One Track
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2001
- Messages
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Here's a quick report.
We hunted Don Smith's Archery Hog Hunt at Tejon. It was a Friday - Sunday hunt in the archery area, just north of the Pig O Rama north area. I'd never seen this part of the ranch, and was feeling like a total rookie on the first morning. Fortunately, my buddy Bruce, who owns The Bow ‘n Arrow Shop in San Diego, was also there. He gave us a few tips and we were off at 6am on Friday morning. Bruce suggested that we go to a certain meadow and walk up to the top of the ridge above to glass. Uh huh. After three hours of climbing, we were close to the top.
By now it’s pushing 95 degrees. I have a steady stream of sweat flowing all the way down and into my boots. At this point, we had not seen a single hog, and we were finding very little sign. We felt like we had been sent up the wrong mountain. Because it was hot, we decided to focus on the shady areas of the finger ridges below. Just then, a doe and a tiny fawn came sauntering by at five yards. That was a real treat. As I’m trippin’ out on the fawn, Zeke spots hogs about a ½ mile below us. We just caught a glimpse of a sow and two piglets. We figured there could be more already down there in the thick stuff. They were heading for the ravine.
We planned our stalk and flew down the hill. When we felt like we were in the zone, we slowed way down, and took opposite sides of the jungle-like cut. Within fifteen minutes, we heard gruntin’, snortin’ and squealin’. The hogs sounded to be just below me, right in the bottom. I tried to get Zeke’s attention by chirping, clicking, and other western Native American bird calls. I could see Zeke through the thick oak trees. I was sure he had heard the hogs and may have already been in position. He spotted the hogs first, and I wanted him to take the first shot. I spotted two hogs below me at 25 yards. I moved up creek about another 20 yards to give Zeke more time to get on the hogs. I found a shooting lane and ranged it. Bearclaw, (Zeke,) was no where to be found. I ranged the creek bottom at 21 yards. Just then, a hog moved right to where I ranged and I got that feeling.
This was a team tournament. Total weight wins entry fees for the next hunt. I figured I had better kill the first hog I came across. I drew back and started to punch the trigger. Luckily better judgment came over me. I remembered, “Breath, pick a spot, and squeeze slow.” I lined up the circles, (peep and sight, let out some air, picked a spot, and squeezed slow. THWACK!!! The hog started spinning like a top, and squealing like no tomorrow. After 15 seconds of that, the hog just fell over, ten yards from where she was first hit. I dropped down into the crick and called for Zeke. He was only ten yards up river. I asked, “Dude, why didn’t you shoot?” His only answer was, “Dude, if I only had a video camera.” He saw the whole thing. He said that he was waiting for me to shoot.
That’s my first archery hog. I was stoked and still am. Actually, part of that hog belongs to Zeke. It was a great team effort. We had an easy downhill drag to the truck, and were the first team back to the meat pole. One down, one to go. Our first hog, only weighed in at 78 pounds. (SDHNTR would have been proud of me for not holding out.) On Friday, only two other hogs came in, one at 178 lbs, and the other at 94.
Bearclaw signed us up for this event, and I appreciate it. I sure wish I knew about Don Smith’s outfit years ago. Don and Shawn Smith are great guys. It was a blast. Zeke is one hell of a hardcore hunter. “Cornbread,” I enjoyed your company. Ya’ll good folk.
I’ll let Cornbread (Zeke’s new handle,) finish the report.
Out.
We hunted Don Smith's Archery Hog Hunt at Tejon. It was a Friday - Sunday hunt in the archery area, just north of the Pig O Rama north area. I'd never seen this part of the ranch, and was feeling like a total rookie on the first morning. Fortunately, my buddy Bruce, who owns The Bow ‘n Arrow Shop in San Diego, was also there. He gave us a few tips and we were off at 6am on Friday morning. Bruce suggested that we go to a certain meadow and walk up to the top of the ridge above to glass. Uh huh. After three hours of climbing, we were close to the top.
By now it’s pushing 95 degrees. I have a steady stream of sweat flowing all the way down and into my boots. At this point, we had not seen a single hog, and we were finding very little sign. We felt like we had been sent up the wrong mountain. Because it was hot, we decided to focus on the shady areas of the finger ridges below. Just then, a doe and a tiny fawn came sauntering by at five yards. That was a real treat. As I’m trippin’ out on the fawn, Zeke spots hogs about a ½ mile below us. We just caught a glimpse of a sow and two piglets. We figured there could be more already down there in the thick stuff. They were heading for the ravine.
We planned our stalk and flew down the hill. When we felt like we were in the zone, we slowed way down, and took opposite sides of the jungle-like cut. Within fifteen minutes, we heard gruntin’, snortin’ and squealin’. The hogs sounded to be just below me, right in the bottom. I tried to get Zeke’s attention by chirping, clicking, and other western Native American bird calls. I could see Zeke through the thick oak trees. I was sure he had heard the hogs and may have already been in position. He spotted the hogs first, and I wanted him to take the first shot. I spotted two hogs below me at 25 yards. I moved up creek about another 20 yards to give Zeke more time to get on the hogs. I found a shooting lane and ranged it. Bearclaw, (Zeke,) was no where to be found. I ranged the creek bottom at 21 yards. Just then, a hog moved right to where I ranged and I got that feeling.
This was a team tournament. Total weight wins entry fees for the next hunt. I figured I had better kill the first hog I came across. I drew back and started to punch the trigger. Luckily better judgment came over me. I remembered, “Breath, pick a spot, and squeeze slow.” I lined up the circles, (peep and sight, let out some air, picked a spot, and squeezed slow. THWACK!!! The hog started spinning like a top, and squealing like no tomorrow. After 15 seconds of that, the hog just fell over, ten yards from where she was first hit. I dropped down into the crick and called for Zeke. He was only ten yards up river. I asked, “Dude, why didn’t you shoot?” His only answer was, “Dude, if I only had a video camera.” He saw the whole thing. He said that he was waiting for me to shoot.
That’s my first archery hog. I was stoked and still am. Actually, part of that hog belongs to Zeke. It was a great team effort. We had an easy downhill drag to the truck, and were the first team back to the meat pole. One down, one to go. Our first hog, only weighed in at 78 pounds. (SDHNTR would have been proud of me for not holding out.) On Friday, only two other hogs came in, one at 178 lbs, and the other at 94.
Bearclaw signed us up for this event, and I appreciate it. I sure wish I knew about Don Smith’s outfit years ago. Don and Shawn Smith are great guys. It was a blast. Zeke is one hell of a hardcore hunter. “Cornbread,” I enjoyed your company. Ya’ll good folk.
I’ll let Cornbread (Zeke’s new handle,) finish the report.
Out.
