Semi live hunt to follow.
And good luck !
I'm with Derycreek- want another shot at "flea control".
If you're still there, as Rob to tell you the story of his son and the F word.......
I didn't hear that story. I'll have to get it next year.
Did ya'll just eat and drink and no hunting?
Unpacking..Tending to the kids and back to reality .
More pics and story to come.
I had been looking forward to this trip for a long time even before I booked with Rob. I always thought someday I would make it down to the ranch.
But as the time for the trip rolled around emotions went from excitement to sadness.
My grandmother passed away two weeks before the hunt. It wasn't unexpected as she was in her mid 90s and have lived a long life but it was a loss nonetheless.
But the saddest news came the weekend before we were scheduled to fly out to Texas. My father-in-law and hunting partner called to tell my wife that his younger sister had passed. To say this was heartbreaking was an understatement.
Even though my father-in-law was no longer going he still wanted me to go, as did my wife.
Due to crappiest of circumstances I was off to Texas alone.
I literally had to run to make my connection. Literally. I have to pee so bad. I just made my connection.
On the original flight I had an open seat next to me . Not so here. They must have sold my father in-laws seat.
I shot a couple of arrows to make sure everything was still on after being handled by airline baggage handlers.
I spent the rest of the day driving the ranch with my guide John.
As a side note the room was great. Not what I am used to while hunting. It would rival all but the high end hotels.
A nice black hog cruised through but never stopped. I would have taken a shot if he had stopped. Looked like a good one
As the sun came up I saw my very first green Jay. They are beautiful birds. Then came a flock of Cardinals. The drab scrub was alive with the colorful birds.
The fog is rolling in as the sun rises. Everything in front of me is slowly disappearing into the fog.
In the rays of sunshine filtering through the east window of my stand i can see the fog slowly spilling into my blind
Slowly the sun gets high enough to bake off the fog and return the blue skies.
I saw my first road runner while out stalking. I thought they would be bigger and wondered why a coyote would devote so much time trying to eat one.
Then they all came. My first herd of javelinas came into the stand. They are such neat animals I sat back and watched the Show.
I picked the next biggest Javelina that was jet black. I had to wait a long time for that Javelina to come back to my left in front of the blind window that was low enough to shoot through. Just as he cleared the window for a shot two baby Javelinas walked behind him.
The Javelina was so close I ended up shooting way low.
I should have used my 50 yard pin instead of my 20.
I attempted to put another arrow into it as it spun in circles, but cleanly missed.
I was bummed. Quick clean kills are what I strive for and this wasn't good.
I took a shower after an amazing dinner to wash off the shame.
I am up in an elevated box blind that probably should be condemned. It looks like it has seen better days. I waited to see if the stand would hold my weight before nocking an arrow. All was good. I settled in and got ready to enjoy the morning.
I can hear turkeys gobbling in the distance again.
The feeder went off. No corn. Luckily John my guide put some down before he left.
Just heard hogs squealing close to me in the bush.
Only the smallest has stayed at the feeder.
The little one is just teasing me now. Just eating quartering away. Giving me perfect shot angles
Be strong . Wait for a bigger one.... I've watched this one for close to half and hour.
At one point the Javelina tensed up and bristled as it looked to my left. I saw the big hog across the dike from us for a few seconds before it went down into a ravine and out of sight.
Apparently I suck at field judging Javelina. Worse than I suck at stalking.
We weighed it. 50#. Wow. Wasn't small at all. Nice chompers too. Can't believe I almost passed on him.
I jump a covey of quail. What beautiful little birds.
First stalk attempt of the afternoon I spy 3 javelina. As it always seems to work I have to get through a small one to get to the bigger ones.
I am also not attempting long range shots at the Javelina. Don't want to wound another one with a low percentage shot. I'm going to keep my shots under 20 yards.
I eventually moved passed the little one to the two others. They are within 15 yards but I couldn't get a shot And then they all started snorting and entered the scrub.
I came around a bend in the road and saw a large herd of javelinas. I try to cut the distance but then I hear a truck coming. The Javelina scatter as the cowboys out working drive through .
The blind is named Loma Linda blue. - it makes me laugh the name reminds me of a strain of weed you'd get at one of those California dispensaries.
The stand location is beautiful. It's located on a high point with a giant clearing and tank to the right (in Texas they call ponds tanks). I would put a house or cabin right on this spot. It is that nice.
I wasn't even in the blind and a whole herd of hogs came in. Then they all ran off except for one lone black one.
Then a turkey came. it's feathers are so iridescent.
I saw a HAMP colored pig in the group. I want that pig.
A second black hog has come in. He is really small compared to the first pig. Now I'm thinking about shooting the pig thats been here since I got in the blind.
I'm thinking if the first hog quarters away I might take the shot .
Tomorrow is my last day to try for another Javelina.
So peaceful out here. From the blind I can see city lights down below me. I think it's the town of el indio or maybe eagle pass. I forgot to ask which. It's my First look at civilization from the ranch in three days.
Lone hog did the same. I'm starting to think the wind isn't right for this stand.
The green jays, Cardinals and grackles are stuffing their stomachs.
After watching them for a while there was one that was a complete jerk to the others. He needed to quarter away..
The Javelina that's been biting and harrasing the other Javelina has moved to my right. I need him to come back to the left for a shot.
He finally has lined up for the shot but twice now I have drawn and had to let down because he turned quickly giving me a bad shot angle.
Third time's a charm. I can the blood pouring out of his chest as he runs maybe 20 yards into the prickly pear. I can see a scrub tree shaking and then nothing.
I start to follow the blood trail.
I still stink at field judging Javelina. The Javelina I arrowed was just shy of sixty pounds.
As a side note next time I am bringing a pair of those yellow leather gloves. I was picking cactus out of my hands from dragging my hog that ran through the prickly pear. Not fun.
Hopefully next year I can share the hunt with my father in-law Bob.
The european mount of my Javelina skull had come back from the taxidermist.
The teeth on these things are unreal.
It's part of the triple diamond membership experience that Pat offers through the Bowsite VIP club.
There is always next January for a hog and Javelina hunt with Rob.
