Not a good start

tmoniz · Jul 21, 2008

And. Come prepared.

T

shoot2thrill · Jul 21, 2008

sounds like a good hunt, sometimes it just doesn't work out. Btw, imo Tom Willoughby is about the closest thing there is to a "sure thing". stick with it and dont get down on private land bacon!

Family Tradition · Jul 21, 2008

Ive said it before TW is almost at the level of being a GOD

Man knows his land and his hogs.

Not a knock on anyone else its just that Tom is that good.

FT

Lurediver · Jul 21, 2008

Sounds like they tried they're best, that's hunting.

hatchet1 · Jul 21, 2008

FT, THATS WHY WE CALL HIM THE TOMINATOR

Cold1nhand · Jul 21, 2008

He hunted with one of the best as the previous posts as proven by one of the many posts on this site show. I think he just had his hopes set a little too high due to the high success ratio of the ranch and guides... but no one gets them all and thats why its hunting. I can only hope that he has learned from his experience and will give it another go.

jackrabbit · Jul 21, 2008

Seems to me that the accumulation of the bulk of these responses to SBOldman may be a bit harsh in my perspective. He said he is carrying a lot of weight and seems to not be in athletic condition. I've followed a lot of posts on JHO which leave me in awe of the conditioning of a lot of folks here. And to SBO's defense, I will say that to a new or casual hunter, the guided hunt reports not only seem like an almost guaranteed (but not hight fence) success based on reported success percentages; but many of the reports can be perceived to imply that all you have to do is ride in an outfitters vehicle and then get out and casually shoot a pig out of a herd that the guides may have been keeping an eye on for days (or at the most, just take a short hike over the picturesque rolling savannah lands in the pics). Yeah, I know it ain't like that, but many may not. Yes, many have given details on how hard the trek was, but that can be easily overshadowed by thoughts that a guided hunt is easy. By no means do I mean to imply that the guide service here is to blame for anything, just trying to give a different view of this elephant from a different angle.

I won't hunt with someone else (other than a friend), or an outfit, that is well beyond my physical limitations -- it would be no fun, I would feel miserable about either holding the other guy back, or even worse, like I had a babysittter. And I would get zero pleasure on a drive up, get taken on the ridge and take the shot on a standing or slow moving animal, if that scenario even exists in reality.

Most of the hiking guide books have a rating system for the severity of the physical exertion on the described trails -- I think that outfits advertising access and guided hunts should do the same. I'm up in the years and I can still hump the hills at my pace, but I can't run up the hills, and brush busting is testing my abilities in high heat now. I would not have a problem paying for an access hunt if I had scoped out the property and knew I could negotiate it on my own, but on the other hand I have no problem with bagging nothing, totally on my own, either.

Bottom line of my statement I guess is that old folks and out of shape folks might benefit from knowing what physical abilities are recommended for a successfull hunt. But I guess market (supply/demand) conditions will be the main influence in todays economy.

Arrowslinger · Jul 21, 2008

QUOTE

Bottom line of my statement I guess is that old folks and out of shape folks might benefit from knowing what physical abilities are recommended for a successfull hunt.

I honestly think it's the hunters responsibility to tell the guide/outfit what his/her physical limitations are. If you don't think you can climb hills like FT, then tell your guide you're not in that great of shape and really don't care to hike alot. This isn't rocket science guys, it's hunting, sometimes you kill, more often than not, you don't. I really think it's that simple and basic, he hunted with guys that have a damn good success ratio from what i've seen, no one did anything wrong, except the pigs.

jackrabbit · Jul 21, 2008

Yeah AS, I guess its cart vs. horse first. Buyer beware, but someone who doesn't know what the average physical standards are may never even think to list their sorry arse limitations to start with. But you highlight a really great idea -- how about the guides include a guide to recommended physical conditioning for different levels of hunts? How else is a newbie to know to consider there might even be a need to mention their abilities. Oh, and your comment to tell the guide that you "really don't care to hike alot" seems a bit consdescending and elitist to me. I would never tell anyone I don't care to hike, and I don't think anyone else would choose those words either. I've met and talked to FT and I would never tell a guide that I can't climb hills like him and that I really don't like to hike a lot.

Cold1nhand · Jul 21, 2008

QUOTE (Arrowslinger @ Jul 21 2008, 03:37 PM)

Bottom line of my statement I guess is that old folks and out of shape folks might benefit from knowing what physical abilities are recommended for a successfull hunt.

I honestly think it's the hunters responsibility to tell the guide/outfit what his/her physical limitations are. If you don't think you can climb hills like FT, then tell your guide you're not in that great of shape and really don't care to hike alot. This isn't rocket science guys, it's hunting, sometimes you kill, more often than not, you don't. I really think it's that simple and basic, he hunted with guys that have a damn good success ratio from what i've seen, no one did anything wrong, except the pigs.

Amen brother!

