I got an opportunity to take my nine year old son out hunting with me and we got a nice 200lb hog. We were up in Priest Valley near Coalinga hunting with Jim Settle of Wildlife West. It was a great trip for the both of us and I think I've got my son wanting to go on more hunts with me.
We left Saturday afternoon for a three and one half hour drive to Coalinga. We stayed at a motel in town, and the next morning at 5:15 we met up with Jim. We drove for about 30 minutes before arriving at the ranch. After parking the truck near some trees, we hiked up to a ridge which overlooked the ranch and surrounding properties. Needless to say it took alot of encourgement to get my son to hike up to the ridge. I gave my son a pair of 8x30 Steiners to glass with, and at first light he was looking all over the place. However, after about an hour of glassing he started to get bored. Fortunately, it was at this time that Jim spotted a lone boar coming up the hill towards a pond. Quickly, my son and I got into position on the hillside where there was a clearing that the boar had to cross before getting to the pond. As I sat in front of my son, I heard a musical chime that went off. At first I thought it was my cell phone, but I had it turned off. Then, I realized it was my son's "Gameboy" in my pocket that I brought up for him "just in case" he got too bored. I had to pull it out of my pocket and give it to my son to turn it off. The boar never heard it, and continued up. I was able to settle down, range the hog at 170 yards, and I put a shot through its chest with my 280. I put one more round into him to anchor him and there were high fives all around.
My son thought it was great. I think he had more fun taking pictures of the hog and watching the dressing and skinning of the hog than the actual hunt itself. But I'm not complaining. I'm just looking forward to having more time in the field with him. [attachment=40377:attachment] [attachment=40377:attachment] [attachment=40379:attachment]
We left Saturday afternoon for a three and one half hour drive to Coalinga. We stayed at a motel in town, and the next morning at 5:15 we met up with Jim. We drove for about 30 minutes before arriving at the ranch. After parking the truck near some trees, we hiked up to a ridge which overlooked the ranch and surrounding properties. Needless to say it took alot of encourgement to get my son to hike up to the ridge. I gave my son a pair of 8x30 Steiners to glass with, and at first light he was looking all over the place. However, after about an hour of glassing he started to get bored. Fortunately, it was at this time that Jim spotted a lone boar coming up the hill towards a pond. Quickly, my son and I got into position on the hillside where there was a clearing that the boar had to cross before getting to the pond. As I sat in front of my son, I heard a musical chime that went off. At first I thought it was my cell phone, but I had it turned off. Then, I realized it was my son's "Gameboy" in my pocket that I brought up for him "just in case" he got too bored. I had to pull it out of my pocket and give it to my son to turn it off. The boar never heard it, and continued up. I was able to settle down, range the hog at 170 yards, and I put a shot through its chest with my 280. I put one more round into him to anchor him and there were high fives all around.
My son thought it was great. I think he had more fun taking pictures of the hog and watching the dressing and skinning of the hog than the actual hunt itself. But I'm not complaining. I'm just looking forward to having more time in the field with him. [attachment=40377:attachment] [attachment=40377:attachment] [attachment=40379:attachment]
