JONFSH
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Had an amazing time and weekend with Clayton Grant and Bitterwater Outfitters on my first ever pig hunt and will definitely be going back!
So my Fiancé Sara and I hooked up the trailer and headed out to Shandon, Ca. Friday morning for my 2 day pig hunt that started Friday afternoon. Made it up to Paso Robles by noon and stopped for lunch. Once lunch was over, we made the remaining 30 minute drive out to the ranch East of Paso on Highway 46. Arrived at the Ranch at 2:15 for check in, paperwork, and to get the trailer set up for the weekend. The first person we met was Matt, who was to be our guide that evening. Matt was very helpful in getting us squared away and informed us on what to expect for the evening hunt.
At 5:10 PM we met back up with Matt and headed down to the range to sight in my rifle and make sure it was good to go. After several shots and one click to the left (Range goes off out to 400 yards), we loaded up in the Dodge Crew Cab with their Polaris Ranger in tow and were off to a 15,000 acre private ranch. About 5:45 we arrived at the Ranch and pulled the Ranger off the trailer, loaded up and headed out.
5:55 I jumped out and opened the gate for Matt and we were hunting. 400 yards down the road Matt took us up a really steep ridge to look down into a canyon and glass for several minutes… Nothing seen… Turn the Ranger back down the hill and travel for several minutes to the top of another ridge. Matt starts scouring the mountain side and all the sudden says “See’um?”, I have no idea where he is talking about, but can the direction. All of the sudden, about 400 yards away, up on the end of a higher ridge, 6 black and white pigs are running out from under some great big juniper bushes.
Matt says, "Hold on!" and we hall a@@, down into this canyon around the bottom and back up the ridge, I jump out, rifle in tow w/ Matt right behind me. I see the pigs, they are running due east off the back of the mountain towards a canyon (coming in our direction but about 200 yards away) side hilling downward. I pull down on the biggest hog, but she runs behind a tree. Then I see an opening to the left, hold on the opening and wait. A second goes by and I have her in the cross hairs on the run, pull the trigger and Damn It! Safety is till on.
Pigs path drawn on picure:
Matt says “Get In!”, Is your safety on? I say, Yes. Ok, hold on.
We tear off down the ridge into the bottom, get back on an old ranch road, bouncing all over the place and I look behind me, to check on Sara who hasn’t said a word and she is Grinning ear-to-ear with excitement, we were definitely four wheelin’ and having a blast! Adrenaline is pumping and the Hunt is in full speed! And this is only 13 minutes into my hunt, Crazy!!!
We are haulin’ Butt now, through a little canyon and then straight up a hill side, Matt says; “I think I know where they’re going!”. Were just coming to the top a little ridge, just north of where we saw the pigs, then BAM! Six pigs cross our path right as we crest the top! Holy Cow! I think to myself…
I jump out of the rig, step right and forward several feet, Matt joins me on my left with his rifle just in case I don’t get a good shot or if the pigs turn back, I pull down on the biggest black and white Hampshire looking hog, at the rear of the group and just as she is going to crest the ridge and drop out of sight, she stops 60 – 75 yards out! Perfect broad side shot on a 140 lb Sow… I aim for the top of the shoulder at the spine and Bam! Pig down in her tracks!!!
[I recomend studying pig anatomy it really helps]
15 minutes into my hunt and it’s done. Who would of thought? But it was an extremely exciting 15 minutes!
Me and the Sow:
Shot placement confirmed
Country Side Pictures
Guide Matt
There were two more guys’ pig hunting that weekend and it took them a day and a half to fill their tags, so it isn’t always this quick, it was just that I had my lucky charm Sara with me. My understanding is they missed several shots and saw lots of hogs, but finally filled their tags by the end of Saturday evening and were both very happy hunters!
-Saturday 3/21-
My second hunt was a total surprise, but when Sara said I could go out on Saturday for a second pig, I was ecstatic to say the least!
On this hunt, I headed out with two new Bitterwater guides (who I got to know while there), Randy and Tom. Both are great guys, with a tremendous amount of knowledge, and a pleasure to be around.
Lucky for me, this was going to be another afternoon hunt and Randy, who had been out all morning with another client going through his hunting class (Highly recommended for new hunters out there) the past 2 days and they had spent 5 hours on this specific ranch “still” hunting. On their way out in the around noon in the Ranger and after getting an animal for his client, they saw a group of 6 big 175 – 250 lb. hogs watering by a stand of oak trees. He said, they just kinda grunted and shifted around, so he didn’t think they would be leaving anytime soon and would be a good chance for us to put on a stock.
175 – 250 lb. Hogs? Are you kidding me? Ok, twist my arm…
By the time Randy and Tom were ready to go, after cleaning the other client’s animal it was about 3 PM.
Off we went, loaded up in the Ranger, the two guides, Sara and myself. We made the 15 – 20 minute drive through some beautiful rolling hills before we got to the first gate. Then a few minutes later came to another gate. Randy jumps out, opened the gate and Randy told me to load my gun and put it on safety with no rounds in the chamber. Check. Let’s get a pig! I thought to myself.
