Friday afternoon on the ranch

[MJB]

I had an early Friday so I head on up to the Ranch for some fun. Hit the south side about 2pm on a beautiful day. The oats are short and already turning brown in the valleys saw so many squirrels running everywhere I decide to do a little target practice. I find a ridge that over looks about 5 valleys with lots of squirrels in each of them. I start shooting using a dead tree for a rest after about 20 rounds through the 204 and 15 dead squirrels I decide it’s time to go and let the crows have their lunch.

 

[MJB]

I go to my favorite spot to do some glassing and I see a cow about 2 miles away on another ridge. Well I thought it was a cow??????....no it’s a big Boar with a black body and a gray head. I love the looks of those old guys I just wish they tasted better so I decide to let him live. I walk the rest of the ridge line hoping to hear or see some pigs moving around the area. No such luck! It’s still early only about 6pm and I have 2 more hours of looking for pigs before I need to set up camp for the night.

I get back to the truck and drive to another ridge in the area that I can glass some nasty canyons from the road. I see nothing but deer and elk running all around the canyons. I walk down the ridge a little too see the bottom and sure enough there are about 30 pigs all sizes and colors. Some pigs look like they are ready to bust any moment. I debate whether to go after them, the wind is consistent on top but in the bottom it’s anybody’s guess. First rule, for me that is, in pig hunting once you see the pigs go after them you have to get on them and take your chances!!

 

[MJB]

I get my self all pumped up for the killer hike down and then up again. I decide I’ll leave the recovery for the morning with Texas and his 2 kids, who will be up on Saturday. I get in my truck and start to drive it down the hill so my hike out in the dark will be a little easier. I park and get my gear on, just then out of the corner of my eye I see something moving on top of the ridge. PIGS and they are on top YEA!!!!! scratch the hiking idea!!!! I mark the tree that I need to look for and high tail it to them. I get there and start to climb down the hill. I can hear the pigs but can’t see them I stop and locate the sound and there they are not one black one in the bunch just reds, browns and 3 Oreos. I find the red one is wet so she’s out, there is a young boar in the group he’s out that leaves the Oreos for a target. I get in position to head them off at about 30 yards behind a fallen tree. I get there relax my breathing and try to listen for them while scanning the grass in front of me. I don’t see them where are they? Then all of a sudden I hear them but they went the other way damn!! Now I‘ve got to put a move on them otherwise they will be down wind of me and the game will be over.

 

[MJB]

I run up hill and at an angle for about 100 yards over 3 ridges to get in place. I stop in some oaks about 45 yards above where they should come through. I calm down just before they come down the trail, first the little ones with mom and the boar along with some other small pigs. I’m at full draw now waiting for one of the big Oreo’s when out walks one. She stops broadside with her right front leg just ahead of her left front leg I put my 40 yard pin on her elbow and let it rip the arrow is perfect, she squeals and bolts up hill about 50 yards does a 180 and heads for the bushes. I see blood all over her left front side which is the exit hole, I know I hit her in the heart with a deadly shot. Hacked her up and hauled her out, left the ranch by 9:30pm and in my bed by 12:30pm what a day!

Shot her with a Switchback 70 lbs. easton 340, shuttle broadhead. Never did find the arrow but I didn't look to hard for it, next time I'm up I'll give it another look.

 

[MJB]

See ya guys in May at the JHO POR.

 

[ooja]

Awesome work on the archery harvest! I like how you are choosy with your stalks.

 

[Speckmisser]

Nice job, Mark!

That's two with the bow up there, right?

 

[One Track]

That's awesome MJB!!! You're a killer. Nice shootin'. Nice stalkin'. Sounds like you have gotten to know the ranch very well. I'll be there in 20 days. Can't wait.

 

[BrysonHesperiaResort]

Nice work MJB, great story and pix, thanks for posting it up!
Deedy

 

[socalkid]

Nice Job!

What kind of bullets are you shootin out of your .204?

Was this the South or North Zone?

 

[hatchet1]

NICE HOLE MY MAN, NO TRACKING THERE

 

[DEERSLAM]

Well done...congrats

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

congrats on the bowkill boar MJB! good morning read, nice photos, thanks for sharing!.....tra

 

[hifi55]

Sweet hog there and nice story.. sounds like it was an awesome hunt with the bow! Congrats!

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

SWEET!!!! Congrat's on the piggie. Puttin one down with a bow, not an easy thing to do..Awesome!!!

 

[MJB]

Thanks guys and gals it was a lot of fun!

That's my first pig with the bow at Tejon. All others have been with the rifle.

The 204 I have reloaded barnes VG .

See you guys in 2 1/2 weeks on the southside.

 

[LKN4HOG]

Sounded like a great time. Super job on the archery hog, I know they are hard to get.

Thanks for the story and pics..

R

 

[Cold1nhand]

Great job on the spot and stock! Hogs like that are not the easiest to come by. A great story and pictures!

 

[SDHNTR]

Nice work! Now that is a blodd trail!

 

[texass]

MJB,

We were a bit late getting started on Saturday morning but looks like you did not need much help dragging that one out.....nice job!

Took my two boys up there a shot a bunch of squirrels with the pellet gun, Glassed more than 30 hogs between Saturday night and Sunday Morning. We were in no hurry to kill one but it would have been easy with a rifle.

E