Weird Day before Hunting Day

[shaginator]

I had a weird night.

Coming home across CA 92 (bridge) I'm stopped 8 cars behind a burning van. Winds are 50mph and the waves are licking the underside of the bridge before the highrise. I'm about to get out my fire extinguisher from the truck and help put the flames out but they get to about 20 ft. high with embers being sent my way. Everyone including myself retreat to our vehicles.

I'm only about 5 minutes from home, but it took well over an hour before the FD put out the flame, the CHP cleared a lane, and we could sneak by.

I get home and there's a box with my recently ordered Army surplus blanket inside. It smells like kerosene, and so I decide to wash it. Fifteen minutes later the washer makes a loud grinding noise and shuts down. It's a really old washer, but I think what happened -- I didn't realize how much friggin lint is in this blanket -- it plugged the pump motor, leaving water in the machine during the spin cycle. Everything's too heavy and blammo.

I had planned to leave tomorrow around noon for my hog hunt. The weather's been kind, with rain yesterday and spring in view way out in the distance. Now I need to buy a washer tomorrow, but I wonder what's going to happen next...

Could this be a sign from the universe that this hunt is not meant to be? Or is this a test against my mettle?

 

[THBailey]

I think you should call a TV psychic and find out for sure.

 

[shaginator]

Miss Cleo told me I need to sacrifice a pig this weekend to make the curse go away.

:spin-yellow:

 

[kellyg]

A good hunt will take your mind off the cost of the washer. Miss Cleo is probably right! Good luck! The truck is packed and I am waiting (impatiently I might add) for the wife and daughter to wake so we can take the little one to school and head out on a javelina/hog hunt. May Fred Bear bless all who enter the woods this weekend...

 

[Speckmisser]

I hear the voice of our ancestors, calling on the wind.  They are speaking to me...

**

When the steel carriage that needs no horse is burning and the flaming embers fall on you, it is time to chase the invasive swine.  

When the thump and bump goes grind, you must kill a hog, sacrificing his organs to the trickster, but saving the meat for a grand feast to which you invite friends with whom you speak without sound.  

This is our pronouncement.  Go now, and hunt.

** Whoa.  That was strange.

 

[feelinducky]

Yeah its a sign!  A sign of how much it will take for you to not go hunting.  Don't give in now, because next tiem it will only be easier.  Good luck

 

[Megadeth]

I believe the ol 06 is plenty enough gun for a washing machine. Now the dryer is another story! Woops, wrong thread.

 

[Hook]

Nothing better to satisfy the Gods, than a pig sacrafice.

When Miss Cleo rolls the bones for you, you better listen to what they say...

 

[Hogskin]

Speckmisser,

Just a gentle reminder to take your meds.

Regards,
Paul

 

[shaginator]

Nothing prophetic happened. No hogs, but a good time was still had.

Backpacked it in with the new toys (boots, rifle pack, and "deersleigher&quot and the 1/2 year old carbine. Felt goofy with all the gear for a 5 mile weekend overnighter (roundtrip), but sleeping under the stars was worth it. Kinda chilly, but not bad -- the pack was bulky for a reason. Next time it's the internal frame or even better I'll buy an external frame built for hunters.

Plenty of sign... nothing too fresh, even deep in. Closer to the entry point, lots of fresh human and dog signs; enough to prove to me the hogs were far and deep. Not enough time to get close without spooking them even more.

Other wildlife? In the day: Your typical seasonal and perennial birds. In the night: Yotes shootin the BS from far away in the middle of the night. Don't remember seeing any furry mammals, not even a squirrel.

Had a hard time seeing myself dragging a hog back with all the gear in one trip. Area past the big hill and down the canyon is steep and brushy enough to remind me I'm just not 18 or even near that age anymore.

This weekend's reward was a good set of self-taught lessons.

Until next time...


(Edited by shaginator at 11:38 pm on Mar. 10, 2002)

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Shag,

Too bad we didn't cross paths.  Maybe next time.

Saturday morning near Coalinga I put the eyeball on a BIG hog, standing all lonesome at about 250-300 yards.  I grabbed the rifle, but he meandered into a ravine before I could get set up.  Waited about half an hour, then decided to put on the stalk.  

300 yards doesn't seem like much, but when you're connecting ridgetop to ridgetop, there's a lot of unaccounted land between.  I finally closed on the clearing, but misjudged the distance as I came through the chemise and ended up practically stepping on the hog.  He bolted through the brush, and the best I could see was a little patch of brown hair.  No shot.  Spent the rest of Saturday tracking that sucker through the brush and over the mountain.  

Saturday night I packed up and moved to the Sweetwater Springs trailhead.  Just as my alarm was going off, I heard a car door.  I looked out, and a little Toyota truck began spilling these guys out...looked like a circus act.  At least four to six guys, some carrying what looked like SKS, stormed into the woods.  Sounded more like they were going to a football game than a pig hunt.  

I decided to go back to Coalinga.  Unfortunately, after all my stalking and walking on Saturday, nothing was apt to show itself.  Give 'em a couple of weeks and maybe a little rain, and I'll go back and try once more.

Oh yeah, Paul...  I got my meds.  Just what the doctor ordered.  Two days out in the woods, no phone, no noise, nothing but me and some hog tracks.  I feel much better now.

(Edited by Speckmisser at 8:24 am on Mar. 11, 2002)

 

[shaginator]

Probably a circus like that came by Laguna Mtn. before me. I mentioned "human and dog" signs -- not just boot tracks and dog tracks, but empty water bottles, tp, etc. Sad sight.

Old friend of mine used to tell me stories of his hunting days. One day, he was out in the woods quietly sitting against a tree near a game trail, when three guys stormed through with their rifles chatting it up wondering where the mulies were. From their gear, you would think they were hunting for an escaped convict. They walked right by him and didn't notice anything.

Well, about 1/2 hour later my friend cracks his '06 at a 5x5 and drops right where it was shot... he figured the guys spooked it after they passed him by. He's about to field dress it, when he hears the three guys come RUNNING back. They said "didn't know you were there!" to which he replied "neither did the buck! Oh, and by the way, would you kindly keep your muzzles pointed AWAY from me?"


(Edited by shaginator at 11:14 am on Mar. 11, 2002)