JHO - Memorial Weekend Pig Slaughter

[boar slayer]

way to go guys sounds like it was a great time i spent the weekend wrenching on my boat getting ready for fishing season

 

[superduty]

Great numbers guys. Congrats to all.

 

[Suzmar1997]

Congrats to all that scored pigs and/or had a shot/stalk. While you guys were having the times of your lives I was sitting inside my RV frustrated as hell. The E-mail and photos popping up on my phone from Kenny(Huntsndives) and my Dad (Gnn961) didn't help much either. I gave my wife the guilt trip that a trip to Tejon would have been cheaper then dragging my RV up to Yosemite to sit in the rain for 5 days. Oh well, I guess there's next year and I'm already counting the days.

 

[ozstriker22]

Congrats to all on a successful hunt! There was a 100% success rate for seeing pigs. I think there was around a 95% shoot-able success rate (either the hunter wasn't ready or the hunter missed), and a 75% recovered kill rate. Those odds are incredible!

Here's my FULL recount of the weekend:

I Hunted with MJB (Mark) all weekend. Friday we glassed up some hogs from the big ridge on Squirrel, MJB and Eric were hunting with bows. We race/drive to the other ridge and put on a stalk. Mark and I walk the spine while Eric goes down into the thick stuff. As Mark and I get to the end of the point a little boar runs out of the bushes at 20 yards. We freeze, he looks right at us, sniffs the air, walks a couple steps, sniffs again but the wind is in our favor. As Mark slowly unsnaps his bow sling I think about shooting it with the rifle, but he was little, and we had wanted to get the bowhunters on pigs first... As mark is finally knocking an arrow the hairy little bugger figures out something is wrong and trots off at a leisurely pace. As he disappears we radio Eric to let him know he's coming, and when we start talking 3 more pigs come running out of the bush next to us! They all head towards Eric... We radio they are on their way. We start the walk back to the truck and wait a good 30 minutes for Eric. When he gets to the truck he tells us that the little boar came right to him, he miss-judged the range and stuck him a little high. The expandable broadhead only made a disappointing 7-9 inches of penetration and the boar took off at full speed down the hill with the arrow's fletching doing circles as he ran. He was pretty upset about it and wanted to keep looking. We left Eric with his jeep and continued our hunt. Eric covered every inch of that hillside all the way to the bottom. His GPS showed a zig-zag two hundred yards wide and three hundred yards down!!! Since the arrow stuck and there was no pass through, there was never a single drop of blood. He looked under every bush on that hill for a body, to no avail.

Friday evening Mark got his pig. I'll let him tell that story.

Saturday we hunted with RichW in the morning and evening. We got on pigs but I never had any shot opportunities. We hiked our A$$ES off!! Up and down some really steep hills. 600 yard death marches into hell. I was so sore on Saturday night... I could hardly walk. Mark had already tagged out and was leaving right after Sunday's AM hunt. Eric had gone home... All I had left were two hunts on Sunday and I was pretty bummed I hadn't shot that little guy on Friday morning. OneTrack's trivia question was ringing in my ears all weekend... "Do you shoot the first legal pig you get a chance at, even if it's small?" And *I* was the person who answered "YES!" - then I didn't do it. Sure I let him go for a "better cause" to give the bow hunters a chance... but in hindsight, I had a 20 yard shot at a stationary hog on opening morning... I should've taken aim, and when he started to run off before there was an arrow in him I should've popped him in the ear.

Was I ever going to get another shootable pig???

Mark is a member of the Ranch, so he was able to sign me up as a Varmint guest for one day. Saturday afternoon I was allowed the privilege of shooting up the local ground rat population (also known as squirrels). It was great practice for making standing off-hand shots on small running targets. I nailed 7 with my pellet rifle, brained two of them, and hung one on the skinning rack. HaHaHa!

But I digress, after Saturday's evening hunt I was pretty discouraged. We had plenty to drink that night and Sunday morning I woke up before the alarm. I started to get out of my sleeping bag and then decided not to. This weekend was an epic failure. I had had my opportunity and passed on it, it was cold and windy and I only had warm weather clothes. I smelled bad and was sore and miserable. This trip was a total waste of time!!! I was thankful to have glassed between 30 and 40 pigs a day, seen over 20 deer, and even a couple elk, but I hadn't had a single chance to shoot a pig other than that first little guy. This weekend would be an Epic failure. It seemed like everyone had shot at pigs and/or tagged out. And here it was the last day and once again I was pigless. What an Epic Failure!!!

But then in my half sleep I told myself that Epic Success can only come from facing down Epic Failure. I said it over and over until I believed it.

Yeah... I know... It's gay.

But it worked. I got out of bed, woke up Mark and went to the Port-a-John. When I was done doing my "morning paperwork" I opened the door to see RicheW and Mark already waiting in the truck.

