled empty bellies with more great chow.
I was planning another siesta for the mid day hours, but like the day before, a practice session broke out.
I'd suspected that my brace height was too low and had accounted for some erratic shooting the previous day, so I twisted the string up a few turns and joined Curt and JC to pound the block target a little while.
Now I can tell ya, that when you're shooting with those guys, you'd better be on your toes. The boys can shoot! Throw Terry Green into the mix and you'd better be having a good day or they'll leave you crying in the dust.
The minor equiptment adjustment helped me in that department and I felt I was at least holding my own when the shooting started.
It turned out that JC was having a slight equiptment malfunction himself. His arrows were going pretty close to where he wanted them to, but the arrow flight was ratty to say the least. That wouldn't do for Joe and as Curt and I retired to the air conditioning, I noticed that Joe had come back out and was busilly pounding arrows into the target.
He would find the problem in his new shooting glove and fixed it when he returned to shooting his old retired glove. That simple switch cleaned up arrow flight to it's usual lazer like performance and Joe was once again laying them in there.
That's probably a good thing for me. Joe's a drop dead great shot!
Post by: Kevin Smith on June 05, 2006, 01:44:00 PM
It was a pleasure to meet, greet, eat, hunt, and hang out with everybody on this trip. I took away new friends, good memories, a full belly........, and three rabbits, which I have to say, isn't a bad haul at all. I look forward to the next hunt I can share in with any and/or all of you. Thanks!
:bigsmyl:
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 05, 2006, 06:44:00 PM
Charlie and I drove back to the corral sendero around 6:30pm, and he dropped me off a few hundred yards from the road ridge where I'd had the most interaction with hogs. The game plan was for me to hunt the road and ridge, hoping to ambush a hog feeding on our corn, while Charlie drove over to his newly constructed pond "blind" and maybe get a shot at a hog or javie coming down for a drink or wallow. He'd swing back for me after dark, and that meant about 3 hours of concentrated hunting for each of us.
I cautiously walked up to the road ridge and checked the corn we'd sprinkled out in the late morning - yep, still there, untouched. I went under the barbed wire fence that was strung up on the South side of the sendero and slowly worked my way down that side trail I had hacked out earlier, which paralleled the roadway. I went hundreds of yards down, past where I'd seen the last of the game on that road (the javie from that morning).
I looked East, way up the road where I'd just been, and felt the downwind breeze in my face. I looked to the So'West and saw the sun slowly beginning its descent - in an hour or so, game would be stirring. Everything was in order, everything was in place for a good evening hunt. All the pieces of this puzzle that I'd been working on since Saturday evening's hunt with Curtis had now interlocked, and the picture formed was that of a dead critter.
This was not to be.
I hunkered down behind some cacti and thorns, hidden from any sendero travelers, and patiently waited ... a half hour ... one hour ... two hours. It was now around 8:30pm, and it was quickly getting *real* dark. I saw no game save for quail - they were all around me, some as close as a longbow length away. I didn't see any hogs or javies. Where are the critters? I didn't even see a single rabbit - unusual for this area.
By now it was quite dark. Thankfully, I had accepted Charlie's offer of one of his mini headband LED flashlights, and I strapped it over my cap and began a very long, slow walk back to the main road - ever vigilant for sendero snakes; nope, didn't see any - and awaited Charlie's arrival. The walk proved the area wasn't totally devoid of game as I spooked a lone rabbit and several deer. I have no idea why the hogs and javies didn't show up this evening. Charlie's story was similar and we consoled ourselves with thoughts of a good evening's meal back at the ranch house.
EPILOGUE
I absolutely had a fabulous time! I've never met nor hunted with a finer bunch of fellows. The Laguna Ranch accommodations were more than I expected and the food served was a pure delight. My sincere compliments to Jerry and crew! Our hunting party killed two javelinas and lost one to the bush, killed a large jack rabbit and bagged somewhere in the neighborhood of two dozen or so bunnies. While I didn't harvest a hog, javelina or jack, I had some truly memorable stalks and managed to bag a rabbit each day.
The geography is hostile, the climate is hot, the critters are tough - I can't wait to go back! :)
Post by: Golden Hawk on June 05, 2006, 07:55:00 PM
Post by: Guru on June 05, 2006, 08:47:00 PM
.... After presenting Bob with his Kit....I went to the target to fling a few,before I knew it I was joined at on time or another by Rob, Curtis,JC,Charlie, and finally Terry got back from his tour to let a few rip with "Hope". Myself, JC, And Charlie ended up being out there in the heat for a couple hours......I couldn't believe I was finally getting a chance to shoot with all these guys.It's always so cool for me to shoot with other trad shooters,I could just watch for hours, nobody shoots the same, all a little different, but all good shots!!!
