Publig Pig

Another great hunt.
Lots of work hauling the meat but hard to beat the smile on one's face after a successful hunt.
Cold gusty 20mph winds kept the meat very cold.
Get rid of those supper heavy boots Crispi, Kenetrek and the rest of the mountaineering hunting boots. They are great but they suck in long hard hikes unless you hunt a lot or you are in really good shape. They are just very heavy.
Find the lightest external frame pack, the lightest tent and sleeping system and be a minimalist so you can bring the most meat out. I am telling you, a heavy load down the mountain can break your spirit, your knees and your back. Do it while your body can.
6.5 cr Tikka. 140gr Federal.

Tip:
If I had to buy a new pack I would buy the Goshawk 4800 2.0. It only weighs 3.8 lbs VS my Mystery Ranck Pintler, Is almost 6lbs.
The lightest best value tents in the market are by 3fulgear. The Floating Cloud 1 weighs 2.96lbs vs My Lenux Alps Mountaineering which weighs 4lbs. You are welcome.

Aeon said:

Dude!!!! good job on the public pork. that is rad for sure

lets hear the story on the hunt

Click to expand...

Here you go;

The hike up the mountain started at sunset. At around 9 pm decided to stop and hit the sack. Up by 5:30, then back to hiking at around 6 ish...no breakfast or coffee... just want to get there.

Most of us who enjoy backcountry hunts would agree that the availability of drinking water is our biggest problem.
I need about 2 liters per day when on the move (6 liters for 3 days) I carried 2 gallons to be safe (7.5 liters), mostly for drinking and some for dehydrated meals. 2 Gallons is 16.6 freaking pounds! it really sucks.

Finally made it to the spot. Set up camp, and instead of resting decided to look around. After seeing fresh tracks the next step was to pick a glassing spot.
Pigs like it cool, shady, wet and they love to tear the soil looking for roots. By the way, I have yet to figure out exactly what type of roots they are looking for because they do not tear the soil under every tree.
At around 6pm when it got cold the wind settled there were 7 Adults and 6 piglets out on the shaded part of a canyon. 545yrd way down and across the canyon. They stick like a sore thumb. They were tearing up the soil feeding.
Closed the gap to 188yrds but no steady place to shoot from. The chaparral was tall, the terrain un-even and steep. Not a good place to shoot from. Oh well, may be I can make a miracle shot? Nope!..all the freaking pigs scattered..I even empty the mag trying to hit one of them..lol. In retrospect, It would have been terrible if I got one that day. Imagine going down into the canyon to track a pig in the dark and then trying to carry the thing up?

Went to my tent death tired and sort of disappointed but it was only day 1. In the middle of the night a Bobcat decided to do some calling. It was kind of cool.. I was too tired to worry about him.
Up by 7 the next day. Hiked, glassed and repeated with no luck. I decided to take a nap in the middle of the day. Early afternoon a nice Sow at 300yrs away from the tent. Closed the gap, suddenly she rushed to the bush to take cover. I stood up, got her on the scope, aimed towards the head, pulled the trigger, and down she went. I think I hit her on the neck.

Of course, she rolled down into the bush to make life difficult. Getting to her was a PITA. Removed the good stuff, back straps, tenderloins, sirloin, ham, shoulder and arm and rolled her down the slope to be taken care by scavangers.
Back to camp a few hours before sunset. Hung the meat in game bags from a tree overnight after letting them cool. The weather was low 50s, windchill of what it felt in the 40s...drunk whiskey and passed out.
Up by 8am next day..dumped excess food, drank water and dumped the rest of the water, took a couple of Tylenols and steady made it down and back to the truck. Just pure misery of a hike.

I am lucky that I can still make these type of hunts.