time for the pig hunt

[muskeg]

I'll be boarding the jet on Monday for the flight to Burbank.

If you remember, I was going down for the Super Bowl weekend and going to hunt then. Well, my wife came down with a touch of the flu so we put our trip off a little.

Frank (mustang) was able to reschedule us right back in.

Even tough you guys think your having cold winter weather, it will seem like somewhere between spring and summer to me. Last night it was in the teens, with highs in the 20's and more snow on the horizon. That north wind cuts like a knife.

Looking forward to a couple days over in 'Hog Central'.

 

[MuskegJR]

Well I made it down here to sunny SoCal

My son and I will be heading over to 'hog central' a little later this afternoon.

 

[BobcatJess]

Good Luck Gents! I hope you guys have a great time. Nothing like father and son time hunting.

Jess.

 

[MJB]

Good luck in the cold rain

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Muskeg & MuskegJR, Good luck on your hunt with Frank. I have been hunting with Frank and Keck for many, many years. They work there tail off to find you hogs. Some of the properties they will take you on are the finest in the central coast IMO. You wont be disappointed. Hope you have a great time and enjoy your trip.

 

[larrysogla]

Yup!!!! I second the motion. Frank and Keck are super guys in taking care of their clients. Have fun gents. God Bless.

 

[Speckmisser]

Just keeping this one near the top. Let us know how it comes out, Muskeg. This weather is gonna make it tricky if you're hunting the weekend.

 

[muskeg]

We are back in town. Had a great hunt and saw some awesome country.

The weather was great. We hunted on Tue evening, Wed most of the day and Thur morning.

Tod and Keck were on Hogs on the first evening hunt. The shot didn't work.

I hunted with Frank. We glased Hogs off in the distance. It had rained hard on Monday so all the sign was fresh. We all came out in the dark.

On Wed morning we stared out low in the fog but then moved up into the hills. Sighted Turkey's, a big Bobcat sneaking on a covey of Quail. But not much piggy sign there. Keck had to leave and Jim had joined us with his dogs. We moved across the valley and saw some Tule Ellk up close and some real fresh Hog sign. But they probably were down in the brush snoozen. We didn't turn the dogs out and headed out to another spot. The cold wet morning turned into mostly blue and real nice. Not long before Tod spotted a nice Boar going over a rise. Mr. Boar turned the wrong direction

and we headed to the skinning shack.

Wed evening we headed back to the ranch and place were Tod and Keck got on 'em the night before. A rough 4 wheeler drive with Keck's dogs and two other 4X's. We glassed and hiked a ridge line letting the dogs work the thick brush. No action. But a lone Coyote on the other ridge line. Plenty of fresh sign. 2 of the 4x's headed back a little after dark and Keck and I stayed to try to find one of his dogs that didn't come in. He never showed. On the way back we had to chase a group of big Hogs out of the old ridgetop fire road. One was a giant redish Boar that seemed much bigger than 2 guys and the 4 wheeler. They trotted off down the mountainside. Wasn't long we were back at the rigs in the frosty night air. Left an empty dog house for the lost dog.

We woke up to rain. Early the next morning we headed out a did the Vinyard type hunt. Several groups of Hogs were in there and doing some damage. Never could glass 'em up though. The rain slacks into scattered showers. Keck got a call that his dog came into the farmhouse. Keck had to go check in with work and Frank, Tod and I headed to the small river bed were we saw so much sign and the Elk the day before, for one last try.

As Tod and I hiked the pig hiway on the bluff overlooking the bottom Frank eased up along the creek on the 4X. Fresh sign on our tracks from the day before. It wasn't long before there is action. A lone Boar headed in our direction doing about mach-5. Tod and I sprinted back 50 yards to get into position above with good shooting lanes up and down the bottom. The Boar ran to our side of the river for the thick brush and cover. I shot at about 50 yards straight down. Still hauling azz. I get my old 270 right back on him. 'lead him some'. 'good sight picture'. 'lead a little'. 'make it count''. I make the shot.

Tod said "he staggered" I thought I saw that in the scope. He rounded the brushy corner. I sprint around the steep bluff. "Pig down" making his last breaths. Keck meets us half way back to the skinning shack. Frank heads off for a meeting.

Hogs are at the butcher down in Newhall.

Frank has it happening. Him and his crew know Pig talk.

 

[Hogfest]

Awesome story and hunt. Still waiting for the pictures though.

 

[BobcatJess]

Job well done Muskeg.

Jess.

 

[Speckmisser]

Way to go, Muskeg! Sounds like that guided hunt wasn't as "guaranteed" as some folks would have us think. Glad you got in a good hunt, and I know you were in beautiful country.

When do you head back to the great white north?

 

[muskeg]

It was a good hunt Speck.

As for 'guided' hunts being garunteed ... it ain't that way. I was ready to go home untagged. This time of year the Hogs are not as predictuable I'm sure. There is plenty of food and water in lots of places. Guided hunts gets you on to some very nice land to hunt. Seems like all that elevation of lands that the Hogs love are private from NoCal to SoCal. That's were the Hogs hang. Guided hunts get you transportation and knowledge of the local areas. To me the kill is just icing on the cake. I go for the trip, the hunt. I enjoyed being around the Hog dogs. But we caught both our Hogs by spot and stalk kind of hunting. I enjoyed the stories.

We had a great time.

I'll be headed home on Sunday. I'll posty up some pics on Monday, as they are in my camera.

I do have an opinion on the knife.

 

[Speckmisser]

Shoot me an email on the knife. I didn't get to use mine, but I let someone else use it and was a little surprised at the results.

 

[SDHNTR]

Nice Johnnie! Glad you had a good hunt. I had a feeling you'd like hunting with those fellas. I kinda like those hunts that come down to the last day. Makes it more rewarding. Congrats to you and your son. Got any pictures?

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Sounds like another great hunt with Frank. Cant wait to see the pics. Did you ride in "Dr Death"?

 

[muskeg]

Tod's piggie

the skinning shack

My piggie

The old hog dog ... Frank

 

[BobcatJess]

Those are some nice looking hogs gents.

Looks like some russian strain in those piggies.
Nice work!

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Great looking pics....That skinning shack gets A LOT of use. Glad you had a good hunt. Should be one tasty hog.

 

[larrysogla]

Congratulations!!!! Very nice hogs and the scenery is just awesome. Frank Morasci has also turned gray since I last saw him in 1999. Still up to that favorite pastime.....Hoggin'. God Bless.

 

[muskeg]

Keck and Jim estimated our Hogs to be around 150 Lbs on the hoof. Actually mine was a little plumpier than Tod's.

I realised a little more meat beacuse Tod shot his in one of the back legs and spine losing some. Not bad for a <300 yard shot on a running Piggy.

Dave's in Newhall did a good job and the breakfast sausage is excellent. We turned it in on Thur evening and he had it cut, wrapped and froze up by early afternoon Sat. I was able to bring it home as excess baggage on our flight saving some shipping costs.

Weighed in at 66 lbs in a very lite cooler I picked up at Kmart.