my first public land pig

[CAhntr]

Yesterday evening my dad and I went up to one of our favorite spots by Pine Flat to check the trail cam. After finding only a scrawny doe on the cam and coyote tracks all over the trail we decided to head to some oak flats and do some calling. We hiked a few ridges over and headed down to the flats. Just before we got into our spot we crossed a creek bed and I immediately saw pigs to our left. There was a group of 12-15, all diferent sizes. They were rootin around and unaware of us. I pulled the rifle up and my scope was bouncing around from pig to pig trying to find the best shot. There was a lot of brush, boulders and trees obscuring my view. I couldn't find a clear shot on any of them and I was getting nervous that they would blow out of there without me getting a shot. Just then a small black pig pops out from behind a rock. I noticed it was rather small but this was my first chance at a public land pig and there was no way I was letting it walk. I put the crosshairs of the 243 on its shoulder and squeezed it off. It dropped in its tracks and the creek bottom exploded with pigs. They went running in all directions. It was awesome. All I kept thinking was I wish I had another tag. After many high fives and hugs between my dad and I, we set up for some pics then gutted it out. It was small enough that I could carry the whole thing out on my pack. It should be some good eats.

I was so pumped to get my first public land pig but I think having my dad there is what made it truly special for me.

Well here she is. She's no monster but I have pork in the freezer.
When I got home and showed the pics to my wife and son, my boy asks "Dad why did you shoot a baby?"

From the mouths of babes.

 

[DEERSLAM]

Congrats on the piggy CAhntr!
Like you say...some good eatin right there.

 

[Bulleye]

WTG! Any public land pig is a good pig!

 

[NikolaKangrga]

CONGRATS! Where exactly is pine flatts? Ive heard it a few times here at JHO and now I am curious

 

[brushstomper]

Congrats on your pig. Now get out the bar-b-que sauce! That will be some good eating right there.

 

[huntingbret]

Congrats on the pig. Unlike you, I've been hunting pine flat about 6 times this year and all of them have ended up empty handed. Just where oh where are these pigs?

 

[CAhntr]

bret, don't feel bad. I've been chasing pigs at this spot for 3 yrs now and yesterday was the first time I've actually seen them. They're there but its just hard to catch them out during the day.

Nikola, Pine Flat Reservoir is about 25 miles east of Fresno.

Eric

 

[huntingbret]

CAhntr, what part of Pine Flat were you hunting? You don't have to give the exact coordinates or anything. That place is quite big.

 

[tradman]

Nice one!

You've accomplished what many hunters on this board, myself included, have not.

 

[CAhntr]

Thanks for all the congrats guys.

bret, the area I was hunting was the steep hill with a lot of brush and rocks.

just kidding

shoot me an e-mail and I'll see if I can help you.

ecox08@yahoo.com


Eric

 

[Hitechhunter]

CA public land pig, a trophy indeed! Good work!

 

[bodega]

Congratulations! DFG's statistics say only 3% of the hogs taken in Cali are taken on public land. That right there is a rarity. Good job. Perfect size for a whole roaster.

 

[hatchet1]

nice work bro!!!

as mentioned,any free pig is a good pig!!!

 

[hunt hard]

Big Congrates to you keep your secrets to your self. and go buy a nother tag and go back thell more than likely go back to that spot again.

 

[559hog]

I think I need to head there, pine flat is but a 45 minute drive......

 

[rwlittle]

A public land pig is like a 360 point bull elk!!!

 

[El Rescatado]

Nice work man

 

[Huntr Pat]

243 Did its job.Congrats

 

[TikkaNuts]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huntingbret @ Aug 15 2008, 02:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

CAhntr, what part of Pine Flat were you hunting? You don't have to give the exact coordinates or anything. That place is quite big.[/b]

First - Congrat, CAhntr!

Second - huntingbret, it's very close to the second bridge... that's where all the piggies at...

 

[Speckmisser]

Nice work! Persistence pays, huh? Keep at it... more time in the field means more opportunities to get your pig.