Trad Gang

Got a call this afternoon, there were some misses, there were some bunnies wacked and  ready for the stew, and there were 3 hogs killed.  Jumper got one and Terry Green got himself two.  

Ill keep you all posted...

Jerryg

Yea baby, I dont know any of these guys but I'm pumped! Pictures?

Alright Tarzz, sounds like ur in ur element ...good luck to you all keep us posted , pics please!!!!!!!!!   :thumbsup:      :thumbsup:

That Tarz is a shooter now.........

Congrats Terry and jumper    :thumbsup:

Ya know i think I'm going move down south.You guy's are always huntin something.<><

Wow!! Congrats to Tarz and Jumper. If Tarz killed 2 i'm bettin he hit em with the truck!  :bigsmyl:

mumbling like Elmer Fudd after missing the wascally wabbit... dang nab it.

Keep the updates coming.  This is fun   :wavey:   :D    :D  ....Van

They need a designated person and a laptop with wireless internet so we could get real time play by play.  :)

anyone heard anything yet!!!!!! this is fun...but we wish we were there...  :bigsmyl:    :wavey:    :wavey:

Frank , the best way is the have a branding iron , this is pressed on the leather, and hot temp...practice before you do it on the quiver ya might have to have the leather flat!

I talked to Rusty last night before he left.  Told him to get us a 50-60 lber for the big BBQ Texas Longbow weekend.  He said that he'd have to clean it then.  I told him to just point at one of the guys and say "Your Mickey, now clean my pig like you did wingnuts javie."  Should work.

LOL

Mike

Hay Mike better shoot for a wee bit larger porker, them folks at Texas Longbow just might think it is a poodle.

I thought I would pass along the news I had from the Texas Sweat group.

My brother Andrew Kinslow is down there with Curtis and the boys. Most of you probably don't know him because he doesn't post much but he lurks around a lot.  

He called me tonight as he was waiting at the end of the sendero for the pickup after it got dark. I anxiously asked him if he had shot a pig, thinking that was why he was calling. However he just wanted to tell me what a great time he was having!

I don't think anyone shot a pig this morning.  However his cell phone reception wasn't the greatest, and so I couldn't tell if he was talking about Jumper and Terry's pig or someone else.

My brother said he got a couple of bunnies and had seen hog sign everywhere. A flock of Rio Grande's had walked past his step up early in the afternoon. He said he had seen more deer in one day that he did all last fall during deer season here in Missouri.

The wind has been pretty gusty down there today and he surmised that might have affected the hunting.

Apparently Timo shared with the rest of the gang some pointers on flint knapping during lunch. I could tell from my brother's voice that he was having a blast.

He had yet to talked to any of the other guys about their evening hunt so it's still likely that someone else had a shot opportunity.

I left strict instructions for my brother to call me back, so I'll pass on anymore news if I hear it.

Chris Kinslow

Thanks Chris

I got a call from my brother again tonight. He shot a javelina this evening. I could tell he was on cloud nine!

Sounds like its been a good day for all the gang.

Charlie was yelling "Game Hog" from the background when my brother was on the phone.

I even got a shout from Littlefeather. I gave him some congrats on his pig. He acted like it was no big deal. Knowing Curtis I bet he is happy to see everyone else having a good time, and the pig was just icing on the cake.

Spirits are high and I think everyone is having a good time for the voices I heard through the phone.

They were going to clean Andrew's javi so the call was short.

I'm pretty much living vicariously through the Texas sweat group so I hope this helps the rest of you in the same boat as me.

Chris,

Thanks to Miss Susan as well for the updates.

What is the min size for Boone & Crocket on jack rabbits? Go Timo!

Glad the boys are having fun and good hunting for all of us. Thanks for the ongoing updates. I know there will be stories and pics galore next week.

Thanks Chris  :thumbsup:  

This makes 2 yrs in a row I have been invited,and couldn't make it.I sure hope I can next yr. Looking forward to meeting you and all the "boys"!!!

Guru, I was invited this year also and couldn't make it. I'll be there for sure next year. It'll be good to finaly meet ya.

Sounds like fun, thanks for the update.

Can someone give me a "HELL YA BABY"!!!!!!!!

Just walked in the door. Got a few guys back at the house with me. Gotta sit down for a few minutes. Waaaayyyyyy too much to tell about this trip. Gonna take a few weeks Im sure.

Herb did a little shooting on his own this trip. Did good too!!!!! CK

Talk about leavin us hangin. Good to hear from ya bud.Relax,there's plenty of time for the stories.Gonna be a good week for Trad gang!!!

Hey all!     :bigsmyl:

way to go Scott  :notworthy:

MAN, after something like this, the word gets out and the population in texas is gona go up..
8^) jeffro

I'm in complete agreement with Guru, its going to be a fun week to come home, jump on the trad gang, and  see how this story unfolds.

Congratulations on the pig Scott.

Chris Kinslow

here da Texas Sweat Gang 2

   http://www.trashwoodbow.com/knots/tsgang.jpg    

 
rusty

Nice Rusty   :thumbsup:    ;)  Looks like a fun group!

ya'll see how CK makes Doug look tall? LOL!!!!

Calvin, be nice.

Oh never mind...  :rolleyes:

I have stated on this forum that I would drive farther for a good rabbit hunt than I would for a big game hunt.  Well I just came in from rabbit Mecca.  I but we got 30 or 40 rabbits all tole......but maybe someone else has a better count.  We got cottontail by the dozen, jack rabbits, big ole bull frogs, a badger, javie and pigs.  it was a good time.

I glade I practiced for a few days before the hunt.  Some 'em boys are fair shots and don't cut ya much slack for missing a cotton tail at 15r yds  :) .

rusty

Sounds like everyones having a great time, some game taken and no blizzard   :)    :thumbsup:

How about a run down on who's who in the picture?I recognize a couple,but not most  :confused:

whne liddlefedder get to the knife work on a pig....don't even think about him needing help.  'at boy looks like one of 'em knife cooks finging at an up scale Japanese restraunt.  Ya just be in his wayh and liable ot less a few digits.  he can get butchered pieces off quicker that ya can get 'em to the ice.

He do have this one trick that just kinda made my jaw drop.  he takes a ring around the neck then get the head a kungfoo twist and it reminds of 'at little girl in the Exorcist....except that the head lands about 15 feet way from the meat gamble.  neat trick.....at boy is quick.

rusty

Hey Calvin!!!  You better not be makin' fun of my hubby!!! LOL  He might be little.....but he's a mighty hunter and husband!!!      :D  

Can't wait to pick him up at airport tomorrow night!!! If we aren't snowed in.......got 6+ inches with up to 10 - 14 more called for  :eek:  

Glad the guys all had fun!  Even though I was stuck here in MT holdin' down the ranch in the snow!

Karen   :thumbsup:

"To hunt with him ya just fastgen your safety belt and hang on till ya throw up." Now that's a good time.  :bigsmyl:

Thanks Rusty! You were certainly a great addition to our group. I just took Doug out for one more hunt. A night hunt on the back of my property. Good to be able to share some of the hunts I do here first hand. I think one of them will draw blood. Charlie, Herb and I are laying around in a euphoric state. Still a little high from all the adrenaline on the trip.

Mrs Susan has the finest bunny hunting running boards in South Texas. Me and Trashwood took the smooth ride on the bumper. Timo shined the bunnies and the nutters flew like AK-47 fire. Whew!

I think Im gonna back away from the stories till everyone gets home and settled. I do think there were some strong bonds formed and some friendships that will surely survive much time. I do think Rusty fell short on the bunny killing count. I know some of us killed at least 10 each. I gained new respect for Joe Coots(JC) after he cleaned so many of my bunnies.

I do believe most everyone on the trip got shots at big game. I missed a turbo-charged javalina and anchored the biggest hog of the trip. Not that size was really an issue. I did kill the pig with the head Charlie killed his first hog with at last years Texas Sweat. You may remember that he wrote "Herb" on it. Well, I ran Herb through yet another porker and the head is going into the St. Judes Broadhead collection. Good MOJO!

Im going down for the evening. Please keep the rest of our travelers in your prayers till they get home safely. Thanks! CK

Hey Calvin!!!  You better not be makin' fun of my hubby!!! LOL  He might be little.....but he's a mighty hunter and husband!!!      :D  

Can't wait to pick him up at airport tomorrow night!!! If we aren't snowed in.......got 6+ inches with up to 10 - 14 more called for  :eek:  

Glad the guys all had fun!  Even though I was stuck here in MT holdin' down the ranch in the snow!

Karen   :thumbsup:

OPPS!!  What happened there?  Karen   :o

Dear Karen,

I wouldnt cross Doug OR you on dare!!! haha. Stay warm eh?!!!

Sincerly,

Caltrizzy.

Now I tell right up front and true as Texas sunshine in August...I do love dogs..... and I meet a dandy on Texas Sweat.  His nake is Banjo, a Yak  (????) terrier. [german terrier, looks like a doberman about the size of a small fox terrier].  liddlefedder had a porcine be so rude as to expire in a hide hole.  about dozen worthless humans [no nose and half blind as a spieces] couldnt' find.  Ole Banjo was put down on the a blood spot [a speiecs that does have a good nose and can see  :)  ] in about fve minutes Banjo finds the pig in a hole belly up.  I am not knowledge of this terrier.....butg if Banjo is a represenation of the breed we well be seeing more of 'em  :) .  i post pics a video of Banjo asap.

rusty

Rusty,
Hes a German Jadgterrier (yakterrier)  Cant wait to see the video..

I had a great time meeting with all of the hunters, everyone on this hunt was first class.  
Jumper....congrats on the hog,,,, prayers for you and your family.  Thanks for your sacrifice.  Please keep in touch as I would love for you to come and chase some javies with me at my lease.

