Wild Hog adventures MARCH hunt

[Arrowslinger]

UPDATE: Two large boars were spotted yesterday afternoon....no blood as of yet, but CoperJohn put the sneak on 3 this morning, but couldn't get close enough for a shot......they're seeing pigs, just a matter of time.

6 of the hunters were still in the field when i spoke w/ Chopper this morning.....stay tuned!

 

[BuckFinder]

Arrowslinger, You seem to know alot about Bigtuskers operation. What would you guess is the overall success rate? About how many archery hunters does he allow per month? Just wondering. Good luck guys.

 

[Arrowslinger]

UPDATE: Well, word came in around 2pm this afternoon....Gyopo put an arrow in a large sow, the shot was good, and the pig got an all expense paid trip to Chop's skinnin' shed.....congrats to him

Stay tuned for more.....i think these guys are gonna be busy.

 

[Arrowslinger]

BuckFinder, i'm not sure of the overall success at Wild Hog Adventures or the # of hunters per month.....i can only speak from my past experiences there in my 5 trips to his ranch. I've had great success on his ranch & have seen and stalked hogs on every trip...some worked out, some didn't, but i was able to arrow 5 hogs in as many trips. It's definately not a drive around, jump out and shoot a hog w/ a rifle trip.....it's archery only, you'll work for your hog...but i think that's the way most archery hunters would want it.
I've already booked 3 hunts w/ Chopper for this year.....for me, it's worth every

.

 

[Speckmisser]

Go Gyopo!

The way he was shooting on the last trip, I knew all he needed to do was get one in his sights and it was pork chops!

Buckfinder, Choppers doesn't have the near 100% success rate of most spot and stalk rifle operations, especially since the hunts are semi-guided. Nobody holding your hand on this ranch. With that in mind, the percentage probably wouldn't rate real high, but I'd put it alongside most other non or semi-guided archery hunts. You'll almost certainly see pigs, and you'll probably put a stalk on some, but taking one home with stick and string is definitely NOT a done-deal (as you probably know).

Click his banner ad on the site, or just go

visit his site for more information on his operation, including how many hunters and scheduled hunts.

If you'd rather hunt than grocery shop, it's a great place to go.

 

[bubba]

As of last night, only Gyopo has one hanging. Pigs are being seen.

Everyone seems to be having a good time

Sierra is having some gaseous issues...

Franklins bucket CANNOT be used as seat, but it seems to fulfill its role in this world very nicely...

Lag911, well, I'll let them fill you in...

Someone is bound to score today...

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Well, I thought I would check to see if any of you guys have heard if any of the JHO boys scored on a hog on the second night at the ranch...Arrowslinger, have you heard from chopper tonight?

 

[Arrowslinger]

I'll give another update tomorrow early afternoon.....keep your fingers crossed, i hope they've been busy skinnin'.

 

[Little Woman]

Hey AS
Any word yet???
Would love to hear an update.
LW

 

[Speckmisser]

Awwright goshdangit! What's the tale?

The weekend has drawn to a close. As I type, the sun is setting and even the most hardcore should be stalking slowly back to the truck.

So?

Any turkeys? Is Gyopo the lone hog killer? Enquiring minds absolutely have to know!

 

[BDB]

I talked with Dan around 4:30 as he was heading home. At that point Gyopos was the only hog taken. Dan said that the full moon may have messed with them. No turkeys taken up to that point either. Hopefully one of the hunters will tell some tales here soon.

 

[PIGIG]

Well guys the total is 1 pig 12 squirrels 2 jack rabbits and 1 mole, I had a great stalk yesterday morning. I had 20 more yards to go for a 30 yard shot on two pigs, but some thing spooked them and it was not the wind.

I seen lots of sign and I have finally circumnavigated the ranch and have learned a lot except how to make pigs walk to me instead of me playing hide-n-seek. But any ways the moon did not help much except you did not need any kind of a light to find your way back to the truck after dark. When copperjohn and I left franklin3 and sixof 1or2 were heading to the blind for turkey we will have to wait for the results and gyopo was head out for and evening hunt.

I put a long stalk on 3 toms but when I got to 20 yards the beard was only 4 inches so I passed on the shot, I seen 30 turkeys all weekend most from a distance but I wanted pig not turkey.

 

[Arrowslinger]

So who's gonna fess up and admit they stalked a mole and put a good shot on it?

Sorry you guys weren't able to connect on more hogs, but w/ archery gear..there's no sure things. Where you seeing pigs most days?
I know Gyopo's got a long drive home, so hopefully we'll see some pics and hear the story sometime tomorrow.

Pigig, call me.

 

[PIGIG]

So here I am 75 feet away i see movement behind a tree so go into stalk mode down on hands and knees gripping my bow string in my teeth I crawl across the road over the berm of the road around a tree down thru the canyon up the other side, it was so steep I was loosing conscious just from the altitude of the berm on the side of the road, as I approach my quarry i see he is pre occupied making this huge bed on the side of this canyon.

So I creped into position nock an arrow put my 20 pin about 2 inches low at 10 yards and the arrow fly, it flew true to its target it was a heart shot and a lung shot and a gut shot. I retrieved my prize mole i was thinking how would my wife feel if a hung the mount in the living room. but i guess i would need to build a new trophy room to fit in.

