JHO April Chopper's report

[Gyopo]

3-31-05
I just got off the phone w/Chopper.
As of lunch today 1 hog down.
Orso got a big sow (around 210 lbs.). W/trad gear nonetheless!
Nothing else from this AM yet.
They are off to a good start.

 

[Speckmisser]

AWRIGHT ORSO!! AWRIGHT TRAD BOWS!

That's what I'm wanting to hear.

 

[Cal hunter]

Keep us posted gyopo

 

[SierraExplorer]

Sa Weet!!!

(did he say what area of this monstrosity of a ranch he got it in?)

I am thinking Orso hunts the area that I never saw a piggie on- but I "Did" smell one- I just did not have the smarts to stay put.

Thanks for a great trip Cal !!

I will be passing past your house in 2 hours on my way south.

Later Bro's !!

Gyopo- PLEASE tease us on how sweet that meat was you took home.

 

[Cal hunter]

Have fun SE wish I could have gone with you down there.GOOD LUCK

 

[Arrowslinger]

Well, i just rolled in from Choppers.....I would like to officially declare that i no longer have the nickname "ass shooter", that now belongs to Zimm & Orso...well, i did shoot a squirrel in the stink star, anyway.......the first morning i went to my favorite spot, a nice creek bottom w/ plenty of cover, sign, food, and trails. It's a hellofa spot, but unfortunately the pigs weren't there. I next tried my other favorite spot, plenty of sign, but i seem to be missing the pigs by minutes. I finally realized the pigs are not leaving cover until it's dark thirty....well, i set up right on the trail(s) they're using to leave their beds......had one a 45 yards, but moved off before i could get a shot...another one was 20 yards but winded me.
All together, i think i saw 15 hogs......i just couldn't peice together the puzzle in time. With the odd weather conditions, the moon phase, and a bit of bad luck...i wasn't able to send an arrow towards a hog.

It was great meeting some new faces & helping orso find his pig.....couldn't be happier w/ a good friend getting one & helping w/ the drag & skinnin' duties.

Living up to my JHO name, i did manage to loose 6 arrows and help thin the ground squirrel populations a bit.....9 squirrels, farthest at 32 yards.

Congrats to Zimm & Orso for their first pigs w/ a bow.

Other than that, it was a great trip...saw plenty of critters, lost some arrows, made some new friends, ate some amazing food, and enjoyed a few crown/pepsi's....good times!

 

[Zimm]

Man am I tired, too much sleep I think and against all odds, the Jeep made it home to OC in one piece! That was one of the most fun hunting trips I have ever been on! I had to break the piggy bank (get it?) for this one, but worth every cent...thanks Chopper, you are a great host buddy! Great food and drink (thanks Bubba), and a hilarious group of guys! The little pig with a death wish was just a bonus.

Thanks to Arrowslinger for showing me around on day 1 and I almost popped a big tom early that first morning. I called them in twice with my world famous wounded trouser trout call I use as a yelp. Anyway, both times I tried to draw on him, he busted me and jammed...a lot of fun though! Day two I got to go with Orso and thank goodness I did because that was the morning that huge

bore charged me after I stuck it. Dolly, Orso, Brian (thanks guys!!!) and I took off down the hill and found the little fella and Orso did the piggy shuffle and sent him off to the hog heavens. That was way too cool and I think I'm hooked on pig hunting.

Most of day three was spent watching Arrowslinger and BDB smoke ground squirrels consistently at 60+ yards...and AS can make a mean deep fried squirrel lunch!!! Thats about it as I am brain dead...highly recommended and Chopper put me on the list for next year!!!

Zimm

 

[BDB]

First off congrats to Orso who bagged a nice sow with his recurve, nice work. Also congrats to Zimm and his cute little boar

Guess I can't say too much though coming home without pork.

Well, I didn't get any hogs but had a blast as usual. The closest I came to getting one was on Saturday evening. I was sitting up against a tree watching a small ridge and oak covered meadow about 2 hours left in legal shooting time. After 30 mins I got up and started stalking into the wind to get to another spot. My goal was to keep moving 100 yards or so and sitting for a while and ending up the last 30 mins of light in a spot that was a little farther up the canyon. I got up and walked about 60 yards and thought I heard something behind me. I turn to see a lone black boar coming down the ridge. A nice one about 175# or so I guessed. I knock and arrow and try to figure out how to get a shot but he is moving down hill pretty quick and not feeding. He walks 10 feet in front of the tree I was sitting at *** Insert 4 letter cursing here*** and then gets down wind of me. He stops dead and then turns around and runs back up hill about 40 yards and then turns into the wind. He is running at top speed and runs across in front of me at about 35 to 40 yards. Since I have not upgraded to heat seeking arrows, it was not to be.

Great time was had, lots of great food (thanks Bubba and Zimm!!!) and good company. It was nice meeting the guys I had never met before, and Chopper as usual was a great host . I was hating Zimm on Saturday morning but that is a different issue.

My tally for the weekend was 5 ground squirrels and a jack rabbit so I did get some blood on some arrows, and managed to lose 5 in the process. It was a blast having Zimm be my spotter with the range finder and launching arrows at the squirrels 70 and 80 yards away.

I'll be back to have another crack at those hogs, that's a guarantee !!!!!!!

 

[jawtightener]

just can't stand to hear someone ruin'in good whiskey with pessee no less!!! j/k glad to hear y'all had a good time...

 

[jdhowe75]

Too....ttt....ttt.....ttt....tired...ttt....ttt...ttt...to type.

Well I'll chime in and say that I too had a great time. Thanks to Chopper for putting up with us and showing us around the property. I didn't get a chance to get a hog this time but I will return to take my revenge on them critters. Heck I may even take Chopper up on that $1000 per cow offer.

I did hike my butt off so much I had to punch a new hole in my belt when I got home. Damn pants wouldn't stay up! I guess that is a good thing. I must have looked pretty good to cause the wife was VERY happy to see me if you know what I mean.

It was great to meet all you guys that went. I had a blast even though I didn't get a whole lot of sleep.

It's Monday so back to the grind.