Marines went hunting

[centralcoaster]

Crappola. I attempted to post a picture. Wasn't successful. Any ideas? I see where it says below that max size of an attachment file is 150K. Is that suppose to be 150Kb's or 150 thousand kb's? Not very clear. How do I reduce a picture that is 1366kb's to post here? Very confusing. Have some great pictures of trophy Hog my son killed on a recent hunt. Guide filled out paper work for my Son to submit to SCI as he claimed it was in the top 50. I don't know. I just know it was a monster and mean as hell. The hog weighed about 300 lbs, big, for sure. Not the biggest, but the tusks were good sized as well. 3 1/2" long , huge diameter. But you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Just need a little advice as to how to get it here, &$*(#@#%!!! The kill was one thing. The hunt was another. This hog wanted a piece of me and one of my son's buddies, both of us unarmed. It was quite an adventure. I'll give more details once I learn to post the pictures.

 

[Cal hunter]

Cant help with the pic problem I have a hard time with it also but congrats to your son cant wait for the story

 

[bubba]

Send me the pics and I can resize and post for you.

 

[Mel Carter]

Where was the hog taken? If it was here in Ca, you can submit it into their books. If it ranks #50 in SCI, it may be in the top 5 or better here.

 

[bigtusker]

ya, send 'em to bubba so we can see 'em.

 

[centralcoaster]

Bubba. I was away for a few days. You said send them to you. Sent them where? I will gladly send them and have you resize them to fit this forum.

Centralcoaster

 

[Cda55]

Send em to me if you need them resized. Centralcalhunter@comcast.net

 

[centralcoaster]

Originally posted by Mel Carter@Nov 9 2004, 10:14 PM
Where was the hog taken? If it was here in Ca, you can submit it into their books. If it ranks #50 in SCI, it may be in the top 5 or better here.

Hey Mel. I was shot at the Bixby ranch aka Cojo ranch with Central Coast outfitters. The guides name is Alfred Lewis. They have a website. Centralcoastoutfitters.net I believe it is. Anyhow, he is the one who filled out some papers and asked my son to submit them (have to join to submit, so son had to handle that) I will be interested in what they say. Sent cape to taxidermist nearby who said it was one hell of a hog. We didn't weight it, but guide estimated better then 300#. The pics will verify that is what good size as my son who is holding its mouth open and standing by it is 6'3" weighs 220# and is not a small guy. The tusks are what the guide said was outstanding. I don't even care if it is in the top 50 (state, i would suspect is what he meant) it was just my son's second hog and it was great to see him take a trophy.


Here is a summary of what went down. We checked in late with the guide on Oct. 22nd at the Cojo ranch which is just south of Jalama county beach. It is a massive ranch consisting of over 25K acres. It is north of the Hollister ranch and takes in Point Conception and many miles of coast line. It is simply beautiful.