Getting ready for next year      

Jerry

Here Jerryg and Banjo (jerryg belongs to banjo  :)  ).  Curtis is in the back ground with his hog tamer.....now banjo is READDDDDDDY!

http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/banjo1.jpg

come on boss, come on, 'em boys are slow.  just show me da spot.  we got work todo.

http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/banjo3.jpg

after banjo does his job he gotta come over and supervise the hero pic.  here's curtis, the pig and banjo.  hmmmmm I can tell which on banjo is but I'm not sure which one is which of da other two.

http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/banjo2.jpg

rusty

Littlefeather (curtis) and his hero pic.  'at bow is a littlefeather built sinew backed osage with a western water snake skin cover.  He used a Simmons BH and his shaft was ah ah well his shaft was......ah not natural  :)

http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/curtishero1.jpg


rusty

Now here we got your International rabbit cleaning project.  I don't thank any diplomats or statedepartment was involved and I don't think in treaties were borken.

Herb (a kanauk) and Timo (a Misery an  :) ) clean 7 or 8 rabbits this morning.

http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/timoherb.jpg

rusty

Hey Fedder, That hog is crappin an arrow  :D ,way to go bro,awesome bow  :scared:    ;)

Wild - just plain Wild!   :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Whew!  Made it back in late last night, AND ITS 24 DEGREES OUTSIDE!!!  Man I miss Texas already!  What a trip.  Curtis, I can't thank you enough for setting this thing up.  What a great group to hunt with.  I learned a lot, shot my first javelina, earned myself a new nickname, and met some great people.  I feel humbled to have been included in this hunt.  When I get a chance today I'll start my story.  Its a good one!  More later,

Andrew "Stoney" Kinslow

Back late last night, hard back at work this mornin but will try to post some pics and stuff tonight.

Ya'll jest won't believe Andrew's story...I won't spoil it but I was there along with 5 others at it's conclusion and every one of us had chills!

Man did we have FUN! Just unbelievable company on this trip...I feel like I got a whole new batch of brothers. I really enjoyed the time with my trad brothers as much as the actual hunting, a new treat for me. I learned so much more about everyone there, and especially enjoyed the time we spent driving around with Herb, Doug, and Terry. Only thing better would be if it lasted a week or maybe two. I will spend some time individually commenting on each person if ya'll want to hear about it, as a whole, the finest fellers I've ever been in any camp with!

I didn't get to see any hogs, chased some javelina but couldn't get through the thorny terrain fast enough to ever head em off. But man, let me tell you bout the rabbit huntin! I've seen maybe 3 rabbits in the last 7-8 years here in GA...I saw that many in the first 5 minutes on the ranch. I killed 12 so I've got my pop set for rabbit stew for a while. I had ridiculous (and I use that word specifically) fun Sunday morning group huntin em with Herb, and TimO.  Now if I could just teach those boys not to let them vicious bonnies (Herb's pronuciation of rabbit) rattle em so bad they miss.   :bigsmyl:  

The bullfrogs were something else too: big monstrous bird-eating frogs, should be mighty fine eating. I shot one in broad daylight when Doug, Terry and me stopped huntin fer a little break by a pretty pond. Then Me and Jumper put the whack on a few Saturday night...at boy can shoot durn good in the dark. Can't wait to fry em up.

I'm sure there will be weeks of stories unfolding here, so stay tuned!

Prayers for the safety of those still traveling.

I been tote'n 'em shortie bows for pig tunnels.  Here is video clip in the least quality format to kkep down load time short.  It is 1 meg.  It is a clip recovering Littlefeather's pig.  It shows a pigtunnel if ya ain't every had the fun of hunting one.

http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/pigtunnel.mpg

rusty

now just think about carring your sweet shooting 64" r/d and back quiver in that stuff.  :)  

good job Littlefeather.  shot looks far back but it got the liver, cut the diaphram, and off side lung.  simmmons BH was just peeking out the skin right behind the off front leg.  from the angle the shot was taken ya could have put it much better.  as wingnut say he aims atg a spot of the off front shoulder.

rusty

Rolled into Mo. around 3a.m.It was 94 when we left larado,(11 a.m.) It was 24 when I got out of the truck!! I siffer that as 70 degree change!!!!!!!! Wow!

To tired to post much.Need some rest.Got lots of pics,so will catch up on all that later.

Big ole Thanks to CK for getting this together,and  all the new buds I now have.

Side note: Dave Stinson(Hunt It) is a "Driving camel"! The man seems to never tire of the road!Drove all the way down and back.I learned about "full Trottle" some kind of hyper fuel for the body."A case of that stuff....and you can drive across america".

Thanks For the ride Dave.

The Tee shirts Curtis designed and had printed are outstanding.  

we are all waring ours in the group photo.  

rusty

Gggrrrrrr! Back at work this morning. Im suffering from cactus rash and Im crashin hard comming off all that adrenaline. My guts and ribs and jaw and face all hurt from all the laughing we've done. I have not laughed so much in years!!! I will have to say that I have now spent camp space with some of the finest, kindest and most giving people the archery world has to offer!!! What a hell of a group of guys!!!!

It was truly my honor to have spent the last few days with you all. I came away from all this with a refreshing view of my fellow hunters and mankind in general. I did not see one guy in our group who wouldn't sacrafice his hunt area to see another guy get a chance at game. You just dont meet those kind of people very often. When you find 15 of them all in one camp it is truly spectacular. My only regret after all this is that I couldn't have spent more time with each individual hunter. Every single person at this hunt was very special in their own field of expertice. It is a strange feeling to look around camp and know of the tallent you are surrounded by.

To you Andrew Kinslow, a special thanks. Your hunt was more special to me than any hunt I've done in my memorable hunting history. Thank you for being there to help me feel the excitment that has somehow faded. A special thanks for having me and the other guys there to share when the gap was bridged through thousands of years of archery all in an instance. I think our Spirit Guide had a special gift to show you and I was absolutely honored to have my hair standing up all over when you were presented the gift!!!! That is a memory I will take to the grave. Cant wait for you to tell the story. Please go slow and dont leave out the smallest of details. I know it will be impossible to convey the feelings we all had standing in the dim moonlight as the crisp southern breeze tickled our necks. Please try! CK

My ears and eyes are wide open. This is the Center, it touched you, I can tell.

Killdeer

TX Sweat was a grand time for sure.  Curtis deserves many thanks for all the hard work he put into it.  If he wasn't hunting, he was always doing something to make sure everything and everyone was taken care of.

Met a lot of fellow Trad Gangers, and it was nice to put a true face and personality with them.  Too bad there's never enough time to hunt with everyone in camp.

I have some pics I will share when I get time.  Although the pigs I got on the 1st outing aren't worthy of a hero pic, the group of 8 kept me stalking and entertained for an hour and a half.  

The last morning as I was going to pick up Doug Campbell I ran into some Havies and made a stalk on them.  Luckily even though I was rushing it a bit, cause we had to get back to the airport, I managed to get a shot at a dandy that decided to look at me about mid draw.....he must have had a plane to catch as well cause he didn't stick around for the arrow to arive.  He was long gone let me tell ya.  Them's some quick buggars when they want to be.

I was in on the tracking job that JC and Curtis spoke of, and that outcome was worth the whole trip alone....just wait till you hear about it from Andrew Kinslow, and I got pics as well to go along with it if he want's me to post them.

OK - yer all restricted to quarters for seven days - with no further proof needed!!! What for??? For havin' too much fun, that's what for!

Alright, Here we go.... Where to begin?  I guess background info first.  I have been hunting with traditional equipment for about 6 years now.  I took an interest in archery in high school, bought a piece of junk browning recurve that was ~ 70 lbs, attempted to shoot it for a couple of years and then hung it on the wall.  My brother, Christopher, picked it up and actually got to where he could shoot pretty decent with it.  It eventually began to delaminate and my brother surprised me with the gift of a Herb Meland Pronghorn longbow as a replacement gift.  I got back into the sport with that bow, and through Chris met Charlie Lamb.  Lamb has been a big influence on Chris and I, helping to guide us and show us the ropes.  There to answer the silly newbie questions, and point us on the correct path.  I shot my first deer with a bow in Weston, Missouri 5 years ago, and I have been in love with traditional archery ever since.  I still feel like I am standing on the shoulders of giants on this site, so I kind of lurk on the forums picking up tidbits and asking some questions here and there.  Thanks to all who have given me advice, whether you knew it or not.  So that gets you up to speed on who I am and my background.  Now on to the Texas Sweat...

Christopher made it down last year for the first Texas Sweat, and had a blast.  I have been salivating over stories for the past year or so.  Charlie and Curtis extended an invite back last summer, and having heard the stories from everyone, I couldn't get the deposit in the mail fast enough.  The past 9 months have been a blast.  (anticipation is half the fun) I had trouble getting off work so I had to arrive on Thursday evening after the rest of the gang was settled in.  (Still trying to figure out how I managed to secure a bottom bunk...thanks Charlie!)  The gang made me feel right at home right off the bat, and we even had time for an evening rabbit hunt before bed.  Up early the next morning, and Curtis took me out to show me the ropes...

Curtis posted earlier about how he saw all of us willing to help the other guy, and he certainly exhibits that characteristic himself.  He took me to a prime spot, gave me advice, and like every good teacher, backed off to give me space to figure out things on my own.  I shot rabbits and stalked the entire first day.  Scouted with the gang in the afternoon, and sat on a roadside with fresh hog and javi sign for the evening.  Nothing can prepare you for the terrain in south Texas, and I just soaked it all in the first day.  That evening, after dark I got my introduction to rabbit hunting: off the sideboards of a suburban with Timo, Rusty, Curtis, and probably some others that I didn't see, cause I was to busy trying to hold on for dear life. It was a blast!