JC checkin' out a found arra.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06054.jpg)
Gettin' ready....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06055.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06056.jpg)
...Then it was time to make one last hunt Sunday afternoon.....I'd be with Curtis again!!!
....Curtis schooled me about the "Bullbat",what a cool bird! It has a vast vocabulary,that at times sounds almost human.
.....We seperated,each taking part of the same sendero,I'd had my misfortune the evening before.I was determined to get another chance and make good on it. Big hog tracks were plentiful...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06066.jpg)
First encounter was with this guy....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06071.jpg)
Then another....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06072.jpg)
Wasn't meant to be with the javi's,ended up with one more rabbit.Met up with Curtis at dark,he too had killed a couple bunnies.But no hogs or javi's for him either.We were both surprized by the lack of game movement,But what a fine afternoon!!!!
Post by: BigRonHuntAlot on June 05, 2006, 08:49:00 PM
Post by: Jumper on June 05, 2006, 10:17:00 PM
Post by: cjones on June 05, 2006, 11:35:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 06, 2006, 08:07:00 AM
I'd done quite well on a small pond near the entrance to the ranch during the Texas Sweat. It had always showed me javelina's and I'd taken a pretty nice hog there as well.
When Andrew and Chris Kinslow hunted it, they too had had action with Javies and Chris arrowed a hog there as well. I had high hopes for it.
Considering the heavy rain the area had received a few weeks prior to this hunt, I shouldn't have been surprised by what I found when Rob and I walked in there.
Like all the rest of the ponds I'd seen, this one was brim full as well.
I had a good idea where I wanted to look for fresh sign, so we approached the water I split off to the right and Rob went left.
I slipped along the top of the pond bank, keeping an eye open for the javies I hoped were somewhere near... it was that time of day.
As I approached the end of dam a movement off in the brush below me brought me to a hault. A lone Javelina was walking through a clearing in the cactus some 25 yards below me.
I waited until he'd gone behind some shielding brush and moved quickly forward, thinking I'd catch him coming out the other side and with luck, up toward where I waited.
I guess he had other ideas, because that was the last I saw of him.
A quick inspection of the head of the pond where the water pinched down to a point showed lots of hog sign and some javie sign in the hard packed dirt. Fresh deer tracks in the mud at the waters edge showed that most of the animals in the area were using this point to access the water and would make it a near perfect ambush spot. I went to find Rob only to find him easing toward me along the dam.
We held a quick conference and Rob headed back toward the truck while I prepared a spot to hide during the evenings hunt.
I found the perfect location under the spreading limbs of a large tree at the waters edge, not 15 yards from the point of most sign. A steady wind blew quartering toward the far end of the pond, so I was covered in that regard.
A little work with saw and rachet pruners and I had a perfect hide out.
Now all I had to do was wait for evening. Rob met me on the walk out and we returned to the truck... and then retraced our steps to recover the rabbit I'd shot and had stashed in a dead tree on the way in. Duh!!
Back at the camp house we shared the morning's adventures with the rest of the gang and filled empty bellies with more great chow.
I was planning another siesta for the mid day hours, but like the day before, a practice session broke out.
I'd suspected that my brace height was too low and had accounted for some erratic shooting the previous day, so I twisted the string up a few turns and joined Curt and JC to pound the block target a little while.
Now I can tell ya, that when you're shooting with those guys, you'd better be on your toes. The boys can shoot! Throw Terry Green into the mix and you'd better be having a good day or they'll leave you crying in the dust.
The minor equiptment adjustment helped me in that department and I felt I was at least holding my own when the shooting started.
It turned out that JC was having a slight equiptment malfunction himself. His arrows were going pretty close to where he wanted them to, but the arrow flight was ratty to say the least. That wouldn't do for Joe and as Curt and I retired to the air conditioning, I noticed that Joe had come back out and was busilly pounding arrows into the target.
He would find the problem in his new shooting glove and fixed it when he returned to shooting his old retired glove. That simple switch cleaned up arrow flight to it's usual lazer like performance and Joe was once again laying them in there.
That's probably a good thing for me. Joe's a drop dead great shot!
***
I was pretty anxious to get back out even though it was still pretty warm and Rob was champing at the bit as well, so we loaded up around 4 p.m. and headed for our respective spots.
I'd drop Rob off and head over to my little honey hole. It almost fealt like cheatin somehow.
Soon I was treading down the sendero to the pond that I'd come to like so much. Entry was silent and with a good wind I made it in with little commotion.