We proceeded to fill out the necessary paper work and let me tell you, they had it drafted by a lawyer and that damn paper work was 6 pages. It took 15 minutes just to fill it out. Then upon proof of hunting license and tags, we quickly loaded up in two vehicles two hunters, two spectators and two guides. It was going to get dark soon as it was already 5p.m. by this time. It would be dark in about an hour and a half. We proceeded about 5 miles out of the ranch headquarters and bunk house to a spot along the coast that allowed us to glass for miles and see what was stiring. We checked out the high ground and the valleys below expecting to see hogs on the move being so close to dark and all. We spotted a few small hogs off in the distance but nothing else and kept looking. Suddenly just as the first truck started its engine to move on, we in the second truck some yards behind heard the squeal of a sow getting it good as the boars were in the rut as well. We quickly alerted the others and all proceeded over a fence, past the railroad tracks that go thru this ranch and walked on over towards the coastal cliffs where there was a little valley with lots of brush. The wind was in our face and there in that little valley in a clearing, we saw a boar mounting a sow. There were about 25 hogs total. Of those there were about 5 respectable boars. Of those boars, there were 3 that were top dogs so to speak and one of those that grandpappy of them all. It was he we hoped to get close enough to get a good shot at. This hog wanted his way. He challenged the other boars everytime they got close to one of his sows. It was an amazing experience to watch these guys battle. My son focused on this hog while his buddy on one of the others. Both of these hogs were over 300#'s . But the problem was, they were mounting the sows and the we couldnt get a real clear shot without risking hitting a hog we didnt want. We, meaning the hunters. I didnt go to hunt. I was unarmed. I was merely there to take these guys hunting and tag along. One of the 3 Marines did not have a hunting license so he was there for the same reason. Anyhow, the two hunters were setting up and now it was just a matter of waiting for the right opportunity. This happened in the course of about 20 minutes, watching the action, one minute one of those boars was just about in the clearing to get a good shot at, the next it was behing the brush humping a sow. This was going down within 50 yards to 5 yards of us. In fact, a few of the hogs walked right up to us and couldnt really make us out as we were fairly well hidden and like I said, the wind was in our face and along that coast line, the wind blows hard! Anyhow...it was a trip. These damn hogs were everywhere near us. Finally, the two hunters picked their targets and planned on taking the hogs at the same time knowing they would scatter. My son could not get a good shot at the biggest. The hogs were gradually starting to move away from us and would soon be behind brush where we would have no chance. It was now or never. So each Marine focused on the next two largest boars. My son had a clear shot. The other guy hesitated for whatever reasons. The guide said " DO IT!" so my son did. The other Marine did not. He missed a great opportunity. This was his first hog hunt. My son conected but the hog did not go down. He hit him closer to the gut then the boiler room at about 100 yards away with my 7mag and a 160 grain Winchester failsafe bullet. The hog sort of lurched forward to the ground losing his balance, got back up quickly and ran behind the others into very thick brush on a steep slope going down into a deep canyon that would be an arroyo of sorts to the beach. I saw exactly where it stopped and keep in mind that my son shot at this hog as he was running, missed and the comotion of us and the guide telling the other Marine to shot his damn gun at the other monster boar and all the excitement of this that took place in no more then 10 seconds created some tense excitement that was close to sheer craziness. It happened all so fast, but I did see exactly where the hog stopped and told everyone so. I never took my eyes off it as the others scattered and frankly, it was hard for my son to determine which running hog was the wounded one he hit with all the others so close. He actually shot at a different hog thinking it was the one he hit but thankfully because that hog and the others were on the run full speed, he missed. I quickly pointed out the error and stated where that hog was. The guides were doing everything in their power to see that both Marines shot close enough to the same time that they would both get an opportunity together to take what turned out to be trophy hogs. But as I said, the other guy got a little to picky and didnt shoot. Turns out he should have as it was the only time we saw anything that nice during the rest of the hunt which went in to the next day and evening. Anyhow, back to the action. I told everyone who saw where the hogs ran to, that the wounded one stopped in some thick brush and I did not see him exit it. We, the main guide, Alfred, my son myself and the other non-hunting Marine went into the general area. I pointed out exactly where the hog should be. The other guide, and the other Hunter positioned themselves back on our flank and got an overview of where we entered the brush in case the hog exited, they would have a shot at it. We went in the brush. Oh boy, I realized this was a mistake. I said so. I said to my son, who was behind the guide about 20' that it was too late for me and the non-hunter to turn back and risk getting caught by a wounded boar so we would stick close to him as the guide approached the bushes where the hog holed up. We all heard it. It was pissed. We were sort of in a straight line. The hog, the guide about 15' from it, my son, back another 20' and me and the other guy right behind my son. I told the guy, if this son of a bitch does manage to get to me or you, do not give him the inside of your leg. Do not let him take you down. The guide quickly told my son to put his rifle butt on his hip, point the gun in the general direction and if the hog attacked, poke the rifle in it if you will and pull the trigger as there would be no time to aim it if you will in that thick brush. He understood what he meant. Well, this son of a bitch boar runs around the guide, around my son parallel to us all and stops no more then 15' on our flank next to me and the other unarmed Marine. He barked and the other guys on the knoll over, yelled they could not shoot at it as we were just above it in their line of fire. They were freaking out telling us it was going to charge us. We I must admit , were now scared. This happened all so quickly. I would guess in about 5-10 seconds. It turned out when those other guys who were only about 40' on the other knoll slightly above us yelled, the hog turned quickly, ran about 50 more feet and fell in a slight ravine mortally wounded. When the guide got over to it, he at first didnt sound too impressed. Then he said something like Holy crap, but stinkier and kept on about what a massive head and tusks this thing had. We finally got over there and indeed, it was a nasty big black monster. I realize we made a tactical error getting so close unarmed, but in rhetrospect, it was exciting and fun and made for some good memories and bs talk after the hunt. We never did see anything so nice as those boars on the rest of the hunt and I think the novice Marine thought, man, this is easy. 15 minutes out and we see 25 hogs and several are decent boars and a few real trophies. He thought it would be the same the next day and it wasnt. He settled on a meat pig the following day with maybe 5 minutes left of daylight. Well, that's my story and it's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but. It's a fairly expensive hunt, but the ranch is unreal and the food and loding very nice. If you want, ask the guide yourselves about verifying my story. Centralcoastoutfitters.net Alfred Lewis. Ask him about the Marines that went hunting in Oct. Alfred runs a first rate hunt. By the way. We saw so many fine legal bucks. I mean some nice coastal bucks. 3x3 and many nice forkies. I reserved a hunt the last weekend of the season next Sept. Got my eye on one of those nice dark racked coastal bucks that are everywhere on that ranch.

