Trad Gang

I'll be telling this one here:


The future lies ahead, just over the next hill. Through the mirage that lifted from the pavement, I pressed on. I couldn't begin to know what tomorrow would hold. The one thing I was certain of was that there was adventure ahead.

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


Little did I realize when I looked at the truck ignition that the keys dangling there were the keys to my future. I'd planned this weekend way back when I'd concluded the Texas Sweat. I'd planned this hunt to revolve around the summer droughts that occur here and the full Moon. Things looked prime due to the fact that the Laredo area hadn't recieved rain in months. The water holes, if not dried up, should be the the life-support system for the entire ecosystem and the place to shoot pigs.

This hunt started strong, with numerous Tradgangers immediately jumping at the opportunity to hunt the desolate, unforgiving, wasteland called South Texas. Slowly but surely as many times happens, they began to drop from the roster as the dates neared. I wanted to share the opportunities with as many guys as wished to come but as the dates neared, I found that there would only be three of us and only two that would actually hunt. No matter, I was going to relax on this trip and not kill myself trying to get guys on game.

Jerry G.(Pedernal Bowhunts) had invited me down a day early to visit and get to know the Ranch before the hunt was slated to begin. We rode and chatted and laughed about past events. It was a good day. Mostly we tried to iron out the details of the next Texas Sweat. I thought about the name of that Hunt as the scorching winds of June blew across my face. I couldn't have chosen a better name for a hunt in this furnace of a place.

Arrival on the Ranch was uneventfull except for a quick nod of the Gate Keeper and a wave, carry on. I'd arrived and the excitment level was rising. There were throngs of quail scurrying here and there and a count of three bunnies before I stepped from the truck. I smiled! This was going to be a great hunt. CK

Alright!!! Here we go!  :thumbsup:

:bigsmyl:

Alrighty, here we go again.  :thumbsup:  
I just love these hunts.  Someday.....


David

CK, this'ns got to last at least 4 days!!    :thumbsup:

BUNNIES -- i am all ears -- Herb

I have a real love/hate relationship with these stories. Anything dead yet? Huh? What about now?

You got my attention!

C'mon Calvin...this just isn't fair

good read so far

I reckon LittleFeaher's really Larry McMurtry  :)

Naw, CK's vocabulary is too good to be McMurtry.

The Ranch we would be hunting this trip was Jerry's personal hunting property that is a highly managed 3700 acres of low fence. The deer here are huge, wide racked, Muy Grandes that this area is famed for. The trip was a two fold trip for me. I was going to hunt, have fun, and share the experience with Marvin McFarlan but also do some scouting for the famed Muy Grande.

This years deer season is holding one golden opportunity for a lucky bowhunter. Jerry will be offering up one hunt to a bowhunter that will last a total of 10 days. The hunt will include a trophy Whitetail, unlimited hogs, and two javalina. I was scouting for a couple of prospective clients.

As Thursday evenings Sunset neared, I dawned some scrubby looking camo and headed off in a Westerly direction. Jerry had showed me some likely locations to ambush game and tonights sit would find me in one of those locations. The ride was bumpy and dusty as I eased the Ford through the paint scratching trails better know in South Texas as Senderos. As I crept forward over a ridge, I located a spot to park. My heart rate increased with every step I took toward tonights hunting location. I tried to imagine the events that may unfold as this evening raced toward darkness but my thoughts just ran together like melting snow and my breath grew shallow.

Once I snuggled into the short tripod at the intersection of three openings, I pulled my camera from my pack. It was hard to find a spot to hand my gear here, with my only surroundings being the tiny, sparse, Mesquite tree that was to conceal me. As expected, the sit was very short before game started to move in the cooling, evening temperatures. At first I only saw quail and bunnies but that was all to change. With the crack of a twig, I was snapped from a daydream back to reality. A small, velvet, forkhorn emerged and passed my location without a worry in the world. He never knew the closeness of which he'd just passed a viscious predator. The deer was the first but most certainly not the last. I believe the count for the evening stood at nine deer. All had passed within easy bow range and all had passed with the unsuspecting attitude as the forkhorn. It is always an honor and a compliment to be allowed to become such a part of nature that nature itsself passes without any recognition of my presence. That is the biggest compliment I could ever be presented.

