Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: sheephunter on March 31, 2014, 08:58:00 PM
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Near the beginning of the year, I got an email from J.D. Ross (bullcalf) asking if I wanted to go on a pig hunt in March. I decided to heck with it, I will find the money and go for it! The next couple of months were filled with sharpening broadheads, shooting bows, getting gear ready and watching the weather and moon. Getting emails from Topher who was the hunt coordinator who did a great job answering questions and getting info for us. He would also send us emails about the other groups and their progress on the hunts from the RMS gear crew and Marv Clyncke had me wound up and losing sleep over the hunt. As an added bonus, I got lucky and got hooked up with Curt Cabrera who got me in possession of Sarrells Hope! How cool is that?
By the way, if you don't want to read something drawn out, might as well stop reading now.....
Charley Brown
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Two weeks prior, we mixed up our own hog mix of corn, beer and cool-aid.Finally, February 28th arrived and I couldn't have been more excited. I got off work at 6 and headed home to finish getting gear ready. What I thought would take 20 minutes took an hour and a half. Luckily, J.D. was running behind as well so I didn't feel too bad. J.D. arrived and we found that we could not fit all of both our gear in the truck. Mind you, this is a long bed, quad cab Ford F-250! I only took one hard case and one clothing bag when I went to Quebec for caribou and i am going on a hog hunt, in the states, half the time and three times the gear! Better to be prepared I guess....
Finally, at about 9 I say good bye to the family and we hit the road for Amarillo where we will catch a few hours sleep.
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:campfire:
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We arrived in Amarillo around 4 am Texas time, unload the truck and grab a few hours sleep. We got up around 9ish and go to the Waffle House to get something to eat. It is at this time I remember that my knives are in CO safe and sound.....oh well, too late, no need to fret, does no good. We have a good head start on the rest of the group as they are not leaving CO until this morning of March 1. Truck loaded up, a stop at Walmart for licenses and other odds and ends and we are off!
After a few more hours in the truck, we arrive on the ranch and my stress starts to melt away and the wonder of new country encompasses me. Juniper, prickly pear cactus, Mesquite, yellow grass and red clay invite me!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3619_zpsfe317c53.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3619_zpsfe317c53.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3551_zpse61e5eec.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3551_zpse61e5eec.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3549_zpsbf81f43a.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3549_zpsbf81f43a.jpg.html)
and finally, the ranch house! A welcome sight! Time to pop a top!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3615_zps03f34766.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3615_zps03f34766.jpg.html)
The 70 degree t shirt weather was a welcome change from the 30 degrees we were leaving in CO. Good in some ways and bad in others, but I knew the beautiful warm days were not to last even the night.......
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Me and J.D. were excited beyond belief to be here! His family life and work and mine don't give us a lot of chances to hunt together so it was nice to be out hunting with my pard again! After unloading the truck, Jay asked us if we wanted to take tour of part of the ranch and corn some roads? Heck ya! In the truck and off we go! The views from the top of the mesas we great and the damage these hogs could do to a road was impressive to say the least.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140301_181203_349_zps9c297c1a.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140301_181203_349_zps9c297c1a.jpg.html)
Unfortunately was concentrating on the view and did not take a pick from the top of the mesa.
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:campfire: :coffee:
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Man I hope you landed one. I was frustrated to have hit the ground blind and shoot over the top of a nice boar while I had Hope. The Texas bow needs a Texas hog! I'll be following along.
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:campfire:
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The sun began to set and we made our way back to the ranch house. When we got back, the others began to arrive as we finished unpacking as well. i can't say enough how much fun I have in camp with others, especially when all of us are trad bowhunters! Stringing up bows, talking hunting and sorting thru all sorts of hunting paraphernalia is a blast to me! Getting to know others that I had only know thru brief emails before the hunt was interesting. Mark and Stephanie from Idaho Springs, Topher and Russell from the Boulder/Nederland area, Karl from the greater Denver area, Odin from North Dakota, Jamie from CO, me and J.D. from the Springs, and Jay (our guide) from Texas. What a house full!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/MotleyCrew_zpsad19bbdf.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/MotleyCrew_zpsad19bbdf.jpg.html)
The order is off in this photo by the way to the people in it.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/62962d614c_zpsd725c996.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/62962d614c_zpsd725c996.jpg.html)
I love this picture that Topher took of the bow rack.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3534_zpsc2af564c.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3534_zpsc2af564c.jpg.html)
My photo of the rack.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3532_zps99a49c5b.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3532_zps99a49c5b.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3533_zpse64a6d4f.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3533_zpse64a6d4f.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3531_zps37b18c40.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3531_zps37b18c40.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3530_zps8ebdc772.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3530_zps8ebdc772.jpg.html)
A few photos of our acquaintances.
