Public land

[Bubblehide]

... (I didn't even load my rifle on day one)

...

Funny thing, on this trip, I put the loaded mag in my rifle, but I never chambered a round.

 

[Common Sense]

He better get after it, after 40 it's like a triple black diamond run, steep downhill with lots of bumps.

He's ready. I think his oldest will able to buy tags next year. So I am sure he will be going soon. I am also sure I will say no when he asks if I want to tag along.

 

[JGon]

I hear ya, Bubblehide.

I have a great spot for bucks on public land, one that is good because nobody in their right mind wants to go there. I hunted it quite a bit a few years ago, and took some good bucks. It was brutal though...almost wanted to break-down and kiss my truck after packing a buck off that mountain...and bucks there always wanted to die in the steepest nastiest canyons imaginable. Not sure if my body can handle that anymore...and not sure if I want to find out!

Anyways, I have passed it on to a younger hunter who appreciates the spot, and I get a kick out of hearing about his hunts there.

Note: Moleskin is like gold on those kind of hunts.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Well if you are going that far in and have a long trek back just go for a back pack piggy that good for about 50 lbs of meat to haul out.........tra

 

[Hikingwithguns]

I don't see a dilemma.

Get back out there and get a pig

 

[javithewrench]

Hike in 10 miles then ride the hog back to your truck and shoot it there, problem solved

 

[Bubblehide]

Hike in 10 miles then ride the hog back to your truck and shoot it there, problem solved

I hate it when guys make silly suggestions like this. For gods sake, why stop at the truck, when you can ride the hog into town, straight to the butcher: https://video.search.yahoo.com/vide...a&sigb=12s97cdee&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

 

[javithewrench]

Silly questions get silly answers, it's hunting. If it was easy everyone would do it.

 

[henmar77]

doesn't look like anything around me so your safe.

 

[MGDeer]

Bubblehide, good push on the big hike with guns. thewolfman and i are very acquainted with such adventures, but most of them have gone for 10 miles or a little more round trip. Stay frosty and better luck on the next one...happy trails.

 

[Bankrunner]

To the Gentleman you met.........sounds like great spot......what were you thinking?

 

[Bubblehide]

To the Gentleman you met.........sounds like great spot......what were you thinking?

I was thinking I would do it again, this weekend. So I did, with only a few differences. We decided to try out a different canyon this time; one slightly less far. We also started much earlier. So here you go, I get up at midnight, and 15 to 20 minutes later, I am out the door. A quick stop at Denny's and I am fueled up, in less than 1/2 an hour. And then off again. Oh-Dark-30 arrival time, and the boot leather hits the ground, but now with these nifty, new to me, blister bandages on my toes and feet, since they were not completely healed. Gladly, they did the job. Once again, to make a long story short (sorta), I take a look at this canyon, off the one we just came up, and it has pigs written all over it. In the mean time, my partner continues on for a bit, about 1 to 2 miles.

Frosty
With the weather we have been having, need I say it was cold this morning. In-fact, there were still patches of snow in some places. The ground was frozen, once again. This time, it looked like it had rained, before the snow fell, as the ground looked like raindrops pounded it. but it also looked like the water int he ground froze, thawed and froze again, and again. In short, the ground kinda looked like dirt to white colored rice crispy treats, and it had that snap crackle and pop to boot. So here I am, my cheeks going numb, a finger in each glove damn near frozen, and I am trying to creep around the woods without making a sound. I'm heading up the canyon bottom with game trails going here and there, trying to continue up canyon. in numerous places, I am on my hands and knees, crawling under the brush, as the animals do. I stand and go 20 maybe 30 yards, and I am on my knees again. Being on my knees wasn't bad when I was 20, but guys, I'm falling apart, or killing myself with these hunts. When I'm on my knees, I am totally unable to stand up using my right leg. That old right knee just doesn't do what it's supposed to anymore. I think it's time to get it looked at.

