Pan to last month, my buddy Dan called and said there was a chance for a pig hunt up near Humboldt State Park and wondered if I was interested. Screaming like a little girl, I shrieked, “oh hells yeah”. It was a fantastic trip for a lot of reasons other than the pig hunting. First things first, we were in God’s country. Imagine a gazillion acre logging ranch that had no developments to speak of save a hunting lodge and a hardly used, dilapidated homesteader house. There was not another human except our crew within a five mile radius. The place was ours...all of the green hills, forests, clear rivers and streams, blue skies, etc. The air was so fresh I slept like a king despite the howling winds and 30 F nights. I don’t remember sleeping that well since I was up the middle of Norway. Other members of the hunting group were four older guys who took Dan and I under their wings and showed us the ropes. Those guys knew the ends and outs of the land and were more than willing to share their knowledge. Their largess made the trip! I got the feeling these guys were deer hunters who like to get a pig every now and then. Not uncommon, I’ve come to understand wild pigs are low on the big game quarry list of CA.
We got to the hunting lodge around 5 PM on Friday. Before we driving onto the property, we stopped at the gate and had a celebratory beer. I was thinking these guys were alright. To get in the country mood, I selected Drive-by-Truckers for the ride in which took us about 30 minutes on logging roads. Once at the lodge, everybody emptied their trucks and got to the business of drinking beer, practiced shooting at a make shift range and strategized about possible areas to hunt. At roughly a hundred yards, Dan and I both nailed an empty Corona bottle and steel hanging shooting target, respectively. Not bad for two guys relatively new to this sort of hunting and using guns that were new to us. So as not to waste the remaining sun light, we jumped on the ATVs and rode around the hunting lodge. On a ATV, Dan is happier than pig in shit. Who knew a Rochester boy would embrace country livin? It was great to see. JHead, who would be our guide on Saturday, suggested we head up to this ridge. Once there, we walked down the opposite side we came up on and spotted a pig. Unfortunately, we were too busy talking about shed antlers to really get a good shot on it. But, seeing a pig so fast into the trip gave me hope. We headed back to the lodge to a great campfire and food a la Pierce and son. I have to mention the camp fire which was probably the best one I’ve been around. The masonry in this fire pit was such that all of the smoke was drawn up and back so the smoke was never in your face but you got all of heat. Apparently, an old German mason laid the brick a long time ago. Clearly, the work of a master. There wasn’t much talking at the dinner table as we all were pretty hungry. One of the guys asked, “I wonder what the poor people are eating now”. We all just smiled and laughed and kept on eating. We went to bed with our bellies full and a nice pile of empty beer cans.
Saturday I woke early to a cold wind and Dan bitching about how sick he was. A few cups of cowboy coffee and standing near the fire warmed us up and we were ready to go. Dan and I jumped into JHead’s truck and we were off. We got the full tour of the property in search of pigs. I reckon we saw about 10 different microclimates in our pursuit – grasslands, redwood forest, above the tree line rocks and scrub, oak savannas, chaparral, coniferous forests, wetlands, etc. About three hours into the drive as we rounded a bend, JHead slammed on the breaks and said, “Pigs”. Quickly, we all got out of the truck to take a look. 500 yards away where three wild hogs – two rust colored medium ones and a big black one. These pigs were more domestic then Eurasian. I didn’t really know the difference until my second pig hunt. More on that later... Standing there, JHead told us which one we should go after. The smaller of the three would be our target as it would be easier to haul out and taste better. With that and yours truly leading the way, we stalked those pigs for over 300 yards straight down the mountain hiding behind trees, bushes and rock outcroppings as cover. It was the longest and quietest 300 yards of my life. My heart was coming out of my chest. I wanted to bag a pig. I got to 180 yards away and decided we couldn’t get any closer without spooking them. Dan was behind me and he finally caught up with me. We got on our bellies and inched a few yards closer to the lip of a ridge overlooking the pigs. Safeties off. “1….2…wait.” “It is on 3 or just before?” “Ok, let’s practice.” “1, 2, shot.” “Got it?” Got it.” We waited about a minute, which felt like an hour, until the target pig got into position. It never really did though. Plus, to make matters worse, the pigs were getting skittish because cows were slowly encroaching. “Ready?“ “Ready”. “ 1, 2” Bang! We both missed. I saw my bullet hit the mud just below the chest and almost behind. I don’t know how close Dan’s shot was. The pigs scattered and we got to our feet pissed but fired up. JHead was planning on meeting us around the mountain we just walked down. The entire walk back to the truck, Dan and I were kicking ourselves for missing that pig. Lessons learned – when you got shot on any pig, take it. Counting down with your buddy never works.