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I know, your probably thinking, is this kid ever going to get to the hunt? One word.....tough.
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Eventually, we all headed off to bed, Topher and Russell deciding to be rustic and pitch tents outside. To each their own....a bunk bed sounded a lot better in my mind....especially when we woke in the morning to 20-30 mph winds, 10 degree Fahrenheit temps and blowing snow. Not what I expected for my Texas "warm" hunt! After breakfast and some coffee, me and J.D. started our first days hunt by heading towards a canyon to explore. Let me tell you that even coming from CO, it was cold!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3536_zpscbd5ad8a.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3536_zpscbd5ad8a.jpg.html)
J.D. bundled up!
Marv has had good luck in this area so what better place to start? We worked down an arroyo, seeing beds and one hog who did not make it. Possible kill from one of the other groups as a few pigs were not recovered. Coyotes seemed to make short work of this one, as there are plenty of yotes around for sure (where is Thumper Dinker???).
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3537_zps36e75db0.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3537_zps36e75db0.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3538_zps635d7dae.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3538_zps635d7dae.jpg.html)
We kept moving down the draw, looking for pigs and arrow heads (of which we did not find the entire time! Aargh!) Soon enough we worked down into a real thick area with hog sign all over, nests here and there. Soon enough we caught a interesting and new barnyard like smell......we headed that way north into the wind to which we had been crossing.....
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Off to go put the kids to bed. To be continued.....
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:thumbsup:
Pig hunting Heck Ya!!!!! Love some Texas high country.
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Definitely fell in love with this country in central Texas for sure! Where was I......oh yes. We started to move thru the junipers going slow, scanning ahead under the brush. We figured they would be bedded down under the trees, dug in like ticks! This is where mountain hunting for cottontails pays off, you have to go real slow, use binos and scan the brush for small details.
Suddenly, a flash of movement off to my left in the direction of J.D. (we had been working about 30 or so yards apart). There it is again, a flash of black! Then a flash of blonde/red! pigs finally, off about 60-70 yards! Where is J.D.?!? I work forward, slowly....keeping the juniper between me and the pigs and moving only when they move.....50 yards.....40 yards....there is J.D. ahead! He looks to be about 25 yards out from the pigs. I position to a gap on my right in case the pigs head my way and tell J.D. to go for it and see if when it plays out they head towards me but hope he gets a shot! The pigs move back into a juniper to nestle together and J.D. inches forward. The front row seat to this is awesome! Unfortunately, one of them picks up on the movement and they blow out, heading away from both of us!
Excited and cold, we decide to head back to the house for lunch, hot coffee and see what the others plans for the afternoon are. We caught up with Jamie on the road, he stated that he had covered some country to the south but had not been able to locate some hogs. By the time we got back to the truck it was nice to get out of the wind! It had only warmed up to 12 degrees by this point and the winds were still 20-30 for sure. That wind/cold cuts to the core! The hot coffee at the house was very welcome.
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Gentlemen, I am off to bed. Will pick this up tomorrow. Just think, I am only a half day into a four day hunt!
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Tuned in, Charley!
Bisch
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Awesome charley you have me TUNED IN!
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This is what it's all about, hunting with a stickbow.....What part of Texas?
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Waiting for more!
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Still here. Exciting stuff!
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During lunch,it was nice to sit around and become acquainted with one another. Overall, the weather had pig sightings far and few between. We sat around and talked about the mornings hunt and made plans of where to go for the evenings. Mark and Stephanie would hunt close to the house, me and J.D. up to the north end and the rest of the group was headed to the far south end of the ranch (approximately 30,000 acres north of Hamlin). If you look at the earlier photo where you can see the front end of the truck and the road is dug up,that is where we are heading.
Jay had already corned the road we would be hunting, named road 1. It is a stretch of road that is about a quarter mile long, with about 300 yards of it bordered by trees and open grassy areas on either ends. The pigs come off the river and head in land and use this area as a travel corridor so it is a good place for the evenings. We spotted a small sow with some piglets on the road already when we pulled up. We didn't know how long they had been eating on the corn so we ran them off and re-corned it. Me and J.D. then set back about 200 yards from the trees and watched down the road. Being the spot and stalk can't sit still western types, we watched the road for about and hour then decided to walk down to the river.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3545_zps30edc690.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3545_zps30edc690.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3544_zps45616ace.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3544_zps45616ace.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3546_zps3241ea8c.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3546_zps3241ea8c.jpg.html)
It was neat along the river. The pigs had the grass smashed/mowed down to nothing and you could see where they got up against the banks to keep warm. After a short look around for hogs and arrow heads,we headed back to watch the road.
