February 7, 2010
February Pig and Varmint hunt.
After a delay due to my wife’s passing, my hunting buddies and I made it down to south Texas to the ranch we hunt pigs on. We left town Thursday evening after we gathered at my house and got the vehicles loaded, a quick trip to the grocery store for the remaining provisions and off we headed. We were quite apprehensive about this trip, as the report from the ranch was not looking good due to the recent rains. The ranch manager had reported 5.5” + at the camp earlier that week. The ranch roads were not going to be the problem; it was the county road that we were worried about. We had decided to arrange for all vehicle’s that were going, had to be four wheel drive and boy was that a great idea. Cut to the county road, we arrive at the dirt county road about 11 pm and immediately knew that this was not going to be an easy drive to the ranch. The water was covering the dirt road and in many places there was a visible current running out of the fields across the road. The first mile was not too bad, as this was on part of the main road, it was when we hit the road to the gate (dead end county road) that the pucker factor went waaayy up. From the time we turned down this part of the county road, until we hit the gate, we could not stop or even turn around, without risking losing momentum or getting stuck. The entire road was mostly under water, with little to no base material, just gray clay dirt. The best we could do was drop into the existing ruts and hope whoever made them didn’t drive into the ditch. At one spot the road had washed out and the lead vehicle dropped into about a 2.5’ hole for about 20-30’, then luckily popped out the other side. I don’t know how, except for sheer luck, all four vehicles’ made it to the gate. At the gate we still had about 4 miles of ranch road to traverse, but that was a piece of cake compared to the county maintained road. About 2 AM we finally get all the vehicles’ windows and lights cleaned off, so that we could see to go out the next morning and we doggedly headed to bed.

Five AM came way to early that same morning. I started getting everyone up and getting the trucks started and warmed up, corn feeders filled and extra corn sacks put in the trucks. As the group made their way to the coffee machine, I assigned stands and figured best routes so as to avoid known low spots. My biggest worry was that we had only seen the main road coming into camp and really didn’t know how bad the other part of the ranch was. Everyone loaded up into their respective vehicles’ and off to the stands we went. Luckily all made it to their stands with no one getting stuck or tearing up a truck and as soon as it became light enough to see, the gunfire started. It is always fun to guess which stand the gun shot came from, depending on what part of the ranch you’re on, it can be difficult to pinpoint the origin of the shot. That first morning 8 pigs were shot; a coyote and many more including myself somehow missed their hog. I have to admit, I was pleased with the start of the hunt as I was a little worried the weather and standing water was going to make things slow. We all got back to camp and I and others began to process the pigs, as the rest went to get breakfast going. Pigs got hung in the walk in cooler and hunters bellies filled for the energy of the day. After breakfast dishes were cleared, truck windows were washed, corn bags and feeders re-filled, bloody Mary drinks consumed and stories began to be told. As mid day rolled around, some took advantage to take a nap, some worked on their gear to get ready for the evening hunt others watched some TV or set around the fire.

Around 3 PM I began rousting all to get ready to head back out. I assigned stands and routes again. Eric had to go retrieve another hunter that came up on Friday, as he only had a two wheel drive truck. Again, we all got to the stands ok and believe me it is not as stressful to take people out when you can actually see the road and have an idea that you can actually make it to each stand. The hardest stand to get to that evening was one Eric had to drive to, it wasn’t that it was due to water but the road was that god awful grey clay mud that filled your tire treads up and you just sat there and spun. He made it there and back twice, to deliver and pick up his hunter, but after that, we declared it too much trouble and made it off limits. Sad too, as Shawn killed a pig and raccoon there and it can be a productive hog blind. That evening we killed 12 hogs and the raccoon. A great first day to the weekend and still all got back to camp safe and nobody got stuck. That evening we again started to process the hogs while the others got the dinner finished. Smoked ham, mashed potatoes, corn and green beans did hit the spot. Afterward, the evening cocktails around the fire, listening to the tales of mud holes and stories of the days hunt is what recharges my batteries and makes the day to day grind of life worth it.
Saturday 5 AM and I have lost a little bounce to my step. Got the trucks started, feeders and corn bags filled, as others filled their coffee cups and grabbed their water bottles. The standard routine of assigning stands and getting routes figured out , who goes with who and what vehicle they are in and we are all off once again to fulfill the hunters urges that surge up from our souls. I honestly love the morning hunt the most, as I sit quietly awaiting the dawn, catching movement in the dark or a shadow in the morning fog. The sound of life awakening in the woods, song birds calling for the sun to rise, the crisp fresh country air, that my friend, soothes the soul for me like none other. As the light of the morning rises, you listen to the gunfire and wonder who was successful or what excuse we would hear at breakfast. This morning was a really quite morning as only one hog was brought into camp. It didn’t take long to process this one. Breakfast was consumed and bloody Mary’s and coffees shared around the fire. As noon approached, some went for their siesta and others went to shoot a few guns. Some to verify if they were just a lousy shot (I was in that group) or in fact their gun was off. I actually fit in both categories as one gun was on and another one was off. Say La Vie (sp). 3 pm rolls around and I began the afternoon ritual of rousting people from their naps , filling up feeders and feed sacks, assigning stands and figuring routes. The weather was beautiful, partly cloudy, cool and crisp; it made you glad to be alive. We got everyone into their respective trucks and off to the hunting grounds we went. As the sun began to set the gunfire played out across the ranch and I knew that I would be at the skinning rack a little longer this evening. For this hunt we killed 3 pigs and a javalina, seems that maybe more of us should have went to the shooting bench instead of the bedroom. That evening we had pork chops grilled over a mesquite fire, peas and potatoes. I always seem to eat too much on these weekends. Afterward we set around the fire and have our evening drinks and cigars as we listen to the tales of the successful and unsuccessful hunters. Each story is welcome and some get commented on more than others sometimes at the story teller’s expense, but it all in good fun. As the night wears on the group dwindles in size until the fire is burnt low and all is safely in bed.
Sunday morning is always a slow day and some venture forth, while others stay in camp to get a little more sleep or start getting the camp ready for all to leave. This morning we only kill one hog and I am glad as we have to traverse the county road again. Even though the sun has been shinning for a couple of days this road is notorious for staying wet for a lot longer. As we all arrive back to camp. Some go to quartering the pigs in the walk in while the rest gather their gear and get the trucks loaded. Over time we have become fairly proficient at this and we can break camp rather quickly. We were loaded and on the road by 11 am and headed for the mud hole the county called a road. Other than the deep hole and the standard wet spots, we made it with no trouble. We headed into Dilley to spend several dollars at the car wash, as the mud packed into the wheels made for a rough ride down the highway. Soon we had the trucks road ready and the caravan headed home. Although we lost two front license plates and stripped a couple of screws on some skid plates, we made it through the weekend unscathed and healthy. Speaking for myself, I always come away tired, yet refreshed. To some, this might sound like a contradictory in terms, to the hunter; they will just nod in acknowledgment.

Good story, thanks.....and my condolences on your wife's passing.

And as to your last line....I know it as "dog- tired, satisfied".

quote:

Originally posted by Norton:
Good story, thanks.....and my condolences on your wife's passing.

And as to your last line....I know it as "dog- tired, satisfied".

Thank you.

I as I said, a true hunter will understand the statement.

Good read, sounds like ya'll had a lot of fun.

Great read and some nice pics

Congrats on another good outing!!!


Bob