As we go through the gate I could see a very long semi-used ranch road headed up a steep hillside and one off to the left that lead right down the middle of a large canyon with a lot of oak trees and smaller brushy canyons on the left hand side.
We head up the steeper road off to the right and travel 300 yards, just as we got to the top Tom stops the Ranger and glasses the thicker brushier left (south) side of the long valley. With nothing to be seen, we move on. We continue over the crest of a little hill (before it goes up a large tall ridge) in front of us and start down the backside onto a saddle. All of the sudden, as I’m looking at the beautiful landscape before us, Tom stops the Ranger… Looks to his left, below us and about 300 yards out, a herd of 10 - 12 hogs are coming out of a far canyon. The wind is blowing 10 -15 in our favor directly from the NW into our faces.
The hogs have no idea we are even there… We watch as they cross a small wash, and onto a flat, crossing the used ranch road and headed towards us. The hogs were anywhere from 50 lbs. to 275… these things were beasts!
Pigs coming towards us:
View attachment 80478
We start to make a game plan as they stop to feed 230 yards out and below us.
The choice is to go back up thehill we just came down, there was a nice rock outcropping where I could take a shot off my bi-pod over looking the hogs. It would be a 125 -175 yard from that vantage, downhill with wind in my face. Randy asks if I can make the shot? I'm confident out to 300 yards with a 1.0 inch group on my bi-pod so I said, absolutely!
Off we go, got set-up on my bi-pod and Randy ranges the hogs… 135 yards… Randy says take a head shot if you want all the meat, shot her in the ear! Had to wait for the shot because there were so many hogs and these copper bullets blow right through them. We don’t want a secondary kill or worse an wounded hog.
Finally, the shot window opens, I squeeze the trigger on my .280 Remington 700 and the Hornady GMX 139 Gr. bullet does the rest. Perfect Head shot at 150 yards right behind the ear!! 240 lb. Sow, Dead Right there!!
This was an amazing weekend with awesome people and loved every minute of it. Already planning another hunt back here in June for the kids.
I highly recommend Bitterwater Outfitters, Clayton Grant has put together a top notch operation for all of us to enjoy!!
Cost of Hunt - $700.00 per pig
Included – Free camping, full game cleaning and will take your animal to their butcher or you can take it home. Excellent Range with moving Pig target, Stocked ponds for fishing (Bass and Catfish) and great hunting stories around the camp fire!
I hope you enjoyed the reading!
Jon
So my Fiancé Sara and I hooked up the trailer and headed out to Shandon, Ca. Friday morning for my 2 day pig hunt that started Friday afternoon. Made it up to Paso Robles by noon and stopped for lunch. Once lunch was over, we made the remaining 30 minute drive out to the ranch East of Paso on Highway 46. Arrived at the Ranch at 2:15 for check in, paperwork, and to get the trailer set up for the weekend. The first person we met was Matt, who was to be our guide that evening. Matt was very helpful in getting us squared away and informed us on what to expect for the evening hunt.
At 5:10 PM we met back up with Matt and headed down to the range to sight in my rifle and make sure it was good to go. After several shots and one click to the left (Range goes off out to 400 yards), we loaded up in the Dodge Crew Cab with their Polaris Ranger in tow and were off to a 15,000 acre private ranch. About 5:45 we arrived at the Ranch and pulled the Ranger off the trailer, loaded up and headed out.
5:55 I jumped out and opened the gate for Matt and we were hunting. 400 yards down the road Matt took us up a really steep ridge to look down into a canyon and glass for several minutes… Nothing seen… Turn the Ranger back down the hill and travel for several minutes to the top of another ridge. Matt starts scouring the mountain side and all the sudden says “See’um?”, I have no idea where he is talking about, but can the direction. All of the sudden, about 400 yards away, up on the end of a higher ridge, 6 black and white pigs are running out from under some great big juniper bushes.
Matt says, "Hold on!" and we hall a@@, down into this canyon around the bottom and back up the ridge, I jump out, rifle in tow w/ Matt right behind me. I see the pigs, they are running due east off the back of the mountain towards a canyon (coming in our direction but about 200 yards away) side hilling downward. I pull down on the biggest hog, but she runs behind a tree. Then I see an opening to the left, hold on the opening and wait. A second goes by and I have her in the cross hairs on the run, pull the trigger and Damn It! Safety is till on.
Pigs path drawn on picure:
Matt says “Get In!”, Is your safety on? I say, Yes. Ok, hold on.
We tear off down the ridge into the bottom, get back on an old ranch road, bouncing all over the place and I look behind me, to check on Sara who hasn’t said a word and she is Grinning ear-to-ear with excitement, we were definitely four wheelin’ and having a blast! Adrenaline is pumping and the Hunt is in full speed! And this is only 13 minutes into my hunt, Crazy!!!