Saturday morning Lamb took me over to a prime javelina area, and just like the rest of the guys sacrificed a prime location, gave me some ideas, then sent me out to figure it out.  I found a nice 4 way intersection to watch for about ¼ mile in each direction, and watched for movement.  Later, I found a clearing with fresh tracks and set up in a brush blind for mid morning.  I was about half asleep when 14 Javelina came out of nowhere about 80 yards uphill angling across the clearing toward Charlie's position.  They were moving with a purpose toward Charlie's area, so I didn't pursue them any further.  Lamb picked me up for lunch and we stalked some Javis (I'll let him share that story) and headed back for lunch.  We came up on Curtis, JC, Terry, and Timo on the trail of a hog that Curtis hit earlier.  I learned so much on blood trailing (or better yet, the lack thereof) in Texas, and it was a real treat to watch it all unfold.

I had a feeling about the evening hunt.  I don't know if everyone experiences this, but sometimes things about an area just feel right.  It has happened for me in Weston, and on the family farm after time spent scouting, things just sometimes come together.  That feeling turned out to be true, beyond my wildest dreams.  The next 4 hours would unfold a story for me personally that touched me deeply.  Showed me the forged link between our hunting heritage expressed through traditional archery and the fellowship of brothers with the same passion.  I'll pick up the story there in a bit...

QuoteI'll pick up the story there in a bit...  

That's just wrong...Keep it coming....  :D  Terry

WTH! We don't need no stinkin commercial breaks on here.  :)

THIS IS SO COOL, Tarzzz , can't wait for the pics!....hey guys thanks to all of you for sharing...I was working all weekend thinking about all of yall rabbits , hogs , havies, etc!!!that game was made for the bow and arrow!!!Curtis ya done it again!!!!!!

Heck, I was huntin' hogs Saturday with Charlie Lenz and thinkin' about you guys at the same time  :knothead:  After a couple of blown stalks we could hardly wait to get back home and get an update            ....Van

Ah yes, I think Andrew has developed some story telling abilities on this trip as well. Take your time little Bro! We got lots of time now. Savor and tell it slow. CK

QuoteOriginally posted by Littlefeather:
Ah yes, I think Andrew has developed some story telling abilities on this trip as well.

Whaduya expect hanging with Charlie Lamb?  ;)

Enough with the dramatic pauses, on with the story! And thanks in advance for the hunt-a-long.

We need lots of Dead Animal Pics - javies, bunnies, and piggies!!!  :bigsmyl:

For crying out loud I know I wasn't there (maybe next time now that I am working again) but certainly someone has some pictures or video or something.

Meathook..some pics and video on pages 3 and 4 or sumpin like that......look for url from trashwood
on the posts and click the url

rusty

Sorry Rusty I meant to mention the exception of the pics you posted.  I saw those, good stuff. Just figured with all those guys there had to be a few cameras around.   :D

I did take some pics of my little piggies, and if you guys are wanting pics that bad, I'll post some in the AM....along with JC's Frog.

Timo wasn't kidding, Scott's Jack Rabbit was as big as my pigs....I"m sure someone's got that pic.

Hi Guys,

Just pulled in, 32.50 hrs for 2075 miles! Just two 45 min naps and as Timo puts it a couple cases of full throttle. A fantastic trip, Thanks a million Curtis for all your hard work! Great bunch of guys to share a hunt with! Rusty, if you read this, you might have the only digital picture of my Javie. Go ahead and post it if you can, otherwise it will have to wait until I scan my 35 pictures in a couple of days. Enough for now going to sleep. Thanks again Curtis!

Curtis,

I just got an e-mail from my brother with some sneak previews. Wow! That picture was pretty cool. I can see what you guys were talking about now.

Chris

I'll do it david.  i'll have 'em up in about 15 mintues

rusty

Rusty , what was ur best shot of the hunt?? looks like the weather was nice for yall too...any hair rasing moments??? LOL

Ok guys, it looks like you have waited long enough  :scared:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/Scott6231/CIMG0188.jpg)
L-R South Texas Pig Hunter, JC, Charlie Lamb, and Jumper after a bullfrog bonanza hunt. Charlie and Eric should have gone right instead of left.... But, Man, What a hoot!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/Scott6231/CIMG0164.jpg)
The success had by all on this hunting trip of a lifetime  :D  L-R Doug, Herb, Dave, Terry, and Charlies arm  :knothead:  

It was incredible... That is the only way to express it guys......

It's "The Salad Hat"!   :thumbsup:

David Stinson's javie.  I had to clip them out of a video so the color saturation and contrast is not the best.

 http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/davesjavie1.jpg

 http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/davesjavie2.jpg  

 http://www.trashwoodbow.com/texassweat/davesjavie3.jpg  

Last pic is da biddness end of Hunt It's javie.  Just cause a javie well weigh under 50# don't mean they can't put bite on ya.

rusty

I know yalls patience is wearing thin waitin on pics but ya gotta understand how hard everyone hunted. I think everyone needs about a week of recovery.

I too have lots of pics and no time right now to post. Here are two live shots I took. I took pics of the hog I killed before I killed him but my camera keeps telling me I have a bad file. Crop! I like a pic on the hoof then one on the tailgate. LOL! Check out how close this javalina was to me. I was shooting Timo stone tips that day and the javalina musta seen it comming. He was 10 feet gone by the time the arrow got there. I hit dirt!

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/Littlefeather/TXS05Binocs004.jpg)


It was quite enjoyable to lay hunkered in the cactus patch snapping pics of the javi's. Here is a picture of the turkey that were everywhere on the ranch. Some of the turkey would walk over the top of you if you didn't move. I think Andrew had some inside of 10 yards on our first hunt together.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/Littlefeather/TXS05Binocs002.jpg)

More to come. Its just going to take some time. CK

CK, if you have an external card reader try to pull the files using it instead of the camera.  It is a long shot but worth a try.

I spent about 15 minuted on a cactus ridge the very 1st afternoon, and found out real quick that I'd also be hot if I was a hog....so I headed low, what little low there is in S. TX, in behind a pond that looked cool and nasty.....and I ran into 8 little piggies.  Some one must have gotten their mom cause she was never around during the chase/chases.


Here's the view going in....

  (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/txpond.jpg)

Lookie what I caught only a few minutes later looking out.....

  (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/txdeer.jpg)

Farther back leading into the thick and nasty.....mighty green for S. TX.

  (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/txgreen.jpg)

OK, now you guys can have some pokin fun....Got one at 4:30, and its twin at 6:30.  I also got two rabbits that evening and was going to get some pics of them as well....but Good O'l Boy JC done sknned em for me before I could get the camera out of my pack.

  (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/txhog1.jpg)

  (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/txhog2.jpg)

Rusty,

Take your time and find the 'full reply form' at the bottom of the message box that you type in.  Once you are on the full reply page, look below the box again for IMAGE.  Put the address in the pop up box and your pic will show up on the thread ....not as a link.....like this....


 (http://www.trashwoodbow.com/knots/tsgang.jpg)

Heeee Heeee don't you let 'em give ya no grieve Terry.  that is just the size pigs I look for to shoot.  I never go pig hunting on purpose....I always go piglet hunting.  ya can carry out with not a sweat, ya can clean and buthcer 'em in 15 minutes, and it ain't never a long blood trail  :) .

Only time I shoot a big pig is when they just get in the way.

rusty -little is better - ah if it's a pig- craine

Ok I'll do it.  i was just putting the url in so the threads would load faster and then they could look at the graphics it they want to.

rusty

Hey Gang made it in about 11:30 last night and getting caught up on all the posts. As several have said already it was a great hunt. Curtis put a BUNCH of work into making this thing happen and deserves a big THANK YOU!!    :thumbsup:      :thumbsup:  

It was great meeting new friends and getting back together with old friends. All I managed to kill was bunnies, (thanks JC, that man is a rabbit cleaning fool!) and like some others have said Stoney's story made the trip. (Appears he's learned more than shooting from Charlie).

Lots of good fun, good food, (Huntit brought some awesome moose meat by the way), good entertainment, and great friendships! You guys and girls don't want to miss out if you get a chance to head to South Texas.

Fer them that don't know, from left to right:

JC(Joe), Stoney(Andrew), Tarzan(Terry), Erb(Herb), Jeff Struberg, Dave Stinson, Trashwood(Rusty), Charlie Lamb, Timo, Littlefeather(Curtis), JSOG(John), Doug Campbell, Jumper(Scott), SouthTexasPigHunter(Eric), and Dave Bulla.

Here's one I took of Curtis and the hog he killed with the Simmons called "Herb".

  (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/curtis1.jpg)

And heres' JC with his Bull he caught sun bathing...

  (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/jcfrog.jpg)

An if ya'll thought I could shuck a rabbit, you didn't see Timo, the had me down 3 to 2 easy. Got this unique way of removing the heads.  

Uhhh, JC, Your fly is open!   :D  

Thanks for posting the pics Terry and JC. Real nice pics! I really like Terrys pigs. The best ones to shoot if you are ever presented with the opportunity.

A few things about my Hero pic: The shot looks really bad looking at the pics. It really wasn't bad at all. The hog only went about fourty yards.

As the pigs in front of me got a little wind, the big ones started to circle to my down-wind side. I had a quick decision to make and as soon as this guy opened up a steep quartering angle, I dropped the string on my sinew/osage bow. took the stomach, liver, diaphram and off side lung. Thats the angle you want on a really big hog if you get the opportunity. I didn't have any other options on this pig.

The headwrap I am wearing is A Witchdoctor wrap. I misplaced mine before we left and Timo granted me permission to wear his. Thanks Timo! I cant hit anything without a wrap on my noggin! LOL! Too cool!

Pictures are excellent, do you guys have any idea how lucky you are, living in a country that allows you to Bowhunt and having the enormous variety of game that you do,
I'd give my eye teeth to be doing what you guys are doing.
All the Best!!
All the Time!!

Ok, gonna try posting some pictures.  It's the first time so bear with me....

This should be Curtis, Timo, Charlie and Dave Stinson BS'n in Curtis's yard shortly after we got there.
  (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0313.jpg)

Here's a pic of a pig skull over the door on Curtis's shed.  Them tusks are a good 4 inches long.  Plenty motivating to see that kind of skull!

