Welcome to Swine Country!

The view from the back deck was beyond breathtakingly beautiful.

Central California is a majestic place full of wildlife, clean air, and very little traffic. It’s been nearly a decade since I had the opportunity to get up there and go on a pig hunt. A few weeks back, a co-worker, Mike G. who just happens to own a bit of property up there, invited me to go up with him a couple friends. Days passed by slowly with anticipation of the hunt and when the day finally arrived I couldn’t load my gear fast enough!

The end of June marks the last days you can fill a pig tag for the previous hunting year. While it is halfway through 2019, California has screwy time tables for issuing tags. I had one pig tag in my possession a couple weeks back and decided if I was going to hunt with my rifle I had better purchase a second one. I hit up the local sporting goods store and picked up a second with days to spare. I figured I had better be prepared.

It was fitting that I be given the camouflage quad to use.
Yes, that’s a drop-off right there.

We spent the first day on quads and dirt bikes getting a tour of the property. Thank goodness because the ground we covered was intense and there is no way I could have done it on foot. Had I been hiking, I’d have been huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf, but not in a good way. We covered 20 miles all over the property and it was amazing! For not having used a quad in nearly 30 years, I handled one pretty well and am grateful Mike allowed me to use one. I carried my unloaded rifle with me as we traveled high and low throughout his land. The grand tour was filled with hill climbs, hiking, and a view from a high peak with a spectacular view.

Back at the house, we ate lunch and Mike prepared me for the evening hunt. He knew I was chomping at the bit to get out there, but it was also nearly a hundred degrees. I opted to chill in the shade, hydrate, and waited until just after four o’clock to head up. He took me to a great lookout and as we reached the turn four Tule elk busted out 30 yards from where he was riding. Three bulls and a cow bolted and slowed to look back at us. Nature is awesome. We looked over the area and I knew there would be no boredom. Waterholes, ridge lines, open grass prairies, and the temperature was dropping. It was going to be a good night to spot some animals.

Sitting in my lookout spot was both peaceful and fulfilling.

For the next couple hours I glassed up two different blacktail bucks and numerous Tule elk. My Vortex 20-60×85 Viper spotting scope armed with my iPhone X in a Phone Skope worked very well. I spent most of the time getting some video of the big bulls rounding up their cows. The buglefest started around 6:00 and didn’t stop! As the sun started to drop, I thought about what my next move would be. I had not seen any pigs yet and my goal was to fill at least one of my tags. Mike mentioned that on many occasions he would be riding down the trail and pigs would be right stopped in the middle. Taking that advice to heart, I decided because I didn’t know the area super well and I wanted to see more of the property, I would cruise out slowly to the road.

Screen grab from one of my videos of the Tule elk bull that caught my attention.

Taking my time, I crept the quad around each turn slowly with my eyes looking for any movement. As I made my way down the last stretch of mountain I spotted chubby dots rapidly covering groundā€¦pigs! A sounder was moving to the east and heading my way. I didn’t have much time, so I locked the e-brake, cut the engine and hopped off. The pigs trotted just past the draw I was standing above. I unbuckled my Remington .270 WIN from my Badlands 2200 pack and loaded the rifle. I anticipated the pigs would come back my way and right up the draw. I dropped and got prone and the pigs read the script. They walked right in at 70 yards and started feeding. One well placed shot later and the lead sow was down. I immediately racked another round and an Oreo-looking pig crested a small hill broadside to me. A second shot dropped her in her tracks. Two pigs down in a matter of seconds. Second to last day of the season and I was tagged out!

Skinning and quartering the two pigs created a bit of a challenge for me. It was already 10:00 PM and I had two pigs to skin and quarter before I cleaned up for the night. Fortunately, my buddy Mike lent me a hand in helping me get the pigs skinned. After seven bottles of water and an energy drink, I completed the tasks as the clock struck 2:22 AM. A quick clean up of the knives, a much needed shower and I was in bed by 3:00 AM hoping to fall straight asleep. It didn’t take long, but as soon as the sun came up I had to fight to get more sleep. I’ve always been a morning person, but this day I wanted to sleep in! Finally, I gave in around 7:30 AM and started cleaning up for the ride home.

I want to say thank you to Mike G. for inviting me to his property, driving up and back, and helping out as much as he did. You were a gracious host and I had a great time!

Whoever tells you it’s a great idea to buy that second tag and shoot two pigs right before dark… go ahead and kick them! I kid, but the amount of work (while worth it) is tough. More ice was procured on my way home as I contemplated how long I wanted the meat to rest. I allowed the pigs to age in my coolers for seven days, then butchered and vacuum sealed the specific parts I wanted separate. Then I made up 35# of sausage. Would I do it again? You bet I would because I love to hunt and I will take the opportunities when I can. Hunting wild pigs is one of my favorite things to do. Eating them is better still.

One Comment

  1. Mike T. said:

    Great write up about what must have been a fantastic experience. I am jealous. I do hate you.

    July 9, 2019
    Reply

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