The rest of the afternoon was spent driving back and retelling our stalk and miss. JHead was impressed with our stalk. Dan and I were still riding the high of having the chance at a pig. We caught some shit from the other guys about missing but was consoled by the fact 180 yard shot is no layup. Beginners luck I guess. After a bite and some rest, we decided to make another go of it. From the bottom of the hill of the lodge, Dan and I walked in one direction and Deike and J going in the other. After another hour or so of walking, Dan and I didn’t see another pig or fresh tracks so we headed back to the lodge. After a beer, we got a call from J saying they got a pig. JHead and I got jumped back into his truck to go help J out. J’s was a perfect 150 lbs boar cleanly shot. We helped to dress it and schlepped it back over a mile to the truck. We all got packed up and started to head back to the lodge. I was in the first car back to the lodge and when we got there, we heard three quick shots. Jhead and I immediately turned around to meet the rest of the crew. Deike bagged one. J said he hit one. With light fading fast, everybody helped J find what would have been his second pig. They never found it. I stayed with Dieke. A butterball of a pig - 180 lb cleanly shot sow with plenty of fat. I found out that it was his 69th birthday that day as well. What a present! I helped him gut it and carry it out of the ravine. He had a bad back so I ended up carry it out of the ditch. I was exhausted but floating from all the adrenaline.
Back at the lodge, the group was in a great mood. The beer was flowing as quickly as the retelling of the hunts and shit talking. The fire was roaring. The boys found some already cut madron earlier in the day. I never seen grown men excited about cut wood. I come to find out that is great wood for a fire. It burns super hot and leaves little ash. But it is almost a shame to burn as it makes for beautiful cabinets. I digress. All was right with the world. It was time to skin the hogs. With a separate cleaning shed and hanging hooks, the property is dialed in to handle large game. With two man to a hog, we got it done in no time in about 45 minutes. J asked for some help and I dug right in. It was about 45 F out but I didn’t notice as I was on point to clean this hog. It feels good knowing I can properly clean and dress a hog or deer now. The last thing I remember of the evening is JHead telling me to go to bed. He said I had a beer can in my hand and a smile on my face asleep in the chair near the fire.
On Sunday, I got Dan to the airport without incident. Back at my place as I was getting the smoke and dirt off me, I wasn’t thinking of why I didn’t get a pig. Rather, I was thinking of when I was going to be able to have the chance again and how great it is to get Dan out of Manhattan. It was a bang up experience and the fact that I shared that with my friend Dan and new friends J, Pierce, Deike and JHead made it all that much better. I hope I’ll get to hunt with those guys again.