Family Tradition · Jul 21, 2008

QUOTE (Arrowslinger @ Jul 21 2008, 03:37 PM)

no one did anything wrong, except the pigs.

Them darn pigs!!!!!!!

Lets hope our man SB can get back out there, crack a hog that he likes and take this as his first lump in a long line of lumps anyone who has hunted very long is sure to have.

I know one guy who recently had pigs making a ton of noise in a creek below him at less than 300 yards and that idiot couldn't even find them to try and kill one it was so thick

but I wont name names, ME

Pigs need to pay!

FT

barel74 · Jul 21, 2008

I didn't hear any complaining out of SB, just an account of his hunting weekend. Seems that some of you are taking this as a personal attack against your favorite guide. Give it a rest. The unsuccesful hunter didn't complain, so neither should you. Even the best guides don't have 100% success rates. And as for the burger... if the guide tells you to take a break and go get a burger, you go get a burger.

Arrowslinger · Jul 21, 2008

QUOTE

Oh, and your comment to tell the guide that you "really don't care to hike alot" seems a bit consdescending and elitist to me

I really take offense to that comment and suprised you would say that. It's about being honest with your guide, if you don't like or don't feel you can hike that hill, tell'em so. Bottom line, its your money and your hunt.

Family Tradition · Jul 21, 2008

Hey, I dont like to hike a lot

Ok in serious tone now..........

I think a lot has been said about how much one needs to get in shape to hunt elk in the rockies and people get it, for the most part.

But who ever has written much about needing to be in bomber shape to hunt hogs in CA?

I cant think of anyone in recent memory so why would he think to say that? he probably was thinking "I may not be in great shape to go hiking up and down all day but hey, thats why I hired a guide"

Perhaps not but I bet I'm close and I wouldn't blame him. I hire a guide and I dont hike like if I'm in the high country unless I have to in order to get the animal I want.

My thinking is most guides are prepared for the average joe and if a guy shows up who can run a 38 min 10k then thats bonus for the guide, MAYBE. I've had two hunts called short because I pushed the guide to hard and that was my fault.

The guy got skunked, who's to say if i was the hunter or Hatchet or fricken Daniel Boone that any of us wouldn't have gotten skunked also.

I just hope he gets back out and kills and posts it up with a big cheesy smile, I'd respect that.

I like a good story about a guy who payed his dues then scored and is happy.

Much better than "hey I paid 12 hundo and killed this hog on my first ever hunt"

But thats just me

FT

Oh, and I dont think I've ever come out and told a guide what my fitness level is in the pre hunt interview.

bpnclark · Jul 21, 2008

QUOTE (Family Tradition @ Jul 21 2008, 04:46 PM) http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=1018289

But who ever has written much about needing to be in bomber shape to hunt hogs in CA?

That’s what I was thinking. You might need to walk over a couple of foothills, but its not sheep hunting.

Also nothing wrong with talking to your guide about what you can and can’t do. That also goes for shooting. Not that it really has to do with Hog hunting, but if you can’t shoot over 300 yards you should tell your guide.

tmoniz · Jul 21, 2008

Bpn.

Shooting well has a lot to do with any hunt.
Not to mention running up and down those rolling hills.

T

bpnclark · Jul 21, 2008

I hear what you’re saying but I think on a lot of guided CA hog hunts, you won’t be shooting +300 yards like you would on a guided Antelope hunt, Mule deer Hunt…

Rolling hills in CA should not be that hard. But I did take a look at the guide’s website and those are some pretty nasty looking foothills. I would probably tell the guide that I’m fat, lazy and I drink a lot of beer after lunch so we need to finish the hunt before lunch (oh ya, I shoot a 300 mag with a big muzzle break). Nothing wrong with being honest.

Family Tradition · Jul 21, 2008

LOL

I was just going to say there are no nice ROLLING oak hills in Parkfield and Hell yeah its an easy comparison to hunting Elk in CO minus the elevation but plus the heat.

I think RNJ need to let me come over and run around the ranch with my bow so I can come back and give an honest feedback on how my personal experience was. Wouldnt help any one else other than I'd have a good time but I think its a great idea.

FT

JNDEER · Jul 22, 2008

all this talk about being out of shape and being honest with the guide.........wasn't he riding around in a jeep?

Family Tradition · Jul 22, 2008

Most guides use a jeep to cover a lot of ground on hog hunts because we all know pigs dont do anything on a schedule.

I e-mailed SB offering to talk to him about hunting and guided hunts ect in the hopes that he is serious about wanting to be a hunter.

So far I have not heard back and he has not come back to this post so honestly, at this point I dont care.

He paid to hunt, he hunted.

The next step is his and his alone on what he does and no amount of JHO CSi work will figure out what really happend or change how he will or will not handle what he does next.

Lets hope he either learns and keeps hunting or just quits.

FT

Well-known member

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Share this page

QRCode