First Hog Down!

[sammyguy193]

My First Hog. Everyone's gotta start somewhere right? Went up to Craig Cavalletto's ranch this wednesday just east of Paso Robles. Hunted hard wednesday afternoon evening, glassing and moving and glassing again. Misjudged my distance and missed a 75 yard shot at a really nice coyote (always a great way to start a hunt). Feel free to make fun of me. Went back to the cabin for a tasty BBQ, campfire, and a whole bunch of smores since it was the only way the GF would tag along. She later discovered she enjoyed shooting my ought-six, but that's a later story. Crashed early Wednesday night for a 445am wakeup. Saw four hogs before this old mama sow came into my sights. The first hog was a mamma sow with a little piglet- a no shoot. Next were two teenagers about 50-60lbs on the hoof we spooked out of a wallowing ditch. Not five minutes after we made it up to a rockin' vantage point, my pig come truckin' up from an adjacent barley field, down into the wallowing ditch for a drink, and books it back out of there. We took off after her, but every time she'd stop and turn broadside to look at us, she'd get back to trotting away before i could get a bead on her. Finally I said F-it. I ran towards her as fast as I could with my rifle pointed upwards and 9mm jiggling at my side, stopped, hit the ground and waited. After I spooked her into a gallop with my chase, she stopped one last time to give me that "peace out" look, and I took that quartering shot at 250yds. The bullet entered and obliterated her vertebrae and spinal cord from the fifth through the seventh vertebrae and continued to destroy her left lung. Bang-flop. Exit wound wasn't that big, but given the mixed results of lead-free ammo, i figured as much. The best part was that the path of the bullet spared the ham and exited in front of the shoulder. Autopsy showed it walloped her aorta too. I got up to her and respectfully put a 9mm round in her head. Do unto others i say. I told Craig I wanted to to all the work and tried to learn everything he had to teach me. So I skinned her up, boned her out, and she's in two iced coolers in my hotel room. two more days of wine tasting with the GF, and it's back to the daily grind. I have to say Craig's a helluva a guy and fantastic company to boot. and for $350 fully guided hunt, I would go back in a heartbeat, even if to just shoot coyotes and squeakers.

[url]http://cavallettooutdoors.com/Cavallettutdoor_Adventures/Welcome.html
[/URL]

 

[mezcan]

Way to go. This kind of post is what keeps me going.

Mezcan

 

[Farmerdoug]

Hey Sammy, did you know that you have to buy a seperate tag for every fetal pig you find? Not really, I'm just f#$%ing with you. Way to redeme yourself with the 250 yard pork shot after the 75 yard coyote miss. Congradulations brother on a riteous kill. That ole sow will eat well........

 

[asaxon]

NICE SHOT - 250 yds is about as far as I can see, NICE HOG - both in size and color, NICE WRITE UP - makes a fun read and most important of all, like you and GF had a wonderful time.

"She later discovered she enjoyed shooting my ought-six, but that's a later story." So lets hear the story. I had to buy the Admiral a Tikka lite 30-06 (put a limbsaver on it as the original stock comes with essentially a hard plate) as otherwise I was in danger of losing my Browning A bolt II 30-06 when it came to larger game although the Admiral loves her .243 win Coyote Lite for mule deer etc.

 

[buccwylde]

Congrats!! Very good write up. Love reading hunting stories..successful or not.

 

[DirtyDave]

Did you snack on the fetus?

 

[ltdann]

Nice hog and even better shot. Well done!

 

[huntingbret]

Nice porker!

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Super congrats on your successfull hog hunt, thanks for sharing your story and photos.....tra

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[palladin]

Congrats on the pig! Thanks for posting the story.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Nice Job! Now you are HOOKED!!!

 

[sammyguy193]

Dave: fetus was delicious. Wiggled all the way down. Chased it with a shot of amniotic fluid and a coors. Gf said the next hog is hers. Not gonna complain.... ;-)

 

[Joe Schnabs]

Thats Dirty Dave

 

[acousticmood]

Thats Dirty Dave

Yep!

 

[catchdog]

congrats. now you got to buy the GF a gun. 7mm08 is a great cal and light recoil

 

[sammyguy193]

Thought about .270. But then, for the cost of another gun & scope, I can go hog hunting again.... The best tool is the one that gets the job done. She likes the 30-06, recoil and all. Done. Question- anyone have any experience with Pomona Meat Locker? Need to get some hams done-up right. Ideas?


Also- I spoke with the land owner & guide, Craig about organizing a group hunt. He said 6 hunters would be good. I'm already planning my next hunt with him, probably in september. My GF, and two other friends are in for sure, date TBD. Anyone else want to go up and shoot some hogs? $350 gets you a cabin, field dressing, & bed, and a hog. Fully guided if you want, but my gf, a friend, and I are prolly going to go without a guide since we know the property pretty well. That leaves us +2. Also spoke with a winery owner who said he's always wanted to go hog hunting, but never had the opportunity. He'll bring some tasty drinkables too. Any interest? Oh, and the ranch is 12mi east of Paso Robles...

 

[taknitezx2]

are you trying to get together a one or two day hunt?

 

[k_rad]

Man that is a nice hunt. Thanks for the write up and pictures. Don't mind Dave he's a vegetarian. Way to go Sammy, your gun went bammy and now you got some hammies from that mammy!!!

 

[sammyguy193]

@ K_rad: dude, it was an awesome hunt!! He'll let you shoot yotes, squeakers, and rabbits at no extra $ while your there, but be forewarned: if you miss a 75 yard shot at a coyote because you misjudged the distance, he'll never let you live it down... but then again, neither will your GF.... I think the GF was just bummed because she wanted a new fur hat... Craig will just make fun of your crappy shot...

@ taknitezx2: It'd be a one day hunt, but he guarantees a decent shot at a hog. If you don't get a shot, he'll give you another afternoon/morning to do so. He said he's only been skunked once since his family bought the ranch in '96, and after seeing his property and the hogs traversing it, i believe him!

Update: 1 spot left. Crackerman just filled #5.

 

[taknitezx2]

Id be in for the group depending on the date. Id want a fully guided hunt though. Let me know the details.