another huge pig at Wild River Ranch

[HTR]

With 2009's all-time record drought in south Texas, we have suffered through a horrible summer. Thank God it is over. We have had 7 inches of rain in the last week, and the first few cold fronts blew in some Teal, and hogs. This huge 300 lb+ boar, had been spotted on the trail cam, so my hunter and I set up an "old school" night vision hunt.... we actually sat in the blind. Wow, haven't done that in a while. But this thing needed to be killed, so we waited until about 20 minutes before moon-rise, and set out. We saw two deer (the one in the first picture....he's a 3 year old 13 pointer) come to the protein feeder, and when they spooked, we knew he was coming. The boar came in right as the moon was rising, and my hunter shot him in the neck with a hand loaded 85 grain Barnes TSX, over 31 grains of RE7, in SSA brass, with CCI 41primer. The hog fell onto its hind legs for a few seconds, and then went SPLAT in the mud. DRT, as usual.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/dkred5854/MDGC0432.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/dkred5854/MDGC0103.jpg

The Kill:

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/dkred5854/DSCF6004.jpg

KO-Tonics / Cardinal Armory superlight 16" barrel, with Eotech 552 D1 and PVS-14/ 3X magnifier....Old school, alright http://www.ar15.com/images/smilies/smiley_smartass.gif

[constructor]

You roll him around in spaghetti sauce before you took that pic?
Haven't seen mud at your place since Art and I were there.

Look for a box about Thurs.

[Zippy]

How much usable meat do you get out of a hog that big?

[marinesg1012]

How big were the tusks?
Next time I come down I am hunting for tusks I want a euro mount for the house :D

[jasonpeterson]

Awesome hog. Very nice deer.

[Jamesb74]

Great hog. Which blind was that? I cant wait till November.

[marinesg1012]

Just tell him you want to hunt the protien feeder..... the one out in the woods is nice for early evening, then hunt the protien feeder for a bit then hit the fields for the fun part

[Jamesb74]

I think I remember which one that is. I know he had a name for all of them. I just forgot them.

[marinesg1012]

I dont remember the names, I know you have the protein feeder, then you have the one out in the woods where I killed mine, and then you have the one by the pond, I think he set one up down by the river but that is MINE :a39: then of course once you get over into the neighbors yard they have even more areas.... He has a great area to hunt. He is great to hunt with and I really hope i can head back this winter sometime....

[Whisky]

How much usable meat do you get out of a hog that big?

I would assume none. Dirty ****ers.

[marinesg1012]

HTR ussually cuts the tenderloins and the hams out if you want them....

[Jamesb74]

I dont remember the names, I know you have the protein feeder, then you have the one out in the woods where I killed mine, and then you have the one by the pond, I think he set one up down by the river but that is MINE :a39: then of course once you get over into the neighbors yard they have even more areas.... He has a great area to hunt. He is great to hunt with and I really hope i can head back this winter sometime....


You can have it. That is the first time I have ever drew down on a tree stump:a40:

[Frost84]

Sows and pigs in the 60-200 lb. range are the best eating. I would eat those big boars but my taste buds won't allow it.

[marinesg1012]

You can have it. That is the first time I have ever drew down on a tree stump:a40:

HTR and I walked all through there during the day, I think if we would of been a little slower and weren't BSing the whole time we could of had shots at the two sounders we kicked up.....:a39: I would like to get back down in there with a grunter and see if anything pops up.....

[Megalos]

That deer has a ton of potential

[Lastrites]

That deer has a ton of potential

Very impressive, give it a year or two.

[HTR]

You guys are great!

1) spaghetti sauce? LMAO....Yeah, it does look like that doesn't it? Box Thursday? Awesome. :a04:

2) This blind...the one that is holding the protein feeder is called LUBY's. It sports a food plot, protein feeder, water in the slough....the only thing missing is the ice cream.

3) A, you amaze me with how well you remember the place. Can't wait to get you back down here. Our last combat hunt was unbelievable.

4) James, some of the blinds are Beltway (the one in the river bottom), Luby's ( as noted) , Claudette (knocked over by Hurricane with same name in 2003, and Wet One (the pond) .

We usually get around 50- 60 lbs of meat just from the tenderloins and the hams off a pig this big. Those hams weight about 18 lbs each.