After a short wait, the hogs finally reappeared. The small sow with the piglets were the first to show back up. We watched them for about 30 minutes while they ate up the corn. Then two larger single pigs showed up, a calico and a dark pig. The sow moved off and we moved up. We slipped up to where we thought was a good position. Some deer that had moved into the lane saw us and spooked. We thought the jig was up but saw the calico moving towards us. We hunkered down behind a juniper against some mesquite. We could hear the pig eating just ahead of us and watched him thru the brush. Finally he started our way and we both drew back at the same time. The pig caught the movement and was gone much faster than I thought they could move! Argh! You hear a lot about how poor their eyesight is. While this may be true at longer ranges, with 50 yards the can see quite well! Especially movement but I think they see patterns and possibly colors as well. I learned a lot
of respect for this!
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Dejectedly, we headed back for the truck as it was getting dark. Sometimes, I can be harder on myself than anyone else can and I was laying a butt whipping down on myself at this point as I should have been drawn back before he came out of the brush. The dang thing was only ten yards away for cripes sake! As we walked back to the truck, the calico reappears! I turn and head back for the hog, this fight ain't over yet! But he was gone by the time I got back and was getting to dark anyways so we hoped in the truck and headed back for the ranch house. While frustrating, the first day had plenty of action and adventure.
Always something to learn:
1. A strong, steady wind to cover noise for these pigs is a blessing.
2. Listen to your guides, they know what they are doing on where they put you and try hard to help.
3. These pigs can see quite well in stickbow range.
4. We know their hang outs....
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Bedtime. More to come tomorrow evening, I promise!
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:campfire:
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That first night it stayed cold out, but inside it was great to sit around and talk to others around some adult beverages. Me and J.D. felt thankful that we had seen pigs as some others in the group had not and we had high hopes in the morning for returning to see if the pigs were back in their morning beds.
I will say this, it was nice to just wake up when you felt like it and not have to exhaust yourself getting up at dark-thirty to chase animals. Usually the sun was my alarm clock and when it started to light up, I would wake up, which was great to let your body dictate the pace! That's vacation! After breakfast, we were out a bit earlier as we were a little better prepared for the day. We headed back to the south draw that lead to the canyon as the wind was still out of the north, so we would work west down the draw and then north once we reached the edge of the canyon.
We hustled thru a better portion to the "honey hole" with more sign from the day before. Finding the familiar short side draw, we eased up to the lip of the flat. We split up about 30 yards apart or so and moved like molasses forward, taking a few steps and looking. I kept reminding myself "White man walk lot, see little, Indian walk little, see lot" to direct my pace. Having a hunting partner who is in tune with you and you can communicate and work as a true team is a very pleasing thing. After about 60 yards we caught movement ahead. A brown hog and blonde hog were up and shifting positions. J.D. moved forward as he had a hole and I tried to sneak around to the left. Keep in mind at this time we are in a dense stand of junipers. I get around the left side and have the blonde hog broadside and half bedded at about 25 yards.....behind a mesquite bush. The hogs can sense something is up and I ready for their escape. The brown one is the first to make a move and starts to head away from me and towards J.D.'s hole in the brush. I hear a dull thump, followed by a louder thump and a squeal!!! Suddenly the bush 10 feet in front of me explodes and hogs go everywhere!!!
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Keep it coming Charley!
Bisch
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I notice the juniper 10 feet in front of me is full of piglets about the size of a football and a big black sow has run out the other side and has only gone about forty yards and stopped. She is making it abundantly clear that she is none too happy! I can also hear what sounds like a moan coming from about a hundred yards away in the direction that the two other hogs went that I am pretty sure is wearing on of J.D.'s arrows. I signal for him that we should back out and J.D. acknowledges he is thinking the same thing. We marked the area with tape as we backed out. Since the wind is still strong in our favor and we are pretty sure the rest don't know what happened we only went a short ways to take a break. The black sow stayed around for about five minutes as we could hear her un-pleasantries about he situation continue. We decided to go at least see the main body of the canyon as we had yet to make it that far! We also chewed up some time taking photos.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_100223_729_zps3636af1f.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_100223_729_zps3636af1f.jpg.html)
J.D.'s Black Canyon
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3549_zpsbf81f43a.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3549_zpsbf81f43a.jpg.html)
A view of part of the canyon. You can see some of the mesas off in the distance from here. For the terrain, they are significant.