We headed out to Squirrel. In the truck I realized I'd left my ammo and range finder at camp. I have 3 rounds in my magazine and that's it. No reloading. Epic Failure in the making. Add to that, there was soooo much fog that glassing was pointless. This was not a good sign. As a begin to fall back to sleep in the back seat of the truck we almost run over a MASSIVE boar that would've given Rancho a run for his money!!! He was right in the road! We jumped out, grabbed our rifles and chased after him, but the 30/less yards of visibility allowed him to disappear almost instantly. You just can't shoot pigs you can't see. This hunt was pointless!!!

After a few minutes of walking, we mount up and turn the truck around, headed back to the gate. Then two ridges over the fog lifted momentarily. Yes! Finally we could glass the other side of the canyon! We climb out and start to walk to the ridge. Rich and Mark are ahead of me, I turn to grab my rifle but change my mind - we're just glassing, I don't need my rifle...

You know where this is going don’t you?... Yup.

The moment we reach the ridge we see a group of 6 or 7 hogs only 40 yards from us! Mark turns around and says: "Pigs!!! Get your guns!!! Rich and I race to the truck and then race back to the ridge.

Mark yells: "Shoot 'em! they're getting away!" Rich and I open fire and the hogs go to a full run. My first knee-jerk reaction was to point and shoot as fast as I could. Of course I missed. The pigs are out to sixty yards now and at a full run!

But then I slowed everything down in my mind. I told myself they were just like squirrels, but 100 pound rats instead of 8 oz furballs! I took my time, lead my hog by three or four feet, matching my rifle to his speed, then I slowed down a little and as he caught up to my reticule I began to squeeze the trigger, the gun jumped right as his head was passing the reticule. He did a total summersault and I knew he was dead! I hollered "Yipee!! I got one and he's down!" Mark was excited! Rich is yelling "Two hogs down!" But as we look around we only see mine. "Rich, where is your hog?" He says "I don't know, He must've gotten back up!" Sure enough, as the group of 5 were heading over the far side of the ridge there was one that was limping slightly. Two hogs had disappeared and Mark yells "Someone shoot that pig!" I jack my last bullet into the chamber while Rich starts reloading. I lead the pig the same as I did mine and squeeze... The gun jumped and the pig flopped onto his side, the bullet had hit the middle of his spine and he was down and flopping around. Rich walked the 90 yards and gave him the coupe de gras. Epic Success!

Mark got to my pig first. He's telling me there is lung tissue in the grass and I say it can't be, I'm sure I neck shot him. We look for the entrance hole and it was right there behind the left ear. I grab the ear to lift his head up and the skull sloshes around in my hand... it is completely split in half. That wasn't lung tissue, it was brain matter!!! That 180gr 300wsm had literally exploded this pigs skull. It was an incredible sight to behold!

That's it. It was Sunday at 06:30 and we had both tagged out. It was an easy drag down hill to the truck. We got two 85 lb boars, and I ate the ribs last night... Mmmmm good!!!

Will upload pics at home tonight.

My sincerest thanks to MJB and Phil.


Jesse

 

[Cold1nhand]

Great stories and Pics.... keep them coming!

 

[huntsndives]

Carl and I spent half the day yesterday processing our pigs. We got a lot of boneless loin, tenderloin and boneless roasts from those girls, as well as 25 lbs. of breakfast sausage (links and bulk) and 25 lbs. of mild Italian. Of course we had some that didn't fit in the links or bulk and had to fry it up and give it the taste test. Once again it turned out awesome. I also barbecued up the ribs for my girlfriend and I yesterday and they turned out great too. If anyone is looking for a good sausage seasoning mix, Carl, Mark (suzmar1997) and I have used "Dean's Family of Seasonings" the last three times. It's made by South Bay Abrams (http://www.southbayabrams.com/index.htm). We haven't tried a flavor we haven't liked yet. Once again, it was a great weekend with the JHO'rs and I look forward to hanging out and swaping stories again next year.

 

[huntsndives]

Steve thanks for the bean soup, it was some good stuff!

 

[MJB]

Well on Friday afternoon after a short nap Oz, Texass and I leave to go glass the Bikini Bottom Canyon. This is one of my honey holes; it looks like a bikini bottom from the front with all the trees and ridges. We start glassing and surveying the bikini but no pigs, it’s just a little early about 4:20 pm so we get in the truck and head back to camp for some forgotten gear. On the way I spot out of the corner of my eye, black dots on a steep hill side. We stop and glass, sure enough pigs, lots of them side hilling it towards the paved road. This hill is steep and has no road anywhere near the bottom, so I hesitate to go after them just because of the recovery….but they are on the top 1/3 of the hill and it’s early, we can try a stalk and if no luck then we still have the Bikini Canyon later during prime time. Texass, stays on the road and guides us in from across the canyon. We park the truck and go after them. Oz and I hear the pigs coming just below us so we get into position next to a tree. Texass is telling us they are right in front of us get ready to shoot, they crest a little rise and I see a spotted pig out in the open and then a few smaller pigs then a big sow walks up by this tree about 25 yards away broadside. If I let her walk any further she may wind us and take all the pigs to the bottom. So I squeeze a round off right behind her ear BOOM! The 30-06 168gr XLC drops her dead on her feet. Well I was hopping the tree behind her would stop her from rolling down hill but no such luck. She fell over then slowly rolled over and then picks up speed to a full roll down hill. We get on the radio asking were did the rest of the pigs go? We can’t find them so we go get my pig; she rolled down hill hard and fast but stopped after hitting some big trees. She rolled about 60 yards stopping next to a bush. I tell Texass, come pick up Oz and continue to hunt; I’ll hook up with you guys later after I’ve dropped her off at camp. So I tie her to a tree and start the gutless butchering……..the only way to fly when you’re on a steep hillside all by yourself.