The deer came and went as the evening drew closer to an end. I became lazy and relaxed as I watched the last few deer browse the area. Without any warning, the deer exploded in a panic, snorting and blowing like they believed the World was ending. I couldn't imagine what had frightened the deer to such a lever of sheer panic. Maybe if I sit quietly the brush will offer up the offender? And offer him up it did!
With the same unsuspecting demeanor as the deer had passed my location, several Illegal Mexican Migrants slowly started past. As I watched them pass, I couldn't help but let them know how close to danger they had been. I rudely let them know of my presence and in the explosion of excitment, several of the men found themselves with freshly deposited cactus thorns and soiled undergarments. Im not sure if they ever found each other again in the dense, unforgiving underbrush but if they did, I'd have loved to hear the tales they told of the little, camo'd, Rambo that had so unsuspectedly interrupted their journey to the Promised Land.

As I cranked the diesel and headed the Ford back across the darkness to my first night at camp, I found a satisfaction deep within. I felt quite at home here and felt at one with the country. This is surely where I belong. It is the place that I long for when I am away. I could hardly imagine getting any sleep tonight. The excitment of what tomorrow may hold stirred me and the thought of the hunts ahead swirrled in my head. Morning is but a few hours away. CK

cool stuff.......Im all ears... :)

CK, I had a hunt interrupted by a group of illegals once in SW Texas. Coming from up north it is easy to feel sorry for them at first, but after a run down on the problems they can cause us tax payers in regards to social benefits etc it is easy to recognize the problem.

I love hunting down there and have gone every year for the last two years. I am not sure why I was surprised with the amount of game in TX but I was. Some of the terrain is so rough I guess you don't imagine anything living there.

Bill

A side note to include in the last chapter:

As I was sitting quietly between deer encounters, I noticed a Pack-Rat scampering around beneath me. He carried twigs, leaves, and parts of things unknown back to his den just yards away from my location. I drew a rubber blunt from my quiver and lay in wait for him to stop at just the right location. He never found that spot. I remembered that I had a few sticks of gum in my pack and immediately had an idea. I reached in and drew out a stick of foil wrapped gum. I put the gum in my mouth and folded the foil into a neat little square. I tossed the shiny foil square into a small shooting hole below me. As the Rat ran past on another mission of forage, he could never have know that his life was so close to an end. As he ran past again, he locked the brakes on his tiny little body, reached for the foil and found his-self on a quick trip to find Jesus. He never knew what hit him and I sat there with pride, savoring the small accomplishment.

There would have never been the opportunity to take the small trophy if I hadn't been thinking. The accomplishment was small but satisfying due to my having created the moment. Its not always the size of the accomplishment that makes the moment special, but the moment itself. CK

and....and...anddddd???!!!!!  :bigsmyl:

come on Curtis... how about some more pics too...blm

Take me away my friend..................

'Nother cool story,Curtis,keep it comin'!By the way,wha'd that rat dress out at?An,how'd he cook up?  :bigsmyl:

Great Stuff !!!!!!!!

The drive back to camp this evening gave me time to reflect on the days treasures. Id started the evening hunt with the little forkhorn.

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

He was followed later by several Does that eventually got spooked away my my untimely visitors from the south.

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

As I neared camp I couldn't think of the fact that I was alone tonight on a huge expanse of property and was unarmed. Would I enter camp to find visitors? Would I be awakened from a deep slumber to a pounding on the camp door or shuffling in my truck? The thought of the visitors that had scared the deer away earlier clung tightly to my every thought. Id never feared this country before and knew I was being silly to think such thoughts, but never the less they played like a broken record in my head.

I spent the rest of the short evening around camp, sharpening broadheads and preparing for morning. I was worn from working two jobs lately and the rest brought by a comfortable bed was almost a sinfull pleasure. Almost as soon as I'd drifted of to sleep, I find myself awakened by an unidentifyable noise. My adrenaline surges just as I realize,          it's my alarm on the cell phone.... Wonderful little apparatus. Sometime I wonder of their value other than an alarm clock?

I pour a stiff cup of coffee and return to bed. I'll just lay here for a few minutes, then I stumble into a pair of camo and head out to slay the world. When I open my eyes again, there sits a cold cup of coffee and the Sun is blinding me from the window. Im late!

Ever notice how fast you move into hunt mode when you know prime time is passing you by? Like you cound change the hunt if you hurry???? LOL!

I decide before I rush off that I'd just relish in the feeling of a good nights rest and use the rest of the morning to scout and bust some bunnies. This morning I headed to the north east section of the ranch to scout a pond on the ranch map.  I needed to find just the perfect spot for Marvin to hunt when he arrives later on. My method of Scouting an area consists of driving till I see a bunny, then I stop the truck, shoot "at" the bunny, then move on to the next shooting opportunity. Great technique, right? Well, I finally arrived at the pond two bunnies and an hour later.

