Springtime Hog Hunt

[JohnSWA]

Yep! I'm totally hooked on bow hunting, but I still love hunting with my rifle and muzzle loader. I'll put in for all of the above when it comes to draw hunts, but I have to admit.....there's nothing like bow hunting hump

 

[danr55]

Well, I wasn't going to discuss the two rhinocerus' that we saw, but since John brought them up.. the first morning we hunted, John got up in the stand and I was looking for someplace to be inconspicuous. Presuming that hogs had the same poor eyesight as Javelina, I choose a place down wind but within bow range of the honeyhole we were watching. Just after sunup, the first one showed. I must admit that it was a bit disconcerting being on the ground when this tusker showed up. I am not a tall man at about 5'6" and this thing stood well above my waist at the shoulder. I would guess his weight at about 500 to 700 pounds. He was all black except for a white blaze on his chest. I looked up at the stand where John was, and saw he was at full draw. Knowing that these critters can have an attitude without being shot, I came to full draw in case John wounded it. I had no where to run to as I had cactus in back of me and on both sides. When I drew my bow, the damned thing came running directly at me. I was almost afraid I was going to be hog food. It stopped about 35 feet in front of me, looked me straight in the eye and woofed at me. It spun much faster than any critter of that bulk has a right to move and it ran back around the honeyhole and up the trail to an opening in the bush about 60 feet away. It turned right and headed for Canada at a dead run. No sooner was that one out of sight, then the second one showed up. It was a bit smaller than the first one and where the first one had a solid white chest, this one was black with white spots all over the chest and shoulders. It came in from the same place the first one did and stood there and stared at where the first one had disappeared. Again, John came to full draw and I just stood there. The second one just looked around and spotted me right away. The sun had come up a bit and I was still standing in the cactus patch. This one wheeled to the left, then back to the right so it was looking up the trail where the first one had run. It paused for a second, like it was giving the afterburners a chance to light, then it was gone in a flash. THese monsters accelerated faster than any horse I'd ever seen and faster than most motorcycles.

The moral to this story is don't hunt rhinos masquerading has hogs when you're standing in a cactus patch and don't have suitable egress. I am trying to talk Ross into letting me come back the end of March to try for one or both of these monsters again.

Oh, one more note to you bow hunters. Steel Force broadheads are the only thing to use on hogs. You have to hit them in the armpit or just behind it and get a pass through shot or they don't bleed and you will lose them in the brush. If you hit too far back or too high, you go through the first shoulder blade but not the second. Without a pass through, they are almost impossible to find.

John, if there is any part of this I've embellished or that is wrong, please feel free to correct me. This is about as close to what happened as I remember.

 

[JohnSWA]

Dan, sounds like you have it pretty much right on the money!

One question for the pic posting gurus. I have finally figured out how to attach pics, but they are too large for uploading. Could I get a little advice from the pic pros?

 

[danr55]

John, Email it to me. I'll resize it and post it.

[email protected]

 

[bowhuntinmaniac]

Dan, I'm thinking of going for turkey with Ross....are you up to going back?

 

[danr55]

If we can go before the end of March. I want to get there before the bugs come out.. and I still want one of those Texas Rhinoceros'. Sure..When?

 

[Nut]

Congrats to the both of ya on a fun hunt. Sure would have been cool to see one of those rhinos in a pic.

 

[danr55]

Hey BHM.. what about going back? I'm ready any time.. Com'n, don't wimp out on me.. Let's go to Texas... We can even stop in Austin and have dinner with my favorite nun... Sister MaryLou Worldy of the Order of Sisters of the Worldly Knowledge.

C'mon guy.. Let's go...

Oh, and Nut, If we get back there anytime soon, I'll show you a picture of one of those Texas Rhinos, dead...

 

[bowhuntinmaniac]

Sorry Dan, was gone to Phx for the weekend at the Bowhunter's banuet.
I dont know if I can go before the end of March, too much to do in that short notice, plus the last weekend of March is Easter.
I have an email into Ross asking when will work for him......

 

[danr55]

Let me know what shakes.. If it has to be later, so be it. I still want to hunt Rhinoceros'..

BHM, I just found out that I will have two days that I need to take off. Unfortunately, they are the 24 and 25 March. Any chance of hunting that weekend? Fly Phoenix to San Antonio Wed. night. Hunt Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Fly home Sunday? Let me know.

 

[bowhuntinmaniac]

Hey Dan,
it doesnt sound like it is going to work......the other guy where I work is taking the 1st weekend of April off, and that was the 1st opportunity for me.

 

[danr55]

BHM, I spoke with Ross yesterday. He says he's booked up through the end of April. Is there another ranch we can try? Maybe someplace closer to Arizona? Maybe someplace in North Texas??

 

[bowhuntinmaniac]

Well, it sounds like it's not gonna woek if he's booked up, with my work and all. The only weekend I have available is next weekend and thats not a sure thing, just found out I have to work this Saturday.