Mother's Day (eve) Public Land Hog

[Wild1]

Last public land hog I killed was Father's Day eve about this time last year. This one was Mother's Day eve almost a year later - strange. As usual, I spent a ton of time scouting and hiking, with little to show for it, until I found some sign in a very difficult place to access (I suspect they were there because of the isolation and difficulty getting there).

Not only was it a hell hike, but I actually had to repel down into the ravine they were holed up in (and climb back out using same rope). I would have never guessed they were there, until I found a couple of natural springs and wallows in the thick vegetation.

The pictures may not show it, but it was very, very steep with no where to get footing or a hold. About 150-200 feet straight down.

 

[Wild1]

After a few scouting trips to the area, and treading very lightly, I had them (three pigs on trail cam) patterned pretty good. Sure enough, they weren't very eager to cooperate, so it became a bit of a cat-n-mouse game - not to mention the lack of any wind made it even more difficult.

 

[Wild1]

This went on for a couple of months until I was finally able to connect on a nice, fat sow. About a 25 yard quartering-away shot that looks like I hit it a bit far back, but with the quartering away angle it ended up being almost perfect. About a 40 yard recovery and the work continued.

note: no, that's not sunburn - it's extreme exertion and sweat (they're heavy!!)

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Wow now that's absolutely extreme Hunting. Congrats on the trophy bowkill public land hog my man well deserved for all the work and time u put into it. Great photo and thanks for sharing!.....tra
P.s. the last time I had to do a up and down cliff climb like that was many years ago getting to a private beach in half moon bay it was a weekend retreat on a nude beach, I thought i was reliving Woodstock agian.....lol

 

[dthome]

I'm impressed, wild1. Well done.

 

[solus]

Waay too much work for me. Congrats

 

[Sniper1]

Nice job and hog.

I too found some in something similar, however on private property. They would cruise the ridge line every morning and night so i started watching them to see where they were heading, they would drop into a canyon that was almost vertical on both sides, so a buddy and i posted up one eve across the canyon and waited, we were rifle hunting of course. Once they came down that ridge one eve, we both took one, of course they rolled all the way to the bottom of that canyon, you talk about work, ugh. Anyway, we drop into that place sliding on our arses and made it down, we finally got back to the truck about 11pm. When I was down in the bottom i found a ton of beds and jumped more hogs, even though they are in there i don't know if i would go back in, i'll watch until i can catch them in an easier area, maybe on some flat ground.

 

[vogel002]

Congrats again, always a great story

 

[TheGDog]

Holy spitballs! Wow... no other way to get into that Ravine than repel down on rope? Eesh.. how'd ya get'eem back outta there? (a la Wayne's World "We're not Worthy!... We're Not Worthy!....) Respect!

 

[Wild1]

GDog -

I could have quartered it, but multiple trips just didn't appeal to me. This is what I did: I cut a hole in both hind legs, at the tendon and threaded a compression strap through each one. Then I tied the end of the rope through each strap. (cut two small holes in the game bag). Up on top of the ravine a used my knife to make two indentations in the ground to anchor my feet - then I grunted it out and pulled the hog up and out.....and I'm now paying for that with sore muscles I never knew I had.

 

[Bubblehide]

...and I'm now paying for that with sore muscles I never knew I had.

Yeah we never knew you had muscles either:lol bashing sign:.

Hey, well deserved! Congratulations!

 

[mgriffith80]

Awesome! Great Job Wild1! Impressive to say the least.

 

[Portuguese Pointer]

Off the charts Wild1...simply outstanding!

 

[mochosla]

How far was your car from the canyon? I can only imagine how hard it was getting the pig out of the canyon just to still have to carry it to your car. Congratulations!

 

[Wild1]

mochosia -

My truck was about 5-6 miles from the canyon. The one bit of good news is, I did have a game cart in the back of my truck. After I pulled the hog up, I hiked back to the truck and came back with the game cart - so I did have to make two trips, but it was the easiest way. Four days later and I'm still recovering……lol.

 

[bisonic]

Wow - very impressive - congrats on a great hog and story!

 

[TheGDog]

OH MAN! That's Hard Core! I bow in your general direction. BTW... do you always carry 150'-200' of rope with you? Or did you carry it because you knew you were going to this spot? Did you tie the rope to a nearby tree at the top or what?

 

[Wild1]

GDog -

Good question(s). Most of the time I have some rope, but certainly not that much. Since I had been scouting the area for some time, trying to pattern the pigs, I knew what to expect if I was successful - so I made it a point to bring rope the last few times. Nothing more frustrating than making a kill and not having a plan for getting the hog out. And you're right, I just found a nearby tree to tie the rope to. By the way, my next purchase might be a come-a-long (hand winch) for similar extractions.

 

[groBwildjager]

Wild1, nice going stepping it up a notch! Your hard work paid off with a real nice pig. Congrats!

 

[Bobaloo]

public land MVP