 

[hronk]

I get a call as I step off of the airplane Friday afternoon in Reno from my Wife. "Kieth says to bring the chains, an extra change of clothes and some wood." I got to the ranch and in the gate(thanks Scott) at 9:30pm. "8 pigs down and lots of animals around." I'm told. So off to bed and up at 3:00 am thinking that the sun was coming up. Back to bed and up and ready to go at 4:30. We decided to go to Squirrel Canyon since Kieth hadn't seen much up high Friday night. We went to the same area that Rancho scored in and by 6:15am Kieth had a pig down and loaded in the back of the truck. Later that morning I followed a nice boar into a canyon but my wheels (feet) went flat and I became a quitter for the 1st time. Sat. evening we decided to go a couple of ridges north and scout some isolated bowls. About 1500 yds away are 7 pigs slowly working their way to the bottom of the canyon. Not sure that I could make the hike down hill we waited almost too before deciding to go for it and try to catch them at the bottom. We took a stand 300yds across the canyon from where we last saw the pigs. Within 5 minutes I hear leaves breaking and 60yds straight down come 3 pigs.. 2 1/2 hrs later a pig is in the back of the truck and away to camp we go. We had a great weekend and a special thanks to Phil for setting this hunt up year after year. See you guys next May....hronk

 

[spectr17]

Forgot to thank Barbara for puttin up with us. Phil for organizing the hunt and working the gate.

Eric M. for the kewl t-shirts too. Eric's website is http://www.jackprintanddesign.com/

 

[betelgeuse]

Man sounds like too much fun.

Tejon is probably going to up the fee for JHOers with that kind of success rate !

 

[ozstriker22]

Mark's shot was perfect. I was about 10 feet away. All I could see were the pigs ears over the brush and Mark taking aim. He shot and the ears disappeared in a cloud of dust!

I was relieved that it didn't roll and we would have a short recovery... And then I saw feet in the air. And then ears. Then Feet. Then Ears. Dust. Feet. Ears. Dust. Tail. Feet Ears Dust Tail. FeetEarsDustTailFeetEarsDustTail as that little round sow got up to full steam. I think I actually heard the sound barrier crack. I listened as branches broke all the way down the hill.

I learned a couple of key points from Mark's kill.

1. Find a rest. He used his arm and shoulder against a tree. If you don't have anything, take a knee and use your pack.

2. Hack and Haul. Don't drag out your pig. Mark stripped all the meat off his hog without opening the gut sack. No mess. No blood. No stink, and only half the weight going uphill. also no dirt, urine or feces contamination

3. Carry 20 feet of 1" nylon webbing in your pack.

4. Disposable blades. Blade gets dull. Snap on replacement and it's RAZOR sharp. No need to carry multiple knives and/or resharpen all the time.

5. Shoot your pig on opening day so you have 2 more days to eat, drink, and help your friends... completely relaxed knowing you already got yours.

 

[Cold1nhand]

How is part 2 of that video coming?

 

[Suzmar1997]

Where's the remaining pics and stories? I think we're at 15 or so, lets go biatches.

 

[Speckmisser]

I set my brother up with an account on here, but he's not much of a fan of computers and such... so he probably won't be posting his story or pix.

He didn't have his camera when he went down to recover his hog in the hell hole, and I don't know if he got any shots at the skinning pole, but he just sent me this last night...

It's his 16 month-old grandson showing that he knows what wild hogs are good for...
[attachment=52131:tejon_98_008.JPG]

 

[gnn961]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Suzmar1997 @ May 27 2008, 10:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

. Oh well, I guess there's next year and I'm already counting the days.[/b]

Hey Phil what about December??????????

 

[bodega]

Another great weekend in a beautiful location. Everything fell into place - good cool weather, cooperative piggies, great campmates with some ding dang good homebrew (thanks Mark) and sausage (Thanks Eric). And of course, Phil, you da man.

 

[bodega]

The view from the truck is much nicer than what you typically see while driving on I5.

 

[spectr17]

does that lil goober growl if ya get near his bone?

 

[ozstriker22]

Hey Jesse, did you get that Tejon Squirrel video uploaded?

I'd be interested to see that zoomed in and in slow motion.... he he he (Evil laugh)