This past Thanksgiving holiday week, I had the opportunity to take 4 (of 5) sons down to South Texas for a hog/varmint hunt. We hunted south of Freer and the weather turned chilly (and sometimes wet) after the first day.


This is (#4 son) Brett's first hog. He used a Remington 700 in 243 (100 gr). This hog's nasal cavity had a large wound from the past, but it's eye appeared perfectly normal.


This is #3 son, Kyle. He shot his hog with a Remington 7 in 260 (120 gr).


#2 son, TJ, shot this hog with a Remington LH700 in 280 (160 gr).


Remington LH700 in 270 (150 gr).

The hunt was a hoot, but the weather sure didn't seem typical for South Texas.

Good pictures and a what looks like a real nice hunt.

We had a decent front (for Texas anyway) move in just before Thanksgiving with rain, snow in some areas, and cold wind. If you had been a week earlier you probably would have needed some strong sun screen.

I hunted with my kids much further north in Texas (almost Oklahoma) the weekend before Thanksgiving and the highs were in the 80s-90s.

Looks like you have a lot to be thankful for!! Congratulations! You obviously had a great time!

Mike,

Great pictures! Did TJ come across that shed his hog's head is propped up on? We had that same cold front here in Arizona and welcomed it, as it has been so unseasonably warm here.

As a parent I honestly can say I was always more excited for my child than I ever am when I drop a game animal(don't get me wrong, I love to drop 'em...but,you know what I mean). My absolute best hunts have always been with my daughter. You are blessed to have many sons for hunting companions. My daughter is off to college and no longer cares to hunt as she did when she was younger.

Here is her first big game animal.She was 13 and had just completed Hunters Safety a few weeks prior.

Remington 243 * 80 gr.softpoint * 39 yds
A Primos javelina call brought this boar running in!
She mounted the javelina and did very well with it in competition.

Thank you for sharing your trip with us.

Kindest regards,
Mary

Thanks for all your positive posts.

Mary- That's a nice Javelina. We did not see any this trip, but have taken those on past hunts on that ranch.

And I agree with you, it's always more exciting when the kids take critters. That's why I always enjoy these hog hunts. It was Brett's first Texas hunt (he completed Hunter Safety this year), and you could not wipe the smile from that 12-year-olds face after he took his first hog.

The large mule deer shed in TJ's picture was at the ranch house we stayed at, which was where I took the picture. A couple of the brothers had to help pull the hog out of the bush, as Dad was (luckily) on the other side of the property.

Two more years, and it could be Dad and all 5 sons (and maybe even Mom). They may have to put an addition on the ranch house.

great reports ya'll. My oldest son has been hunting with me since he was 7. He is 25 now and I get great pleasure out of him taking game and going through the maturation process as a hunter.
gwb

Awesome family outing!

Some of my most memorable hunts are those of when I was a kid on trips with my dad and older brother...Man did we have a good time.

Good for all of you!

Thanks for sharing!

ScopeBite

Congrats! I love to see bacon on the ground!

All have good looking kids out hunting. 4 of 5 kids, you raising a small football team, huh?

quote:

Originally posted by 475Guy1:
All have good looking kids out hunting. 4 of 5 kids, you raising a small football team, huh?

I keep thinking all the offspring will start doing all the driving, camp chores, and even game processing.

For some reason, that hasn't happened yet.

Give it time, Mike!

Well done fellers! I lament the fact that my kids no longer hunt(with me or anyone else), so I am very happy for you all. Cheers, Luke

My son is 37 and still hunts with me when he can get away from work. We went twice over Thanksgiving, and he passed on a legal (but small buck). Told me he'd heard me talk trash about too many folks that shot little bucks and he wasn't about to make my list. But the worst part is I had to give up a south Tx lease which was loaded with deer and hogs (landowner boozer conflict). Now I'm "restricted" to a close-to-home place of 160 ac. Some deer, tons of turkeys, few squirrels, but only 20 min from the house as opposed to a 2+ hour drive last year.