  (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0315.jpg)

Here's Curtis, Timo and Dave checking on the BBQ for the evening meal.

  (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/IMG_0312_2.jpg)

And here's Jumper looking over the end result of Curtis's hard work.  That's a big pot of beans he's fondling and that tray of meat has brisket, javie and hog meat smoked to perfection.  Down there on the end of the table are 4 home made pies Jumper's wife made.  Two are apple and two are peach.  MMmmmmmmmmmm Mmmmmm!

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0316.jpg)

CK, naw...it's just that funky Predator camo.

Dave, Very good.

JC, thats a funny place to place the funky. Maybe the Predator has humor?

Everyone,

Sorry for the delay, not intentionally trying to prolong this, just making sure I get it right.  The story deserves to be told with the same justice in which it unfolded.  Should have an update for you later this evening.

AK

Well hey, it worked!!!

I've got 5 more pics uploading to photobucket that I'll move to here as soon as they're ready.  This picture stuff is fun but it sure is a lot of work.

Here's a pic of the sunrise over Curtis's shop Thursday morning.  I hate getting up early but I love sunrises.  Go figure?

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0327.jpg)

The guys are standing around sipping coffee in the brisk morning air waiting to leave.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0328.jpg)

For those who have never been out west, here's a pic of a typical Texas highway.  You can set the cruise and wake up when you get there if you don't have an alignment problem...

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0332.jpg)

We had us a regular CONVOY!  Here we're stopped to empty our bladders and stretch our legs a bit.  Almost there.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0333.jpg)

Finally, here is the ranch entry gate.  Not much to look at but that little road leads to a real paradise.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0335.jpg)

Here's our final destination.  Looks like a simple ranch hand bunkhouse but inside it's got a full kitchen, two baths, big screen tv and a bunch of bunk beds.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0336.jpg)

Did ya'll see anything including tweety birds on the way out there? My only experience with that part of the world, we drove 5 or 6 hours without seeing the first living thing but as soon as we turned off the road into the ranch there were critters everywhere. Wierd but a ton of fun.

Looks like ya'll had one WHALE of a time.

And more....

Here's another shot of Doug, Herb, Scott, Terry and Charlie looking over the first nights dead critters.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0339.jpg)

This is the main room of the bunkhouse showing the sleeping arrangments.  Notice there are no steps to get in them top bunks.  Some of the guys almost tried to use some tree steps on the 4X4 posts...

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0341.jpg)

Here's the other side of the same room.  Check out the big screen.  Yea, we really had it rough...

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0342.jpg)

You are doing great Dave! Keep em comming. You got me grinnin again. I am really missing the Gang since everyone left. Gonna be a long wait to Sweat again. Debbie even got a little teary awhile ago on the phone. She said, Im gonna miss all your friends being here!  iI sayz, Me too! CK

Well here's a few more.

This first one is Andrew Kinslow and Curtis with a couple bunnies.  I think Andy got one and Curtis got 3 but it looks like they both got a good time out of it.

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0345.jpg)

Here is me crawling around in the thick stuff.  I'd have taken a pic in the REALLY thick stuff but I couldn't set up the camera and get back in it for the pic during the self timers 10 second delay.

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0346.jpg)

Here's a place where I was able to stand up.  You can see some of the really thick stuff in the background.  I think I only found two or three plants there that didn't have some kind of spine or thorn.  That crawling in the tunnels was a lot of fun but having your neck line fill up with bits and chunks of twigs, thorns and ticks got a little irritating.

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0347.jpg)

In this next one I'm sneaking down a wash or "arroyo" as it's called in TX.  What started as a little knee deep ditch ended up being about a 20 foot deep canyon like place that was dark and cool in the bottom with little pools of water here and there.  If you crawled out and walked 20 yards away from it, you couldn't even tell it was there.

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/DaveBulla/Img_0352.jpg)

Are those knee pads?

You're darned toot'n they're knee pads!

Best 4 bucks I've ever spent for a hunting trip.  Crawling in that brush with all the thorns on the ground would have been a bugger without them.  My only gripe is that they make noise when you try to go through the brush standing up.

Well, that's all I'll have time to post until next Friday evening.  Gotta fly to Atlanta for work tomorrow.  (I just happened to take another day off today or I'd have had to flown down last night.)

Have a safe trip and thanks for sharing your pics with the rest of us.

Ok, so here we go...

After lunch on Saturday Timo picked up on a second round of flintnapping.  I have found points like most of us in the past, but I never really had an appreciation of the art until I saw it unfold.  Napping truly is an artform and he makes it look so easy.  Timo furnished each of us with a point at the end of the trip, and it was a fitting souvenir for a great trip.

Charlie and I headed out in the afternoon to work on some more scouting, and plan strategy.  I stalked around in the area some, but I really felt like the area I had found that morning would produce, so I decided to park myself back in the brush blind for the afternoon.  I spent the hours before sunset watching the Green Jays, Pyroloxia, and quail feed.  Besides the bird life, nothing appeared.  

The day began to move into that magic witching hour and my gut feeling remained true.  The sun gradually set and the shadows moved in.  Just about the time that I began to feel it was getting too late for anything to happen, shapes appeared out on the edge of the clearing ~ 70yds south of my blind.  Javis!  They moved gradually toward me, feeding and meandering about.  Everything happened fast.  One moment the group was way out of range to the south, and the next several large javis moved in from the sides ~ 18 yards out from my position.  The light was poor, but I felt confident in the shot.  I picked a spot on a big one, she angled slightly quartering away, and I let fly.  

I didn't see the arrow hit, but I heard a wicked crunch followed by some serious squealing.  The javi pulled some figure skating moves, turning circles and doing a figure eight before diving for the brush to the east.  The commotion continued for another 5 to 10 seconds before ending abruptly with a serious of huge crashes and squeals.  Then nothing but the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.  I have been lucky in my harvests in the past.  I always get excited when I immediately see the animal, but when it comes to nut cutting time I seem to smooth out.  The shakes always hit me after the shot when I know everything is out of my hands.  I sat down for a bit, got my knees back underneath me and went out into the clearing to look for my arrow.

About 20 yards out I found my arrow buried in the dirt.  Blood from the razorcap to the nock.  My Sunbear recurve is named Sage, and Sage had drawn blood again!  Complete pass through, bright arterial blood.  My experiences from earlier in the morning had shown me how poor a blood trail can be in this thick brush.  I followed tracks into the brush to the east, and began looking for a trail.  By this time it is pretty much dark and my headlamp was proving inadequate for the job.  I hit a GPS waypoint, and walked out to find Charlie.  Charlie knew something was up when we met back up, and we proceeded back to the area to look.  We went in about 20 yards, with no sign of blood.  I was pretty heartsick, and really worried I wasn't going to be able to recover this pig.  Charlie suggested heading back to camp, fueling up with another in incredible supper (hats off to Marcus).  Everyone congratulated me on the hunt, and the others had had good success also.  Dave got a hog and a Javi, Jeff punched a Javi, Curtis had his Hog.  I got in on a bit of the skinning after dinner, though that wasn't much more than holding onto something or shining the light.  Eric is pretty slick with a skinning knife.  I think we were all pretty tired, and the prospect of digging around in the brush for an hour or more this late didn't appeal much to any of us.  These guys are great, and despite the late hour and lack of energy, six guys loaded up to jump on the blood trail.  I had a rock in the bottom of my stomach, but I felt some relief that perhaps with this quality crew, we could turn up my Javi and put the period at the end of the sentence for my first pig hunt.  

The third and final installment of this story will be up in a bit.  I want to get this one done right...


Andrew "stoney" Kinslow

:eek:

i am just getting a chance to slow down . arrived home at 3:05 am and got to bed 1/2 hr. later but was up at 7:30am . almost ready for bed now    :D   .  

Texas ia still killing me allergies are real bad but wouldn't miss this for anything . drove through storms both ways to get there .

Curtis and Charlie i thank you from the bottom of my heart for the invite and all the encouragement .

Debbie thank you for having me into your home and treating  me so well .

fellow members of Texas Sweat 2005 i thank you for the fine company and acepting me into this fine group of people .

it amazes me that we who have met others while sitting in our homes at a computer so many people that can come together for a few days with know harsh words and always looking to help each other out .

i do have a confession . i shot 4 "bounnies" but must have stole some ones as i got home with 10 . don't supose the just keeep reproducing .hope know one was looking for theirs cause i am not shipping them back .   :D  

had my chance on a momma Javie and her young one but she busted me 3 differnt times in 2 days .saw deer quail and turkeys .laughed until i got sick . met some amazing people and made a lot of new friends that i will cherish .can't wait until next year --- herb

If I come up 6 bounnies short I'm gonna....well I'm liable ta....awww heck, I'll just haveta go back and get some more!

do animals know you arn't hunting them ?
i had a small stip of a road 50 ft from camp (one of the prettiest parts of the ranch ) and friday night about 6pm i am going bunnie hunting as i look down the road about 100 yds out is Momma Javie and her young one so i go from "nutter mode " to "Tusker" mode in the blink of an eye .i start easing down the road keeping out of sight as much as i can and i start tripping over bunnies , so i start counting i have 15 in bow range (5ft  to 15 yds.) by the time i get with in 25 yds of Momma and see hears a vechicle a couple of hundred yards away and slipps in to the cactus . i wait until dark and walk back to camp with a grin on my face another great hunt .2 bunnies were at 5 ft amazing --- herb

You musta been in total stealth mode Herbinator! Too bad mama javi wouldn't offer up her ghost. I sure was looking forward to hearing that story over and over. Next year big buddy. You'll make it happen, Im quite sure! CK

Herbie,
 After watching you shoot, if anything ever does get in range, I know it's a gonner for sure   :notworthy:

Over dinner one evning Jumper and I had a philosophical discussion I enjoyed.  Together we solved all the worlds problems.....dangit we forget to write them down.  Oh well it's the worlds loss  :) .

