June POR stories

[bighorn67]

Friday pwhite and I went out for the evening and didn't see anything but deer.

Saturday we tried to go to the spot where Speckmisser, Dilprxo and others got their pigs in March. The first hill leaving the main road was too steep for my truck. I have 4x4, but it still wouldn't do it. Since we couldn't get to the planned spot, we ended up driving around too long looking for another spot. By the time we got out of the trucks and started looking around, the pigs had gone to bed.

Westie took pwhite and I out later in the afternoon and showed us some of the terrain. He also took pwhite to a spot that had been productive for him. Once again, my truck wouldn't make the hill, so I went back to camp. When pwhite came back we got set up and went back to the area Westie had showed him and set up for sunset. I found a nice tree at the top of a ridge, sat down and waited. Not long after, a group of about 6 pigs came out of the trees about 300 yards down the ridge. I tried to put the stalk on them, but was making too much noise so I decided to take the shot..........missed..........another shot at running pig........missed. #$%^&%^$#$#! I went to the spot where the pigs had been, found no blood so I started back toward the truck. As I came back to the top of the ridge I saw a group of cattle. Between me and the cattle was another group of pigs. I put the stalk on again and got to within 100 yards when the cattle spotted me and spooked taking the pigs with them. I got off two shots as they ran away...........missed.........@#$%^$#!. After that I went back to the truck where I met up with pwhite. I'll let him tell his story.

Sunday morning I got a late start and didn't see any pigs. At the POR you pay for the opportunity not the kill. I had two opportunities and missed.

Some of the other guys did get pigs. I'll let them tell their own stories.

All in all it was a great weekend at a great place with a great bunch of guys. I enjoyed meeting them all.

Dave aka. notraction

 

[Speckmisser]

Good deal, Bighorn. At least you had some shots. Some of those hillside roads are pretty steep. Imagine a nice layer of greasy mud on top too!

C'mon you other guys! I want more stories... need my vicarious hog hunting fix!

 

[pwhite]

Bighorn and I hunted together most of the weekend so I'll just pick up where our paths diverged. Saturday afternoon we went to the place Westie showed me earlier in the day. We walked in a ways toward a nice canyon and then split up. I found a spot where I had a pretty good view of the canyon and sat down with my binoculars to watch and wait. After sitting a while, I saw a pig running along the ridge on the opposite side of the canyon. It came from the area that Bighorn went into, so I figured he must have spooked it. It turned to go down into the canyon. There was a natural bottleneck at the bottom of the canyon directly below where I was sitting and the pig was heading straight for it. I got up and ran down the hill to get within range for a shot. I knew if the pig got past the bottleneck, I would loose it in the trees and never see it again. I got about two thirds down the hill and sat down. I was about 70 yards from the bottom of the canyon. Luckly for me, the pig slowed down a little when it got near the bottom. When it came into a clearing, I got the crosshairs on it and fired. I couldn't tell if I connected and the pig dissappeared. I went down to the spot where the pig was, but I didn't see any blood, so I though I missed. I walked down the trail twenty yards and about ten yards up a side trail was the pig!!!

After a few minutes of euphoria and disbelief that I made that shot, I realized that my pig and I were about 300 yards from the road and in the bottom of a canyon. I was hoping that Bighorn heard the shot and would come help me. No such luck. I was very much alone. So I started dragging............................... Two hours later, Bighorn showed up and helped my with the last thirty yards.

This was my first pig hunt and I had a great time. I owe a big thanks to Bighorn, Westie, Paulc and Pitdog for all your help. I look forward to doing it again!

See ya,

Patrick

 

[Suzmar1997]

We (Gottahunt, Gnn961 and I) set up camp and headed out by about 1230 on Fri and took the road on Tunis Ridge. We ended up on a side road that forked with Geghus Creek and saw a group of 10 hogs heading down a hill about 400 yards away from us. We stopped halfway down the hill we were descending and backed up behind a small hill and out of sight of the hogs. There were no turnouts in sight so we parked in the middle of the road (Sorry Westie-figured a moving car on the grass was better than a stationary one) and began our stalk. We walked around the backside of the hill and glassed the hillside where the hogs were (280 yards now). The hogs appeared to have decided on not heading down when we backed up, and were now bedded down behind a tree. We could see the ears and upper body of 2 of the larger hogs, but a 280 yard shot didn't sound to promissing, so we decided we would loop around and walk up the opposite hill to close the distance. The wind was in our face and we were approximately 100 yards from the pigs when the wind did a 180 on us. We were behind quite a bit of cover so we weren't able to see the hogs split, but needless to say they were no where to be found when we could get a visual of the area they were bedded down in.

