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Author Topic: Texas Sweat Update  (Read 19213 times)

Online Charlie Lamb

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #160 on: March 18, 2005, 08:49:00 PM »
Nicely told Jeff! Sorry about that bow self destructing! Sure was a sweetheart.

Saturday was quite a day. Up early and rested. The camphouse was abuzz. Everybody was eager and smiling even at the early hour. It is exactly that that makes a great camp environment!

Andrew "Stoney" Kinslow chose to go with me that morning. There was all kinds of room in the sector I was hunting and Curtis had an idea for a spot that might show a hog or Javie.

The morning was uneventful if you don't count being buzzed, peered at, shyed away from by an assortment of different birds.
As I walked out of the brush near my truck I noted that my truck tracks from that morning were covered by Javelina tracks. Not just a couple either... lots of them!
In the time I'd sat in ambush for the little beggars they'd been a hundred yards away, just out of sight. Hmmmm! I needed to change what I was doing.

I picked Andrew up around 10 a.m and took him to show and tell with the Javie sign. We pulled up and got out for a minute to look, then jumped back in the truck to head for breakfast.

I pulled ahead about 50 yards to turn around and as the truck cleared a line of brush we spotted a half dozen Javelina feeding within 100 yards.
Getting the truck into reverse, I backed out of there and down the road where I could park the truck out of sight.

Andrew grabbed his Sunbear recurve and I my Howard Gamemaster. We quickly made time toward the pigs.

As we neared the brushline I sent Andrew ahead of me down a cow/game path that wound toward where we'd last seen the Javies.
I wanted him to take the lead and experience his first Javie stalk.

Best laid plans!

As we eased ahead, Andrew got far enough ahead of me that I couldn't get his attention without making noise that would alert the Javies.
It was about that time that I spotted a Javie just up the hill from me along the brush line. We were about to stalk past them.

With no way to get Andrews attention, I put an arrow on the string and moved toward the grizzled little porker.

He was feeding down a sendero and I had an excellent wind as well as good cover to hide my movement. The red dirt underfoot was soft and powdery and I was perfectly silent.

I jockeyed into a position about 10 yards from the feeding Javie. He was headed toward an opening so I just waited and enjoyed the twitching in my knees.

As the peccary came from behind the last screening brush he suddenly trotted forward a few yards, then stopped.
His nose dropped to the ground and grass shielded his eyes from veiw.
The Howard flowed like silk to full draw and I settled for a moment before the arrow slipped away.
In an instant the world switched to fast forward. The peccary was running sideways. My arrow, buried to the yellow fletch showed way too high on his side. I was stunned and the Javie hit hyper space and was gone.
I mentally noted the spot where he disappeared in the brush.

Momentarilly Andrew and I got back together and I told him what had happened. He hadn't seen the rest of the pack.

I figured it was best to back off and give him time to let the Woodsman do it's job. A few more hands for searching wouldn't be a bad idea either.

We hadn't gone down the road far and we came on Johnboy's vehicle and Curtis' truck. It was obvious something was up.

You've already heard the story of Curtis' pig so I'll just add a picture and add this comment. Curtis told me he was layin behind some cactus playing with his GPS when the pigs showed up so don't let him give you that stuff about huntin hard!       :D  

 
Hunt Sharp

Charlie

Offline Littlefeather

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #161 on: March 18, 2005, 09:09:00 PM »
Dang your camera takes good pics Charlie. Thats a great shot.

GPS? Who told you that story? Man, you better tell the Gang how I walked barefooted through the prickley pear cactus wearin nothin but mud and a bow quiver for camo. Crawled into shootin position after crawling for about 3oo yards so I wouldn't be seen. Oh wait, that was a different hunt. GPS Hu? Yep, I was checkin the moon phases for dates next March. Gotta get started early so more fellas can tag along at the next Sweat. Gonna do it on the full moon next year. The hogs just ambled by and I thwacked one. I hate to admit it but that is kinda what happened. Sorry, but no real dramatics that time. It was sure fun to do it while everyone was there. Made it real cool! CKCK

Offline Timo

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #162 on: March 18, 2005, 09:13:00 PM »
Keep it coming Lambo!

Great hero pic of CK! I remember you getting that one.I thought you were trying to take a nap!8^
(Enny o yuns know ware thu heart o a stumpytail izz??)