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

The area was unbelieveable!!! The sand here was loose and powdery but it was still quite evident that many a critter had walked through here. The pond held the same evidence of being very frequently visited by the local game population. Looks like a likely spot to kill something. I'll head back to camp now and wait till Marvins arrival. Maybe I'll find another bunny or two along the way, or maybe a big snake?. CK

"I am all ears."
~Ross Perot
AKA
Bernie

(I "heard" that!)

yup Bunnies ------- herb-- hard to drive by

OK you got me hooked lets here the rest  :D

HEY!! Get on with the story or you'll have to change it to "Drag marks in the sand"!  :D

This is as bad as waiting to open presents on Christmas morning!!!  C'mon man, get on with it!

Wait just one minute.....CHARLIE is telling someone to get on with the story?            Ouch! I think I broke a rib!

:D

LittleFeather,

Your canvas awaits the artist!!  "The Bowyer's Journal" is taking submissions for tradbow hunting stories...pictures would be appreciated.  Give it a go!!!

I' traversed the large section of property, criss-crossing the maze of roads, trails and senderos on my way back to camp. The final left turn placed me on the main road back and in an easterly direction, the final leg of my short drive. I immediately notice a familiar sight lying half the distance across the wide gravel road. SNAKE! Enormous snake! It never ceases to amaze me the size in which the snakes grow in this region. I'd later be told by Marvin that the snakes here resemble the snakes he had only seen in Zoos and in his worse nightmares. I hadn't told him but his worse nightmares were pale to what he may accidently find in this wild, uninhabitated, region. He would later find his own nightmare.

The follies that follow could only be played out in a persons imagination. There is no way to describe the dance in the underbrush that the snake and I did. Kind of a psudo-mamba with a twist and a dip! Id grab the snake by the tail and pull and he'd turn and strike and chase me around a small tree, then I'd take over the lead and chase him. If anyone had been watching, I'd have had to charge admission. It had to be a riot to see.

Well, I ended up winning the lengthy battle with the enormous snake and returned to the drivers seat of the Ford. As I pulled into camp, I surveyed the area for visitors and for tracks of visitors. None seen, I exit the truck and head in to have a much needed shower. Oh no, no water!

I managed to find the problem with the water-well and fixed it. The shower wasn't the best I'd ever taken but was a welcome relief from the scorching heat and gift to anyone who would be around me this afternoon. I pulled on a pair of shorts and my work boots and headed out to irritate the camp bunnies while I waited on Marvin. Marvin musta thought me a real Jethro when he arrived. I was a perfect match to the profile some guys would place on my atire. Jethro for sure!

Marvin arrived just as I was finishing the slow walk to the main road. I jumped into the rental car and we headed back to camp. I must confess, when I saw the rental car, all I could think about was seeing how much air time we could show it. I wondered too if Marvin had purchased additional insurance. I know, its a Redneck thing to see how far a guy can jump a rental car but Im a Redneck and Im into a good challenge!

Back at camp I discussed my findings on the Ranch. Tonight I would let Marvin take the spot of his choosing based on what I'd found and on what I would show him in the hours before the evening hunt. For now, we'd set out to the North to the largest body of water I'd found. I just had to show Marv the local Bullfrog population. Boy was he ever surprised at our findings when we arrived at the pond. Boy was he surprised!!!!

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

CK

OK.  Perfect timing CK.  I'm here and back on line.  Wasn't able to get the pictures out of my camera at home last night, but am back at work today and should be able to get some shots out.  I've got a shot of what Curtis salvaged from his encounter with the snake in there somewhere and will try to post it as soon as I get time to download it.  I have to work some you know to pay for plane tickets and fancy rental cars, but I'll load software here at work and see if I can make this thing work.

If you'll email me the pic, I'll insert it into the same post. Thanks, CK

Here is my first installment:

I flew from Lexington, KY to Dallas and on to San Antonio.  Luckily, all my luggage arrived with me and I was able to retreive all my gear from the carousel (you can't carry knives on a plane, you know)without incident, or so I thought.  I found out later that my checked bag had been searched and my Deep Woods Off as well as my scent eliminator spray had been removed.  :(  I hate terrorists -- I could have been better prepared for this.  But, my SNAKE BOOTS made it here fine!!!!!  :)  

When I went to get my rental car the agent being a wise ___ made the old "Good news/Bad news" announcement to start me off.  The bad news -- they ran out of Economy Cars (I must be Van's cousin, 'cause I'm FRUGAL).    :(  The good news -- a FREE (did I mention I'm Frugal) Upgrade.    :D  Did I mention I like Free!!!!

So I head south following CK's directions to what will be my first Safari style hunt (Webster says that is a traveling hunt, in case you don't know).  Little did I realize the similarities that I would see to that word on this trip.

