Missed Opportunity

[jerryt]

Hunted this weekend on a WU ranch that extends from Arbuckle to Williams and had a great opportunity on a pig but blew it. We could not drive the roads due to the recent rains so it was a boot leather weekend which I enjoy. Walked in about 7 miles on Saturday morning to an area I wanted to check out and sure enough I found a pig or at least what i thought was a pig. I watched it for about 15 minutes and it never moved and then finally I saw the ear flicker. Sure enough it was a pig sunning itself under an oak tree. Picked my plan of attack checking the wind and everything and thought I could slip to a ridge above him at about 40 yards. Began my stock and of course the hill I was sneaking on still had lots of old dead grass so it was a little noisy but not bad. i got to the little ridge I was going to shoot from and crawled the last few yards to top. Took a quick peek to see if he was still there and nothing. I soon spotted him and 7 other shooters headed towards the brush. Took quick aim but missed. Probably had more time than I thought after I think about it later, but in the heat of the moment I rushed things. Went looking for blood, but nothing. I could clearly see where they busted through the brush, but there was nothing. Continued to work myself through the canyons back to camp and just as a cleared the last canyon a coyote busted out at about thirty yards. I rushed around the hill expecting him to run across a flat but I didn't see him. I decided he must have gone up hill and sure enough there he was still jogging along getting ready to clear the top. Threw up the gun took aim and let one go. Smacked him perfect and he rolled all the way back down the hill too me. Got up early Sunday morning and headed right back to where I saw the pigs the day before, but could not locate them. Found some pig wallows that were used that night and it was good to see all the ponds with lots of water. Actually covered one of the sections I have never covered before and found some good spots the keep on my list of places to hit in the future.

 

[Bayboy2020]

I actually hunt a property that borders the WU property

 

[cali-carnivore]

Mosby is a great ranch, wish it were closer. I have only been there a few times but it is a great property. Anybody else on the property? A friend and I spent the weekend chasing quail at Cummings and we were the only ones there because of the weather and closed roads. Walk in only. Lots of pig sign on the lower portion of the ranch but pigs were closed.

 

[jerryt]

There was another couple guys that came in from the Williams side of the ranch that also located pigs but they could not get on them before they got into the thicker stuff. Bayboy2020 which side of the ranch to you hunt on. I love hunting the ranch since it is only an hour from home and I almost always get into game. I wanted to quail hunt as well but with the muddy roads I could not get to the quail areas without about a 12 mile round trip hike and I'm not that motivated for quail. I did walk further than that for the pigs.

 

[thewolfman]

Too bad fo pigy but congrats on coyote...lol

 

[Hikingwithguns]

I feel your pain, sounds like how my A-zone hunt went last year. Just keep hitting the hills and you'll catch em again.

 

[Bayboy2020]

I don't belong to WU but have permission to hunt a piece of property up the road from the Arbuckle entrance of that property. My hunting club (Richmond Hunting Club) use to own that ranch. Great piece of property a lot of hogs but a lot of thick buck brush

 

[eoats]

Jerry's, looks to be a Weatherby you have there, what caliber?

 

[Live2hunt]

I hunted that WU property with a buddy under his plus membership a month ago. We did a quick couple hours in the evening hunt. We got into a boar on a hillside near the one-way road. I was sure he was going to cross a small gulley and head right at me. Nope, he followed the gulley down and by the time I saw him again, he was already in the flat going under the boundary fence. I could have had him at 150 yards if he wasn't on the other side of the fence. He was one lucky pig.

 

[jerryt]

Bayboy2020: I believe the Richmond Hunting club still has most of the property to the north and to the East of this ranch. At least there signs are still up.

Live2Hunt: that area of the one way road you are talking about has been loaded with pigs since deer season. There are about five canyons in a row there covered in oak trees and a little Manzanita and no one hunts them becasue they are so steep. That was my game plan but when I couldn't drive the roads due to the weather I only wanted to drag dad so far. We almost went that what when I got dad to the Y early the first morning but we opted for hunting the South Border from Y to camp since we had never hunted those draws before.

eoats: Yes it is a weatherby in 7mm. It was it's first trip in the field since I won it last year at a dinner. I had bought a new leopold scope for it over the summer and sighted it in a few weeks ago. I also have it in 25-06 that I won two years ago at a dinner. I just put a new leopold scope on it this year and have yet to take it in the field. Now that the 7mm is broke in with the coyote and some scratches from the brush I will have to get the 25-06 some experience.

 

[jimmyvidrio]

Glad you guys are having fun chasing those pigs....Bayboy...My family and i use to go every Easter day, the owner would let us camp out there for the day, when the creek was full of water........Lots of pigs/deer and turkey...........Havent been up there in years since its under new ownership,and not allowed to picnic-camp (easter day) good times........Good luck to all of you

 

[eoats]

I should eat out more often...

 

[Bayboy2020]

jerryt they lost it last year I believe but ya the signs are still up. Apparently they lady they leased from didn't even own the property or something weird. There is another private hunting club to the west as well

 

[MGDeer]

Jerryt, the pig part of your story...15 minute wait and flick of the ear reminds me of a hunt that wolfman and I had executed. After tracking hard on a foggy day we rested on a ridge adjacent to a 300 yard wide draw that separated us from an neighboring ridge. I broke out the binos and looked around; across that draw and about 300 feet below our current contour I believed I saw some pigs. I handed the binos to the wolf and he took a goood look. Wolf wasn't sure either; he handed back the binos and stated "if even what looks like an ear flickers then game on." Sho-nough, we boogied up slope, crossed the draw , picked up the ridge, played the wind and got within 80 yards just as the heard got up and stretched. Wolf said make a neck shot so we don't chase it to Fresno County. Heck, I made a lung shot with my early model .300 Weatherby. Wolf 1st said "your rifles loud" then said "you missed the neck now we have to go to work":smiley_doh:. We tracked that booger's blood trail for about 200 yards and found it piled up against an oak; no biggy-'cept the pack out. Them mountains never get any shorter. L O L.

 

[Live2hunt]

I soon spotted him and 7 other shooters headed towards the brush. Took quick aim but missed.

How bout a little chilli wrap dance on that one?..........:lol bashing sign:

 

[jerryt]

How did I know that was coming.