Offline Guru

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #163 on: March 18, 2005, 09:51:00 PM »
Keep it up Chuck!!!
Curt } >>--->   

"I love you Daddy".......My son Cade while stump shooting  3/19/06

Online Charlie Lamb

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #164 on: March 18, 2005, 10:38:00 PM »
Tim and Curtis... wasn't the camera! Was the camera man. I might have caught a few winks while I was down there.   "[moon]"  

Curt... Up Chuck?   :D  

Well where was I? Oh yeah...the Javie.

Jerry G. and his dog got things squared away in a hurry with Curtis' hog and I figured that would be the easy way to find my Javie.
Jerry informed me that the dog didn't have much experience with Javies. Seems that if you turn a dog loose on one and he tangles with the pack, he'll more than likely come out the loser. I hadn't really considered it.
Since my Javie went off alone, he was willing to send the dog in.

We went back to the sight of my shot and I soon had them on the last place I saw the Javie. It turned out to be a no go situation. The dog showed no real interest which probably meant he didn't pick up blood scent. We spent some time with it and doing a group search but no luck.

Back to the camphouse for a bite to eat and a bit of a rest.

Out front of the camphouse Timo had set up to knapp some flint. That drew more than a little interest as Tim makes some fine stone heads.

 

Andrew and I had our plans worked out for the evening. (at this point it's obvious I've got my time line a little screwed up... he'd had an experience with Javies figured to ambush them if they came back.)
We set him up to work his plan and I went back to my senderos and feeder.
I spent more time easing around doing a grid search for the Javie I'd shot but it just wasn't meant to be.

Just a little before dark I had moved into an ambush position near the feeder hoping to see Javelina or the hogs that were supposed to be in the area.
What I got was too button bucks. They came right in with little hesitation and fed under the feeder until one of them ventured away and crossed my entry trail.
Nose to the ground he tracked me to my hiding place.
At about 6 feet he looked me in the eye. I did a head fake and almost laughed out loud as he fell all over himself getting out of there.

Within minutes after darkness fell, I was pulling up to the pick up spot for Andrew.
I no sooner stopped the truck and he was poking his head in the window. "I just killed a Javie about ten minutes ago", he said excitedly.

Now that was cool!! We went emmediately to the site of the shot and Andrew explained what had happened and where.
We entered the brush to look for sign after finding no blood in the open where the Javie was shot. Nothing!

Instead of stumbling around in the dark looking and possibly disturbing sign, we decided to return to camp and get help.
The rest of that is recorded in Andrews own words already. I don't think he knows that I was the one who actually found the Javie.
I can tell you that when I saw the arrowhead laying by the Javies nose, the short hairs on the back of my neck prickled up. It was as if some spirit warrior had whispered an ancient truth in my ear and his breath falling on my neck sent a shiver down my spine. Heavy stuff!!

Back at camp...after about a million photos!... the group assembled to hear the story of the Javie and the arrowhead.

 

(cont.)
Hunt Sharp

Charlie

Online Charlie Lamb

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #165 on: March 18, 2005, 10:50:00 PM »
Hunt Sharp

Charlie

Offline Holm-Made

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #166 on: March 19, 2005, 02:32:00 AM »
I check in and read the Trad Gang pretty much every day, though I don't post much.  I just wanted to say this is the best thread I have ever read.  I am really enjoying it.  I just got home last weekend from a whole week in South Texas near La Pryar hunting Javies.  (25 hour drive from northern MN)  Anyway this thread has helped me keep a live the fond memories that I have from my trip. Congratulations on having an unforgetable experiance!  Chad

Online Charlie Lamb

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #167 on: March 19, 2005, 09:35:00 AM »
The telling of Andrew's Javie adventure and the arrowhead touched everyone in the room... we all knew it was a sign. I guess when you're a trad archer you believe in such things automatically. Like the sliver of moon that had smiled down on us during the hunt and tracking like a Cheshire cat.
Maybe it's a reminder that hunting, like life, is something we don't really control. It is in fact a gift and occasionally we are reminded to pay attention to what is given and be thankfull.

Supper that night was better than all the rest. Curtis had donated some pork for Markus to work with and Markus did a hell of a job. Little chunks of pig in some kind of red sauce that I'd love to have the recipe for... Help Jerry!!

My old buddy Eric Zuniga had suggested (even before the hunt started) that we get after some frogs while there.
To tell the truth, I was so caught up in the crowd and the cold that it was about to slip away on us.
So when Jumper came and asked if anyone wanted to go shoot at some frogs in a nearby pond, Eric and I jumped on the opportunity.

