TEASER...Hog hunt Update, page 2...Im home

[wtpops]

For about the next 300 yards or so i find out I'm not the only predator that's been hunting this ridge. I find this and its fresh, still has meat on the bones and has the smell to it.



I also find this; i think it is what's left of some type of hawk. I ended up running into three different bird kills; they looked to be two hawks and an owl.

[wtpops]

I make my way to the end of the ridge and drop into the next one. I get about half way down the face of the first finger and sit down to look and listen. It doesn't take long and i hear a crack from the face of the finger next to me, something with weight just stepped on and stick. A couple of minutes later i can hear the crunch, crunch of acorns and what i have come to recognize as the woof, woof sound of dirt being cleared from nostrils. A couple of minutes more and i can make out hogs moving my way under the oak trees, its on.

There is about fifteen of them and they drop down in the drainage and come up in front of me. They're all from 15 to 30 yards from me. I pic one out, pic a spot and it turns, all i see is tail. The next one, dang behind a tree, this goes on until all 15 have pasted me.

Now there are 7 that are about 75 to 100 lbs, 6 that are sows about 125 to 150 lbs and 2 BIG black boars that are 200 to 225 if they are a pound and both sporting some nice long weapons from there lips.

How did i have so much time to get a good assessment of all these hogs you ask? Well for the next 15 minuets i stalk these hogs from tree to tree all the way to the bottom of the finger. I must have gotten to half draw seven times. How all those eyes and ears didn't ketch me ill never know.

Then it happens at about 20 yards one of the big black boars gives me a shot, i get to about 3/4 draw and he takes that ever-recurring step behind a tree. As i let down I'm thinking man it's going to be hard as hell getting the beast out of these hills, I'm all the way in the back and about a mile from my bike. He starts to step out from behind the tree and I'm at half draw in a blink, he stops just before his sweet spot is clear. I'm at half draw looking at this monster thinking, man i will never get this thing out of here or have a heart attack trying. Right about then 90 degrees to my left at about15 yards one of the smaller pigs steps out in view, i instantly think that one in can carry out of here, i turn draw and let loose, i see the arrow zip right through him. He goes about 15 yards and disapears behind some brush. I look around and none of the other hogs even react the the shot, there all just feeding away. Dang what a time to only bring one pig tag. As i stand up to go check the point of impact they look up and just trot off like nothing happened and in no big hurry. One of the big black takes up the rear of the line and i just smile as he trots off. If i would have been closer to the truck he would have been toast.

I get to where the pig stood, no blood, but about 7 yards away i see this.

   

Can't really see it in the photo but it's covered from stem to stern with good blood. I turn and start down the path the pig took and at 5 yards this,

   

5 more yards this,

   

5 More yards this

   

[Over&Under]

What a hunt!  Excitement at every turn or should I say at every tree!

Great shoot and what a neat colored piggy!

[GRINCH]

Way to go rick,nice hunt.          

[wtpops]

Here is a couple of hero shots, O yes and what a time to not have someone to take a pic. Once I got the hog back to my bike I lifted it up, straddled it's back legs over the center bar with its tail against my seat horn put its front legs and head over the handle bars and road that sucker all the way to the truck. My bike needs a good washing.

[wooddamon1]

Nice! Good shot!

[Benny Nganabbarru]

[GrayRhino]

Thanks for great pictures to go with your hunt!  Congratulations and go get another 'un!

[Whip]

That story was worth the wait! Great scouting, stalking, and shooting - Congratulations!

[ishoot4thrills]

Awesome hunt/story! Nice pig too. Thanks for sharing with some nice pictures.

I'm amazed at how you can't just kill every hog you see, tag or no tag, since they're an invasive species. Here in KY, hogs are starting to show up more and more so the state wants us to kill them on sight, no tags needed.

[joevan125]

Great story      

[Steve O]

Now THAT is the way to hog hunt!  Can't wait to see a #300 strapped to that mountain bike.  California hogs is another one of the hunts way up on the list to do again.  Beautiful country.

[KentuckyTJ]

Congrats on a great piggy.

[Rick Butler]

Thanks for sharing, great story!  

[Pat B.]

Pigs are great fun, congrats!

[Doc Nock]

Even in CA!!! Excellent! Way to work what you've got to an advantage!  Congrats!

[wtpops]

Originally posted by ishoot4thrills:
Awesome hunt/story! Nice pig too. Thanks for sharing with some nice pictures.

I'm amazed at how you can't just kill every hog you see, tag or no tag, since they're an invasive species. Here in KY, hogs are starting to show up more and more so the state wants us to kill them on sight, no tags needed.

Thank you all it was fun.

Shoot4thrills, we have no bag limit, you just have to have a $20.95 tag for every one you shoot, they are considered a game animal here in Ca

[Jesse Minish]

Awesome job congrats!

[wapiti792]

Great story and pics! WAY TO GO  

[rastaman]

Way to go sir!