Texas Radio and the Big Beast 2

[so tx pighunter]

I guess I will pick it up real quick. After I dropped off all the fellas I decided to do alittle scouting on my own. I parked my truck and gathered my gear and was getting ready to start easing through the brush when I got the crap scared out of me. I hadn't taken more than two steps when I had about fifteen Rio Grande Gobblers start howling their fool heads off about sixty yards ahead of me. I started down the trail real easy so as to get a good look at the birds but I guess they just didn't want to stick around to socialize. Anyway I started making my way through the South Texas mesquite and cactus and had just come to a cross trail when I looked up and saw four little porkers munching corn under a feeder that was about 200 yards off. I checked the wind and decided to make a stalk and after about twenty minutes I was within 30 yards. I grounded my extra gear pulled an extra Wensel palmed it and closed to within 18 yards, this is when things started to get sour. Being only as tall as some of the cactus leaves makes it a little hard to actually shoot over things so I was in a pickle all the white brush in front of me was just the right height to cover me really well but at the same time I had zero for shot oppurtunity. All this time I was being patient and waiting two of the piggies decided to depart in a very non-chalant manor so I was left with two and one of which was really bugging me due to the fact that all he wanted to do was face me and eat. These two fellas were quickly becoming convinced at the notion of following their buddies so when both of them were moving back into the brush line I stepped out and drew well what I didn't see was the third pig who at about the time I stepped out and drew gave that very distinct woof woof woof and the blow signalling that danger was about. Well everything went into high gear at this point and I saw the last pig coming back out of the bush getting ready to cross my path so at about twenty yards I shot, well I tell yall what he must have seen the arrow or heard the shot or maybe just had a guardian angel because I knew I was going to be eating BBQ'D pork loin for lunch, I mean I was already startin to smell those roasting ribs. I was sick I mean really sick when I saw him dodge that cedar shaft and cut up the road way that we call a hog trail down here. I know he was givin thanks to the Creator for sparing him from "Doom" (thats my stickbows name) and that deadly cedar shaft that just cut hairs off of him. Needless to say I didn't have pork loin or roasted ribs just a big stinkin pile of pig (freshly made) pooh pooh on a stick. I made the loop back towards my truck and saw a few bunnies and some more fresh sign that was made that morning, this included some rootings that looked like they had been made by a backhoe tractor. Still feeling a bit perturbed I started stump shooting trying to work out the tension and in doing so found some really nice pieces of Mesquite wood that I will be using now for a fox and bobcat mount that I am working on. I guess the old saying is true when one door closes another opens, I guess I can also remember that no game is yours till its in the freezer.
Peace and walk the way of the hunter.

[Charlie Lamb]

The next to last day was a repeat of the day before with even more attention to the cottentail population.
We were all gettin in the groove. There was no doubt about that and we all knew that to get a shot at a hog was gonna take some very accurate shooting with little time for anything less than a quick but deliberate shot.
The evening was about to present just those opportunities to Curtis and Chris.
Both sat tight in well made and well thought out brush blinds. With around an hour of light left hogs made their way in front of both hunters.
Chris made a beautiful shot on a boar facing away from him at a pretty strong angle. Penetration was deep (Wensel Woodsman)and the hog piled up in short order.
Chris made note of audible clues to the hogs passing, but made no attempt to trail it. He'd wait until we were all there. Smart lad.
Curtis fortunes were similar on a hog that presented a slight quartering shot. His penetration was also excellent (190 Grizzly El Grande)
Curtis also hung back on the tracking till we were all there.
Chris' boar was found very quickly and with much excitement. I am very proud of him.
Once the photo's were finished of Chris' hog we went over to Curtis' stand location to find his pig.
All went pretty well. Chris and I stayed back at the truck so as not to confuse the tracking and possibly destroy sign inadvertantly.
Curtis got on the trail with Eric and Eric's cousin Chris. All three excellent trackers...they sure didn't need my help out there.
The trail to the hog was reasonably short, but the very interesting part of the trail is that it led to two long tailed cats (mountain lions) who were very upset with the intrusion of our trackers.
The cats had extremely thick cactus and whitebrush to screen their furtive jockeying and even with lights, it was a VERY dark night.
I'll leave the details to Eric and Curtis. Since they were the ones out in the bushes!