We had been watching the clock and talking about the shot. J.D. stated the the sow was moving left to right and he shot as she cleared the juniper in front of him and though it was a steep quartering away shot it looked good and penetrated well. We headed back to the scene of the crime.......
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Upon arriving back at the it took us a minute to get our bearings right as the sun had changed the shadows. We figured on the spot of the hit by going back to where we were standing. Unfortunately, we found no blood. We started to move off in the direction we saw the pig flee...5 yards no blood....10 yards same...20 yards no dice....so we split up again about 20 yards apart moving on parallel trails heading in the directions of the moaning we heard. We traveled about 100 yards when I heard a triumphant war whoop from J.D.! First hog down! We stopped and said a prayer to The Almighty and started to commence on the picture taking.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_104442_123_zpsad7aa7bf.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_104442_123_zpsad7aa7bf.jpg.html)
No wonder we did not see any blood as the hole had filled with intestines. The Simmons Interceptor on the Full Metal Jacket shaft had penetrated well. We would find out later that the only reason the arrow had stopped was hitting the off side shoulder bone.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_104433_662_zps844f9c4c.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_104433_662_zps844f9c4c.jpg.html)
Another view.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3561_zps9de1096c.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3561_zps9de1096c.jpg.html)
The mighty white hunter!
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We drug the pig about 400 yards to a feeder nearby as we knew a trail lead in as well. I told J.D. to stay and admire his hog and I would go the rest of the way for the truck. I got the truck which was closer to a mile away than the half mile I thought and returned back for J.D. .
After returning back to the ranch house, we took a few more photos.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3566_zps0985d806.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3566_zps0985d806.jpg.html)
This hog hunting learning curve was quickly being shortened up! Congrats again brother!
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:clapper:
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:clapper:
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After taking care of the pig, we grabbed some lunch, conversed with the rest of the group and made plans for the afternoon/evening hunt. Jay told us of a feeder near road 1 where we hunted the evening before and suggested one of us sit there as it had been getting hit and the other go back to road 1. If your seeing pigs, stay on 'em. J.D. was gracious enough to let me take road 1 while he hunted the feeder.
I was in position on the end of road 1 hoping for redemption with the pigs from the previous evening. First on deck was the same sow as the night before with the piglets. I was still uninterested in her (though J.D. reminded me about the "don't pass today what you would be happy with at the end of the hunt" rule). I figured soon enough more pigs would show. luckily I was right as another sow about the same size as the momma came out onto the road. Game on! With that, I got the wind in my favor and moved forward. They were feeding away from me so I went to the fence on the back side of the trees about 70 yards from the road. I moved down to where I figured I was ahead of the pigs. Again, my luck panned out and I was in position. They were about 60 yards down the road and heading my way. I found a spot where I would have cover behind me and a hole in the brush to shoot thru. Amazingly, I was excited but my nerves were good. I remembered to breath thru my nose, out thru the mouth and kept telling myself "pick a spot, anchor, pull thru the shot" (my routine). The noisy little pigs slowly worked their way towards me. I identified the dry sow and focused on her as they came into the lane. I picked my spot, drew, anchored......
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A couple of picks from before J.D. shot his hog in the morning.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3555_zps0deaa836.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3555_zps0deaa836.jpg.html)
My ugly mug!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3553_zps0e7d138b.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3553_zps0e7d138b.jpg.html)
As you can see, warm it was not!
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This is great! I'm headed to the same ranch at the end of this month...can't wait!!
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looks like a great hunt !
Congrats..
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Charley, you've got me on the edge of my seat, Pard. What a great hunt with a great hunting partner. Keep a goin'
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wow!!! this is way cool awesome!!! congrats guys and keep it coming. I'm off to bed
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Nice hog. Id love to hunt Texas again. Keep it coming.
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One of the hunts I want to do someday. Great read. Keep it up!