We then headed on Geghus Ridge towards Hunter Canyon and saw quite a bit of fairly fresh rooting. We were stopped on the road overlooking a large ridgeline when we glassed a huge boar on one of the hillsides (Approx. 1-1 1/2 miles away). My dad (Gnn961) and I decided to take a shot on a stalk from where we were and our buddy would keep us posted on the boar's position via radio. It was quite a hike (Lots of steep area and thick stuff) but we finally made it and according to our eyes from the car 15-20 minutes too late. I guess the boar and approximately 5 other hogs headed down into the creek area before we came out of the thick stuff. I can't believe the mosquitos in the wooded areas, they really did a number on me. We decided to head back but chose to walk up the hill we were on in hopes that there was a road accessable to our buddy in the car. Needless to say we hiked, and hiked up the steeeeeeeep hillside to find out the road up above dead ended on both ends (S#%$). It was getting late and our legs were both begining to cramp severly (Ran out of water, it was hot, and the hill was pretty damn steep). We finally made it back to an area where the truck could pick us up and it was back to camp.

Saturday morning we took Geghus Ridge from the camp ground and my dad saw a pig crossing one of the flat areas on top of the ridge. We checked the area, but the pig ran down into the wooded area and into the scope of someone elses gun a few minutes later. That whole area had scat (Hot off the press) and fresh rooting, but we were a lil too late. The rest of the day proved uneventful except for another group of pigs in the same general area as the big boar was the day before. Our legs and common sense kept us from making the same mistake twice and we went back to camp empty handed for the second day. We drove through the camp grounds Sat night and met up w/ the fellow JHP crew. It was great to put a face w/ the names and hear some of the sucess stories. We wished we had set up camp there on Fri, but we didn't know where everyone was camped until it was too late. Oh well, next POR we we'll be there for sure. We saw Patrick come back with his first hog and assisted with lighting it up with flashlights when Pitdog and Paulc showed him how to skin it at about 10 pm (Congrats on the hog).

We tried a couple of areas on Sun morning but had no success and headed out at about 1pm. As of the time we left I believe 23 hogs were weighed in at the South side (1st place at the time was a 277lb. field dressed boar). All in all we had a great time and saw lots of hogs (Although most were from afar) and other animals (Deer (Couple nice bucks), Mtn. lion, rattle and gopher snakes, etc.) Just to be on the property is well worth the money spent and I can't wait to go back. Nice meeting everyone from JHP and hope to be camping with the group at the next POR.

 

[fairchase]

Thank you for the stories, pig or no pig sounds like everyone had a good time, that place is awesome. Couple of questions, if I may?
How was the weather? Did you encounter pigs at all during mid day? Did you see lots of piglets (thinking about next year). How about elk? I saw a nice bull in May with a good rack, just starting to branch. Oh, any photos. Thanks

 

[pitdog]

We (PaulC and I) arrived at the gate just after they let the early crew in and waited a couple hours. We finally got in at about 12:00. We unloaded the camping gear and went scouting. We went to a couple “favorite spots” but they had no fresh sign at all.

I shot at a pig (midway on Tunes) Friday night and couldn’t find any blood trail or down pig. Got up early Sat. morning and went back to the area that I took the shot. As I was walking to the saddle, I spotted a sow grazing in the tall grass. I got w/in 50’ and took my shot. No squeal… No sound of bullet meeting flesh, and off ran the sow down a 100’ canyon. I thought my scope must have been knocked out of whack to miss such a close shot. I walked over to the spot that I shot and saw a blood trail. I followed the trail down the ridge and found the pig near the bottom, DEAD.

The sow was 180lbs (140 dressed). I shot it with a 150gr nosler partition in .270.
Winched her up the 100’ slope and off we went.

Fairchase,
The weather was clear, warm/hot and sunny for the most part. Pigs were gone with sun-up and back at sundown. Water was NOT a factor unfortunately

Here's a pic:

 

[Csbishop]

Congrats Steve
Hope it was a little easier when it is'nt raining and the wind isnt blowing all are stuff around.

 

[One Track]

Woo hoo! Good job Pit and PWhite.

There has to be a few more stories still hung up out there. C'mon now, let's hear 'em.

 

[Suzmar1997]

Fairchase
Like was said earlier the weather was clear and hot. We spotted our first group of pigs around 130 in the afternoon on Friday. Most of the pigs in that group (8-10) appeared to be anywhere from 75-200 lbs. (Just guessing). We saw the big boar about 3-330 the same day. Saw another group of pigs on Sat and Sun in the steep non-accesassable area. That group had roughly 4-5 piglets in it. We saw them making there way down the hillside at about 930 Sun morning. Suprised that they were still moving around at that time as it was scorching out there Sun.

 

[paulc]

Got the big skunk, but i really enjoyed the weekend. really only saw 1 hog and that was briefly before dark after coming down to see what the shooting was all about when pitdog was shooting further down the ridge. I think it was more exciting pitdog shooting a really nice hog than getting one myself. he really earned it. Also Westie took me to his spots sunday morning and we saw some great spots.