[lcoast]

Well I been keeping my mouth shut. But no more. Dang! Great time guys and really a good job with the story telling and now we got Pumas! And it stopped. That ain't fair. Curtis, where are you?


=keith=

[Guru]

Batter up!

[the Ferret]

Now it just isn't right to drag it out like this...........    :mad:

[Littlefeather]

Im sorry fellas. I was all day on a tractor putting in food plots and when finished, I started building new fence. I Will get on with the story in just a little while. Curtis

[Littlefeather]

Alright Gang, we're about to wrap this story up. You may want to buckle up. The ride gets increasingly hairy from this point on!

Most of the afternoon was spent cruising the brush for bunnies and trying to find a few arrowheads. I was successful at a little of both and Chris also managed to thump a bunny.

   


Charlie and Eric seemed much happier sitting and watching our antics while talking of things that new friends do.

Evening came quick and found everyone in new locations. Chris had traded spots with me while he moved to a close quarters location that he felt more confident in. Charlie did the same.

I sat with two quivers in front of me. One quiver full of blunts and the other holding my Grizzly 190's. After what seemed like hours had passed, a bunny slipped into range but stayed hidden behind some thorn bushes. I was in the middle of trying to change my position to gain a better shot on the little fur ball when I hear something strange. What is that noise I think to myself? Its growing louder and louder.

Pigs rush in from several angles. In an instant the pigs are running in circles and exit as fast as they came in. How many were there? I never could get a count because they were a flurry of motion. Only moments later the pigs are easing back into the open. Wow, there are a couple of nice ones. I slowly start to draw my bow into working position but the pigs will not stand still and exit once again. Damn!!!! I cannot believe these pigs are so nervous. Is it possible to take one of these fast movers with a stickbow? Thwack!!!!! That was the last thing I thought as my arrow connected with a nice Sow re-entering my set-up.

As the Sow bulldozed through the tangles of cactus, briars, and white brush, I kept a keen ear. She went down! I could vividly hear her final moments as I raised my compass to get an accurate location for tracking her later. For now I will hold my position, try for a few more bunnies, and hope for the return of other hogs.

An hour or so after my shot on the Sow I can hear Erics truck in route to my location. I gather my bow, my arrows, and my two rabbits and ease from my hidden location. Did you do any good, Eric asked? Yep! I got a Sow down about 100 yards East of here, I tell him. I got a good compass reading so it shouldn't be too hard to find her. How'd everyone else do? Whats that, Chris took one too? Wahoooooo! Yessir, that's what I've been wanting to hear! Com'mon Chris, tell me all the details, I beg him. Did he go down? How far was the shot? Did you hit him clean? How many pigs were there? Im full of questions as we drive back to where Chris had shot his pig. I know mine is down so we decide to head back to find Chris's pig first. It is a proud moment for all of us to know Chris had shot his first pig.

                                                                                                  Cont.

[John Scifres]

Now quit your dawdlin' and get on with it boys.  It's like tryin' to get a story out of my 6 year old when he's excited.

[herb haines]

and some one said is was going to get finished quickly !! noticed the bunny shrunk Curtis !! must have been all the waiting around in the sun LOL------- herb

[Littlefeather]

Charlie, Everyone seems to want an instant ending. Give it to them. I have lots of work to get caught back up on. Curtis

[so tx pighunter]