As I neared the final destination, I noticed that there were Blue Lights ahead on the side of the road.  I quickly checked the speedometer to make sure I was OK and as I got nearer I saw that it wasn't Smokey, but the Border Patrol.  I didn't see any Foreigners, but there seemed to be activity there.  Made me wonder what I was getting into.

As I was approaching camp, I saw movement coming out of the brush and it materialized into what I remembered as LittleFeather from his avatar.  Kind of a scary thing to see coming out of the brush.  I got Curtis into the car, where the thermometer was registering 95 and we drove on in to the "cabin".  Quick introductions and I upacked gear, changed clothes and we headed out for a quick tour.

More later.  Got to get pictures unloaded.  Stay tuned boys and girls, it gets better from here.  :readit:

I can't really remember every detail over the next few hours. A lot occurred in a short amount of time. Marvin and I had walked quietly into the area of the pond. We stopped short and surveyed the area. Marvin had never seen a hog in the wild and I was determined to show him one. We were in luck! There on the far side of the pond, lying chin deep in the mud was Marvins first hog sighting.

The moments ahead get a little fuzzy in my mind. I know I told Marvin to hang tight while I crawl forward and try to locate the best vantage for a sneek on the pig. To my surprise, shortly into my crawl, the pig jumps up and runs off. What the heck had I done wrong I ask myself. Oh yes, now I see, Cows! Damnit!! I wanted Marvin to experience first hand the excitment of a ground stalk on a pig. I suppose we would have other opportunities. For now, we'd ease up and smack a few frogs. This should be great fun. As you can see, the frogs here get quite large.

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

We found the motherload of frogs lying high on the dried banks of the pond. Id never seen frogs stay so far from the waters edge but I wasn't complaining. It gave me and Marvin the edge. As I continueously harrassed the frogs, Marvin eases ahead. I didn't wish to stop him. He needed to see and do things for hiself if he was going to burn in memories of his own. As I was preoccupied, Marvin found a memory for sure. I look up to see Marvin crouching low and a sweet little black pig 15 yards away and closing the gap quickly. I stood there dropped-jaw wishing I had my camera ready. It would have been the pic to grace the cover of fine Archery publications. I dared not move a muscle as I watched in disbelief. Marvin had been in Texas 2 hours and already he was facing a hog at 15 yards. Lucky Bastard!!!

As the hog causiously eased forward in Marvins direction, every thread of my inner fabric was screaming out "Shoot him, Shoot him" but my outward self remained quiet as the ponds surface and the pig  started quartering in Marvs direction. This was stuff dreams are made of. At around 12 yards the pig dropped his nose to the water and proceesed to blow bubbles. I laughed a muffled laugh and continued to watch as my adrenalin rose. This was magic!

The hog turns and begins to exit the confines of the pond and I wonder if Marvin is gonna watch the pig or shoot him. He actually was demonstrating the patience of Jobe. I was very proud of him. On the pigs final steps to freedom, Marvin drops the string. Thwack!!!! The sound never changes and I hear it often in my head when I think of hunts.

The pig hits the slope running and I can see the arrow dangling out the offside of the pig. Marvin had connected after only an hour or so on the Ranch. This fella is gonna be spoiled and hard to contain.

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

CK

Now that's whut I'm talkin bout!

That's either a very small rabbit or...

Dang Marvin, hog stickin made easy. Show Little Feather a thing or two about how its done!

That Sir, is a full grown Desert Cottontail.   :readit:  That also is a full grown South Texas Bullfrog. It doesn't take but two frogs to make a "big man" meal. I happened to take six frogs home with me.   :bigsmyl:  Wanna come over for Dinner? CK

Dang CK, this is one of yur best ones yet!!!  I do think you'd be better off carryin a small .44 on your belt......for the frogs if nothin else.  :D

I promised myself, next Texas Sweat, I'm gonna devote some serious time to frogs and more bunnies for the freezer! Them frogs we shot last time were so big we were all trying to figure out how to save the leg skins to make bow backing.

Curtis, Did you get a photo of the snake???

Dang!  Now I'm pumped!

By the way, what is the difference between a rental car and an Army tank?????........Answer:  There are just some places ya CAN'T take an Army tank.  :bigsmyl:

never tasted frogs YET !! JC can i come with you might be able to hit one that big !!!--- herb

Dirteater, I thought the answer was: Hang time! LOL!

OK,  Here's my side of that story.  This is where the fun begins.

