After the last few weeks of pure wetness and super slick roads, I was itching to get out and see the ranch while the roads were nice and dry. Besides, I wanted to keep my mind off the idiots in DC and the destruction to the nation.
Chose to check out the north side. Saw about 50 deer, and about the same number of pigs by 10am. Here is some video
<object width="400" height="300">
<embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10336563&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></object>Tejon - March 21st, 2010 from Bobby N. on Vimeo.
We were either after a nice boar for my dad, or my first archery pig if the opportunity presented itself. Well about 10am, it did. After seeing the large group (that I filmed) the blood was pumping. No boars in the group, and chasing after them wasn't going to get me within bow range, so we just kept moving along. About an hour later, I just caught a glimpse of about 8 pigs cresting a small hill directly away from us. After about 20 mins of a slow creep around the side of the hill to where I thought they would be, I could smell them. the smell was nice and pungent, so I knew I was close to where they had been. I started hearing shuffling and grunts coming from this large brush pile. The wind was coming straight up the mountain, so I knew I had a good chance at a glimpse. I knew it was probably another group of wet sows, but I determined to see if there might be a boar or a larger dry sow in the group. As I creep around the left side of the brush pile, I see a sow feeding out in the open. Just left of center here, right in that little gap.
I range her at 30 yards, but wait a minute to see about the lil ones. sure enough they start scampering around her. So I take a seat and start to pull out the video camera for some footage, then all of a sudden a nice size (larger) sow steps out. brown with a light colored face and a nice ridge of hair along the back, just a nice looking pig. No little ones trailing, and no saggy tatties. They had no idea I was there so I raise up, and start to draw the bow. The wet sow darts back into the brush and just as I get to full draw the brown sow looks at me and does a 180 and looks like she is about to head back in the brush. But she made the mistake of hesitating, I have the 30 yard pin right on the back of her ribs (quartering away) and let it fly. The slick trick found its mark and made that unmistakable thwompp. She goes back in to the brush pile, so I thought. Radio pops and tell him to drop down and bring both packs. I thought I had hit her really good, but couldnt be 100%. Waited till he arrived, which allowed some time to pass before we push and also we could both start tracking the blood as a team. Found the arrow about a yard behind where she was standing.
And as we turn the corner (the bottom of the brush pile) there she lay. not 15 yards from where I had hit her, and only about 5 yards out of my sight (from where I took the photo). Slick trick blew thru ribs, liver, lungs, then more ribs.
felt great to finally get one with the bow. I had a checklist this year. one with the '94, and one with the bow. both accomplished. now just need to get my brother one. he's usually my cameraman, we would have had some awesome kill footage if he could have come along today. next time though!
Chose to check out the north side. Saw about 50 deer, and about the same number of pigs by 10am. Here is some video
<object width="400" height="300">
<embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10336563&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></object>Tejon - March 21st, 2010 from Bobby N. on Vimeo.
We were either after a nice boar for my dad, or my first archery pig if the opportunity presented itself. Well about 10am, it did. After seeing the large group (that I filmed) the blood was pumping. No boars in the group, and chasing after them wasn't going to get me within bow range, so we just kept moving along. About an hour later, I just caught a glimpse of about 8 pigs cresting a small hill directly away from us. After about 20 mins of a slow creep around the side of the hill to where I thought they would be, I could smell them. the smell was nice and pungent, so I knew I was close to where they had been. I started hearing shuffling and grunts coming from this large brush pile. The wind was coming straight up the mountain, so I knew I had a good chance at a glimpse. I knew it was probably another group of wet sows, but I determined to see if there might be a boar or a larger dry sow in the group. As I creep around the left side of the brush pile, I see a sow feeding out in the open. Just left of center here, right in that little gap.
I range her at 30 yards, but wait a minute to see about the lil ones. sure enough they start scampering around her. So I take a seat and start to pull out the video camera for some footage, then all of a sudden a nice size (larger) sow steps out. brown with a light colored face and a nice ridge of hair along the back, just a nice looking pig. No little ones trailing, and no saggy tatties. They had no idea I was there so I raise up, and start to draw the bow. The wet sow darts back into the brush and just as I get to full draw the brown sow looks at me and does a 180 and looks like she is about to head back in the brush. But she made the mistake of hesitating, I have the 30 yard pin right on the back of her ribs (quartering away) and let it fly. The slick trick found its mark and made that unmistakable thwompp. She goes back in to the brush pile, so I thought. Radio pops and tell him to drop down and bring both packs. I thought I had hit her really good, but couldnt be 100%. Waited till he arrived, which allowed some time to pass before we push and also we could both start tracking the blood as a team. Found the arrow about a yard behind where she was standing.
And as we turn the corner (the bottom of the brush pile) there she lay. not 15 yards from where I had hit her, and only about 5 yards out of my sight (from where I took the photo). Slick trick blew thru ribs, liver, lungs, then more ribs.
felt great to finally get one with the bow. I had a checklist this year. one with the '94, and one with the bow. both accomplished. now just need to get my brother one. he's usually my cameraman, we would have had some awesome kill footage if he could have come along today. next time though!