Saturday I woke early to a cold wind and Dan bitching about how sick he was. A few cups of cowboy coffee and standing near the fire warmed us up and we were ready to go. Dan and I jumped into JHead’s truck and we were off. We got the full tour of the property in search of pigs. I reckon we saw about 10 different microclimates in our pursuit – grasslands, redwood forest, above the tree line rocks and scrub, oak savannas, chaparral, coniferous forests, wetlands, etc. About three hours into the drive as we rounded a bend, JHead slammed on the breaks and said, “Pigs”. Quickly, we all got out of the truck to take a look. 500 yards away where three wild hogs – two rust colored medium ones and a big black one. These pigs were more domestic then Eurasian. I didn’t really know the difference until my second pig hunt. More on that later... Standing there, JHead told us which one we should go after. The smaller of the three would be our target as it would be easier to haul out and taste better. With that and yours truly leading the way, we stalked those pigs for over 300 yards straight down the mountain hiding behind trees, bushes and rock outcroppings as cover. It was the longest and quietest 300 yards of my life. My heart was coming out of my chest. I wanted to bag a pig. I got to 180 yards away and decided we couldn’t get any closer without spooking them. Dan was behind me and he finally caught up with me. We got on our bellies and inched a few yards closer to the lip of a ridge overlooking the pigs. Safeties off. “1….2…wait.” “It is on 3 or just before?” “Ok, let’s practice.” “1, 2, shot.” “Got it?” Got it.” We waited about a minute, which felt like an hour, until the target pig got into position. It never really did though. Plus, to make matters worse, the pigs were getting skittish because cows were slowly encroaching. “Ready?“ “Ready”. “ 1, 2” Bang! We both missed. I saw my bullet hit the mud just below the chest and almost behind. I don’t know how close Dan’s shot was. The pigs scattered and we got to our feet pissed but fired up. JHead was planning on meeting us around the mountain we just walked down. The entire walk back to the truck, Dan and I were kicking ourselves for missing that pig. Lessons learned – when you got shot on any pig, take it. Counting down with your buddy never works.
The rest of the afternoon was spent driving back and retelling our stalk and miss. JHead was impressed with our stalk. Dan and I were still riding the high of having the chance at a pig. We caught some shit from the other guys about missing but was consoled by the fact 180 yard shot is no layup. Beginners luck I guess. After a bite and some rest, we decided to make another go of it. From the bottom of the hill of the lodge, Dan and I walked in one direction and Deike and J going in the other. After another hour or so of walking, Dan and I didn’t see another pig or fresh tracks so we headed back to the lodge. After a beer, we got a call from J saying they got a pig. JHead and I got jumped back into his truck to go help J out. J’s was a perfect 150 lbs boar cleanly shot. We helped to dress it and schlepped it back over a mile to the truck. We all got packed up and started to head back to the lodge. I was in the first car back to the lodge and when we got there, we heard three quick shots. Jhead and I immediately turned around to meet the rest of the crew. Deike bagged one. J said he hit one. With light fading fast, everybody helped J find what would have been his second pig. They never found it. I stayed with Dieke. A butterball of a pig - 180 lb cleanly shot sow with plenty of fat. I found out that it was his 69th birthday that day as well. What a present! I helped him gut it and carry it out of the ravine. He had a bad back so I ended up carry it out of the ditch. I was exhausted but floating from all the adrenaline.
Back at the lodge, the group was in a great mood. The beer was flowing as quickly as the retelling of the hunts and shit talking. The fire was roaring. The boys found some already cut madron earlier in the day. I never seen grown men excited about cut wood. I come to find out that is great wood for a fire. It burns super hot and leaves little ash. But it is almost a shame to burn as it makes for beautiful cabinets. I digress. All was right with the world. It was time to skin the hogs. With a separate cleaning shed and hanging hooks, the property is dialed in to handle large game. With two man to a hog, we got it done in no time in about 45 minutes. J asked for some help and I dug right in. It was about 45 F out but I didn’t notice as I was on point to clean this hog. It feels good knowing I can properly clean and dress a hog or deer now. The last thing I remember of the evening is JHead telling me to go to bed. He said I had a beer can in my hand and a smile on my face asleep in the chair near the fire.
On Sunday, I got Dan to the airport without incident. Back at my place as I was getting the smoke and dirt off me, I wasn’t thinking of why I didn’t get a pig. Rather, I was thinking of when I was going to be able to have the chance again and how great it is to get Dan out of Manhattan. It was a bang up experience and the fact that I shared that with my friend Dan and new friends J, Pierce, Deike and JHead made it all that much better. I hope I’ll get to hunt with those guys again.
1 comment:
The poor people have been eating cheap Asian food on Buford Highway and in Duluth, Georgia.
That's what us po' folks eat my friend.
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