We sneak in and see that hog at the other end of the pond.  We ease around and Curtis leaves me waiting while he tries to find a route to the pig.  I wait and watch him crawl across a low spot to try to get a better view.  The pig leaves and CK comes back a little discouraged, but hey, I've been here about an hour and already I've seen a pig!!!!  I'm pumped.  :cool:  

We go on down to the pond and find the frogs in the brush.  Curtis is giving them heck, and seems to have things in control, so I go on down the pond edge on my own to see if I can find one to harass.  I've got a blunt on the string and trying to spot frogs on the bank when I hear something up ahead.  When I look up, there is a black pig coming down the bank headed for a drink!!!    :readit:  I'm thinkig, "this must be the stupidest pig in Texas coming down here right now".    ;)  Curtis is behind me whacking frogs and this pig just walks out of the trees on it's way to the pond!!!!

I drop to my knees and get as small as I can, while trying to wave behind me to get Curtis' attention to get him to stop whacking frogs.  Things get quiet behind me, then I realize I've got a blunt on the string.    :o  I pull it off and lay it on the ground and ease my number 1 broadhead on the string.    :)  This is an arrow that I brought that belongs to a friend who wants hog blood on it.  I'm ready now, trying to be as small as possible kneeling on a bare open pond bank while the pig non-chalantly strolls down to the water and wades in.  She is quartering toward me and I don't have a good angle.  She is definitely in my range and unaware that I am there.  I wait.  She wades closer to me.  Still no shot!!!  Then, she walks out of the water and is angleing up the bank and coming closer to me.    :D  As she gets up close to the vegetation she finally seems the think something isn't right here and turns around to go back the other way.  She is still not sure, but starts back the other way.  As she turns, I realize that this is as good as it's going to get and draw and release with the intent of ending her indecision about the situation.  My arrow comes off the string and hits her high up in the neck instead of where I wanted it and she exits the area.    :mad:  I can see the arrow sticking out both sides and as she is leaving the area at mach 1, I can hear it smacking on trees and brush.

A bad shot.  I'm pretty bummed out, and as Curtis and I start looking, there isn't even any blood on the ground.  She will be fine, and I've had my first taste of South Texas Hog Hunting and had a shot at the second Wild Hog I've ever seen.

Curtis is pretty gracious about the whole situation and I'm embarrassed and concerned about the pig, but there's nothing we can do about it.  She'll be sore for a while, but I have no doubt she will survive without much problem.

We went back to camp and started getting ready for the evening hunt.

Curtis asks me where I want to hunt after the tour and I bow to his wisdom.  I'm too new at this to feel confident and let him tell me where to hunt.  He picks as stand for me that we had looked at earlier.  I load up on bottled water and we head out for bigger things.  I get to my stand about 5:30 and get settled in.

Got to go get batteries so I can unload pics.  I'll try to continue later this afternoon.

The moments after Marvins shot left me quivering and shaking like a Schoolgirl at a Horror movie. I can't for the life of me figure out why I am the one with Buck Fever. As happens occasionally to us bowhunters, Marvin had gotten snatched up in the moment and in the height of Buck Fever, released only to miss his mark. Heck, I couldn't help but be understanding in the moment of his dispair. Id stood in his shoes more times than I care to remember and I surely wasn't going to chastize him.

After assertaining the situation and deeming it unnecessary to spend any more time looking for the pig, we head out to capture some new, more vivid memories. I drove to a spot that I felt was the best location Id seen to take a pig. The location was at the entersection of two roads and had a large Hackberry tree and a cattle trough in very close proximity. This area held an incredible amount of hog sign. I slapped Marvin on the back and told him he should easily redeam hiself on this evenings hunt.

I asked Marvin if he'd like to start hunting at this early hour or make a quick trip back to camp with me. His decision was to stay. Heck, he'd come for a short two day trip and he was determined to make the best of it.

I made a quick stop on my way back by later to check on him. He was fine and was having a grand time. I continued on to my hidy-hole along the lake we'd been at earlier in the day.

Little did I know the events that would transpire this afternoon would change many of my future hunting decisions. Id hunted over water holes before but never in my wildest dreams could I imagine the incredible numbers of game I'd see today.

From the moment I had arrived there were deer at ther waters edge. They seem to manifest themselves from nothing more than the thick, heavy air here. I watched with excitment as I tried to find a comfortable place to nessel in for the evening.

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

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

Just as I was groping for another disk to insert into the camera, Natures Clowns from the Circus showed up at the water hole. These Clowns showed up in the form of two small pigs the size of house cats and were followed quite closely by a hungry coyote. At the same time I turn to catch the act, the small pigs escape the grip of death by diving directly into the safety of the pond. I narrow miss indeed!