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Gonna be a short post tonight, where was I.....oh yes....drew, anchored annnnddd......committed one of the worst sins for instinctive shooting, thought about the shot and adjusted. Looked high, thought "hold a little lower" ....and shot right under her chest!! AArrgggghhhh!!! You have to be kidding me! I know better! Did the same thing to a opening morning hunt on a bull caribou!! Not again! The pigs were out of there in a blaze of glory. These pigs mind you get chased hard on this road because it is a great spot but had been hunted for a couple of months and have played the game. Dejectedly but very excitedly went and collected my arrow and proceeded to head back towards the truck.
Along the way thru a hole in the brush I spotted the calico! Game on! Funny how fast my spirits lifted, something to be said about a target rich environment. The hog at this point was heading towards the truck as well so I tried to move in front of him to cut him off but he caught movement thru the brush as I closed in on the road.Remembering that he soon returned to the road the night before, I backed off and waited. Soon enough, he came back on the road on the end where I had just shot at the sow and heading that way. Simple enough, back to my spot, worked before. I was able to make it back to the hole where I shot at the sow and could hear the porker moving towards me munching on corn. This just might work again! So I wait.......and wait....and wait....he should be here by now.....crunching not as loud.....and he is moving away again. Stinker! Back to the fence, circle around, get in front. Moving towards me stops....reverses course....starting to get annoyed. Finally he stops in one spot and seems content and I have cover to work with. Ever so slowly, I move forward paralleling the road....60 yards....50...40....molasses slow....30....25, might just pull this off....20, quartering away, need to shift to the left to clear brush....and he sees the movement and is gone. This time, I mean gone, hear him hit the fence on his way out. Sigh....I walk back to the truck and grab a drink and sit back to watch and see if any more visitors come in, about an hour til dark.
A few deer show up right at the start of the magic 30. One looks out of place....the calico! That little S.O......stalk is back on. Decide to throw caution into the wind and try something. I decide just going to stay on the edge of the road and walk right at him and see what happens. Maybe with the deer around he might not mind the movement. Kid you not, I walked to within 40 yards of the does before they boogered. Guess they couldn't quite get me figured, you got to be kidding me. At this point, I am about 60 yards from the hog and i dip into the brush. I don't know what happened in the next 30 yards but when i popped back out he was gone. Me and this pig are starting to form a history together......
I walk back to the truck when suddenly the lights come on and it starts to drive towards me!?! WTF? J.D. had apparently froze his butt off on top of the ridge watching the feeder and had decided to get back the warmth of the truck. He picked up my sorry hide and we headed back to the house. While becoming frustrated, I reminded myself to be thankful and have fun, that is what we are here for and to stop pouting! Tomorrow would be another day....and what a day it turned out to be....have a good night guys and will get back at ya tomorrow!
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If everyone hasn't become to frustrated with my long windedness and will actually follow this tomorrow!
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I'll be waiting Charley!
Bisch
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I'm not going anywhere. Good hunt.
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:coffee:
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thanks for the posts, felt like were on the hunt with you. You're weather sure was not as nice as we had it in early March in west Texas. Looks more like the middle of October in Michigan.
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:campfire: :campfire: :coffee:
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Sorry about not keeping up last night, yesterday was busy. Will get back after it this afternoon when I get off work.
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Great story so far! I'll be checking back. :campfire:
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Tuesday dawned bright and clear, with a change to the weather coming. The high temps for the day would be closer to 50 than 15 like they had been. The wind had also switched and was coming out of the south now. Time for a different approach to the area along the canyon that we had been hunting in the mornings. Now we would be hunting a new area on the north end and work our way south to where J.D. had shot his pig. While I did not take a picture of the canyon (which I chastise myself for) it can be deep and rugged for sure.
Our initial drop into the canyon revealed less sign than on top and the cover was TOO thick to hunt, we would have been crawling blind thru it. We arrived back up to the rim of the canyon and began to follow the edge, staying about 20-50 yards from the edge, sometimes dropping into to cross a promising looking draw. We had gone approximately a half mile when we ran into pigs. A sounder probably 15 strong was feeding and milling on the flat near the edge of the canyon. I spotted the first skirting around a tree and signaled for J.D. to stop, but he had seen movement from some of the other pigs farther up the flat. While J.D. was watching a large black boar pursue a sow and try to "woo" her in the way only a hog can, I was focused on the two smaller pigs in front of me. The junipers were thick and the edge of the draw is off to my right, the pigs on a trail directly in front of me on the edge of the drop off. At 40 yards away, it is too far for a shot. So I creep forward but walking into the sunlight I felt very exposed and wondered how long it would last before they spotted me. I will tell you, it was just under 30 yards. One sees me, woofs and the skin out. They moved off onto the next finger ridge across the draw and head west into the canyon. We pursed but never caught back up. Back to the edge of the flat and to head south......
