got my first pig !!

[New Pig Hunter]

Got my first pig, finally !!

after 3-1/2 long years of chasing around the beautiful countryside and enjoying "armed camping" I finally connected !!

Last night at 6:30pm in the lush green hills of eastern Vandenberg AFB a piggie wandered into the crosshairs at 110 yards of a 180-grain .30-06 and KA - BOOM ...... it didn't get up anymore.

So rather than celebrate, my first thought was, "NOW what the heck do I do ?? This has never happened before."

Somehow Mr Piggie got himself gutted, all by himself, because I'd have passed out. Then a somewhat lighter Mr Piggie waltzed over to the bluemobile and hopped into the passenger seat, cool as you please, for the drive over to the Fish and Game Office to get weighed (120 lbs). He then jumped back into the passenger seat for The Last Ride over to the on-base rod & gun club where he hung out during the night and cooled his jets, with the sound of the surf in the background to keep him company.

And when I returned this morning to the rod & gun club, there he was, busy with 4 bitchin hunting knives I wished I owned, skinning himself. There were'nt no way I could do something like that without passing out, so Mr Piggie is quite the guy.

And finally a somewhat lighter in weight, pinker in color, and so much cleaner Mr Piggie jumped back into the passenger seat of the bluemobile for the slow ride into Lompoc, where he is now hanging around waiting his turn to be turned into little white packages.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[Cda55]

on your first one. Did you take any pics?

 

[New Pig Hunter]

Thanks Much, I'm still in shock.....

pics, funny you should say that.... I didn't take any at the shooting site ....

but I did take a few at the F&G office with Mr Pig in the passenger seat, that's a classic....
and I took a few before starting to skin.

I'll head back to "the site" and take a few, just so I'll have some perspective of what the situation was.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[Mel Carter]

Congrats on your first hog, you'll be hooked for life

 

[Speckmisser]

Can't let this pass without a "Salud!"

 

[Raully]

Congrates on the first hog. Post some pics of you got em'.

 

[bigdaddyk]

Carl,

I sent yo an email back, it is nice to see that you finally connected. Send me an email at work and let me know were you actually shot the pig. Was it were I told you to go?

Hank

 

[1Irishguy]

And now the addiction begins....

 

[BGH831]

Congrats

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Congrats on your first hog. It's a great feelin....Enjoy!

 

[manteca3]

Sierra Hotel Carl!
Pay your dues and you shall reap your reward. I was up at Vberg in Feburary and it was a beautiful green. I got two pigs from there in the 2000 season. Need to get back.
What Area did your pig come out of? Any sign in other areas? I'm headed down there this month on other business, but will take my weapon for a quick stomp Friday evening and Saturday morning before heading back home.

Congratulations!

 

[Orso]

Awesome. I can't wait to see some pics.

 

[pbrdog]

I was there last weekend. Saw 3 big pigs about 1000 yards away in some pretty rough terrain. Probably still be there trying to get them out if we'd have gone down there. That was in area 3. Area 4 showed some good sign too. Glad to see someone got one though.

 

[New Pig Hunter]

my pig was taken in Area 4, east of North Star if you know where that is. I didn't see any fresh sign, but there was a possible wallow in a muddy area under some trees. The game warden told me that just last Sunday (April 3rd) someone took out a pig from Area 4, so I figured "why not." Just dumb luck I suppose.

As for being addicted to pig hunting, I'm actually more addicted to enjoying the benefits of "armed camping." As I told my nephew: the countryside is nice and green, the ocean views are fantastic, and the backcountry is a perfect place to enjoy an afternoon picnic in perfect solitude. Sure beats the office.

Some of that area 3 terrain can be just plain nasty and inhospitable. When I sat on a hillside there for 2 solid days of glassing in FEB I'd have really given serious thought to actually taking a shot. 3 years ago I was talking with Pig Bill and he told me about a pig he shot there that rolled downhill into the mud. He had to go get help and as I recall it took 3 or 4 guys a few hours to get that pig unstuck and into the truck.
And another Navy fellow that posted here a couple of years ago, he shot one on the beach and was quite excited until he realized how "impossible" it would be to drag it back to the truck. He did it.... I've seen that terrain, I just don't know he managed.

I sat out in the same place yesterday afternoon but saw nothing. I heard something over near that "wallow" but don't know if it was a pig or not. I tried a sneak but no joy. But the afternoon stake-out was once again fantastic, and after I get the pictures developed I'll see if I can get 'em posted somehow.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[crodog]

Good job.....The first of many I hope...

If you start hunting with a bow, look me up i'll show you a couple of spots in Northern CA....

 

[JustAl]

Armed Camping, I've been doing that for the past few years as well. Congratulations, I'm hoping to get my first hog (as well as pronghorn) this year. Let's see the pics.

 

[DILPRXO]

Most Excellent..Congrats

 

[New Pig Hunter]

crodog,

as things go, I am a bowhunter.... which is to say, I'm confident enough of my archery skills. It's my woodcraft skills that really need the serious mentoring.

But my hunting mentor Tim (retired Navy kinda guy): now he is truly a bowhunter, having taken numerous deer and elk over the years. His sneak-up skills are nothing short of fantastic.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[crodog]

Carl,

Do you guys have atv's? you'll need one...

You and Tim are invited to my place, when ya get the time..

Dan

 

[manteca3]

Carl,
Did you get a look inside that pig? I'm wondering what the pigs are feeding on this time of year?
I've spent lots of time looking through pig scat and intestinal matter trying to figure out where they are eating. Sounds weird to most folk, but I'm guessing it is OK with other hog chasers.