I watched with unbroken concentration to see what Nature would offer up in this chapter of life and death. As the coyote ran up and down the shoreline looking for the best avenue of attack, the pigs swam nonchanantly in circles. After a couple of minutes the coyote continued on to hunt elsewhere and the pigs left muddy but otherwise unphased. It was one of those encounters that we all know happens but rarely are we chosen to be able to watch  in this saga of life.

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

I continued to watch well into the evening as an array of animals entered the confines of the water hole, quenched their thirst and continued on in their daily routines.

It was quickly turning prime-time for hunting as I could see the shadows growing long and melding into one. I know deep down that things were just about to happen! CK

Ahhh had the appetizer, now waiting on the main meal!

Left this thread alone knnowing full well how long it would take.  Finally succumb to looking thinking 4 pages would finish it.  Now here I sit wanting more. yet again, good story lets feed the hungry souls.

Phil

Oh my...this one's really shaping up nicely....

Come on fellas....one more story before bedtime....pleeeeeaaaaase.

Oh but the song dogs gotta eat too.  Pooooooooor thangs.    :readit:    Been there, done that.

My appoligizies again guys. The phonelines went down around 4:00pm yesterday and just came up. No phoneline/no pooter.......


No sooner than the thought crossed my mind about it being prime time for hunting, two black boar hogs appear and dash for the water. This is what I've been waiting for!

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

I ready my bow and do a once-over of my cock-feather position on my arrow. Im ready to let fly this beautiful Ash arrow. It's leading edge is a fine Timo chert head I was given at Texas Sweat. Im planning on burying it deep today and Im but minutes away from the possibility of doing so.

As I wait for my opportunity, one of the boars obviously has his fill of water and starts the retreat back in the direction he had come. A minute later my window of opportunity closes as the second hog follows the lead of the first. Ahhh, Im not upset. I got them on film and sometime that is as good as getting them on an arrow. At least I can share their passing with others that enjoy the viewing.

No sooner than I laid my bow to the side, adjusted my sitting position on the ground, and picked up my camera, another group of pigs emerges from the trail 30 yards to my right. Yes!!! Maybe I'll have some redemption.

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

I sit patiently watching the jostling of the pigs for a position at the waters edge. Im sure its a pig thing that I as a human may never understand but pigs seem to always think that one of their tribsman has always got the better spot. Seems that there is always a struggle between themselves to find that perfect location to eat, sleep, and obviously drink. This evening would play out in the same fashion and I found myself sitting and enjoying the show till the light of day just could no longer support my vision.

It was dark now and I reminessed of the days events as I always do this time of day. On my walk to the truck I found myself thinking aloud in the words of the old Credence Clearwater song "Put a candle in the window"....... A perfect thought as I walked through the darkness. What a day! CK

Dang Curtis!

Sure brings back great memories of the sweat hunt. I is gonna hafta get down there next summer for sure, kill some sharks and hogs. Help Texas with its over abundance of wildlife problem. Great story!

Yessir, and I can't wait till the sun comes up again...

How's Marvin doin?

Curtis dropped me off at my stand and headed back to camp to get something that he had forgotten.  He was going to drop me off some wate on his way back by.  As I am easing into my stand there is movement off to one side.  A bunny hops out of the brush and stops.  

I nock an Ace Hex blunt and try for some redemption from the hog shot.  I hit him on the side of the head from six yards away!  It took another shot to finish him off, but I had just hit a rabbit head sized target from six yards twice in a row, but an hour earlier I couldn't hit a hog in the right place from less than ten yards!!!!  I'm not sure I felt better, but at least I know that I can hit what I want to...........sometimes.

I got my blind set up and Curtis came back by to drop me off some water and I was ready for the evening.  I settled into my blind which was on the downwind side of a feeder and waited for things to develop.

If you have never been to a place like this, you can't imagine the activity that goes on.  There was a constant parade of birds and animals in this place.

I told Curtis later that I never knew you could stand hunt for rabbits!!!!  You can in South Texas.  I don't know how many rabbits came by, but I let them walk, or in this case hop, in hopes of bigger game.

I had Bob White Quail and Blue Quail, Cardinals, Doves of different species (I think Curtis said there are four different species), and Green Jays.  I was able to observe a Green Jay underneath the feeder, pecking at the carousel to get more grain to fall from the feeder.  It was pretty cool.

I've got some pictures if I can get them out of my camera.  Bought a new camera and apparently there is a conflict with XP, networking, and cameras.  Where's Meathook when you need him?

Anyway, I sat there in the sweltering heat watching the creatures going about their business until dark was approaching.  But that wasn't all that was approaching.