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We got back up on our "line" and continued south. A couple hundred yards later, five more hogs come trotting thru from right to left (off the flat, heading towards the canyon, see a theme?) and at a trot. I thought they may have been spooked but they only went another 30 yards and stopped and started feeding.
J.D. again was off to my left as we moved forward. Still being in thick junipers, I was catching glimpses of them moving ahead. I moved up to one tree and saw a pig that was feeding start to move my way. I felt confident as I had my face mask up and had a tree at my back that would break up my outline. Arrow already on the string, I put a little tension on the string and started to calm my breathing and remember my shot sequence. The pig finally made it to about 8 yards and started to turn broadside to clear the tree in front of me. I was already drawn this time as he was about to clear the tree when he picked me off and spooked. Luckily, I think he just didn't know what he saw instead of figuring me out as he only ran around the tree and materialized out the other side. I drew again, anchored, settled and released/pulled thru the shot......only to watch my arrow fly just over the back of the pig. That did it, they boogered out now. Sigh...
Of course my arrow smacked right into a juniper/cedar, which if you have no experience with, are tough as diamonds! Since I didn't have anything to pull the BH out with, my cedar shaft pulled out and the STOS is still in that tree as I write this. Oh well, you lose a few every now and then.
I want to publicly thank my friend J.D. for working to keep my spirits up over the course of this hunt. I would get in a dejected, sour mood congruent behavior pattern, but like any great friend, J.D. would lift my spirits and remind me that God had Blessed us just to be out there and healthy! Thank you my friend!
We moved down farther and saw a telephone pole that was a scratching pole and had some high mud marks on it (will show you later). We finally made it down to the end where J.D. had taken the hog the previous morning. We turned around and started back to the truck. Unfortunately, the wind was at our backs now so we figured we would just head back the way we came, figuring any hogs that had been around, we had already moved off. Wrong! As we worked our way down a clear cut/old road (?), the same five pigs that I had gotten a shot at ran across in front of us. Guess they had not gone as far as we had thought! This time with a snout full of human, the motored hard for the canyon. We continued back to the truck while looking for arrow heads. Unfortunately, we collected as many of those as we had pigs! Oh, but what a exciting morning!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/MenCharley_zps164a5d77.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/MenCharley_zps164a5d77.jpg.html)
I wanted to show this picture of us to show how a more open, big pattern like the Predator or Cabelas Outfitter lighter colored patterns work better out west than a lot of the dark, hardwoods patterns for back east do. ASAT is another favorite of mine. While maybe not the best example here, just something to study and ponder if you have never been out west or are planning to. Notice the amount of light colored grass and brush versus the amount of dark limbs. Lots of light grays, browns and yellow.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3589_zps1caacfd7.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3589_zps1caacfd7.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_103454_619_zpsc73fec34.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_103454_619_zpsc73fec34.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_103429_634_zpsedb7e9b3.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140303_103429_634_zpsedb7e9b3.jpg.html)
These are some of the nests we found, they were incredible!!
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:campfire:
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:coffee:
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Great read!
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J.D. had to go back and take care of his pig since it was heating up so I decided to hunt a little to the north before lunch and walked to the river. While I didn't see any game except for some quail finally, I did see some neat country!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3572_zps87ea692a.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3572_zps87ea692a.jpg.html)
Found this chair on the overlook. Talk about convenient!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3567_zpsbed84ab1.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3567_zpsbed84ab1.jpg.html)
That afternoon, we found ourselves back up on road 1. Others around camp had been hit or miss on pig sightings and Jay said that if we were seeing pigs we should continue to stay with them. We posted up on the other end of the road to match the wind. I will say this, pigs sightings were fewer for sure. The sow with piglets arrived and I tried to move and get into place for a shot but she moved down the road faster than I could get in front of her before she moved off. The calico showed up but seemed to predict my every move, no shot opportunities ended up presenting themselves. In short, it was somewhat unmemorable unfortunately to say. Me and J.D. did have a good talk I remember about God, family and life! The next day was different and much more memorable!