The lenght and bredth of 14 trad bow hunters is a thing of awe.  I wish I had had the time to sit down with each one of 'em for a couple of hours.  On the surface they have so much in common but scratch the surface and there is a great depth.


ya go over to pick up your ice chest and there is two guys walking over to pick up the other end.  ya have an animal down and the whole bunk house unloads to help with never a word spoken.  don't know where ya gonna hunt tonight and 3 guys tell ya to come with them.  ya need a cotton tell arrow and 4 guys give ya 3 arrows a piece with a smile.  need a light and 2 guys hand ya their extra one.

Need thorns pulled out of your butt and YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN  :)

dang ya just can't have everything
 :notworthy:  

if ya get a chance to hunt with a bunch for trag gang folks......do it!

rusty

And thus we come to the conclusion...

Terry, JC, Curtis, Charlie, Eric, and myself arrived at the site to begin the bloodtrail.  I gave them the details, pointed out references, and we fanned out to look for blood.  Nothing...  Curtis suggested that I move back to the blind and give them directions based on where I heard the death throes of the javelina.  Everyone figured it had to be close, but it was some thick stuff, and zero blood.  This went on for about ten minutes.  Nothing, and I figured things were pretty much finished.  9:30 at night, zero light, zero pig.  Sucks...

Then one of the guys sings out, "Found it!"  Suddenly I am 8 years old on Christmas morning all over again.  Amazing how a hunt can bring out a huge swing in emotions.  Screw the cactus, I hotfoot over through the brush to have a look at my javelina.  The gang gathered around and I am heartily congratulated by everyone.  She ran about 40 yards from where the hit occurred and made her final stand in a small open area between cacti.  Suddenly Curtis got really quiet and in a hushed tone said," Guys look by the head."

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

Look at the light colored stone above her head    (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/havi2.JPG)  


Close-up view

 (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/havi3.JPG)  


I just sat back down on my haunches.  Total Silence for about 10 seconds... We all had goosebumps. Each of us knew that we were experiencing something unique that would never likely happen again.  Sometime in the past, others carrying weapons not much different than those we carried that evening, had hunted this very place.  Who knows what events transpired to leave that stone point for us to find...but make no mistake, nobody there that evening believes that it was by accident.  We were all meant to experience that moment and share it with our brothers.

We as traditional archers choose to do things the hard way:  To go back to our past and forge a bond with our hunting ancestry.   We do this symbolically every time we pick up our bows, and put our own spirit and energy into practice, the craft of bow and arrow, the hunt, et al.  For some reason, unbeknown to me I was put in that place, at that time, and as Curtis put it best:  We were all standing in two places at once, on a bridge between the present and the distant past.  Only the Maker that brings everything together in such a way knows how long that stone point had been laying there.  I still am totally in shock that I would be the one blessed enough to have been given this gift.  This link to our past.  I am so pleased to have done so with honor.  A clean quartering away shot from less than 20 yards.  All that time practicing, and my arrow was guided cleanly to the kill.  To experience it alone would have been one thing.  To experience it with kindred spirits was beyond words.  I hope that I have done the experience justice in this retelling.  

I believe that we are given insights into the meaning of life all the time.  Our Creator speaks to each of us in different ways, and the best we can do in this world is remain open to looking for those moments.  What a moment this was!

Curtis, Charlie, Terry, JC, Eric:  Thanks for being there to share it with me.

Herb, Timo, Jeff, Rusty, Doug, Scott, Dave & Dave:  Thanks for sharing the retelling that evening and now.  What a great bunch of men to share a hunt with.

Christopher:  You were there with me the whole time.  Thanks for everything bro.


   (http://www.tradgang.com/terryimages/havi1.JPG)  
Terry, thanks for the pics.

By the way, The shots above show the exit wound from the quartering away shot.  It was a clean kill, took her behind the shoulder on the left side, exiting in from on the right.  Just wanted to clarify.  

Thanks to all for your patience.

Awesome!!!

Speechless  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  ....Van

That is just awesome.

Yep Meaty I wasn't at the kill site but when that boy walked into the bunkhouse and told his story it was plumb spiritual. Congrats again Andrew  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Thanks so much for sharing such a spiritual moment from your hunt. Well told.

try and be carefull when i pack my bags and make sure no weapons or contrababnd in my carry on .when i got home started to to look for the stone points from TimO and almost freaked when i got my checked bags unloaded and no points !!!! went through my carry on and bingo !! looks like if your scared to fly with out a weapons it looks like securty doesn't know that stone points kill .
not recomending anyone do this but this one time i am glad they missed something -- herb

Guys,I have been reading all this,and enjoying it very much.
Now this..Andrew...I really don't know what to say except that I had a very similard experience last spring with my Dad.I found this about 5yds from my dead  bowkilled gobbler.He had run right over it.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/Dscf1332.jpg)

It was one of those experiences that are hard to put into words.The best part was that it was shared with my dad on his first turkey hunt.The stonehead,the experience,and the memories of that hunt are something I will treasure forever.

That's awesome bro!! Great shot too!!

That story was worth the wait......WOW... Terry

That story was worth the wait......WOW... Terry

Yes Andrew, I believe a tear opened in the fabric of time and six Tradgang members crossed the bridge of a thousand years of stickbow archery. We were in the exact spot that our ancestors had stood and were practicing the hunting rituals exactly as they had done. They smiled!!! I have never in my life felt like I was doing things the right way as much as I felt at the very moment I saw the arrowhead. I certainly didn't feel anything different than anyone else felt at that moment. Cold breeze on my neck, the dim moonlight, and every hair on my body standing up as I trembled!!! My most memorable hunt to date!!! Congrats little Brother! Ya done real good! CK

and besides that it was great shot placement.  it just don't get no better.

rusty

Excellent story.  Way cool.  I hope that head went into your trophy case.

I thought so, Stoney.
There is a big smile, and it goes clear from one side of my heart to the other.

I feel a sense of acceptance every time the earth gives up a creature for me. Acceptance by the earth, the critters, the trees and grasses and other plants, and by the very rocks.

You were not only accepted by the environs, but welcomed by and enfolded into the community of thousands of years of hunters. Your trail is a special one, and you are the recipient of an incredible touch. But you know that.

Killdeer

Very cool, great story tellin there Stoney   :thumbsup:

Ya knew the area was a special place.  there was evidence of long past bowhunter using the same area.  ya could find knapping work in several areas on the place.  that in itself made ya tread with respect.  

rusty

...and then a special story was told, and it was well received.

How special can it get? I loved it. I also remember Curt's from this Spring and I loved it too. We are so lucky to share these special stories.

Great story Andrew! It was a special moment when you told us all in camp, one of those moments that one never forgets. It was a great pleasure to meet/hunt with and spend time together with fourteen of Trad Gangs finest. Thanks again to Curtis for makin it all happen. This was my first Texas hunt and the first time meeting any of these guys, it was a great experience! As Timo and Rusty have already said, it was the company that made it so much fun, the hunting was secondary. Everyone of the group is unique and special in their own way. Thanks to each and every one of you for a great time and hope to see all of you around camp again sometime.

What an experience that must have been. That is something that was meant to happen, just as it was meant to happen to Curt and his dad.  I can only imagine how you must have all felt during this special time.  Awesome.


David

That was a story worth waiting two days for.  :thumbsup:

GREAT STUFF GUY'S GREAT!!!!!

and so it begins  :scared:

Eric,
was great finally meeting you and if you need more you  holler !! Dave set it up i just picked it up LOL -- herb

If ya stop an think about it...it is kinda neat going to the sure nuff Texas cactus desert and shooting bull frogs...

Texas, I luv u

Eric - I got to finish tiller Killdeer's sinew bow but I throwed some sinew on that stick Timo gave me.  Ya gonna be shooting a fire breathing 45# sinew backed selfbow before to long  :)   what is Spanish for "bad stick" ?  :)

rusty

Eric - I'll tiller this one for ya and send ya one with the sinew bow that ya gotta tiller.  now ya gotta use "bad stick" (translated to Spanish) to make perferated peccaries and post some pics

rusty

Malo' is bad. Not sure how to say stick. CK

Thanks all for sharing your hunt and your pictures.  It was interesting in hearing your thoughts and feelings on hunting south Texas and all the opportunities it has to offer.

Reading along makes me want to go out and do a hunt like ya'lls. Except I will only have to drive 3 1/2 hours.

Since you seemed to enjoy most of Texas, come on back next year and bring some friends.

Quotean hes related to David Carradine

The recedin' hairline gave it away, eh?   ;)

Good one, Trusty, "Palo Malo". Is this one for a smoker?    

Killdeer

Curtis,

I just wanted echo the sentiments of everyone else and say hats off for a job well done.

You're the reason Texas Sweat happened in the first place! There are a lot of little things that  go on behind the scenes so that a trip like this works so well.

I've talked to Andrew three different times since he got back. We just keep going on about how awesome his hunt was.

Thanks for helping to make everything thing I told Andrew about Texas become a reality.

Chris Kinslow

LOL Killdeer - no but ya need a "Palo Malo" hunt'n in the thorn and pucker bushes of south Texas.  Some of 'em pig are as mean as the plant life.  Pig BTW get tooth decay.  I figure that is why an old boar can get so cranky...guy has bad a bad tooth ache and just awaiting for some bowhunter to come by so he can take it out on him  :)

rusty

Rusty you got it "EL PALO MALO" or THE BAD STICK is definately what you need for the STBC. One that you aint afreaid to get down an dirty with.

Well, looks like the trip has been well covered by the gang.

What a trip! Bet nobody else said that!!

My experience was a little different than most of the guys. Seems I brought a little cold bug with me to the sunny south.

It started a couple days before the hunt and left me with just enough time to get in a pig hunt or two with Curtis.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/ctl6804/61c1d72d.jpg)

We cruised through the hide outs of Curtis' favorite nemesis, "Mr. Sniffles". As usual, he was making himself scarce. That didn't keep us from bouncing Mr. Sniffles stunt double from a favorite lounging spot. I like to call him "Wannabe"... if ya say it right, it almost sounds like Commanche.
I spotted a couple of hogs while hunting solo and even managed to call in a coyote... who decided to rush my position just as I stood up to leave. He left first!