Falling down the rabbit hole
The farther up this canyon bottom I go, the more pig sign I see. Now determining how fresh sing is can sometimes be impossible. Since the ground was frozen, even I was able to stealthy leave no trace, well almost. So when were these piggies leaving this sign. I mean, they can't root in frozen ground, can they. when did they leave all these tracks. they sure didn't leave them when the ground was frozen. Hell, I couldn't even dig a hole in it to leave a deposit; and no I did not use the hk method, and burn the forest down. Okay, okay, I managed to find some soft ground, and dig a hole, but it took some looking. I start up this promising looking finger, and the amount of sign grown exponentially; and I am completely sucked in, there is no turning back now. I am now on the perfect finger. Plenty of shooting opportunity, with plenty of brush for pigs to hide or bed. The grass is soft, but the ground is still frozen, and I am creeping along. I stop here and there, and glass for a bit, then push on. I hit the ridge line, and follow it up, staying about 15-20 feet below the ridge. I am now high enough, that the canyon has opened up to me, to some degree; but no pigs in sight. I crest the top, go down the other side to have a look see, and then head back, taking a slightly different route, to cover more of this pig heaven.

The meet & the slip
Now out of the bowl, and descended to the main trail, I meet up with my gracious partner, and we compare notes. I tell him my tale, then it's his turn. He tell me that he went to the end of the trail, and took a game trail about a mile. He was going to stop and eat at the end of the main trail, but decided to push on. He believes that the bowl/ridge i was in/on, swings around to the game trail he was on, far, far below me. he mind goes into overdrive, and he know that we might spook pigs to each other. He does his normal glassing, move a tad, and glass... then finally gives up the ghost and heads back. As soon as he hits the main trail, right were he was going to stop and eat, he sees brand spankin new, clear as day, pig tracks, in the now thawed ground. being the smart thoughtful guy he is, he sure was glad he wasn't there when the herd of pigs came through, as there were pig tracks in his boot prints; he knew he could have been the victim of a stampede, if he had stopped to eat.

The skunk
I think a list will suffice for this, if I forgot something, feel free to add to it,
Sore feet, sore toes, legs, back, neck, shoulders, arms, hands feet, sore teeth from gritting my teeth while walking on those rice crispeeees... and tired as hell. well that's it, I just got in, and I still need to eat before I pass out for the night.

 

[slowpoke]

To the Gentleman you met.........sounds like great spot......what were you thinking?

I think he may have been referring to taking someone to his undoubtedly hard earned public land spot to only have it shared with the world? Maybe he is ok with it, but I would venture a guess that most would be pissed.

 

[Mjp62]

Even if I had the GPS coordinates for this spot I wouldn't go. TOO FAR to hike. Looks like awesome country though.

 

[Bankrunner]

I think he may have been referring to taking someone to his undoubtedly hard earned public land spot to only have it shared with the world? Maybe he is ok with it, but I would venture a guess that most would be pissed.

You got it, i wouldn't share a hard earned public land spot.

 

[Bubblehide]

You got it, i wouldn't share a hard earned public land spot.

Well, some places, you just need a little help when you do connect. Besides, it's not like anyone here knows where the spot is; and the fact is that this place is just way to much work for 99% of hunters. Frankly, he told me that he would like to have 3 to 4 guys in there, when someone does connect; but it's his spot, so it is not my place to invite anyone. Personally, I am sure that the both of us can handle getting a hog out; but it will be a love hate thing. Loving that one of use scored, but hating the work involved in getting it out.

 

[signguy]

Seems like the perfect situation for a midday Friday hike in with an afternoon of glassing/hunting followed by a few hours around the campfire.
After a peaceful nights rest we do a few miles of hiking/glassing/hunting on Saturday followed by a gutting/cleaning and eating around the campfire Saturday night- pork will be on the menu!
Then a leisurely hike out Sunday followed by some football and a few beers.
Let me know where you want to meet up on Friday!

Stay after it! The harder the hunt- the better the meat!

 

[thewolfman]

I agreed... Its a 3 or 4 person place to hunt... All in favor of voting me onto the group say I... Haha.. But in all seriousness.. U guys need a third or forth person..
Goodluck to your next hunt... Can't wait to read your next hunt..

 

[brknarrow]

horse back country??

 

[Bubblehide]

horse back country??

You bet it is; sometimes, I wish I still had a horse.