 

[larrysogla]

It was one hell of an exciting adventure with these big, brute, black haired warriors of the brush. Glad your son connected on a trophy boar. I say semper fi.
Always glad to hear adrenaline rush stories like that. Congrats to your son & his marine buddy. They are our heroes. God Bless. larrysogla.

 

[Gregg S.]

Great story,would love to see some pics!!!!!!

Gregg

 

[UPER]

Great story! sounds like everyone had allot of fun. Congrats on your sons boar, sounds like a monster.....

 

[centralcoaster]

Will get someone to mail pics to CDA so he can resize hopefully tomorrow. Why don't I? Cuz I don't know how but it's on my list of things to learn...eventually.

 

[clutchkiller]

Centralcoaster, try playing around with your e-mail. You should see a "box" to click on when you want to send a attachment. After you click on that "box," your computer should send you to the file where your pictures are stored. Chose which picture you want to post and highlight it. If you are using Windows XP you should see a little "box" to resize your pics before you send them (make them smaller), click on it and send the picture to yourself. Once you receive the picture, rename it so you know it's the smaller version of the picture you want to post.

I hope that helps, I'm not very good at explaining things

but it works for me.

Can't wait to see a picture of that pig

 

[centralcoaster]

Thanks for the info, Clutchkiller. I will have to try that soon. In the meantime, I sent them to Calcoasthunter for him to resize and send here. Hope you all like the pictures. I think the pics show just how big this hog was. Thanks again. Centralcoaster

 

[Cda55]

Here are some pics

 

[Cda55]

and another

 

[Cda55]

another

 

[deadducks]

Congrats on the nice hog.

I hunted with them 2 years ago. Nice property and nice guys. The younger guy went to my smae high school (AG).

We also saw some nice bucks. Their price has gone up, not sure what they are charging now, but I think its close to $600-700. Its outta my price range for a one day hunt.

If you have the money to burn you should be able to get a nice 3x3, or 4x4 on that property.

 

[KevinZ]

Tell your son congrats!!

 

[centralcoaster]

Thanks. I'll tell him. Hey dead ducks, so you went to AG high, huh? Yeah, nice bucks there. I have a pre-paid hunt for end of Sept. and will have to settle for a 3x3 as they charge a trophy fee for anything better. The good news is, I will no doubt get to pick and chose as there are so many nice bucks there. Have a buddy who went and saw many legal bucks to pick from this last season. He got a nice stag. Very non-typical unusual buck. I just want a nice 3x3 but will also take a nice forkie as they have some really large forkies on that ranch as well. In either case, I am ready!