Tejon Hog Hunt

[Wild1]

Thanks to all the JHO members who were so helpful in getting me ready for my first hunt. Thanks to you all I was going into the field at Tejon with a Howa 1500 in 30.06 topped with a Leupold VXII (3x9x40) and Nikon Monarch ATB (10x40). Also brought along 20 rounds of Trophy Bonded Bear Claws (165 grn.). Because of my inexperience I tried to do as much homework as possible before this hunt, including reading to great books on CA. pig hunting, putting time in at the range and looking for help here - thanks again. FRIDAY: assigned to the North area (with my brother and uncle). Weather was cloudy and cool with light rain/sprinkles most of the day. Roads were difficult all weekend - most 4x4 trucks, even with chains, were having problems. We opted to be conservative and did most travel by legwork (I was a mountain goat - hiking I do have experience with). Saw lots of signs, but no pig sightings. SATURDAY: Cloudy but no rain. Did some serious hiking and glassing. Again, lots of signs but no hogs to be seen. I really didn't mind much, I was enjoying to hunt and the spectacular country. The season's rains has turned Tejon into an explosion of color....fluorescent green hillsides and carpets of wildflowers in every hue. Around 5:00pm it started to rain on us (way up in the hills) fairly heavily so we headed back to the truck. Still haven't seen a pig - or any other wildlife for that matter. SUNDAY: got out early hoping to at least see something. We split up at the mouth of several canyons/hills, with my brother going left at my uncle and I going right. After about 90 minutes of climbing/hiking (I was killing my uncle) we came to a nice vantage point and took a break to do some glassing. It was while I was glassing the backside of that hilltop that I saw a deer - at least I saw something. As I rested my binos back to my chest, my uncle, who was facing the opposite canyon, said with a restrained voice: "pigs!" I immediately whirled around and, sure enough, about 400 yards away on the opposite hillside (above the canyon) were four (4!) hogs running single file - from my right to left - across the hillside. After two days of busting my ass it was a sight to behold. Big black hogs scrampering across the bright green hillside. Both my uncle and I quickly moved forward from our position to a level mini-plateau on our hillside. The pigs were running in and out of cover in a straight line - we didn't have but about five seconds left. We dropped our packs, swirled our rifles around and tried to get settled. The hogs were actually moving closer to us because they were running right to left and were now almost straight across from us - but they were still about 350 yards away. I instinctively whipped out a Steady Stix bi-pod that, of course, I never used before (don't laugh, it was a Valentines Day gift from my girlfriend). I layed my rifle in the crease but because of my inexperience I couldn't pick up the damn things in my scope ....... I just wasted about three seconds. Meanwhile my uncle is trying to pick one up in his scope but the pigs aren't cooperating at all - they're moving from one thicket to another. In all my preperation I neglected to consider that wild pigs actually move - and quite quickly at that (those paper targets at the range always sit still for me). I tossed the bi-pod aside and told myself I was going to pick off the first one that got in my cross hairs. Sitting down, with my elbows locked in, I picked them up just as the group was entering bundle of bushes and trees. The first three were just too quick but there were four of them. At 7:10 am I finally got the chance squeeze the trigger in the field. BAM, I tried to stay steady and follow thru, chambering a second round at the same time. No need to. After about one or two seconds of uncertainty passed you coud hear the unmistakable squeal of a pig echo through the canyon. The pig dropped (I never actually saw that) and slid down the hill for about 35 yards and stopped. I couldn't believe it. My uncle fired a shot and missed, and two other hunters on the same side of the ridge followed with three more shots as the remaining pigs continued running in a straight line - all misses. My uncle didn't have time to use his range finder when we spotted the hogs, but he used it where my pig died and it came in at 318 yards......my shot was further (the pig slid down those 35 yards) so the exact distance is a guess (those there said about 335 yards). The shot was well behind the shoulder (forgot to adjust for they're sprint) but not bad for a first shot. The bullet took out a chunk of one of the lungs and severed an arterie and exited. The sow weighed 160lbs field dressed (they guessed about 205 lbs intact.) For those keeping score, Tejon had 33 hunters, and as of noon on Sunday they had harvested 10 pigs - 4 from the South and 6 from the North. Thanks again for all the suggestions/advice/comments. I'm hooked.

 

[Wild1]

another pic

 

[Wild1]

one more.

 

[Wild1]

My uncle the spotter and I (and the harvest)

 

[bigtusker]

Thats awesome, Congratulations.

 

[BDB]

Congrats on the hog, and a great shot

I have the same rifle and sling, the only differnce is I have a different scope. Great little rifle for the price.

 

[Arrowslinger]

Great shot & nice pig!

 

[Bishop]

Congrats. Great job. This time of the year Tejon's tuff. Food and water everywhere, and a lot of roads undriveable. You done good

 

[D-Zone]

Congrats Wild1. I have the same same rifle Howa 1500 in .30-06. Packs a nice punch. 335 Yds! Nice Shot

 

[karstic]

Good Job Wild1

How do you like the Monarch's?

 

[Wild1]

Karstic,
I really, really like them. I'm a beginning hunter so I don't have anything to compare them with, but they have a great view, easy on the eyes, awesome light gathering ability and durable. My uncle and brother liked them better than what they were carrying. They only fogged when I zipped up my jacket and they were inside, cleared when they were out exposed. Also, got the bino system (cabelas) they keeps them snug against the chest with no neck strain and I highly recommend that also.

 

[Cal hunter]

Nice hog congrats

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Great story and Nice hog. That will be some good eatin!!!!

 

[Speckmisser]

Way to go, Wild1! That Tejon hunt can be tough, but if you stick it out, as you saw, you'll get your pig.

This is probably the toughest time of year to hunt there, but the hogs are there and the ranch is still one of the prettiest places I've ever had the pleasure to hunt.

Congrats, and enjoy that wild pork!

 

[Bwana Turtle]

Congrats! Great shot ! Great pig !

 

[Q2Dude]

Nice job!

I'll be up there in a week and a half on an archery hunt. Cant wait!

 

[spectr17]

Nice job Wild1.

That's a big ole pig.

 

[bubba]

Nice job Wild1

Great looking hog

 

[superduty]

Excellent story and congrats on ending your awesome hunt with those pictures of success.

This is the first time in years that I am not a member of the ranch and trust me when I say I'm jelious. I love that land and know it well so when I say you did a great job for this time of the year and being a first for you is awesome.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Very nice piggie...

Can't wait for June!