I can hear them coming from a long way off and apparently there is an argument taking place.  Perhaps as Curtis pointed out in his earlier post, they were already discussing who would get the best spot under the feeder.  When they finally broke into the clear, it was a fairly large mixed group of pigs.  I never did get a good count, but there were different sizes in this group.  At least eight to ten small pigs ranging from brown to grey in color and maybe twenty pounds.  All the adults were black and there were at least two good boars in the group.  I wanted a boar, because I wasn't sure if the little ones were weaned yet, so I was concentrating on them.

I'm not sure if there was lingering scent in the area, or if this is just the way pigs are, but they were very cautious.  They all came in together and then ran back into the brush about ten yards almost as soon as they arrived.  Then they came back in and stayed a little longer.  They were milling around and never stopped for very long in one place.  Then they were gone again.  A couple of minutes later, they were back and the same scenario took place again.  Anytime one would stop, another one would come up and stand in front of him so that there was no way to get a shot through.  

I began to realize that I was going to have to be ready for the shot whenever the opportunity was presented, and could not hesitate.  I was already standing and I started to ease my bow forward to get into a better position.  It wouldn't come!!!  I glanced back and there was a branch that wa between the string and lower limb.  I grasped the branch and eased the bow backwards to clear it and the hogs busted out of there!!!  I don't know if they saw movement, got a whiff of scent, or what, but they left in a hurry and it was different this time.  I could tell.  I tried hitting my hog grunter to see if the would come back, but they had had enough.  Nothing doing!!!

I sat back down and thought about the days events as the light continued to fade.  Here I was on my first day of pig hunting and I had missed a shot and had a group of hogs near my stand and was able to observe pig behavior first hand.  It couldn't be any better!!!

When it got too dark to see, I grabbed my gear and walked out to the road to wait for Curtis.  What a great start!!!

After a short 10 minute ride back to camp, a pork rib dinner and a run-down of the events from the evening hunt, we hit the hay. I can't begin to tell you how tired the hot Texas Sun makes a hunter.

The alarm went off way too early as generally happens on my hunts. I arose to a hot cup of Joe and roused Marvin. He didn't appear to be having the difficulty in rising as I did. After our morning preperation was complete we discussed the locations we'd be wanting to hunt this morning. I suggested that Marvin hunt the same location as he had the evening before. Heck, he'd seen more pigs than I had and I couldn't see any reason to change locations. I too chose to return to my hunting spot along the water hole.

After another breif trip across the ranch we were nesseled into our morning spots. I couldn't help but wonder what Marvin was seeing in his area as I watched a early morning coyote trot past in route to the waters edge. He was jumpy so I decided to pass on the shot opportunity. I certainly didn't want to mess up Timos flint head with a miss.

Shortly after the coyotes passing, a small buck appears. He wets his wistle and starts his exit into the mornings routine. His escape route, if he continued, would place him in front of me at less than five yards. Would he smell me? Surely he'd spot me before he reached the life threatening position in my shooting lane. Well, maybe I thought him smarter as he actually was. He placed him soul unknowingly at death doorstep. He musta known I wouldn't shoot.


 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/Littlefeather/eyesinthedarkness2.jpg)

He could never know how close his ghost was from departing. I flash burned a memory in his head that he should not soon forget, as you can see the glow in his eyes from the cameras flash.

It was several more minutes before I would again see movment at the entrance to the pond. I was positioned at a slight rise above the trail leading to the pond. I caught movement to my right and immediately knew I was about to send the flint tipped arrow on the mission for which it was designed. An unsuspecting coyote enters my shooting lane at five yards. He is as unsuspecting as the day he was born. At the same instant as I hit anchor, the coyots turns his head. He turns to greet the oncomming arrow with the quickest maneuver that I have ever witnessed. I might as well have been trying to shoot at a lightening bolt. The arrow ruffles the hair on the songdawgs back just before finding soft sand on the opposite bank. I am in awe at the speed of the dog as I watch his hasty exit.

About a half hour later I begin to wonder if the mornings window of opportunity is closing. I hadn't seen game in quite some time and think about going for a walk.

Squeeeeel!!!!! Directly behind me I hear the hogs comming. Yes!!!! Maybe I'll get one yet. To no avail, two different groups of pigs pass my location but never enter an area suitable for a shot. The mornings hunt has come to a close. I'll head back to pick up Marvin and hopefully help him hoist a hog onto the meat pole. CK

cool pic CK.

yup. very cool pic.

I got into the stand and set up quickly.  First thing I noticed was there was zero wind.  Last night it was fairly steady and at a pretty good clip.