All of the JHPers were super folks and it is amazing to see how this site is becoming a tool for So. Cal hunters to get to know each other. Jesse really has done us all a great service.

 

[Rocky_LC]

North Side Story...

gdt and I were the JHP two hunters on the North Side. We hooked up on Friday and went out to some spots I had seen during the March POR.

We went up the first canyon, and at the second set of bushes we checked out, a huge black hog went bolting up the hill! Guns at ready, we continued to advance on the bush. About ten pigs went streaming out the back side, probably 5 sows, and 5 piglets in trail. It was a low percentage opportunity, as they cleverly ran up hill, and were just barely visible behind a rise in the hill.

I gave gdt the shot, "Shoot! Shoot!" I yelled! He unleashed a single blast from his Model 70, but unfortunately, didn't connect. It was a tough shot, I would have been truly impressed had he scored. I'll leave him to fill in the additional details.

We then proceeded up the next canyon. I took the high side, he worked the low side. After checking out the likely hiding spots, I hadn't seen anything, and let my guard down, and walked along a little valley. As I looked down - There were two sows and 3 piglets! Holy Gawd!

They saw me just before I saw them, and bolted. I took a snapshot at them, but missed. I couldn't believe I could have blown an opportunity like that!

After those sows hightailed it out, 3 piglets came out of the brush. I ran down and got a picture of them from about 10 yards away. Should be a good photo.

Anyway, it seemed like a good start, seeing pigs and getting shots in the first two canyons we hunted! We worked a few more spots that night, until dark.

No Pigs were taken on the North side Friday night.

The next morning, we set out to the two spots we had seen pigs the day prior. I didn't see anything at my spot, but just about daybreak I heard voices, then about 6 shots from some other hunters above us. Here begins gdt's tale.....

I got skunked this weekend. After a fabulous start, I never saw another pig, and not for lack of trying. I was just too set in my beliefs, and stayed too far down in the canyons. As I was leaving, the reports that I heard was that all of the pigs were up higher than where I had been hunting.

Even though I didn't get any pork, I had a great time. I saw pigs, deer, a wild turkey, and golden eagles, nearly stepped on a rattler, and found a really cool indian petroglyph site. Not to mention a weekend of 4-Wheelin' in my '74 Landcruiser.

Rocky

 

[SDHNTR]

Hey Rocky,
I used to have a 76' Landcruiser FJ40. It was my first car when I was 16. I drove it for 8 years and then sold it for the exact amount I paid for it. What a great vehicle! It was ultra reliable and would go places that no vehicle should go. I wish I still had it. A great hunting rig.

 

[FForF]

Congradulations Dog and PWhite.

Nice looking pig Steve!

 

[gdt]

North side part II

Hunting with Rocky was great! I learned alot about getting into the brush. I just wish I was in better shape. Rocky is part goat, he goes up the side of a hill like it was flat. The heat burned me out the first day. I spent most of the evening hunt trying not to cramp up and stay hydrated.

The next morning I hunted a ridge line that was above the hogs we spooked the day before. After hearing shots that rang out from another area above me, I hiked a little further up the ridge and saw a hog which appeared to have collapsed as I saw it through my scope. When I got to the pig, it had a gun shot in mid section. I waited around to see if it was going to be claimed, but no one showed up. I decided to drag the pig to the road and tag it, I really didn't want to see a pig go to waste. After dragging the pig 400 yds or so I was beat (not a smart idea, with the heat starting up). Anyway, Rocky caught up with me, and he helped me with the pig and get it dressed out.

The pig was kind of rank when we dressed it and brought it in. I thought it was from dragging it through all the cow dung on the trail. But after getting it evaluated after skinning, it was decided that the pig wasn't worth keeping.

The guys at Tejon said I could go back out and get another hog, since I didn't shoot the first one ( it dressed out at 134lbs and was eligible for the contest), but I was so beat up from the previous day and the morning dragging the pig that all I could think about was getting rest.

So the short of it is, I tagged and weighed a hog, didn't shoot one, didn't keep one, but had a great learning experience.

 

[fairchase]

gdt,
Way to go, you did the right thing by trying to salvage that hog. The hunting gods will not forget your effort.

Pitdog, nice photo...congrats!

 

[Speckmisser]

GDT,

Well done! You definitely did the right thing. Knowing there's a one pig limit, I know it was a hard choice. I'm glad the Tejon folks were cool about it, and let you have the opportunity to get another one.

to you
and

to Tejon Ranch

 

[One Track]

gdt:

Very honorable. Kharma baby!

 

[Qbn Hunter]

Thanks for sharing guys. Great stories.

 

[fpscabs]

Enjoyed the stories. Hope to make the next one.

 

[huntducks]

I have a question for some of you, how big are these piglets, and are you just shooting sows or at sows with young.

I read these stories and many seem to be just throwing lead at pigs.

I have killed my share of pigs and have never shot a family group of sows with piglets.

If i'm missing something here tell me.