2007 JHO/Tejon Hunts - Dates Announced!

[Family Tradition]

IN

Slinger you drive here I'll drive there..........

I dont think you want our dead swine in the back of the GrandPrix.

MS

 

[ozstriker22]

Gonna have to count me in too... and a few friends! I've got about 2 or three buddies lined up for the regular Ham Slam in May of 2007.

I think I'd like to try it the January Archery hunt too... and Tejon WOULD be the place to go.

I've decided to get an Elk this year, bow only. So come September 1st I hope I'll have tagged out. I'm also quite certain I will get a deer during A22. So by January, I will have at least 1 big game animal taken with a bow.

I was thinking about Archery hunting at the last JHO ham slam, though it seems like Hogs would be more difficult than deer or elk. The majority of hogs I saw at Tejon were in large groups (more eyes and ears) and worse than that, were on the move. ALTHOUGH, the sow I finally took I have no doubt I could have crept close enough to take with a bow or handgun... I just wanted to get it over with!

How much more difficult is Hog hunting with a bow than deer (spot and stalk when bedded / grond blind) or elk (tree stand)?

Jesse

 

[crodog]

I need to stretch my legs, and see some new country.

.....Looks like a road trip in the making.

Cro.

Tejon.....Do they allow ATV's?

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Tejon.....Do they allow ATV's?[/b]

Nope.

Drive on established roads with street-legal, registered vehicles only.

 

[Rancho Loco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ozstriker22 @ Jun 22 2006, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

the sow I finally took I have no doubt I could have crept close enough to take with a bow or handgun... I just wanted to get it over with!

How much more difficult is Hog hunting with a bow than deer (spot and stalk when bedded / grond blind) or elk (tree stand)?[/b]

I was 6 feet away from one in a bed, but there was no way I would have had a shot with a bow, let alone the .44 mag I had in my hand.

 

[ozstriker22]

I fear my post may have seemed like I was bragging.

I most certainly was NOT!

The sow I shot was grazing a hillside down wind. It was the last day, at last light, and I had never killed a big game animal... so I shot it as soon as I felt like I had a "sure thing" - for me that was 160 yards with a scoped 300wsm. I was merely posting I PROBABLY could have stalked within 40 yards, as long as the sow kept eating and the wind was steady... I'm pretty sure of it.

I guess my concern is whether it'd be worth $400 to bowhunt Tejon.

Here's the way I look at it. It's worth it if the "Shot-to-hunter" ratio is high enough. For example: Where I archery hunt elk, the shot-to-hunter ratio last year was 3 out of 4 hunters. The year before it was 2 out of 3 hunters. That doesn't mean 3 out of 4 and 2 out of 3 hunters actually got their Elk... it just means they SHOULD have. They had a Shot. They either missed, spooked the animal, waited to long, planned their approach poorly, etc... but they HAD A SHOT. The rest was up to them. A couple of the hunters had 2 or 3 opportunities, they just blew it from lack of practice.

I'd say that there was probably >80% shot-to-hunter ratio at the last hamslam. Maybe as high as 90% of the guys there SAW hogs that COULD have been taken. Something happened, they missed, spooked, didn't see the Hog until it was too late, decided the hog was too little, whatever. But 80-90% of the hunters COULD have taken a viable hog, and about 50% did. That's a phenominal "shot-to-hunter" ratio, in my opinion.

And I will be returning to the May hamslam FOR SURE. It's worth $400 for an 80% to 90% probability of having a CHANCE at a Hog. I just don't know if the Archery area provides a good chance or not. I think I'd pay $400 for a 70% shot-to-hunter ratio. Whether I miss, or spook on the stalk, that's up to me. I just want to be relatively certain I'll see a shootable pig.

Know what I mean?

Did I ramble? Yes.

Jesse

 

[Speckmisser]

I think the "is it worth it" question in this case has a lot to do with where your priorities are for the hunt. Hard-core archers will probably find a lot more value in this hunt than someone who primarily wants to kill a critter... but I think that only stands to reason anyway. For a lot of bowhunters, the focus doesn't seem to be as locked in on the kill. As for seeing animals and having opportunities...

From a purely economic perspective, at $400 this hunt, with all the extras is one heck of a bargain.

I wouldn't be surprised if the stats end up playing out about the same. Success is lower, because archery doesn't allow the margin of error of gun hunting, but from the reports I've read, the folks who hit the trail up there tend to see hogs.

By the way, none of this is meant to imply any negative judgement on rifle hunters or meat hunters, as I identify with both groups. The May gun hunt should be plenty productive again, and if it's a shot at a hog you want for your money, that's probably the one to go on.

 

[beastslayer]

It very well worth it.

There are definitely hogs and the rest just depends on your strategy and skill.