By the time the first of the gang arrived I had a staggering cough and head drainage that would choke a goat. I was miserable!

Here's a pic of Jeff Struberg and Dave Stinson lounging at the back of the truck at Curtis'.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/ctl6804/JeffandDaveTailgateR.jpg)

Then we needs some CDs, trashy!  That stuff is pure gold....

So, you call Rusty's hairstyle regal hu? Kinda looks like the Rustylama of the Southland ta me. Specially when he wears his do-rag. Real hip man! You just kinda walking round behind tha Wiley ol fella hopin one of them fine little sucker staves fall by the way-side. Generally all you get is an earfull of wisdom with some meaning that only Rusty and the cosmos understand. Makes a man feel like Grasshopper. Sure is cool ta hang out with tho. Rustys a mean bumper jocky too!

On with tha story tellin Johnny."jump up". LOL! CK

As you all know, we had quite a feed and bull session the night before we hit the road for south Texas. Anyone else notice that Texas has different degrees of "south".

On arriving at the ranch we got the usual paperwork taken care of before taking off for a tour of the ranch.
At least I had the foresight to turn on my GPS before we left. That and the hand drawn map we were given really helped keep me from driving around in circles. Like most south Texas ranches, it was honeycombed with Senderos and little side roads that went nowhere.

While back home the country was still frigid and brown...with a lot of gray thrown in for contrast, the brush country was bursting with the greens of spring. You could almost see it growing.
Throw in temps in the high 80's and unsullied sunlight and you had the makings of a bowhunters best daydream.

After the tour, I decided quickly where I'd rather hunt. To tell the truth, I selected my spot as much to get me out of the other guys way as anything. With the cough I had developed, it would be difficult hunting for me and the risk of giving whatever I had to someone else if I road with someone.
Later, Johnboy would look at me funny when I told him I was gonna take my truck and hunt alone. It worked better that way I think and I was able to relax and work my plan.

I'd stalk the sendero's and check in on a nearby feeder from time to time, checking from a distance with binoculars for visiting Javies or hogs.

Except for the abundant bird life and a sun that got damn hot for a while, nothing much went on for me that first afternoon.
Matter of fact, I'd set up a stool in some brush which gave me a veiw straight down the sendero to the feeder and made myself comfortable. I was coughing enough now that I was sure it would be an uneventful sit.

Since I was pretty miserable at this point, I didn't really even care. At least it was a fine place to be sick.
I was thinking of sliding off my stool and laying down in a nearby bare patch of soft red Texas dirt when the first Javelina crossed the sendero at the feeder.
Without a thought for my affliction, I threw on my quiver, grabbed my bow and slipped off along the sendero.
The wind was good if the Javies stayed near the feeder. It blew steadilly in my left ear.
The sun was now low in the ocean blue sky and caused the surrounding brush and cactus to cast hard edged shadows across my path.
By hugging one edge of the sendero I could stay out of sight as I quickly closed the distance.

When I'd gotten within 50 yards of the Javie, I eased into the open brush beside me. That was a mistake!
A thick grass grew in the open spaces between cactus and bush and was hard, dry and noisy.      
My advance slowed way down.
I did have the advantage of a fairly thick screen of brush to hide my movements... I ain't small!!

At 20 yards I began jockeying for a position to shoot from. That's when the first Javie showed signs of concern.
No matter how carefully I placed my feet, there was always a slight swish of noise. That Javie was hearing it.
With no fanfare he left the group and trotted off into the brush. I took another step and a second Javie left.
Now the whole pack was acting goosey. No way could I find an opening for a shot or get in the clear before they all left.
I let them go, thinking if they weren't too upset they would return. It almost worked!

Slipping across the sendero I gained a slight wind advantage and hid behind an obliging cactus.
The minutes ticked by and the light faded.
I stared into the tangle where the javies had disappeared hoping to catch sight of them returning....nothing.
Then I saw a small patch of something dark. It was only about 30 yards in there, but I couldn't make it out for sure, but I was sure it had just showed up. Maybe a shadow from the changing light.
I pulled my binoculars to my eyes and slowly spun the focus ring.
Grizzled gray hair jumped into focus and just as quickly a beady little javelina eye. I froze in place, hoping I hadn't been spotted.

(cont.)

(sorry about this! I was gonna give the whole account in one sitting, but that doesn't look like it's gonna happen. This cold is still kicking my butt and my brain is somewhere out on the road in Oklahoma trying to catch up to me.)

and degrease your feathers LOL-- herb

Holy Moly that is the second time in my whole life that my name and wisdom were the paragraph much less sentence.  Ya guys thought I was talking???? i was just a sitting there tring not to drool down my shirt and figure out where I was and what I was doing there.....well now come to think of it I guess tring not to drool down your shirt and figure out where ya are and what ya'as doing might be a wise thing todo.    :)  

rusty

This has been an awesome read!  thanx to all for sharing!!!

Curtis had told me that often Javies would spook off into the brush, wait a while and come right back.
Well, these Javies were holding just back in the brush and I fully expected they'd ease back out any minute.
The trouble turned out to be that I had misfigured the path they'd take to come back.
Looking around I could see a faint trail running from the javelina almost to my feet and the wind was real "iffy" at this point.
As the scene faded to black, the javies faded into the brush.
I walked back to the truck in the dark. My flashlight was tucked away safely in my pack, which was in the truck.
It was hard not to think about how the cooling air might coax a rattler the size of my leg out onto the warm road ahead.
Somehow I managed to make it to the truck without stepping on anything squishy and noisey.

As I drove back to the camp house I replayed the encounter with the javies and wondered how everyone else had done. I expected to see piles of game...and I wasn't disappointed.

I can't remember who all got what, but when I pulled up there was a group photo session going on. On the back of a truck were javie, hogs, jackrabbits, cottentails and a lone armadillo.
Yep! The boys had been busy... for sure.

Supper was great, though my taste buds were a bit singed by the Pico de Gallo that Markus had whipped up. It would put lead in your pencil or take it out depending on your tolerance for things firey.
The evening passed with lots of story's of the evenings adventure. I'm sure each of us searched for a hint that would turn the trick in the words of the story tellers.
As usual, there were no tricks. Just solid hunting skills would do and a smidge of luck.

My coughing had subsided somewhat by the time we all wandered off to bed... that is until I laid down. It came back with a vengence! I knew if I continued like I was that nobody would get any rest.
I put up with 10 minutes of constant coughing before I got up and headed for the truck. I might not get the best rest, but at least everyone else would.
I kicked back the seat on the truck and left a window slightly open for air and did my best to sleep.

Sometime during the night I drifted off to la la land, only to be awakened by the sound of people up and around... morning had come fast!
At least I'd gotten a little rest, but used the renewed energy to untangle my legs from the steering wheel and gear shift lever. Standing up completely straight was a whole nuther challenge.

A hot cup of coffee and Mexican pastry helped my attitude if not my aching bones and soon we were all off for our first full day of hunting. The air was crisp, but the hint of light on the eastern horizon held the promise of a warmer than average day. My spirits rose with the sun.

(cont.)

Guru,

Glad that you have also shared an experience like mine.  Beautiful stone point also.  Turkeys with bows + a find like that.  What a hunt!

I got going that second morning and pretty much hung near the feeder I'd hunted the day before. At one point I saw "something" approaching my ambush, but I blinked and the something disappeared like smoke. I'm still not sure what it was, but I felt like it might be a hog.
Jerry had said there were both hogs and Javies in the area so I was primed for that.

The morning went fairly fast and I was soon back at camp for breakfast.
Over Huevos some of the guys quizzed me about my late night departure from the sleeping quarters... guess they thought I was upset about something.
When I explained my situation, I was immediately fixed up with a list of over the counter medications to help the cough.
By the time the afternoon hunt came around the cough had eased up considerably. I was starting to feel half way human.
Of course it didn't do me a lot of good at that point... I saw nothing and finished the day enjoying the evening cool down.

Back at camp, more game to be photoed and stories to be told.
I was whipped and hit the hay early... in a real bed. It was a good night sleep, but hard to roust out the next morning.

(cont.)

Well, I may as well throw in a bit about my experience with the Sweat Gang.  The others have given you a pretty good picture of our stay at Curtis' place the night before the hunt and our arrival on the ranch.  Let me pick up at the morning hunt on Saturday.

Scott was good enough to offer me a lift into the bush.  Saved me an hours walk.  We cruised the senderos slowly, both of us rubbernecking and trying to make out game outlines in the pre-dawn darkness.  Scott was headed for a feeder to the east of our bunkhouse camp and wanted to be there early enough to give the game time to settle before daylight.  I had other ideas.

You see, I've never been much of a sitter.  I wanted an area I could slowly still hunt through and watch for game activity.  Still hunting fascinates me.  Every time you take a step, your angle of view on every object within sight changes.  There is always something new to see.  My penchant for movement explains my rotten luck as a deer hunter.  I hoped to make the technique come to a more satisfactory conclusion chasing hogs. Dressed in homemade camo and my converse sneakers, I couldn't wait to see what the ranch had to show me.

Just under a mile from Scotts feeder, he stopped the truck and I hit the tailgate to lay down a bit of corn.  Wait, you say!  Real hunters don't bait!  Well, in South Texas I do.  The cover there is so close to impossible to move through that I wanted to see my quarry in a more open area in order to lay plans for a stalk.  I laid down a trail over about a half to three-quarters of a mile of dirt road, very sparsely.  In three days, I used around twenty pounds of corn, or about what you could carry comfortably in your day pack.  At the end of the trail, Scott dropped me off and circled away through the gloom to park his truck and start his long trek to a feeder off to the north of my little piece of Texas.