Nothing was around when I came up over the pond dam, so I eased on down to my new blind and settled in for the five hour vigil.
I'd anticipated mosquito problems since I'd be sitting virtually on the very edge of the pond, so I'd packed along my Thermacell. There was some doubt in my mind for a while whether the Thermacell would get cranked up first or the mosquitoes would drain me dry.
Fortunately the wind that we'd experienced since we got there held and helped keep them blown away until the Thermacell took over.
Those units don't work all that well in a strong breeze, but since I was sitting in the lee of the pond bank, I experienced periods of relative calm. That's when it really paid for itself. I owe Terry Green a big thanks for introducing me to them.
There's always activity around a Texas waterhole, so my time was well spent watching the bird life and just contemplating life in general... which may be the real benefit of sitting on stand anywhere afterall.
As the majic hour approached I noticed movement near the top of a rise I'd kept an eye on. I'm not sure why that particular place had held so much interest for me. Maybe some inner instinct kept me keyed to that spot or maybe it was just because it dominated my view.
There was a game trail there... I knew that much. But I was almost shocked when a deer stepped into veiw.
It looked so big standing there. In my eye's perspective that rise was much further than it turned out to be and the deer seemed to tower above my hiding spot. I expected him (it was a buck just starting to sprout this year's growth) to look right down into my blind, see me for what I was and leave, but it didn't happen.
Soon two more bucks joined the first. They stood immobile for long minutes seemingly seeing everything, but somehow missing the camo figure crouch low beneath them. After long minutes they approached the water and like many animals do once they've assured themselves that all is well, made haste to the water in front of me.
For a moment or two I thought it would be funny to suddenly stand up and scare them out of their wits. But somehow that seemed mean in this harsh country. I sat silently as they quenched there thirst, drinking long and deep of the cool water.
When all three had finished and stepped back from the waters edge, I raised my hand slowly to let them see me. The first one to spot the movement didn't flash away as I'd expected, but did that sideways head move that we've all seen. Finally, unsure of just what it was seeing it moved away from in front of my blind and melted off into the green Texas brush, it's two pals following nervously along behind.
That was all the action I had that night and before long darkness had fallen across the pond and I made my way back to the truck. Rob would be waiting and I was hungry. Camp seemed like a good place to be.
Post by: JC on June 06, 2006, 08:25:00 AM
Later that evening I picked out a spot on a dozer pile near a road I was ambling down, drew back and released. Arrow flew like a dove on opening day....darting and cutting this way and that. But this time I noticed a "creeeeeaaaak" in my finger tips as I neared anchor. Second shot, same result. Dropped my pack, switched to my older glove whose strap needs replacement. Same two arrows, busted one nock this time. Four more shots and I got another clipped nock from the hex heads. Backed up, another arrow, just like it should fly.
Somehow, that new glove that worked perfectly at home was at least contributing to my arrow flight issues. Lack of humidity, sand and grit from crawling around, not polished smooth like the old one....I learned a VERY valuable lesson. One, if something goes completely out of whack with your normally acceptable shooting, it might be something really simple. And two, when something does get out of whack, don't let it get in your head or it becomes a snowball gaining size and momentum as it approaches destruction :scared:
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 06, 2006, 08:33:00 AM
And that friends should be considered a word to the wise... from the wise. :thumbsup:
Post by: JC on June 06, 2006, 08:44:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 06, 2006, 10:22:00 AM
Don't you just love it! The guys just couldn't give it up.
Morning came and attitudes remained the same, but reality had a much firmer hold than the night before. There were inspections at the airport to go through and the lines that go with that. There was the possibility of overly long tracking jobs to consider and vehicle malfunction had to be factored into the equation as well.
Since Curtis and I were the only ones with no time schedule to meet we bid farewell to our brothers in arms and headed for the brush. Leaving good friends is always a bitter pill to swallow, but we had soon washed it down with a cup of goin huntin and eased away from camp with high spirits and strung bows.
I'd grilled Bob Walker pretty thoroughly the night before about the spot he'd been hunting. Seems from talk around the table that he was one who'd experience the most sightings... not to mention shooting.
He gave me detailed directions to his "honey hole" and with my usual razor wit I promptly let them confuse me.
But Curtis knew exactly where Bob was talking about and since he and I had yet to hunt together we teamed up for this last morning.
While I worked one sendero, Curtis would work another close by. If he had any javie action at his location he would come and get me. Sounded like a plan to me.
I had action of my own almost immediately. I'd been looking for one last bunny to murder when I looked back down the sendero. I'd just come from that direction and didn't expect to see anything, but a shadow cast across the trail by a mesquite looked strange somehow.
