crackerman

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Where: Bighorn Canyon Ranch
When: Thursday 12th, 7:00am
Who: Just me
What: First hunt for anything bigger than a duck
With: CZ527 Carbine in 7.62x39

A couple of months ago I won a hunt at Field Time sports for a hunt at Bighorn Canyon ranch. I have never hunted anything other then duck and wanted to try my hand at bigger game. I have read and heard all the good and bad about Bighorn Canyon and wanted to see for my self.

I got to the Ranch at 6:30, got a brief of the place and went down to find myself a pig. I walked down to the bottom of the canyon. I am not sure who has actually been able to pet a pig but they ran at the first sign of me. I moved farther back off a water trough and waited for them to come back.

One thing I really enjoyed was just sitting there listening to the nature around me. Just sitting and waiting I saw quail, other random birds, and just heard the world go by. After waiting a while and watching the hills change color I moved down the road and saw the pigs about 50 yards down by the side of the road. I put my sights on the better looking pig and pulled the trigger. I screwed up a bit and shot the front leg and broke that instead of getting the perfect lung shot. I moved up on the pig and put one into its head to finish it. The guys came down and brought the pig up to the rack and gutted for me while I learned a lot about how to clean an animal. I then dropped the pig off at the processors and can’t wait to bring home the bacon.

I learned quite a bit from the process. I learned I can shoot an animal, I figured you don’t know until you do and I am ok with that. I said my thanks to the animal and that was important to me. My CZ is certainly enough gun to take a smaller pig. Having a small easy to handle gun was great to carry around. Hopefully the processor can give me the bullet back. I need to hike more to get into better shape. I am glad I borrowed my dad’s good binos; I need to invest in a pair myself. I need to learn to dress animals myself and am looking for clinics around me. I know DFG has one at Tejon in July. I know open range hunting is not going to be nearly as easy as this was. I look forward to a tougher challenge down the road. I don’t think I will do Bighorn again for a pig but I will go back to do a horned animal when I want to get a mount done.

It’s nice to have it so close to my in-laws but I defiantly want to try big game hunting in other states and here in CA.

All in all a great first hunt experience.

i-3HCPSX6-XL.jpg
 
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Sully Jr.

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Great! Good write up and great first pig. I took my first pig there about 10 years ago when I was 15, and I've killed many hogs since then. There is a big difference hunting different ranches and different states, as long as you know that you're in the good. I went to Florida to hunt pigs about 6 months after the BHCR hunt and learned that pigs there are about as different as west coast people are to east coast people. Last pig I harvested was on Tejon. If you have a chance to hunt Tejon, do it! Being a member, I've never hunted a POR, but I'd think you'd learn a ton from the other hunters. Kinda like a crash course on pig hunting.

Anyways...congrats on your first big harvest! Good luck out there!

This is my first pig at BHCR when I was 15....
Brad
 

ltdann

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Nice hog! Wait till you taste it, mmmm good.
 

HOGHUNTER714

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Nice First Experience. I did the same thing you did when I was about 19. Got me turned on to hog hunting. I never went back to BH, but it was a great first experience and I "kinda" learned the ropes. Enjoy the meat!!
 

Vermonster

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Very cool. I have yet to get a pig, and have looked into this place. I am also looking at Tejon, cause I hear so many things about it.

Congrats!!!!
 

ChefTodd

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Nice Pig. ......B.H.C.R. was the first time I ever took an animal.....its the spanish goat (not very hard to get, but I wanted the goat for some goat curry) Nice people at that ranch. Had a good time......probably will go back some day.....

T.
 

crackerman

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Update!

I am proud of the pig, yeah was relativly easy, but I am hooked and am already scoping guides for another hunt on open land. I have to get some other supplies but am hooked.

I picked the pig up from Bree's Quality meats in Garden Grove today. The pig all said and done was 64 pounds of pork chops, sausage, ribs, and leg roasts. Not a bad days haul.

Total cost was $120, $116 for the work and 4 tip since they stayed open 10 minutes late for me when I called since traffic sucked. That is service!

The before picture is above but here is the after (and we have a decent size freezer under the fridge)
i-KC6Kqf6-XL.jpg
 

TonyS

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Buy a foodsaver! Your meat will last a lot longer.
 

palladin

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+1

foodsaver is a great investment in general. Your stuff looks properly packages so I wouldn't
mess with it.
 

THE ROMAN ARCHER

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Great morning read! Super congrats on your successfull wild pig hunt, very nice hog! Thanks for sharing!...tra
P.s I think your photo is a touch up, here's the original! Hehe...
uploadfromtaptalk1305990956431.jpg

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
 
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