I'm back from Texas.

Got my first hog Monday. Unfortunately, since I had forgot my regular camera and my computer doesn't recognize my phone when I plug it in with a USB connection and I get a 'not discoverable' error, I'm unable to post a photo of it. At only 100 pounds or so, the hog was not much to brag about although to me it appeared to be at least 300 pounds. But, if you send me your phone number, I'll send one to ya.

Sunday evening: I sat in a blind and heard the Coyotes howling, saw some does and a [one antler] buck Sunday late in the day. Got a little wet. But, the showers didn't last long.
Day two: What an exciting Monday morning. The weather was mild, wet and there was no wind same as last evening.
My .30-'06 Mauser M12 dropped this one at about 100 yards freehand less than 5 minutes after I left the truck. It stumbled on the first shot then dropped straight down on the second. Both shots passed through and the first one went right under the spine directly above the back of the shoulder joint. Second one hit about an inch higher and went through the spine.

Saw a nice gang of about 6-7 hogs a little later as they showed themselves in the road next to a fence row and couldn't shoot because of one tree that was in line with 'em and they were gone quick. Shortly later I got on them again up on a hill several hundred yards away just out of my comfort zone. After a short stalk along the edge of a grove of trees for a closer shot, I got made and they disappeared. Should have taken a crack at the long shot. Oh, well. I had a blast! I won't soon forget this trip and the ranch owner that hosted me there. My only regret is that I wish I had more time to stick around another day.
Thanks Charlie. Much appreciated. CB

Sounds like you had a great time and a successful hunt. Congratulations

They just don't go anywhere when spined.
Other than meat damage I like to make those type hits. Just as quick as a brain shot.
Glad you got one and had a good time.

George

She dropped straight down and I did lose a couple inches of the loins. I admit that I had a case of hog fever. So, I didn't trust taking a head shot.

CB:

It was fun having you drop by. For a Yankee, you weren't too bad. You have set the distance record for anyone to come and shoot a hog on my place. I'm glad you got one, it ain't always that easy. Congrats.

Thanks Gato. Sorry I didn't have the time to hang out a bit longer and have a couple beers with you guys.
Weather conditions were about as good as one could hope for to catch hogs on the move. Sorry I missed the action at first light.
The old Benzer got a workout and when I took it into a Benz dealer in Arlington for a new exhaust clamp, they pulled the engine and tranny pans and found like 3 pounds of mud and gravel.
I still have another pound to clean off the underside. That was fun fish-tailing through the mud. Hope we meet again someday ol' boy.

Take care now.

I still have the front piece (below the grill) off my Ford Edge lying beside it in my garage. One mud hole too many (and too deep) driving in. My normal post-Gato $6.00 wash job cost $46.00 when I got back. (I had a black guy stop as he was coming out of the 7-11 and ask me where the Hell I got all that red mud. When I told him, he said "no way" until I opened the ice chest.)

quote:

Originally posted by Kensco:
I still have the front piece (below the grill) off my Ford Edge lying beside it in my garage. One mud hole too many (and too deep) driving in. My normal post-Gato $6.00 wash job cost $46.00 when I got back. (I had a black guy stop as he was coming out of the 7-11 and ask me where the Hell I got all that red mud. When I told him, he said "no way" until I opened the ice chest.)

Welcome to Texas country living. No extra charge for removing my valuable clay.

Good times custombolt, thanks for sharing and congrats on the hog.

Your destination's mud-bogging makes me think of the red clay of OK (near the base of the panhandle). When I was a teenager I bought my dad's old work truck, which had spent the better part of two years in that neck of the woods. Though it had been a couple years since its stint there, I still managed to get a bit of red off it on its rare washings. Sure was a great place to spend time though, what with frogs to gig, fish to catch, and quail to shoot - a veritable paradise for this budding young outdoorsman.

Well, I can't brag about a full ice chest since I only took about 2.5 pounds of back straps. Not enough room in the back for a big ice chest.
But, my cost from MB to replace the eroded clamp was $230 including $189.00 for a diagnostic. But, they got me in quick and it was worth it not to have to hear the Wife whine about it. As it is my first actual repair after 7.5 years and 75,000 miles, I'm not complaining. I would have just drove it with the minor vibration/noise on acceleration as I was certain it was something minor. But, the Wife wanted it taken care of before we head back to PA. Happy Wife = happy life I guess.

Nice spread Gato. Hope you didn't miss your afternoon nap.

Git dem hogs!

You haven't seen mud 'til you've been in that black mud/clay up around Wichita Falls, or Gato's red clay.

I remember going to a rig somewhere close to Wichita Falls from Abilene in the early 70s. I drove a Chevy Bel Air company car. I got nearly to the rig and I couldn't go any further on the road. It wasn't deep but just slipperier than owl shit. The wheels would just spin and the car went nowhere. I wasn't stuck, but I was "stuck". I walked into the rig carrying what I needed. I got done, walked back to my car and waited for someone to show up with four-wheel drive. After a while I noticed that when I leaned against the car, it moved away from me a half inch or so. I started pushing on the front corner, by the headlight, then back to the opposite taillight, and was able to finally spin the car 180 degrees, after about a half hour. It was the craziest thing. I got in and slowly spun my way back towards the highway. I was able to keep a little momentum going, and was making maybe a breathtaking one mile an hour, but I finally got out.

Never ran it through any sticky clay. But, that road from 144 to Gato's lane gave the AWD a good work out after the rain the night before. Good thing it had stone mixed in or it may have been tough to get through since my tires were all-season, not much tread to bite into it.

I heard about that really sticky clay stuff. Montanans call it 'gumbo'. Like peanut butter mixed with contact cement or something.
Git dem hogs.

Nice job on the pork!

That red clay is no joke. have ran into it near Snyder and it will get you stuck in a hurry