 

[ozstriker22]

You know, spec, after this last hunt, I'm completely HOOKED! If hunting was my hobbie before, it's now my obsession

We've eaten over 2/3 of the meat I brought home. It doesn't help that all I've talked about with friends, family, and co-workers for the last 3 years is hunting, but never actually killed anything. So EVERYBODY has asked to try this first Hog, and I ended up sharing almost half of my kill.

On the positive side my wife actually WANTS me to go hunting! She says I can hunt Hogs as much as I want. She LOVES the meat.

So I will probably hunt BOTH the Archery AND Regular hunts.

This will be my second year Archery hunting. I have actually decided to forego the D16 San Diego rifle hunt and hunt A22 Archery only. It's like the difference between shooting targets in a video game, and shooting a gun at the range. Archery is so much more intense. I've never gotten anything with my bow (except a rabbit), but I still love to hunt with it.

As to being "worth it"... When we hunted Colorado last year, 3 out of 4 had a chance at Elk. Only 1 was successful. But 75% of our group COULD have killed an elk. I hunted just as hard as anybody else... but I was in the 25%. I sat in my tree morning and night and glassed midday, saw elk, but never saw a legal shooting animal within stalking range. Nonetheless, it was "worth it" because 75% of us did have a chance. And I'm going back this year too... maybe I'll be in the 75% this time!!!

I think January will be wet, which means the sign will be easier to see (rooting), and easier to tell what's fresh, and easier to sneak - no crackling brush. So here's my prediction: I figure it'll be an 80% to 90% chance of seeing shootable hogs just like last time, with maybe a 60% to 75% chance of seeing Hogs in a position to "put the sneak" on with a bow.

So about 2/3 to 3/4 of us should have a chance at screwing up a stalk or shot

Overall success depends on the skill of all involved, but should be around 20% to 30% hanging Hogs. What do you think?



Am I way over complicating things? Yes.
Should I just buck up and pay both fees for both hunts? Yes.


Well, there ya go!

Jesse

 

[wmidbrook]

Well, it's lookin' like a darned great deal to me! I'll need a couple apps when you got 'em. I've got a PO box until they stick a box out in the new neighborhood I'm living. I'll send that right off to 'ya.

 

[Mel Carter]

It looks like I may be able to pull this one off (POR). Speck. when you get apps. let me know and i'll give you my address.

 

[ozstriker22]

It's official, my wife has COMMANDED me to go on "EVERY HOG HUNT AVAILABLE AT TEJON"

WOOO HOOOO!!!!!!

So I'll be doing both the bow only and regular JHO deals.

 

[beastslayer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ozstriker22 @ Jul 19 2006, 02:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

It's official, my wife has COMMANDED me to go on "EVERY HOG HUNT AVAILABLE AT TEJON"

WOOO HOOOO!!!!!!

So I'll be doing both the bow only and regular JHO deals.[/b]

Now play coy. Say you want to go but would need new gears, truck, etc.

 

[arizona hunter]

I will plan on being there, too. Late May is already big time for the swimming pool industry in PHX, but I will plan on being there.

Anybody know how long it will take me to drive from Phoenix the ranch?

 

[cassellm]

sent you an e-mail. Hope its not too late?

 

[Greenleaf]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cazz @ Jul 29 2006, 05:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

sent you an e-mail. Hope its not too late?[/b]

Poor Speck.

 

[cassellm]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Greenleaf @ Jul 30 2006, 12:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cazz @ Jul 29 2006, 05:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

sent you an e-mail. Hope its not too late?[/b]

Poor Speck.

[/b][/quote]

Didn't mean to ask a dumb question. Picked up on the post late. Been in the military 25 years and always seem to miss out on the good hunting opportunities.

 

[spectr17]

You're not too late Cazz and there are no dumb questions here.

Welcome by the way too.

 

[Speckmisser]

Hiya Cazz,

Stay tuned to this thread. WHen I get the applications from Tejon, I'll post up and the fun can begin.

 

[Speckmisser]

OK... a couple of updates!

First of all, I spoke to Barbara last week. The apps will be arriving at my doorstep sometime next week. I'll let you all know, in a separate post, when to start deluging my mailbox with addresses and info.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND UNTIL I ASK. I will, absolutely, lose (delete) your email... and you'll either have to send again or miss the hunt. Not trying to be a hard-ass, just trying to keep my sanity. I get a LOT of email, and if I don't manage it right I'll never keep up with it.

The February archery hunt dates ARE LOCKED IN, as are the May rifle hunt dates.

I also have the first weekend of June blocked out for a JHO archery-only hunt. What I need to know is if I can find 12 guys to hunt that weekend. What say ye?

Finally... I just got this from Barbara. If you have a youth hunter (12-16), that hunter can join the fun for $250 as opposed to the full $400. The youth must be licensed, and I will need to know right up front so we can make sure the apps are properly prepared.