We are haulin’ Butt now, through a little canyon and then straight up a hill side, Matt says; “I think I know where they’re going!”. Were just coming to the top a little ridge, just north of where we saw the pigs, then BAM! Six pigs cross our path right as we crest the top! Holy Cow! I think to myself…
I jump out of the rig, step right and forward several feet, Matt joins me on my left with his rifle just in case I don’t get a good shot or if the pigs turn back, I pull down on the biggest black and white Hampshire looking hog, at the rear of the group and just as she is going to crest the ridge and drop out of sight, she stops 60 – 75 yards out! Perfect broad side shot on a 140 lb Sow… I aim for the top of the shoulder at the spine and Bam! Pig down in her tracks!!!
[I recomend studying pig anatomy it really helps]
15 minutes into my hunt and it’s done. Who would of thought? But it was an extremely exciting 15 minutes!
Me and the Sow:
Shot placement confirmed
Country Side Pictures
Guide Matt
There were two more guys’ pig hunting that weekend and it took them a day and a half to fill their tags, so it isn’t always this quick, it was just that I had my lucky charm Sara with me. My understanding is they missed several shots and saw lots of hogs, but finally filled their tags by the end of Saturday evening and were both very happy hunters!
-Saturday 3/21-
My second hunt was a total surprise, but when Sara said I could go out on Saturday for a second pig, I was ecstatic to say the least!
On this hunt, I headed out with two new Bitterwater guides (who I got to know while there), Randy and Tom. Both are great guys, with a tremendous amount of knowledge, and a pleasure to be around.
Lucky for me, this was going to be another afternoon hunt and Randy, who had been out all morning with another client going through his hunting class (Highly recommended for new hunters out there) the past 2 days and they had spent 5 hours on this specific ranch “still” hunting. On their way out in the around noon in the Ranger and after getting an animal for his client, they saw a group of 6 big 175 – 250 lb. hogs watering by a stand of oak trees. He said, they just kinda grunted and shifted around, so he didn’t think they would be leaving anytime soon and would be a good chance for us to put on a stock.
175 – 250 lb. Hogs? Are you kidding me? Ok, twist my arm…
By the time Randy and Tom were ready to go, after cleaning the other client’s animal it was about 3 PM.
Off we went, loaded up in the Ranger, the two guides, Sara and myself. We made the 15 – 20 minute drive through some beautiful rolling hills before we got to the first gate. Then a few minutes later came to another gate. Randy jumps out, opened the gate and Randy told me to load my gun and put it on safety with no rounds in the chamber. Check. Let’s get a pig! I thought to myself.
As we go through the gate I could see a very long semi-used ranch road headed up a steep hillside and one off to the left that lead right down the middle of a large canyon with a lot of oak trees and smaller brushy canyons on the left hand side.
We head up the steeper road off to the right and travel 300 yards, just as we got to the top Tom stops the Ranger and glasses the thicker brushier left (south) side of the long valley. With nothing to be seen, we move on. We continue over the crest of a little hill (before it goes up a large tall ridge) in front of us and start down the backside onto a saddle. All of the sudden, as I’m looking at the beautiful landscape before us, Tom stops the Ranger… Looks to his left, below us and about 300 yards out, a herd of 10 - 12 hogs are coming out of a far canyon. The wind is blowing 10 -15 in our favor directly from the NW into our faces.
The hogs have no idea we are even there… We watch as they cross a small wash, and onto a flat, crossing the used ranch road and headed towards us. The hogs were anywhere from 50 lbs. to 275… these things were beasts!
Pigs coming towards us:
View attachment 80478
We start to make a game plan as they stop to feed 230 yards out and below us.
The choice is to go back up thehill we just came down, there was a nice rock outcropping where I could take a shot off my bi-pod over looking the hogs. It would be a 125 -175 yard from that vantage, downhill with wind in my face. Randy asks if I can make the shot? I'm confident out to 300 yards with a 1.0 inch group on my bi-pod so I said, absolutely!
Off we go, got set-up on my bi-pod and Randy ranges the hogs… 135 yards… Randy says take a head shot if you want all the meat, shot her in the ear! Had to wait for the shot because there were so many hogs and these copper bullets blow right through them. We don’t want a secondary kill or worse an wounded hog.
Finally, the shot window opens, I squeeze the trigger on my .280 Remington 700 and the Hornady GMX 139 Gr. bullet does the rest. Perfect Head shot at 150 yards right behind the ear!! 240 lb. Sow, Dead Right there!!
This was an amazing weekend with awesome people and loved every minute of it. Already planning another hunt back here in June for the kids.
I highly recommend Bitterwater Outfitters, Clayton Grant has put together a top notch operation for all of us to enjoy!!
Cost of Hunt - $700.00 per pig
Included – Free camping, full game cleaning and will take your animal to their butcher or you can take it home. Excellent Range with moving Pig target, Stocked ponds for fishing (Bass and Catfish) and great hunting stories around the camp fire!
I hope you enjoyed the reading!
Jon