Raising my binoculars to check it out, I could plainly see three javies feeding merrily in the trail road. The stalk was on.
Unfortunately, it took longer to close the distance than I'd figured and by the time I got close enough to sneak a look, the little musk hogs were gone. Poop! I was a little let down, figuring a guy would only get so many last minute chances and this was probably all I'd get.
Stepping out into the sendero I walked back toward the junction of another to see if maybe something was going on there.
It was about this time that I spotted Curtis truck. Figuring that he was coming to get me for the ride back to camp I trudged in his direction. Curtis is always considerate of my old knees and pulled down to shorten the distance of my walk.
As I slid my bow into the cab of the truck he told me he'd just left a group of javies on another sendero and we needed to go play.
My spirits immediately jumped and hunter mode replaced going home mode. Shortly we were back where he'd seem the javies and sure enough, there they were. Parking the truck out of sight, I grabbed my bow and Curtis grabbed his camera. He'd try and get a little of the action on video.
Our starting point gave us a favorable wind which was also strong enough to cover any tell tale noised we might make in the soft dust bordering the sendero. Soon we were within 50 yards of our quarry and all was going well.
The javies were now feeding away from us and it looked like we'd have to cross a long coverless stretch to close the gap. It would be a risk, but I could see no other alternative.
However! Curtis was intimately familiar with this stretch of trail and figured the javies would feed around a corner and out of sight. I figured that meant we'd close the distance as soon as they got behind the shielding cover.
In whispered tones, Curtis told me he thought the javies would round the corner and come right back out, since the little cove dead ended just a few yards into the cactus. A smart man knows not to "guide the guide" so we slid forward into what we thought would be a favorable ambush site.
We only waited a minute or two and I questioned whether the animals had really just eased on into the thicket. I guess it's doubt that adds to the excitement factor of any hunt and I was certainly excited.
Shortly I spotted the first javie as it fed back out of the little inlet in the sendero. It was a nice boar and he seemed to lead his buddies and they fed noisilly along.
I anticipated where the shot would come and positioned my body behind some cactus at an angle that would give me a favorable body angle. I waited on one knee as the javelina fed, while behind me CK worked his majic with the camera.
There was no doubt in my mind that Curtis would handle the situation without buggering it and also get the proper angle for the video action. I forgot about the camera and focused my full attention on the approaching game.
As the boar finally moved out from behind the shielding cover I positioned my bow and put slight pressure on the string. A razor sharp Magnus I w/bleeder sitting on the end of my Carbonwood shaft pointed at the spot I knew I'd take the shot.
When the javie cleared the cover I didn't like the angle and waited a little longer than I probably should have to take the shot. That meant I was fully exposed and apt to be spotted at any moment.
Finally, it was go time. The carbon shaft slid slowly across the rest in a movement designed to escape detection and as I touched anchor the arrow was away. It crossed the short space to my target in a blink and buried in the little pigs shoulder. Suddenly CK and I were alone and I stood to listen for the retreating javelina.
Action Video (http://tradgang.com//noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=000082)
Curtis was with me in an instant... excited as I was. He curse mildly (but frequently) as he checked the camera and thought for a second or two that he'd messed up and hadn't had the camera on video mode.
Disappointment set in on him, but I could have cared less. I was sure I had a solid hit and was more focused on recovery of the javie. I'd learned that until you have one of those tough little guys in hand, the game ain't over.
Soon we heard the unmistakable sound of javie jaws popping off in the brush about 50 yards away. It was a sign that the little tusker was dying and I breathed a sigh of relief.
We formed a recovery plan and Curtis walked to the truck to bring it closer and to retrieve "Sweet spot".... his tracking, brush busting, hog/javie whacking pick axe handle.
By now several minutes had passed so we took the trail. Curtis immediately found blood sign and eased a little deeper into the brush.
I was several feet to his side when he started yelling, "get outta here!!! GET!!!". Puzzled, I asked what was going on.
"There's a damn javie right here", he said pointing right in front of him, "and he's mad as hell".
Taking a step back he half raised "Sweet Spot" in case the javie rushed him. Javelina can be very protective of there herd mates and for a moment that's what we thought was going on.
Once more Curtis took a step forward and once again stopped, saying the javie was right there in front of him. "Wait! It's got a wound in it's side. Get over here!!"
I slid a big two blade on the string and eased into the cover from where Curtis had taken a couple of steps back. I could just make out grizzled gray hair through the tangle. Looking for any kind of opening I could find I finally was able to make out a four inch hole that would let my arrow pass directly to the wounded javies shoulder.
The arrow was gone in a flash, burying deep in the javie and stopped only by the dirt behind him. That settled it.
