Tejon report

[SDHNTR]

I'll keep it short since there is only one good part to the story. Coues killed a nice one with his gun. One Track and I blanked with the bows. OT had a quasi stalk on some small ones, I never even nocked an arrow. We only saw 4 groups of pigs and only 2 of those were really within even long rifle range. The high winds really seemed to have them hunkered down. It was definitely not like the bonanza of last December. We did find a hotspot Sat night where coues killed his but it rained all night and we were not able to get back up there on Sun morning. Too nasty.

Lets see the pics Coues.

 

[Speckmisser]

Way to go, Coues!

Too bad for you and OneTrack, SD, but that's the challenge. That's also why I'll probably never hunt back up there in the rain again. Those roads can ruin a hunt QUICK.

 

[One Track]

Yah, it was snotty on Sunday morning. I wasn't quite the hardcore bowhunter that SD is. After Coues killed on Sat. night, I grabbed his rifle and took off after some far off hogs. They were working their way down the hillside across from me. I was holding out for a max shot of 300 yds. They made it to 326, and I lost them behind the trees, and then all was dark. Whatcha gonna do? All good around the campfire.

Congrats to Coues on a fine CA wild hog!

 

[Coues]

Reader's Digest Version

Friday - While OT is stalking the first 3 pigs we see, Nate and I find a herd across a wide canyon. OT's pigs were mixed in with cattle and harrassing the little calves. The cows left and took the pigs with them. The herd across the canyon left too. That is all we saw on Friday. Wind was stoopid. Went back to camp, ate too much, drank too little. Went to sleep.

Sat - mid morning we saw a group of 8 or so big'ins but they were moving out to find a bed. Never saw them again after they hit the thick brush. Drove around to some other areas, nothing. Went to the lake to hunt some thick stuff that we heard could produce for bowhunters, but some other guys beat us there. Got a tip on another area and high tailed it over there. Wind still stoopid and cold. OT did a mating dance for a group of deer. They were slightly amused. Just when we are getting ready to leave, Nate takes one more look across the canyon and there they were. 20 pigs and piglets of varying size just materialize out of no where. After side hilling for 1/2 mile or so, we get in range. I pick one and shoot at 270 yards as they are moving in a straight line from left to right, first shot miss, second shot hit, pig stumbles and starts heading for the bottom. Shoot again, miss. Nate and I go to the bottom, find the pig and dispatch her. OT brings the truck, grabs the rifle and heads off to find one for himself.
Go back to camp, eat too much, drink just the right amount. Stand in the rain around the camp fire like idiots listening to Hank Jr, Waylon and Willie. Go to bed.

Sunday - Roads are wet. We go where we can but never see a pig. Go back to camp, pack up and leave. Loooooong drive home.


Thanks guys, I had a great time. Next up desert mulies and Javelina.

 

[CAhntr]

Nice pig Coues! Congrats!

Eric

 

[Zbearclaw]

Sorry I wasn't there to show ya'll how it's done, I miss with the best of them, we will do it there soon enough.

 

[muskeg]

Sweet !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[beastslayer]

Coues,

Congratulations!

Looks like Tejon pigs retained some of its fat from this year's good grass.

Any report on the success ratio for the group?

How long was your drive? What's the condition up there with all the rains? Those canyon roads are scary enough without the mud.

 

[Freedivr2]

Congrats, Coues, nice hog taboot.

SDHntr, OT, you guys are both pretty hardcore, sounds like the weather gave the hogs the advantage big time. That's the way it works sometimes, and it's what helps keep us in the game. If it were easy, you wouldn't love it so much......

 

[SDHNTR]

Actually the feed conditions were pretty dismal. Our usual honey hole had very little acorns and consequently, not many pigs. What grass was there was overgrazed and the green stuff was just barely coming in, and only in limited amounts. Will be better after this rain. I think overall succes was probably somewhere between 30-40%. When we left on Sun afternoon, there were 24 pigs checked in at the South gate and something like 33 on the North side.

The roads were fine until the rain. Actually some were in great shape from recent grading. But that little bit of moisture turned them into slippery snot. Believe me walking along a slick road trying to literally hold your buddy's truck on the road by pushing with your hands is no fun.

Overall, we still had a great time. We ate good and drank better. Nothing better than standing around a campfire in the rain with good friends, while listening to classic country and putting back Kentucky's finest.

 

[Zbearclaw]

Last March my truck only had chains off when on the paved road, which was wel after and before dark, otherwise ol' Blue was slingin mud with the chains, did ya'll chain up, I have only been on a few of the roads there the one time I hunted the South, and the roads I chose were generally not the death to one side type I hear so much about.

 

[Buck-eye]

Jeff,

Great photo! Glad to see one of the boys put some ham in the freezer. You traveled too far to go home empty handed.

Joe

 

[Zbearclaw]

I have never hunted with you Jeff, but will soon, and anyone who has knows ya'll three could make a week at Gtmo fun, so I doubt the lack of pig sign held ya'll back too much, and Nate I look forward to seeing the Coors Leicas in a few months, I wonder if they are compatible with the Alaskan Guide model binocs.

Also Jeff nice hog, what were it's details, pee out the back or not, and weight and such.

 

[Arrowslinger]

Nice hog

congrats!

 

[One Track]

They call me the deer whisperer....
[attachment=36534:attachment]

 

[One Track]

Now you see why...

[attachment=36535:attachment]

 

[CAhntr]

Wow cool pics One Track! But what the hell are you doing in that first pic?

Eric

 

[SDHNTR]

doing his best mule deer doe impression. Jeff and I were laughing our asses off watching the whole thing, hence the fuzzy photo. Hard to snap pics when you're busting a gut.

 

[Coues]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bearclaw @ Dec 11 2006, 02:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Also Jeff nice hog, what were it's details, pee out the back or not, and weight and such.[/b]

Sow
I don't remember how much Tejon said it weighed (127lbs???), but when I took it in today to get cut it was 93lbs. That's just meat and bones, no head, hide or feet.

 

[rusman66]

Nice to see you got a pig Jeff. Looks like you guys had fun even with the tough conditions.

Thats a cool trick Brent, Dont try that with buck lure in your pocket