I didn't want to start hunting until I had a reasonable expectation of taking a shot, so I sat down to await the Texas sunrise.  As things began to shift from black to grey around me, I spent my time trying to identify all the bird warbles coming from the bushes around my position and resisting the urge to investigate every crackling twig back in the bush.  Them birds are noisy down there, and the idea of cruising through a big patch of cats claw thorns when I couldn't see well enough to avoid them kept me sitting on my pack.  As the day continued to brighten, I noticed a set of three wooden corner posts off to my left.  There wasn't a fence anywhere near, so who knows what they were originally dug in to support?  The sun was coming up behind the posts, making a perfect frame to shoot a few pictures of my equipment.  I'm sure I spooked some game, but a guy has to have his priorities!  This was a beautiful morning, and a background of sunrise framed by weathered wood was just too good to pass up.

Finally I decided I had enough light to shoot by.  Time to get in some hunting!  I crept to the edge of the road I had corned and found to my surprise that cattle must have wandered the area in the recent past.  Fifty yards on both sides of the road, the brush was cut with cattle trails weaving in and out.  Perfect!  Slowly I sidled back into the brush, taking care not to add too many holes to my often office-bound butt.  The trails allowed me to creep along on the downwind side of the roadway.  I worked from five to sixty yards back, moving in close once in a while and peeking up and down the dirt track.  Then back into the bush for another slow fifty yards.  The morning was cool, the breeze was stiff and right on my forehead and the light was fantastic, haloing the bushes and prickly pear and making them seem something other than a threat.

After two hours, I again crept up to the roadway for a glance in both directions and found furry footballs obscuring my view of the Texas hardpan.  Javelina!  Nine of 'em ranging from the "Mommy, Mommy!" size up to "Don't turn your back on me!".  Forty yards away, they fed in circles, overlapping their tracks over and over and scooping up the corn like dustbusters.

Back into the bush!  The wind was just right, quartering over the bush pigs and into my face.  I doubled my pace, going from ooze to a purposeful crawl.  I moved eighty or so yards and again worked my way slowly into view of the roadway.  Where did they go?  The javvies had melted into the morning like butter sliding off a hot griddle.  The silence with which these little pigs move in the Texas brush has to be heard (or not heard, maybe) to be believed.  Faced with a lack of options, I froze in place and waited.  Two minutes and a quiet eternity later, the javvies reappeared, thirty yards upwind from my position.  The big black boar was leading them in and out of the brush.  They exposed themselves only long enough to get their cheeks full of corn, then retreated into the brush and moved farther down the roadway before reappearing to grub up another mouthful.

This game of tag continued for close to forty minutes, the pigs doing what their primitive natures told them to do, I trying my best to apply my civilized brain to the problem and end up in the right place at the right time.  Finally, I managed to move exactly the right distance down the road as the javelina once again faded from view.  I holed up with a large prickly pear formation just off my left shoulder and a cats claw bush behind me to break up my outline.  The javvies again appeared on the roadway, this time twenty feet off my right shoulder and feeding my direction.  Tense?  A little.  Of course, by this time I knew the size and shape of every hog and had time to brush away most of the jitters.  The big boar stayed out of my shooting lane, but when the largest sow wandered in I decided enough was enough.  My string hand crept toward my cheek and I began the mantra in my mind "Soft hands...easy now....don't punch the shot...just let it go...right THERE!".

The shot was a bit farther back and much higher than I had intended.  With the javelina twelve yards away, I had still managed to shoot her four inches in front of the hams and an inch below the backbone.  I was completely disgusted with myself.  I shoot pretty well and took a rabbit on this trip at thirty yards.  And here I had blown a beautiful broadside at a javelina less than half that far away!  I took off my pack, sat down and began to berate myself.  The dirt road was deserted once again.

After twenty minutes, I dug out my roll of toilet paper and marked the spot where I had taken the shot.  Then I crept forward and marked the edge of the roadway where the javvie had been standing.  Then back to my pack and a pull from the water bottle while I waited.  Ten minutes later, I hear the knock of Scotts big diesel pickup coming down the sendero.  As he stopped, he already had his hand out to congratulate me, having seen my flag markers from some distance away.  I shamefacedly told him that congratulations were premature, as I still had to recover my game.  He immediately piled out of the truck and we agreed that a very quiet sweep into the brush on the opposite side of the roadway from where the shot had occurred would give us an idea of bloodtrail and maybe recover the arrow.  In we crept.

Scott found a generous streak of blood on the leaf of a prickly pear ten yards in from the roadway.  We flagged it and continued to look for sign.  Nothing!  Not a spot of blood and too many prints from too many javelina.  We backed out and headed back to the bunkhouse for help.

As luck would have it, the hunt coordinator (our own JerryG) was on the ranch with his dog.  He was tracking a hog for Curtis.  We made arrangements to meet at the bunkhouse when he was through.  I took advantage of the downtime to wolf down more of Marcos' Mexican cuisine and fret some more.  Jerry appeared an hour later with Curtis, a wound-up tracking dog and a dead hog.  The pig had gone less than forty yards after Curtis shot it, but due to the thick brush, Curtis had called in the dog rather than risk losing a downed animal.  Pats on the back all he way around.  Jerry grabbed a bite to eat and water and off we went to track my javelina.  I explained to him what had occurred, how I had just flat messed up the shot and was worried about not finding the pig.  He asked if there was blood to start the dog on.  After telling him we had flagged blood at the beginning of the trail, Jerry visibly relaxed and told me the dog should be able to track the animal without any trouble.

We piled out next to my first flag and let the dog out of the back of the truck.  Ten seconds later the dog had a nose full of hog scent and was tearing through the brush like an old pro.  Jerry and I did our best to follow, detouring out of necessity around thorn patches too dense for us.  The ringing of the bell on the dogs collar drew us along, then suddenly stopped.  We couldn't see the dog and were unsure how far ahead he had stopped.  Jerry called the dog back to us, then set him on the trail again.  Fifteen steps into the brush, the dog stopped again.  After staring for half a minute, I realized the little terrier was standing over my javelina, dead beneath a small liveoak.  

WHEW!  I pumped Jerry's hand, told the dog what a good job he had done and grabbed a leg of the javvie for the drag back to the truck.  Less than ten minutes since releasing the dog from the truck, we had my javelina on the carry-all and were headed back to camp.  After a round of hand-shaking (which I wasn't sure I deserved after the shot I had made), Jerry dropped me off at the cooler on the ranch to take care of the carcass.  Curtis and Rusty were there, finishing up Curtis' hog.  Like true hunting partners, they immediately lent a hand.  When Rusty tells you that Curtis can dress a hog in nothing flat, believe him!  I am used to butchering domestic hogs.  Let's just say my technique was a little slow for Curtis.  He took over and had the hog gutted in something under a minute.  I took over again, skinned the animal, recorded it's weight and got it into the cooler.  I would return later with Rusty to bone out the meat and bag it for the trip back home.

Back at the bunkhouse, the laughter curled up into the blackening sky like heat rising off those dirt two-tracks we had spent our day on.  Plans were made for the hunt the following morning.  I asked myself if I wanted to shoot another pig.  Since I have an abundance of farm-raised pork and beef in my freezers already, I couldn't come up with a reason to take another pig.  Would two pigs make me happier than just the one?  Nope.  Did I want to try for something bigger?  Why?  Not having an answer, I decided, was answer enough.  I would finish up my Texas adventure talking to new-found friends and watching the last day slide slowly by.  There were pictures to be taken, memories to be fixed into place.  

Timo was kind enough to gift us all with stone arrowheads in memory of our hunt together.  I decided on the long drive back to Missouri that the skull of my javelina, along with the stone point and a flint knife that has been wandering my bookshelves looking for a home would come together to make a fitting desk ornament for my den.  What better way to remember Texas?

Good account, Jeff. I enjoyed it very much.

Good stuff Jeff  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  

What did your javi weigh???

Jeff, good story and you tell it so well!! Shawn

Guru,

She went forty pounds, live weight.  The tusks aren't much.  I assume because it was a female.


Ought to make a memorable paperweight, anyway.  =)

Dadgumit, Jeff, syntax was good, I couldn't find one mis-spelled word, good logic and flow...what are ya doing hangit with us  :)

rusty

Thanks bud,I hope to add a javi skull to my room next yr.,good for you!!!

Nicely told Jeff! Sorry about that bow self destructing! Sure was a sweetheart.

Saturday was quite a day. Up early and rested. The camphouse was abuzz. Everybody was eager and smiling even at the early hour. It is exactly that that makes a great camp environment!

Andrew "Stoney" Kinslow chose to go with me that morning. There was all kinds of room in the sector I was hunting and Curtis had an idea for a spot that might show a hog or Javie.

The morning was uneventful if you don't count being buzzed, peered at, shyed away from by an assortment of different birds.
As I walked out of the brush near my truck I noted that my truck tracks from that morning were covered by Javelina tracks. Not just a couple either... lots of them!
In the time I'd sat in ambush for the little beggars they'd been a hundred yards away, just out of sight. Hmmmm! I needed to change what I was doing.

I picked Andrew up around 10 a.m and took him to show and tell with the Javie sign. We pulled up and got out for a minute to look, then jumped back in the truck to head for breakfast.

I pulled ahead about 50 yards to turn around and as the truck cleared a line of brush we spotted a half dozen Javelina feeding within 100 yards.
Getting the truck into reverse, I backed out of there and down the road where I could park the truck out of sight.

Andrew grabbed his Sunbear recurve and I my Howard Gamemaster. We quickly made time toward the pigs.

As we neared the brushline I sent Andrew ahead of me down a cow/game path that wound toward where we'd last seen the Javies.
I wanted him to take the lead and experience his first Javie stalk.

Best laid plans!

As we eased ahead, Andrew got far enough ahead of me that I couldn't get his attention without making noise that would alert the Javies.
It was about that time that I spotted a Javie just up the hill from me along the brush line. We were about to stalk past them.