Soon CK and I were shaking hands over my second javelina of the season and a last minute success.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 06, 2006, 10:26:00 AM
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/modmeltjavieandskyhawk2.jpg)
Post by: Littlefeather on June 06, 2006, 11:42:00 AM
Post by: Littlefeather on June 06, 2006, 12:06:00 PM
There had been ample time from the shot till the time we started to track this arrowed creature of armor. Any animal I've ever encountered would have gone down in an instant from a shot like this but somehow, some way, this little javelina was still on his feet and ready to eat my face each time I bent down to start tracking again. Little did I know it was the same javi that Charlie had shot and really believed it was another of the protective tribesman of that javi's clan. I've often seen them stand guard over their fallen commrads.
After we came to realize that the javi showing me little room was actually Charlies javi, he was planted for good. Back at camp, Charlie autopsied the javi to see why he had failed to go down. The findings left Charlie and I both staring at each other in disbelief. There was a perfect 4-blade hole through one lung, diaphram, liver, pancreas, stomach and ended at what appeared to be the severed femoral artery. I have never in my life seen such destruction not dispatch "any" animal. I think Grenade tipped arrows are in order for the next trip south. CK
Post by: rabbitman on June 06, 2006, 12:07:00 PM
Post by: Kevin Smith on June 06, 2006, 12:10:00 PM
Chad, it was a pleasure meeting you as well, sorry again that you had to go, but glad things are ok.
Post by: Littlefeather on June 06, 2006, 12:13:00 PM
Post by: Shaun on June 06, 2006, 12:55:00 PM
Love the part where CK says, "Run!". It is a toss up between being attacked by a javie and "running" through cactus and thorn brush. A 20 yard sprint means two months of picking thorns.
Post by: Al33 on June 06, 2006, 02:26:00 PM
Great video clip of Charlie, Littlefeather! :thumbsup:
In the pic of you that Curt posted, looks like you found a few ancient treasures. Good deal!
Post by: the Ferret on June 06, 2006, 08:03:00 PM
Congrats :thumbsup:
Post by: Guru on June 06, 2006, 08:50:00 PM
That's great footage and a great pic of the "Big Guy". Did you get one of the 2 of you together?
The last night,went on way too long,but nowhere near long enough!!! Most of stayed up way into the night talking and listening to Kevin one last time.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06074.jpg)
The hard part,packing up to leave such a wonderful place shared with even better people!!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06073.jpg)
The train Kevin spoke of earlier....It was sign telling us our time was too short......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06082.jpg)
With the sun rising on another beautiful day we hit the highway.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/modmelt06084.jpg)
I have a new love in my life....hunting South Texas!!!! Terry,and all involved...thank you again so much for making this guy with the "holey" leg feel like I was a part of something real special!! I know I'll never share a finer camp........Till next time
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 06, 2006, 09:02:00 PM
The memory of this hunt will last long past the time when I am no longer able to draw an arrow to anchor and feel the strength of the bow, strong as the bonds of friendship forged on this hunt.
Post by: Littlefeather on June 06, 2006, 10:33:00 PM
.
.
.
.
.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/ck/Charliestalks.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/ck/CactusjaviCharlie.jpg)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/ck/meCharlieJavi.jpg)
Post by: Ray Hammond on June 06, 2006, 10:49:00 PM
Post by: Rob DiStefano on June 07, 2006, 07:06:00 AM
Post by: JC on June 07, 2006, 07:26:00 AM
Nice work Charlie!
Post by: hunt it on June 07, 2006, 10:45:00 AM
Post by: Joe D on June 07, 2006, 12:28:00 PM
Post by: Jumper on June 07, 2006, 05:10:00 PM
Post by: Whip on June 07, 2006, 11:11:00 PM
Post by: Terry Green on June 08, 2006, 06:50:00 AM
Great story and pics as always Charlie.....thanks for sharing once again.
Post by: Terry Green on June 08, 2006, 08:08:00 AM
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/g1.jpg) (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/g2.jpg)
Post by: Terry Green on June 08, 2006, 08:10:00 AM
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/g3.jpg)
Post by: Terry Green on June 08, 2006, 08:28:00 AM
......
Javie Magic Trick (http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/MVI_4121.AVI)
Post by: Terry Green on June 08, 2006, 08:42:00 AM
TX Sweat in March.....
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/l2.jpg)
Same lake Mod Melt in May......
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/terry/l1.jpg)
Post by: rabbitman on June 08, 2006, 11:08:00 AM
Post by: LBOW on June 09, 2006, 07:29:00 AM
Post by: Guru on June 10, 2006, 09:43:00 PM