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That next morning, the final day, we were all up and out early trying to fit in as much hunting as we could. Again, me and J.D. started out on the north end and worked to the south. We were between the areas where we had contacts with pigs the day before when we finally made contact with another sounder. J.D. was off to my left about 20 yards. Imagine there is an "L" formation with the trees right now, i am at one end and J.D. at the other, only the corner is off to my left along with J.D. and he is slightly back. In the corner of the L is a small sow with piglets. She is feeding slowly towards J.D. and when she comes out of the junipers and brush, she will be broadside. Unfortunately J.D. cannot shoot as she is walking towards him head on. Finally she clears and turns quartering away but catches me as I draw and spooks. Next thing we know, Hogs are moving all around us! We had been right in the middle of a sounder and didn't even know it! They only moved off about 40 yards on the other side of the L.
J.D. skirted thru a hole in the trees and I swung around behind him and off to his left. The group at this point is now directly in front of me but on the other side of a juniper, with the group stringing out behind them from that. I can only see piglets in the brush in front of me. J.D. on the other hand looks like a dog on point, and for good reason! There is a large blonde boar with visible tusks at 25 yards broadside! Only one problem, a limb is right in the way! So here we are waiting them out and just letting the scene play out. Unfortunately, the big hog is not moving,just standing there grunting. To make matters worse, a hog walks out into the open in front of J.D., stands broadside at 15 yards, completely oblivious, and sits down like a dog! Later I asked J.D. why he didn't just shoot that one but he had his eyes set on the big guy. I decided to try and move over to J.D.'s position since I couldn't see anything. That was what undid us though. The pigs caught the movement and motored out of there. We talked it over for a few minutes while things calmed down, thinking maybe they had not gone too far.
We started forward after a drink of water and a candy bar, splitting up to about 50 yards at this time. I got near a clump of trees and started to hear some grunting/woofing. I signaled for J.D. to come over but when he arrived and we moved forward the hogs had moved. I caught a glimpse of a big red and a big black pig moving west. We tried to catch up but to no avail. We did come across some cool stuff though!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3586_zps7f71027c.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3586_zps7f71027c.jpg.html)
A hog rubbing post, that top mark looks plenty high up to me! Wish I could have seen the big guy that made that one!
A good set of tough boots is a must down here, I suggest full grain leather, to keep the cactus and stickers at bay. The snake gaiters I had on (while not worried about snakes due to the temps) worked great for keeping stickers out of my lower legs and from tearing up my pants. I got a nice set from Big R that are made in Oklahoma, the good old US of A which made me happy. Something to ponder. Better than buying a pair of the boots in my mind.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3593_zps45b4d313.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3593_zps45b4d313.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3577_zps2798c057.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3577_zps2798c057.jpg.html)
About those stickers.....
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3592_zpsbfe553e1.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3592_zpsbfe553e1.jpg.html)
I think the hogs like this rubbing bush, just call it a hunch!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3589_zps1caacfd7.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3589_zps1caacfd7.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3539_zps8428533e.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3539_zps8428533e.jpg.html)
Another mammoth nest.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3541_zps0e52a4e7.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3541_zps0e52a4e7.jpg.html)
And another rub.
We headed back to camp and prepare for our final hunt. Though still not bloody, I felt confident about the evening and my chances. :archer:
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TTT
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:dunno:
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Great story so far. I can empathize with the cold conditions. My TX hunt back in January was miserably cold but still lots of fun. We hunted mostly at night out of ground/pit blinds, its interesting to read about your day stalking efforts.
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Sorry about the delay, life can get busy with work and kids.
Previously in the day, we had been out shooting some arrows. Here is Carl, one of the other hunters, running a few arrows thru Hope.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3595_zps76339f8b.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3595_zps76339f8b.jpg.html)
So, the final evening of the hunt, I elected to hunt a water hole near road 1 that had been getting hit just before dark. J.D. dropped me off about 150 yards from the water hole so my scent would be well away from any pigs coming in. J.D. then headed back up to road 1. I sat down in a Juniper to get out of the wind and enjoy some sun. The temperature had cooled back off into the 30's but wasn't too bad. I was positioned on a 4 way to where I could see the road and banks above the water hole. Surrounding the pond were some high banks and junipers. I felt that Hope was going to bring me luck that evening.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3598_zpsc6b5b1b8.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3598_zpsc6b5b1b8.jpg.html)
(Above)This is looking towards the pond from my position. The pond is in a depression in the center/right part of the picture. I was in the juniper that you can see the shadow of in the left part of the picture.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3597_zps8b8e867c.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3597_zps8b8e867c.jpg.html)
And behind me. (above)
For the first couple hours before dark, the wind kept the wildlife movement to a minimum. Not hardly even the birds were out. Just as the sun was about to go down, I caught movement by the pond......
