FRISCOHNTR
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2002
- Messages
- 198
- Reaction score
- 5
I took my buddy Dave up to the small piece of property I hunt directly above Lake Sonoma. He had never killed a hog before and has been hinting that he'd like an invite. After last weeks rains I figured that if I told the wife had to check on the trailer , I could squeeze a little hunting in too. She gave me a pass for Weds and Thurs but told me not to bring a rifle as the freezer had enough pork to last at least two months.
Off to the ranch we headed (my rifle in the safe) on Weds. afternoon and got there about 1 pm. At the gate we immediately glassed a large black hog work his way into the buckbrush at about 1000 yards away, always a good sign to see mid-day movement. We got to the trailer set it all up and headed out to see what the rain washed roads and trails would show us. There was ALOT of sign everywhere and it was real fresh so I figured either the rut was on or the pressure from the Lake hunters had moved the hogs over the hill---or both?. We walked for an hour or so, took a nap, then glassed from different ridges.
Early, at about 4:15 or so I spotted a group of about 15 hogs working the hillside directly across from us about 325 yards. By the mixture of sows, smaller hogs and one VERY large boar it seemed to me that the pig rut was definetly on. Dave got pumped and was going to try an off-handed shot, but since I could see his leg shaking (hehehe) I suggested that we work our way closer. The wind was in our favor and we were able to get to about 250 yards from the group. I found a nice tree and told him rest his rifle, pick his pig, and squeeeeeze the trigger. He told me that he was going to wait for the big one to go broadside (a red and black boar >250 #s)that had tusks I could see in the Binocs.
I told him it didn't matter which hog he killed just "take your time". The brindle hog went broadside, the rifle cracked immediately after that the huge boar turned and ran straight downhill. I could see some dirt fly around the pig at the shot and immediately thought that he might have missed. I told him "shot another hog" as they all filed past single file at a slow walk and he wasn't able to place any in his sights long enough to pull the trigger. ------AHHHH, why did I let my wife convince me to leave my rifle home??????---- Just then a large black and tan hog comes along and stops broadside; he settles in gets ready fire and notices....she's got hanging udders and lets her walk (I like that decision)
We then talked about the shot and he was confident it was "spot on". I still wasn't convinced that he didn't "push" the shot. By "pushing" the bullet I mean that involuntary hard squeeze against the shoulder that causes the barrel to drop. But he was confident; and so we celebrated.
Since the hog had ran straight downhill we discussed our options as for recovery and decided due to the terrain (very very steep) and failing light to recover it in the morning, the temp was already dropping quick and the bottom of the canyon was a flowing creek with cool water.
DayBreak had us hungover (did I mention we celebrated?) and headed towards the spot we last saw the hog. I searched for an hour and couldn't find hide, hair or blood from that hog and finally after tracking it back up the hill (45 degrees easy) broke the bad news to him. He took it well and resigned himself to having missed the pig. We walked down the creek and I told him to cheer up and that we still had a day to hunt.
As we walked down the creek he became more P.O'ed at himself and finally I had to give him the same lecture I give my 6yo son---If you're gonna pout then we're leaving..
He snapped out of it and 30 seconds later I came across a fresh set of tracks headed down the creek, I decided to head down the creek and followed the tracks. After about a 1/2 hour I could tell that we were gaining on the hog and the sign was getting fresher. I could see water still rolling off the rocks as the hog went back and forth across the creek and his footprints were still actively filling with water as we stalked.
I told him to be ready and hold onto my shirt so we would be close in case of a quick jump shot. He looked at my as if I was over reacting (or just trying to make him feel better) and 2 minutes IT HAPPENED...
I turned the corner in the creek gully and there the BOAR was -------6 yards away----------- I told him to shoot "THAT HOG!!!" He started looking, as to be expected down the creek bed, and up the hillsides, then the hog squealed at us and turned to charge (it was cornered against some deadfall at the time) and he made the shot.
It was perfect and a great end to a terrific hunt.
P.S,
That my story and I'm stickin' to it
JASON
Off to the ranch we headed (my rifle in the safe) on Weds. afternoon and got there about 1 pm. At the gate we immediately glassed a large black hog work his way into the buckbrush at about 1000 yards away, always a good sign to see mid-day movement. We got to the trailer set it all up and headed out to see what the rain washed roads and trails would show us. There was ALOT of sign everywhere and it was real fresh so I figured either the rut was on or the pressure from the Lake hunters had moved the hogs over the hill---or both?. We walked for an hour or so, took a nap, then glassed from different ridges.
Early, at about 4:15 or so I spotted a group of about 15 hogs working the hillside directly across from us about 325 yards. By the mixture of sows, smaller hogs and one VERY large boar it seemed to me that the pig rut was definetly on. Dave got pumped and was going to try an off-handed shot, but since I could see his leg shaking (hehehe) I suggested that we work our way closer. The wind was in our favor and we were able to get to about 250 yards from the group. I found a nice tree and told him rest his rifle, pick his pig, and squeeeeeze the trigger. He told me that he was going to wait for the big one to go broadside (a red and black boar >250 #s)that had tusks I could see in the Binocs.
I told him it didn't matter which hog he killed just "take your time". The brindle hog went broadside, the rifle cracked immediately after that the huge boar turned and ran straight downhill. I could see some dirt fly around the pig at the shot and immediately thought that he might have missed. I told him "shot another hog" as they all filed past single file at a slow walk and he wasn't able to place any in his sights long enough to pull the trigger. ------AHHHH, why did I let my wife convince me to leave my rifle home??????---- Just then a large black and tan hog comes along and stops broadside; he settles in gets ready fire and notices....she's got hanging udders and lets her walk (I like that decision)
We then talked about the shot and he was confident it was "spot on". I still wasn't convinced that he didn't "push" the shot. By "pushing" the bullet I mean that involuntary hard squeeze against the shoulder that causes the barrel to drop. But he was confident; and so we celebrated.
Since the hog had ran straight downhill we discussed our options as for recovery and decided due to the terrain (very very steep) and failing light to recover it in the morning, the temp was already dropping quick and the bottom of the canyon was a flowing creek with cool water.
DayBreak had us hungover (did I mention we celebrated?) and headed towards the spot we last saw the hog. I searched for an hour and couldn't find hide, hair or blood from that hog and finally after tracking it back up the hill (45 degrees easy) broke the bad news to him. He took it well and resigned himself to having missed the pig. We walked down the creek and I told him to cheer up and that we still had a day to hunt.
As we walked down the creek he became more P.O'ed at himself and finally I had to give him the same lecture I give my 6yo son---If you're gonna pout then we're leaving..
He snapped out of it and 30 seconds later I came across a fresh set of tracks headed down the creek, I decided to head down the creek and followed the tracks. After about a 1/2 hour I could tell that we were gaining on the hog and the sign was getting fresher. I could see water still rolling off the rocks as the hog went back and forth across the creek and his footprints were still actively filling with water as we stalked.
I told him to be ready and hold onto my shirt so we would be close in case of a quick jump shot. He looked at my as if I was over reacting (or just trying to make him feel better) and 2 minutes IT HAPPENED...
I turned the corner in the creek gully and there the BOAR was -------6 yards away----------- I told him to shoot "THAT HOG!!!" He started looking, as to be expected down the creek bed, and up the hillsides, then the hog squealed at us and turned to charge (it was cornered against some deadfall at the time) and he made the shot.
It was perfect and a great end to a terrific hunt.
P.S,
That my story and I'm stickin' to it
JASON