With no way to get Andrews attention, I put an arrow on the string and moved toward the grizzled little porker.

He was feeding down a sendero and I had an excellent wind as well as good cover to hide my movement. The red dirt underfoot was soft and powdery and I was perfectly silent.

I jockeyed into a position about 10 yards from the feeding Javie. He was headed toward an opening so I just waited and enjoyed the twitching in my knees.

As the peccary came from behind the last screening brush he suddenly trotted forward a few yards, then stopped.
His nose dropped to the ground and grass shielded his eyes from veiw.
The Howard flowed like silk to full draw and I settled for a moment before the arrow slipped away.
In an instant the world switched to fast forward. The peccary was running sideways. My arrow, buried to the yellow fletch showed way too high on his side. I was stunned and the Javie hit hyper space and was gone.
I mentally noted the spot where he disappeared in the brush.

Momentarilly Andrew and I got back together and I told him what had happened. He hadn't seen the rest of the pack.

I figured it was best to back off and give him time to let the Woodsman do it's job. A few more hands for searching wouldn't be a bad idea either.

We hadn't gone down the road far and we came on Johnboy's vehicle and Curtis' truck. It was obvious something was up.

You've already heard the story of Curtis' pig so I'll just add a picture and add this comment. Curtis told me he was layin behind some cactus playing with his GPS when the pigs showed up so don't let him give you that stuff about huntin hard!       :D  

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/ctl6804/CurtishogHerbR.jpg)

Dang your camera takes good pics Charlie. Thats a great shot.

GPS? Who told you that story? Man, you better tell the Gang how I walked barefooted through the prickley pear cactus wearin nothin but mud and a bow quiver for camo. Crawled into shootin position after crawling for about 3oo yards so I wouldn't be seen. Oh wait, that was a different hunt. GPS Hu? Yep, I was checkin the moon phases for dates next March. Gotta get started early so more fellas can tag along at the next Sweat. Gonna do it on the full moon next year. The hogs just ambled by and I thwacked one. I hate to admit it but that is kinda what happened. Sorry, but no real dramatics that time. It was sure fun to do it while everyone was there. Made it real cool! CKCK

Keep it coming Lambo!

Great hero pic of CK! I remember you getting that one.I thought you were trying to take a nap!8^

Keep it up Chuck!!!

Tim and Curtis... wasn't the camera! Was the camera man. I might have caught a few winks while I was down there.    

Curt... Up Chuck?   :D  

Well where was I? Oh yeah...the Javie.

Jerry G. and his dog got things squared away in a hurry with Curtis' hog and I figured that would be the easy way to find my Javie.
Jerry informed me that the dog didn't have much experience with Javies. Seems that if you turn a dog loose on one and he tangles with the pack, he'll more than likely come out the loser. I hadn't really considered it.
Since my Javie went off alone, he was willing to send the dog in.

We went back to the sight of my shot and I soon had them on the last place I saw the Javie. It turned out to be a no go situation. The dog showed no real interest which probably meant he didn't pick up blood scent. We spent some time with it and doing a group search but no luck.

Back to the camphouse for a bite to eat and a bit of a rest.

Out front of the camphouse Timo had set up to knapp some flint. That drew more than a little interest as Tim makes some fine stone heads.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/ctl6804/TimoknappsgroupR.jpg)

Andrew and I had our plans worked out for the evening. (at this point it's obvious I've got my time line a little screwed up... he'd had an experience with Javies figured to ambush them if they came back.)
We set him up to work his plan and I went back to my senderos and feeder.
I spent more time easing around doing a grid search for the Javie I'd shot but it just wasn't meant to be.

Just a little before dark I had moved into an ambush position near the feeder hoping to see Javelina or the hogs that were supposed to be in the area.
What I got was too button bucks. They came right in with little hesitation and fed under the feeder until one of them ventured away and crossed my entry trail.
Nose to the ground he tracked me to my hiding place.
At about 6 feet he looked me in the eye. I did a head fake and almost laughed out loud as he fell all over himself getting out of there.

Within minutes after darkness fell, I was pulling up to the pick up spot for Andrew.
I no sooner stopped the truck and he was poking his head in the window. "I just killed a Javie about ten minutes ago", he said excitedly.

Now that was cool!! We went emmediately to the site of the shot and Andrew explained what had happened and where.
We entered the brush to look for sign after finding no blood in the open where the Javie was shot. Nothing!

Instead of stumbling around in the dark looking and possibly disturbing sign, we decided to return to camp and get help.
The rest of that is recorded in Andrews own words already. I don't think he knows that I was the one who actually found the Javie.
I can tell you that when I saw the arrowhead laying by the Javies nose, the short hairs on the back of my neck prickled up. It was as if some spirit warrior had whispered an ancient truth in my ear and his breath falling on my neck sent a shiver down my spine. Heavy stuff!!

Back at camp...after about a million photos!... the group assembled to hear the story of the Javie and the arrowhead.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/ctl6804/AndrewsstoryR.jpg)

(cont.)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v142/ctl6804/AndrewhoistsjavieR.jpg)

I check in and read the Trad Gang pretty much every day, though I don't post much.  I just wanted to say this is the best thread I have ever read.  I am really enjoying it.  I just got home last weekend from a whole week in South Texas near La Pryar hunting Javies.  (25 hour drive from northern MN)  Anyway this thread has helped me keep a live the fond memories that I have from my trip. Congratulations on having an unforgetable experiance!  Chad

The telling of Andrew's Javie adventure and the arrowhead touched everyone in the room... we all knew it was a sign. I guess when you're a trad archer you believe in such things automatically. Like the sliver of moon that had smiled down on us during the hunt and tracking like a Cheshire cat.
Maybe it's a reminder that hunting, like life, is something we don't really control. It is in fact a gift and occasionally we are reminded to pay attention to what is given and be thankfull.

Supper that night was better than all the rest. Curtis had donated some pork for Markus to work with and Markus did a hell of a job. Little chunks of pig in some kind of red sauce that I'd love to have the recipe for... Help Jerry!!

My old buddy Eric Zuniga had suggested (even before the hunt started) that we get after some frogs while there.
To tell the truth, I was so caught up in the crowd and the cold that it was about to slip away on us.
So when Jumper came and asked if anyone wanted to go shoot at some frogs in a nearby pond, Eric and I jumped on the opportunity.

As we dismounted the truck and drew our gear together, the question came up how we'd go about this task.

It was agreed that we'd separate into pairs. Jumper and JC and Eric and I. I'm not sure we were set up... but I'm real suspicious!!      :D  

As Eric and I cruised the bank of the pond to the left Jumper and JC headed to the right.
Eric panned the light along the bank and we could see a few frogs lined up along the bank. Shining the light in the direction JC and Jumper had gone showed tons of frogs.

The loud talking, splashing and the sound of bows in the night made me wonder a little. But hey! We were having fun!
These were king size Texas frogs, the likes of which I had never seen in my old Missouri haunts. I'm talkin huge, kick you into the middle of next week, croakers.

Eric and I got a few shots, but no hits. JC and Jumper did a little better in the land of plenty and brought three to bag.
It's definately on my list of things to do next year!!

As with most hunts, the time was flying by like a carbon arrow out of a Morrison bow and in a twinkling it was the last morning.
Some of the guys went back out for hogs and Javies and others chose to spend the remaining hours in pursuit of bunnies.

I have to admit that I was tempted to forego the Javie hunting and chase rabbits. You see, the area I was hunting had few rabbits and I'd dearly wanted to get in on the rabbit busting. Now I wish I had.
I had no sightings that last morning and the prearranged time to meet and pack up came all too soon.

Goodbyes were said and most of the guys had headed out when Andrew and Jumper showed up from retrieving the meat from the cooler. They'd spotted a couple of Javies on the road in and with 45 minutes remaining, loaded me up for a show down.
But it wasn't gonna happen.

I do admit to feeling a little self conscious as they dropped me off and took the remaining guys off on a hill to watch the anticipated action.
If the Javies came back, I'd be under the gun so to speak.

But it just didn't work this time.

Soon we were packed and rolling down the road for home. The gang scattered to the four winds like a covey of south Texas quail busted from the brush.

I suspect that we'll here the plaintive lost calls over the next year as the covey trys to reassemble for another go at Texas Sweat.

OMG now lets don't bring no families into it are i'd have go get Uncle Elmer out of the zoo and two of my cousins out of jail.

rusty

I just wanted to add this little tip of the hat.

Dave Bulla probably hunted as hard or harder than just about anybody on the hunt... with the least amount of luck.

I guess if we were giving a determination in the face of frustration award for the hunt it would have to go to Dave.
When the chips are down...Dave is in! All my best Dave.

in my senior high school annual, I won the "most likely to shop at good-will" award.  weren't that nice of 'em.

rusty

snicker , snicker ---- herb

We had a hell of a rain two nights ago. Washed away two of my hog huntin set-ups in the back of my home place. I 4wd over to the lease property to check things over there. Damn big ol' Ace broadhead still driven through the door. It looks like Excalaber(the sword) but in more of a Redneck kinda way. Maybe way more of a Redneck way!!!! LOL! I guess I'll just leave it there till you return to pull it from the door. I still have the shortened(resilance checked on the feeder) nutter in my truck too. Might be an auction item. Good times for sure. CK

Just remembered this little incident that I thought was pretty cool.

I was easin down a sendero looking for a Javie when I spotted a little round ball of gray around 50 yards away.
I mean a LITTLE ball of gray! It didn't have the shape of a rabbit or anything else recognizable even when veiwed through my binocs.... so I moved closer.

At around 25 yards, I was sure what I was looking at was a bird, but it was just sitting there not moving. I moved closer yet.

Now I could clearly see that it was a dove sitting there in the dust, but couldn't understand why it hadn't flushed.  :confused:

At five yards I pulled up my binocs and could clearly see it had it's eyes closed... asleep?
:scared:  

I just stood there chuckling under my breath.

Some big fun there!!!      :D