 

[Cal hunter]

First off thank you chopper for a great weekend.The ranch is amazing and the hogs are all over there.this weekend we had a full moon and it may have hurt us.The hogs were not coming out until way late in the night and heading for cover very early.We saw a ton of turkeys friday but saturday when the season opened it was like they new to lay low.I only seen one hen after they were leagal to shoot.I didnt get a hog but not from lack of trying this place is tuff and thats what makes hunting here so great.I will be going back the next time he has an opening!Chopper is a great guy and was helping us try to set up on hogs I couldnt have asked for a better weekend.I would recommend this place to anyone

It was nice putting some faces to some JHO members and hanging out BSing and having a few cocktails

Goodluck to all you April guys I hope you have as much fun as I did

 

[bighorn67]

Way to go Gyopo! I have some good recipes for you if you want them.

Dave

 

[Gyopo]

Thanks for the cangrats, I just got a little lucky.

I'm back and pretending to work.
What a great trip w/a spectacular group of people!
If you haven't yet, go to an JHO event.
Birds, fish, pigs, whatever, it's just neat to meet the people and
put voices, faces, and personalities to the people on here.

Arrow slinger,
That sow didn't make to Chopper's for skinning.
Took it apart and brought it up in pieces.
More on this later.

When I left Franklin and 6 of 1 or2 where in the blind and I saw turkey
heading their way.

Like Yogi Berra said "It ain't over till it's over."

 

[SierraExplorer]

I wish to Thank Chopper and my JHO Bro's (and Dolly) for another EXCELLENT hunt, fellowship, pleasures of food-drink and stories.

I am so glad that I got a chance to learn the ranch more again. It is really some of the most spetacular country. The fresh sign is everywhere- but like CopperJohn said- it seems like they were always 1 hour and .5 miles ahead of us. I did smell a hog for the first time and now that I know what it smells like- I wish I would of waited on that area and worked it more patiently.

It was a more than perfect time and the weather was more than ideal

Except the Moon

Congrats to Gyopo on his 3 legged beast !

If his radio worked in that Steep canyon we all would of been able to help haul it out. We all worked hard- and the rewards we will remember for a lifetime. I can not say how much- I more than enjoyed everyones company. You all are Awesome !

I cant wait to hook up for some fishing and Giants games soon.

I was so tired when I got home at 1800 I barely unpacked and fell asleep on the couch with my head in my familys lap. Out like a light and I don't remember going to bed to get up at 0400 again today- this time for work

I still have alot of unpacking to do- but there is always tommorow.

Oh- my wife saw my Ive Stat out by the shower today- Yup, I got it good again.

(and 2 ticks)

There is so much to type and I have not the time currently. I wish the March trip the best of success and I know you will have an Awesome time.

Dan

 

[Franklin3]

I can only second everyones opinion here with respect to the fine class of folks. You could never expect more. It was a real pleasure meeting and breaking bread with all of them. As for Chopper he's truly a world class guy. He works hard to put his hunters on game and takes it realk personal when results aren't what they could be. I to would like to blame it on the moon but there was just way to much fresh sign everywhere. I saw game cam pics from Saturday showed a freight train of hogs crossing the road in single file. Isaw 4 hogs but never got an opportunity to let fly.
As for the late turkey hunt came down like this. Chopper says Get your stuff I'll show you the spot. Turkeys will be coming in at 3:30. So we go at 1:00 anbd set up the blind in a nice spot half under a downed pine. Got everything in it ready to go. then we get settled in around 2:45 and got the decoys placed and ranged at 15yds. Waited and waited giving a few yelps every 10 minutes or so. watching to the west we see thunderheads forming and they're headed our way.
then we get a gobble from a mile down the road. I call back and a hen replies back and forth I'm callng on the freak and she's responding we got non stop conversation going then we see Tom coming up fast but he pulls up short turns and runs away. A cxouple hens come in and start to feed around the decoys so I keep callling only softly. The Tom reapppears and approaches one of the hens directly in front of me. George offers take him Franklin he's all yours. So I nock my 145gr. Muzzy hog arrow (cuz I lost confidence in my 100.00 investment in Gobblin Guillotine the don't fly true) I draw on the bird and he's facing right at me at 15yds. Whap I nailed him 2" above the beard right where I was aiming. Maybe I should have aimed below the beard but the impact sent him rolling back. he spread out his wings against the ground to keep from flipping over. The shot made a clean pass through and stuck right behind him. The Tom staggered to his left and shakily started walking away. I was sure he was gonna fall in seconds so we sat put. George is trying to convince me to get on after the bird when suddenly the bird burst into full gallup george is saying c'mon Franklin lets chase him. I told him I think he's done for lets let him be for ten minutes. Suddenly the rainstorm hits. We get moving and darkness is closing in. I call Chopper for help.
He brings Dolly and Trixie and the rain has washed what little sign there was away.
after spending an hour or so in the rain and darkness I let George and Chopper off the hook and call it a night. They would have stayed all night helping if I asked them to. Storm rages all night long get up and decide to give it one more look in the daylight still no luck. I feel sick at losing the bird I'm certain he's dead but will never find him. I did use my range and size finder on him and will swear that his beard was at least 10" and he had 2" spurs.
The pictures 100 or so. The good people I met, and most of all the absolute beauty of that place on these days are memories I will cherish dearly.
Game or no game anytime spent with that man on his land is a bargain at twice the price. I can't wait to share this with my boy's. If you've never been their you aught to give yourself a special treat and call Chopper and book yourself a trip.
I know I'll be back.
Thanks again JHO for making all this possible.

Franklin

 

[SierraExplorer]

Dang Franklin !! Sorry to hear you did not get to recover your Tom. Congrats on yors and Georges long and hard time put into your Turkey.

I had a blast with you all and if anyone wants the BEST ribeyes- Franklin is the man to have buy, prepare, cook and eat with.

PS- He Loves Margaritas.