I think Charlie's a little busy so I will continue. Well we went back to where Chris nailed his pig and shortly thereafter my cousin Chris got there( When tracking we like to work together for safety sake which you will really be able to appreciate shortly . We started out real simple using the leap frog method but even though Chris got excellent penetration with the Wensel blood was still slight and hard to find. My cousin and I then spread out to either flank and C.K. was checking for sign between us and we went Oh I guess 25 to 30 yards when C.K. announced that he had found blood. I shot over to where C.K. was and looked up to where my cousin Chris was pointing and it was then that I saw that the "Swineous Delicious" was just ahead of where Curtis found the Blood not ten to fifteen feet ahead. If your thinking, "Man it took these three goofs to find one hog 45 meters away from the shot sight" well then you need to come down and hunt with us, because everything will look exactly the same at night down here. You can be forty yards away from each other and never see the flashlight beam of another person, its that thick. Anyway we started back to the truck and once there the introduction of another now hooked pig hunter commenced, we shook, high fived, danced (well I thought Chris looked as if he might break out and dance a jig anyway.) and took photos of a great hunter and a great animal. (Oh, by the way Charlie has Chris told you about the hog he killed lately.) We finally loaded the hog and went in search of C.K.'s sow. Curtis showed me and my cousin where the sow entered the bush line and we all proceeded to do as before with the leap frog pattern until we came to the area where Curtis last heard the sow struggling. He was accurate as to the location because it was about 5 degrees off of his original compass reading, not bad considering that we were 250 yards away from the shot sight. My cousin Chris had moved out to the right flank to blanket the area and Curtis and I were still checking out the area we were in I heard something moving in front of me but dismissed it as being my cousin Chris. After about fifteen to twenty mins we were standing together trying to figure out where we lost the last sign when I heard a growl at first I thought it was a boar hog giving us a little warning so I called out to Chris and asked if he was alright I didn't get an answer but recieved a bird whistle that we use to locate each other when in deep brush. I called out again and this time Chris shouted back at me and I returned in like but once again no response. Curtis had moved back towards the shot area to try and pick up the trail and work it again. I again tried to find Chris when I again heard another growl and then another. I called for Chris again and he responded and said that there was a cat in front of him and it wasn't a bobcat. I told him to back out and he replied that he couldn't and that the lion was moving closer to himand I then told him to shoot it ( he had a 270 with him and I a 20 ga. with 00 buck ) I then heard his rifle shot break the night silence and the action working another shell into the chamber. I yelled out and asked him if he had gotten him and he said no and that it wasn't one lion but two. I could then hear even more growling in a more aggressive manor and began to push my way through the white brush faster I called for Curtis to come up because we had two lions in front of Chris and moving in. I could immediately hear Curtis moving his way through the brush and I then heard Chris shoot again I kept talking to Chris and finally was at his side and saw that other than the opening I had just broken through there was no other way for him to get or have gotten out. Mind you that where I entered the thick stuff and where he was at was only fifty yards apart but we couldn't see each others lights. I then told Chris to back out and I kept him covered with the scattergun and we met Curtis who had his trusty pick axe handle at the ready and we all made our way out with me covering tail end Charlie(no pun intended Charlie. We made our way back to the truck and called it a night all of us with our hides intact (thankfully). I have spoken to Chris and he found Curtis's sow or the remnants of (part her head) he also found the trail where they drug her where they fought and a blood trail where one left. So it would appear that he may very well have hit one of them. I asked him if one of them may have just raked the other and made it bleed and he had he didnt think so because it was too much blood. Only Mother Earth knows and God in heaven one things for sure as I pointed out before it pays to search with a partner.
Peace and walk the way of the hunter.  

[Van/TX]

Dang, now that would get your attention            Great story   .... Van

[herb haines]

used to get in a pen maybe 30 ft across with a 200# cougar with a water hose and a stick  but that was broad daylight and i was young and real foolish at the time .don't want to run into them in the dark LOL.------- herb

[Littlefeather]

Chris's 1st pig.
   

We were all proud of him.

Charlie is busy moving to a new house and Chris is busy in School and at work. Maybe we can just try and wing it through the rest of the story.

Eric pretty much remembers the details of the evening as I do. Its way different tracking in the thick of things in South Texas than it is in any of the 15 other states I've been in. When I say thick, I mean thick! I wasn't real happy to loose my Sow pig but due to the circumstances I gracefully declined any further tracking for that evening. Afterall, I know what a house cat can inflict in injury. To Hell with the big kitty's! Feed em' and forget em'!

The evening turned late in a hurry. After cleaning Chris's pig, eating fresh sausage, telling lies, and having a few beers, we decided to turn in.
   
 Tomorrow would bring the final hunt and we would depart till next years "Texas Sweat".

Monday morning seem to come in meer minutes. Id felt as if I just closed my eyes and already I was scurrying to get back into my camo.
This morning Eric had family/fatherly duties to tend to so we gladly piled into his cousin Chris's truck for a brisk, windows down, ride to what they call the high fence. Dont confuse "high fence" with anything remotely close to a canned hunt. The fence is actually there to thwart non-wanted critters of the region from competing with the desirable animals there. Acreage here is 700 acres if memory serves me. There are tales from other hunters that a hog here called "Bull" tips the scales at an easy 500# plus. Texas Tale? I think not!

