Back from First Hunt

[augnmike]

OK I am back from Camp Five Outfitters and my 12 year old son and I had a really great time. We arrived on Friday at noon after driving from OC to the lodge. Man what a great set up, talk about not roughin it. Anyway after some paperwork and small talk the guide suggested we hunt immediately since the weather was gonna get ugly on Saturday and Sunday. We took off and within minutes saw pigs. They were small so we kept on looking. After about an hour of searching we saw a group of about 15 pigs eating their way up a steep hill. We decided to come from down wind and even with the hogs across the hill. We hiked up and after about thirty minutes we stocked a 200 lb pig to about 60 yards. I got my son to sit down and set up the shooting sticks for him. The pig was visible to me when I was standing but in retrospect my son might have had a small target while sitting. Anyway he fired his Remington 700 .308 and the pig ran off over a hill like his butt was on fire. It was a clean miss. My son was so down after that I could see he was about to cry he was so upset. He just got quiet and we all made the long walk back to the truck. The guide was great though and told my boy that's why they call it huntin' and not killin'. Anyway we regrouped and again began searching for hogs. I have to admit I was really stressed at this point because I couldn't imagine him getting an easier shot than the one he missed. I was afraid he was not going to get a pig on this trip. Although he has shot two deer in other states the last two years. After looking for a while we say a lot of pigs but nothing we could get to or nothing we wanted to shoot. About 10 minutes before calling it for the evening a 185 lb hog ran across a flat area and began to climb a very steep hill I got into the open and at about 100 yards nailed it when it stopped in the left shoulder with my .300 win mag (brand new gun) the pig rolled down the hill about 30 yards and while that was happening the guide yelled to my son that a boar was running up the hill 25 yards farther from where I shot my. I then saw the boar and looked at my son who was about 15 yards away from me. He worked his bolt to chamber a round shouldered the rifle and broke the pigs back at 125 yards on the run (allbeit a slow run up a very steep hill). I cannot describe how I felt at that very moment. He looked back to me and said, "I got him dad" and I could only say, "son that was an incredible shot." His pig only rolled about five yards and came to a stop, a couple of twitches and both hogs were dead in a matter of 30 seconds from when we spotted them. Needless to say we took plenty of pictures and dressed them both out. I don't know how to post but I do have digital pics. I highly recommend Camp Five, the guide was very good and the lodge was first rate. It is a three bedroom house full of all kinds of mounts, my son and I were the only ones there. We ended up shooting ground squirrels on Saturday in the snow. Talk about great experience for my son (and me too for that matter) if you can hit those little guys with your pig gun a pig looks real big, sure is expensive shooting squirrels with a .308 and a .300 Win Mag. though. We got a ton of snow on both Saturday and today but it kind of added to the whole experience. Today we shot a coyote and then hit the road for home. During the trip we saw, bobcats, elk, pigs, coyotes, lots of deer and of course the usual birds and rodents. It was one of the best times my son and I have ever had together. I want to thank you guys for the advice and knowledge you have shared that helped this be a fun experience.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Great story and success for your boy.

Good job to both of you.

 

[Blackknights154]

Wow!! Good job to both you and your son! I know when i got my first deer, my old man said the same thing! Beautiful shot son! I love to hear stories where the kids are involved. But now i am glad he understands that its "hunting, not killin" Congrats to the both of you.

 

[larrysogla]

Awesome....Congratulations!!!!!! and God Bless to the both of you, always.

 

[augnmike]

Hope the pic works

 

[augnmike]

One with the coyote

 

[augnmike]

Hangin'

 

[code3punk]

congrats.

 

[baboltin]

congrats to u and ur son. glad to see young kids in the field.

 

[Blackknights154]

WOW!! Awesome pics Mike! Good smile on the boy! you gotta love that. Congrats fellas.

root beer for the boy-------->

 

[Surfswest]

Awsome job guys!!!!!

Enjoy the Bar-B-Q

Frosty

 

[oneshothunter]

thats way cool day with his kid ... time spent in the woods with the kids is well spent time its a bouns to be able to get 2 hogs .. very well done to the both of you ..

 

[sidepass]

Great job,sharing a day in the field with one's son does't get any better than this!

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

very good read augnmike,and and sounds like a great hunting adventure you and your son had!

 

[larrysogla]

Those are very nice hogs. Thanks for sharing the pictures. God Bless.

 

[Kentuck]

Great story and pics. Some of the best pics I've seen. You both will cherish those the rest of your lives. Congrats.

 

[Cal hunter]

Awsome!!!Icant wait until my kids can start hunting with me.Congrats to you and your boy

 

[BobcatJess]

Very nice job Augnmike...nothing beats spending quality time like that with your son...This is a day he will never forget.

Congrats.

 

[Orso]

Great looking hogs... Sounds and looks like a great weekend. Congrats to both of you.

 

[superduty]

Glad to see it all came together. There is nothing like taking the kids out and the desire to see that look on their face when they succeed. You'll never forget it and some people will never be lucky enough to experience it so congrats to the both of you.