As we dismounted the truck and drew our gear together, the question came up how we'd go about this task.

It was agreed that we'd separate into pairs. Jumper and JC and Eric and I. I'm not sure we were set up... but I'm real suspicious!!      :D  

As Eric and I cruised the bank of the pond to the left Jumper and JC headed to the right.
Eric panned the light along the bank and we could see a few frogs lined up along the bank. Shining the light in the direction JC and Jumper had gone showed tons of frogs.

The loud talking, splashing and the sound of bows in the night made me wonder a little. But hey! We were having fun!
These were king size Texas frogs, the likes of which I had never seen in my old Missouri haunts. I'm talkin huge, kick you into the middle of next week, croakers.

Eric and I got a few shots, but no hits. JC and Jumper did a little better in the land of plenty and brought three to bag.
It's definately on my list of things to do next year!!

As with most hunts, the time was flying by like a carbon arrow out of a Morrison bow and in a twinkling it was the last morning.
Some of the guys went back out for hogs and Javies and others chose to spend the remaining hours in pursuit of bunnies.

I have to admit that I was tempted to forego the Javie hunting and chase rabbits. You see, the area I was hunting had few rabbits and I'd dearly wanted to get in on the rabbit busting. Now I wish I had.
I had no sightings that last morning and the prearranged time to meet and pack up came all too soon.

Goodbyes were said and most of the guys had headed out when Andrew and Jumper showed up from retrieving the meat from the cooler. They'd spotted a couple of Javies on the road in and with 45 minutes remaining, loaded me up for a show down.
But it wasn't gonna happen.

I do admit to feeling a little self conscious as they dropped me off and took the remaining guys off on a hill to watch the anticipated action.
If the Javies came back, I'd be under the gun so to speak.

But it just didn't work this time.

Soon we were packed and rolling down the road for home. The gang scattered to the four winds like a covey of south Texas quail busted from the brush.

I suspect that we'll here the plaintive lost calls over the next year as the covey trys to reassemble for another go at Texas Sweat.
Hunt Sharp

Charlie

Offline trashwood

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #168 on: March 19, 2005, 07:16:00 PM »
OMG now lets don't bring no families into it are i'd have go get Uncle Elmer out of the zoo and two of my cousins out of jail.

rusty

Online Charlie Lamb

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #169 on: March 19, 2005, 08:04:00 PM »
I just wanted to add this little tip of the hat.

Dave Bulla probably hunted as hard or harder than just about anybody on the hunt... with the least amount of luck.

I guess if we were giving a determination in the face of frustration award for the hunt it would have to go to Dave.
When the chips are down...Dave is in! All my best Dave.
Hunt Sharp

Charlie

Offline trashwood

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #170 on: March 19, 2005, 09:55:00 PM »
in my senior high school annual, I won the "most likely to shop at good-will" award.  weren't that nice of 'em.

rusty

Offline herb haines

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #171 on: March 20, 2005, 03:47:00 PM »
snicker , snicker ---- herb
"Heaven is just over the next ridge......"

Hello Darlin'

Offline Littlefeather

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #172 on: March 21, 2005, 01:43:00 PM »
We had a hell of a rain two nights ago. Washed away two of my hog huntin set-ups in the back of my home place. I 4wd over to the lease property to check things over there. Damn big ol' Ace broadhead still driven through the door. It looks like Excalaber(the sword) but in more of a Redneck kinda way. Maybe way more of a Redneck way!!!! LOL! I guess I'll just leave it there till you return to pull it from the door. I still have the shortened(resilance checked on the feeder) nutter in my truck too. Might be an auction item. Good times for sure. CK

Online Charlie Lamb

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Re: Texas Sweat Update
« Reply #173 on: March 21, 2005, 02:22:00 PM »
Just remembered this little incident that I thought was pretty cool.

I was easin down a sendero looking for a Javie when I spotted a little round ball of gray around 50 yards away.
I mean a LITTLE ball of gray! It didn't have the shape of a rabbit or anything else recognizable even when veiwed through my binocs.... so I moved closer.

At around 25 yards, I was sure what I was looking at was a bird, but it was just sitting there not moving. I moved closer yet.

Now I could clearly see that it was a dove sitting there in the dust, but couldn't understand why it hadn't flushed.  :confused:

At five yards I pulled up my binocs and could clearly see it had it's eyes closed... asleep?
 :scared:  

I just stood there chuckling under my breath.

Some big fun there!!!      :D
Hunt Sharp

Charlie

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