Chris didn't stop the truck till we crossed what he called Salt Creek. Plan is to spread out about 50-100 yards appart and stillhunt into the wind till we came upon what Chris knows to be a bedding area for the hogs. I think we all saw hogs this morning but no shots ever presented themselves. As the Sun rose ever higher we recounted the events that had lead to these fleeting moments. What a great ride.

We ease off the high fence property and back onto the blacktop. One last try to find whats left of my pig from last night and we will be headed North, back to our daily routines.

   

[Guru]

Ho..LY..COW    !!!!

[BJOHN5244]

Now that will get your heart to pumping. Great story. Glad that everybody got out of that safe.

bjohn

[lcoast]

Good stuff!

Eric and cuz are smart. I been in the thickets after wounded bears. Partnering is bright.


=keith=

[Littlefeather]

As Chris pulls the truck into the area I'd shot the Sow the evening before, I couldn't help but feel  a little apprehensive. I guess it was only natural after the occurance with the cats the evening before.

We ease into the brush a little lighter on foot than we probably would have normally. Our ears are keen to the noises around us as we press deeper into the tangle of thorns and biting brush. Is this the area from last night? It all looks the same and I cant see more than 15 yards in any direction. Anyone see anything, I ask? Nope, everyone responds. Im thinking the cats drug off what was left of my Sow and intended to return later to finish the delicate meal. This thought certainly doesn't ease my mind or my nerves. After about 15 minutes of clawing our way around in the underbrush we decide to call it quits on our efforts. Suits me fine. Afterall, all I have for defense is a nice piece of Hickory, lovingly referred to as “Sweet Spot”. Im glad I never had to put her to work.

Eric had arrived during the midmorning hunt after tending to his Fatherly duties. It was good to see him again because we would be departing in just a little while. Eric took Charlie and Chris and I rode with Erics cousin Chris in his truck. We were in route back to our camphouse to pack gear and ready ourselves for the treck back into our daily routines. It had been an epic journey and I was dredding the return to reality.

Whats that in the road Chris, I ask? Im not sure, he responds and brings the truck to a sudden stop. He raises his optics and excitedly exclaims, “Bobcat”! It's a Bobcat!!!!
Bobcats are on the “must die” list down here because the prey on the quail population.
Chris hastily pushes the 270 rifle at me saying, SHOOT HIM, SHOOT HIM! The cat is very easily over 100 yards away and as I raise the rifle to shoot, I realize its open sighted. Bammmm! The cat explodes into motion. He is hit but it certainly was nothing to write home about. We find the mark where the cat had been sitting. I found a little tuff of hair but no blood. We searched the area very well but determing that it was but a graising shot and had failed to end his predation. As Eric and the guys headed on to the gate I found myself sinking into depression. Had I injured this beautiful animal only to have his future left unknown? I feel sick!

I start making my way back to the pick-up when I hear Chris in an excited voice say, “Curtis, bring you bow, Quickly”!
My demeanor changes as I find a quickened pace. The cat had found refuge in a large tangle of cactus and was nowhere close to giving up his ghost. I eased around the cactus patch trying to find a hole to shoot through. I fear the cat will run at any moment. I find an opening and at 12 yards I put a Grizzly 190 into flight. Thwack! It connects the front shoulder 1/4ing toward me. The penetration is deep and the cats demise is certain. I find myself with renewed excitement. I had not exactly taken the cat in a manner that I was proud of but later inspection showed he had only been graised across the belly by the cannon of a bullet.
   

My trip is now complete. "Our trip" is now complete. We had started with planning months prior to this day. Some had traveled far and put forth great effort to be here. I was tiny today in this huge world but the light of my satisfaction was certainly easily seen from a great distance. From this day forward, it would be a lenghtly wait till I would see these friends again. It would be a wait of great anticipation though. A wait to once again share the friendship, the comaradre, and most of all, feel the “Texas Sweat”.
                                                           Curtis “Littlefeather” Kellar

[herb haines]

THANK YOU - Curtis and all the guys .

[Guru]

Awesome Bro        !!