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For two hours sparrows, cardinals, and blue jays kept me company, but with the cold wind blowing they were not moving much. Finally, just before the sun went down, two does appeared above the pond(hence the movement). The does had me pegged, even though I thought I was concealed well. They moved off to the road and began to feed on some corn there.
As I watched the two does watch me, I heard some pig sequels from the pond, time to move! I grabbed my bow and was off! I swung to the downwind bank of the pond and spotted eight adults hogs at the pond and a lot of piglets heading in to join in on the fun. The two biggest pigs were a black boar and a white/black calico sow happened to be closest to the south bank. I moved around to the south bank and came up over the top. Hope felt good in my hands and I felt confident with her there. The calico hog was the closest and as she turned quartering away, I drew, picked a spot and released. At the sound of the shot she lurched forward and the arrow smacked her in the left side femur. That broke her down and she was spinning in circles. I drew another arrow and shot as she was turning in front of me. The arrow took her length wise on her right side. Unfortunately and unbeknownst to me, was that the second arrow did not enter the inside of the rib cage. She moved off to the left of me about forty yards but was unable to make it up the bank to the junipers. The other hogs had run off in the other direction by this time.
From on top of the bank, I could see copious amounts of blood on the ground and every time she stood I saw blood pump profusely from the struck leg. With the large amounts of visible blood and the sow finally laying down and had put her head down, I figured it would only be a matter of time before she succumbed to the wounds.
I backed off to call J.D.. He did not answer for about ten minutes. Hopefully he got into some action himself! Finally, I did reach him and he said he had a shot but the hit was marginal and there was very little blood. Unfortunately, that hog was never recovered. From what I had heard, hogs don't bleed much. With the blood i was seeing around my hog, I figured she would be dead by the time J.D. picked me up. Waiting for J.D. was a long half hour as the coyotes started to ramp up nearby.
As darkness finally arrived and J.D. arrived to help with the hog, we found she still had some life left in her. A final arrow from Hope into the shoulder and she was down for good! My first hog and with Hope to boot! I am certain to my core that between the Blessings from our Lord and Savior and the mojo from Hope played a major part in the taking of my hog in the eleventh hour. Thanks to the Sarrel family for building a fantastic, beautiful bow and also to all involved on tradgang for letting me be a part of something much bigger than me.
I know these pictures following are not the greatest so bear with me.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3599_zps62ef3c9b.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3599_zps62ef3c9b.jpg.html)
Impact sight.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3603_zps491e0c31.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3603_zps491e0c31.jpg.html)
Where I was above on the bank.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3606_zpsaa8242d3.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3606_zpsaa8242d3.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3604_zps5eb4bf18.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3604_zps5eb4bf18.jpg.html)
Her final resting place below in the high light.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3607_zpsa907a8c4.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3607_zpsa907a8c4.jpg.html)
The arrow that finally did it below.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3611_zpsf98a4173.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3611_zpsf98a4173.jpg.html)
And a cleaned up version.
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/P1010104-1_zps1128b300.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/P1010104-1_zps1128b300.jpg.html)
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee381/BrownC53/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3614_zpsf7cb797f.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/BrownC53/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_3614_zpsf7cb797f.jpg.html)
I can't tell you how much this pig and the circumstances surrounding it mean to me!
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Back at the ranch, everyone was excited to hear I had finally gotten a pig! To have a house full of good company and a great location for a great hunt, I could not ask for more. Jay said that he was happy to say that this was the first time he has ever had a group of hunters come down and never turned the ranch house TV on once during our entire stay. The next morning, we packed up, said our goodbyes, exchanged info and headed back home. Can't wait to get back down there again and get some more of this hog meat and spend some more time in this red desert clay! It is great! Hope everyone liked the read and sorry about dragging this out but my life has been full to say the least lately. Thanks for listening to my ramblings!
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TTT
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This was one of the most memorable hunts I'd ever been blessed to experience. Just the opportunity to be out in God's great country, so full of history and mystery. Spending time with a great hunting pard and topping it off with excellent table fare. I'm impressed and unreasonably blessed. Can't wait for the next one! Thanks, Charley.
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Nice job Charlie! Great story telling too. I was anxiously waiting for the final.
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I enjoyed the story, you told it well! :thumbsup:
It’s interesting that the sow lost her mobility when her back leg was broken. I presume that her leg was broken anyway.
Congratulations on getting your first hog! :clapper: Thanks for sharing.