Guys,
I had an awesome hunting trip this last weekend up at Choppers. Well, all of them are awesome but this had bonuses.
We slammed the quail on Saturday. We’ve all seen birds up there throughout the yaear, but WE SEEN birds. The bids were holding tight ealry in the moringin with the chill and the rains the night before. Then the sun came up over the ridge. We heard the shooting begin from other parts of the ranch. We headed to a spot where we jumped a huge covey, or at least a few covey that were hanging out. I could not reload fast enough. The action was fast and furoius. The quali were coming in waves of 20-30 or more. After a few flock shots. I quickly settled down and started to pick them off one by one. I was able to limit it out in a about 10 minutes of shooting. I called Chopper down to my spot to take over. Great hunt.
Anyways, Chopper was good enough to extend the use of the cabin and a pig hunt the next morning for those that wanted to. The next morning, I was down by the power lines. If you end up going up there, you'll know what I am talking about (for those that have gone, you knwo where I am talking about). Walked down to the spot, waited for the sun to come up and shooting time came and went. I gave it another half-hour and proceeded to go up a draw. As I was walking, I heard rustling in the trees/brush above to my right. I stop and listen. I notice movememnt to my left at about 80 yards. Pigs! The wind was in my face and I hustled to try and get to a spot where I could get a good shot. The pigs weren't running, but they were determined to get somewhere. I am out of breath with the running and rush that has overcame me. I woke with a headache that morning (wonder why
), this sudden rush just went straight to my head and I felt this throbbing pain in the base of my skull. I shook it off just in time to see a very large sow with a 50 pounder in tow. Right behind her was the classic boar we all dream about, VERY large chest, tight behind (hey, I think we all dream about that in other ways too
) He was a magnificent boar. The last one trailing behind was a smaller boar. They went down and up a drainage to my left, ranged 30 yards. The first three were moving to quickly for me to get a shot, but the last one would give me a shot. I drew and waited for him to clear a tree. I released the arrow and it would have been a perfect shot if it was about 4 inches lower. Just cleared his back. I'm guessing that the 15-16 feet eleavation I had on them was the cause (
)
Feeling a little dejected but confident that I woul find more, I went to give Peetey (old horse that passed away recently, and was being visited by pigs daily) a visit. I get to the kwanza (sp?) hut and see the pigs leaving the carcass crossing the road and into a field heading for the trees and mt. I quickly get out and grab the bow. I run up the hill parallel to try and cut them off (not an easy task if you've seen my physique and state of conditioning) I cut across a fresh cut and notice tracks cut across, could be my pigs, so I double back and proceed to go higher. I get up near the ridge and listen, nothing. I notice a game trail that sidehills the ridge near me. I decide to take it, go about 100 yards or so then cut down just in case they held up down there. 30 yards in, I hear something and see movement ahead. A pig was on the trail rooting. I range him at 26 yards. I get a few breaths in, draw and wait for her to turn. I release, the arrow hits the mark. Quick squeel and down the mt she goes. I was able to follow here visually and after about 40 yards, she drops. I wait a few minutes, then go looking for her. She was down and only 10 yards from the road...
Talk about grond shrinkage, she looked alot bigger when I shot, she turned out to be about 70 pounds on the hoof. What a rush. Awesome, truly awesome.
BTW: about 100 hogs were seen over the weeknd. I seen hog the morning before when quail hunting, and the 11 the morning of the pig hunt. Cecil (pigig) seen and passed uo quite a few. He was looking for tuskers. Another story he can elaboarte on...Can't wait to get back up there in a month and a half. This month has been a great time up there.
I had an awesome hunting trip this last weekend up at Choppers. Well, all of them are awesome but this had bonuses.
We slammed the quail on Saturday. We’ve all seen birds up there throughout the yaear, but WE SEEN birds. The bids were holding tight ealry in the moringin with the chill and the rains the night before. Then the sun came up over the ridge. We heard the shooting begin from other parts of the ranch. We headed to a spot where we jumped a huge covey, or at least a few covey that were hanging out. I could not reload fast enough. The action was fast and furoius. The quali were coming in waves of 20-30 or more. After a few flock shots. I quickly settled down and started to pick them off one by one. I was able to limit it out in a about 10 minutes of shooting. I called Chopper down to my spot to take over. Great hunt.
Anyways, Chopper was good enough to extend the use of the cabin and a pig hunt the next morning for those that wanted to. The next morning, I was down by the power lines. If you end up going up there, you'll know what I am talking about (for those that have gone, you knwo where I am talking about). Walked down to the spot, waited for the sun to come up and shooting time came and went. I gave it another half-hour and proceeded to go up a draw. As I was walking, I heard rustling in the trees/brush above to my right. I stop and listen. I notice movememnt to my left at about 80 yards. Pigs! The wind was in my face and I hustled to try and get to a spot where I could get a good shot. The pigs weren't running, but they were determined to get somewhere. I am out of breath with the running and rush that has overcame me. I woke with a headache that morning (wonder why
Feeling a little dejected but confident that I woul find more, I went to give Peetey (old horse that passed away recently, and was being visited by pigs daily) a visit. I get to the kwanza (sp?) hut and see the pigs leaving the carcass crossing the road and into a field heading for the trees and mt. I quickly get out and grab the bow. I run up the hill parallel to try and cut them off (not an easy task if you've seen my physique and state of conditioning) I cut across a fresh cut and notice tracks cut across, could be my pigs, so I double back and proceed to go higher. I get up near the ridge and listen, nothing. I notice a game trail that sidehills the ridge near me. I decide to take it, go about 100 yards or so then cut down just in case they held up down there. 30 yards in, I hear something and see movement ahead. A pig was on the trail rooting. I range him at 26 yards. I get a few breaths in, draw and wait for her to turn. I release, the arrow hits the mark. Quick squeel and down the mt she goes. I was able to follow here visually and after about 40 yards, she drops. I wait a few minutes, then go looking for her. She was down and only 10 yards from the road...
Talk about grond shrinkage, she looked alot bigger when I shot, she turned out to be about 70 pounds on the hoof. What a rush. Awesome, truly awesome.
BTW: about 100 hogs were seen over the weeknd. I seen hog the morning before when quail hunting, and the 11 the morning of the pig hunt. Cecil (pigig) seen and passed uo quite a few. He was looking for tuskers. Another story he can elaboarte on...Can't wait to get back up there in a month and a half. This month has been a great time up there.