[marinesg1012]

3) A, you amaze me with how well you remember the place. Can't wait to get you back down here. Our last combat hunt was unbelievable.


I am looking forward to it myself.

[CaseyJ]

Very nice HTR,
What are the specs for a hunt like that? Do you hunt them all year round? Do you only do night hunts or anytime?

That buck is Beautiful, I don't think I could contain myself if I saw that in front of me, but then again they don't have very big bucks (body or antlers) in WA on the wet side since they are blacktails.

[Jamesb74]

HTR and I walked all through there during the day, I think if we would of been a little slower and weren't BSing the whole time we could of had shots at the two sounders we kicked up.....:a39: I would like to get back down in there with a grunter and see if anything pops up.....


We went back through there during the daytime also. Said menacing stump could not be found but I bet it was lurking. :a07:

[Jamesb74]

You guys are great!

1) spaghetti sauce? LMAO....Yeah, it does look like that doesn't it? Box Thursday? Awesome. :a04:

2) This blind...the one that is holding the protein feeder is called LUBY's. It sports a food plot, protein feeder, water in the slough....the only thing missing is the ice cream.

3) A, you amaze me with how well you remember the place. Can't wait to get you back down here. Our last combat hunt was unbelievable.

4) James, some of the blinds are Beltway (the one in the river bottom), Luby's ( as noted) , Claudette (knocked over by Hurricane with same name in 2003, and Wet One (the pond) .

We usually get around 50- 60 lbs of meat just from the tenderloins and the hams off a pig this big. Those hams weight about 18 lbs each.

Thanks HTR. I know Lubys and the beltway now that you reminded me. Was the water way the one we never sat in? At the front of your property as you would drive in from te gate?
If that then what was the name of the one we sat in Saturday evening when we watched the deer . Particullarly a nice velvet 8 point which at that time might be the big buck in the pictures here at Luby's?

[HTR]

Thanks HTR. I know Lubys and the beltway now that you reminded me. Was the water way the one we never sat in? At the front of your property as you would drive in from te gate?
If that then what was the name of the one we sat in Saturday evening when we watched the deer . Particullarly a nice velvet 8 point which at that time might be the big buck in the pictures here at Luby's?


Yep...the pond has had virtually no hunting pressure. We sat in Claudette, and watched that good 8 point. Last year, we only let one 8 pointer live, and I think that's him. All the others were culled out. I have seen at least two 2 year old bucks that have 10 points this year. It's working....

[Jamesb74]

Well if that 8 pointer is a cull I will be happy to have him:a06:

[HTR]

Very nice HTR,
What are the specs for a hunt like that? Do you hunt them all year round? Do you only do night hunts or anytime?

That buck is Beautiful, I don't think I could contain myself if I saw that in front of me, but then again they don't have very big bucks (body or antlers) in WA on the wet side since they are blacktails.


Casey,

Our hog hunts are year-round, and the nighttime hunts really get going around late May early June, and continue through about October. Then, we start to see them during the day again. January, February, March and April are very good months for hogs. If you want to see the specs for the hog hunts, go to www.wildriverranchtexas.com. We have no trophy fees, per pound fees or limits on hogs, and if someone books a deer hunt, the hogs are always thrown in for free.

[CaseyJ]

thanks for the info HTR, you have a great looking set up there, quite tempting, NV hunt....

[marinesg1012]

HTR- I cant remember the names I just remember locations, just like streets and crap I dont know what the street is called but I know where you are suppose to turn....

As a side note:
Honestly guys HTR is a great guy, it was my first and only guided hunt I have been on and it was everything I expected. He is great to deal with and it is like hunting with a good friend. I really enjoyed the weekend down there. The Houston airport was easy to fly into and the drive to his place was a piece of cake once you understand NO ONE knows how to drive over there. I dont think I would call it a vacation though since HTR, H and Myself were up every morning till 4 or so then back up at 830, but the food was good, the hunting was fun, the company was great and I honestly cant wait to get back.
If you have never been on any kind of hunt, or if you have never killed a hog, if you are just bored during the off season; Heck if you are on the fence about owning a 6.8 and want to see what it will do (he has guns you can rent) I would highly recommend setting up a weekend with HTR....

(I am not a paid spokesman and I am not getting compensated in any way for this post :a06:)