I spent the morning watching a constant stream of bunnys, quail, and other birds.  No pigs of Javalinas came in even though this was thought to be a good area for Javi's.

I finally got some of my pics downloaded from my camera and will start posting them as soon as I get them sized.

OK, here we go.

Curtis mentioned earlier about the large snake he danced with.  Here he is with the skin.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/P6240003.jpg)

When CK left me to try to find a route to the first pig we saw, I snapped this shot as he was leaving without his knowledge.  You can tell that it is thick here.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/P6240010.jpg)

Here is CK with some of the frogs that he stuck.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/P6240011.jpg)

When I took the shot at the hog, I was down on the bare bank of that pond.  No Cover anywhere.  All I had was a little shade and the distraction of the hog in my favor.  Here is where I was.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/P6240012.jpg)

And finally, here are some of the visitors to my stand.

We've got Rabbits,

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/Bunny.jpg)

Blue Quail,

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/BlueQuail.jpg)

and Green Jays.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/P6250009.jpg)

And finally, hunting in this heat is hard work.  Here I am taking a break with a bottle of water.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/WornOut.jpg)

A little closer look.    (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/Littlefeather/LARGESNAKE2.jpg)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeea

i don't like snakeys

rusty

and dat is a reallllly goooooodddd reson why  :)

rusty

so the snake was almost five feet long then, hey CK?    

I see that Marvin "Danger" M is having a good time eh?!!!

wish me and Hailey could come down and join ya's!!!!

great story so far!!

Rusty, notice where CK is crawling.  Prime, I tell ya.  Prime for the little crawlies.  Like CK.   :bigsmyl:  

But, if you stay in your living room, you'll never see the roses in bloom.

That is either a really small Curtis or ...

Great pics Marvin!

Man, Curtis, it takes quite a hard-core hunter or a lunatic to go crawling through stuff like that in so. texas...in June...In either case, I'm impressed!  :thumbsup:

Sounds like the number cruncher is having a blast... LOL

I was a little worried about him being that far out of his element and all, but it sounds like he's doing just fine   :thumbsup:

I had a ball!!!!  Just wait till we get to the Saturday afternoon hunt.  I was glad I had the snake boots!!!

Come on Curtis, your turn!!!  I have to post from work so it better be fast or the boys and girls will have to wait for tomorrow.

Oh yea, Marvin did real well for a first timer. He certainly learns quick.


Well, with the morning hunt successful but without a kill, we head out for other opportunities. First we'd head for camp and get a much needed bite to eat. On the way, Marvin gets a good, up close and personal look at an official Illegal Alien.

There in the road ahead was a dirty looking fella that fit the profile of Alien quite well but there seemed to be something wrong with the picture. I couldn't seem to put my finger on it till the Alien flagged me down. (side note) Being flagged down by a fugitive from the law generally isn't a good thing.

Being fairly well versed in Spanish, I stopped and asked the guy "Que Queres"(what do you want)? The man with a mouth full of gold teeth replies that he's hungry. I flash a rather large knife that Doug Campbell had made me and replied that I only have "Agua Frio" (Cold water). At this point, the truck was stopped and I was committed. I ease from the truck and fetch the guy a bottle of water. I notice as I watch my back that this guy also has a gold chain around his neck. He could only be one thing, A Drug Runner, better known in these parts as a Mule. He gave me a healthy bearth as I slipped him the water and bid him good luck in his journey. Little did Marvin know that this would only be one of the many encounters on this trip.

With things settled and us well back on our way, we discussed evening hunt plans. I just had to convince Marvin to take my spot at the pond while I eased up a couple of hundred yards to an intersection where four roads came together at one common gate. I know I can kill a hog here and I also know the Marvin is about to see more game that he has ever witnessed on any hunt. I am totally PUMPED about the hunt ahead.

I found the reminance of an aging ladder stand at the gate and decide to use it as a secondary position if my new brush blind doesn't agree with the wind direction. The wind never stays the same direction in the thick brush for more than a few minutes. Ask Marvin!

We took stand several hours earlier for this hunt. We both felt the hunt starting to wind toward the enivetable end and wished to make the moost of our time here. We take stand at 4:00pm, a five hour sit till dark.

I decided to take a little siesta in my ground blind till things start to cool. It was a nice, shady spot under a Mesquite tree and the sand was soft. My backpack cradled my head nicely and I immediately drifted off. I was rudely awakened a few moments later by a curious cow that decided to rub her horns on my new blind. She was quite surprised to find the keeper of the brush pile at home! She backed away slightly and I made a move to my elevated ladder stand. A deer appears and the cow and deer play a game of "who's going first".


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


As the evening wears on I find myself seeing more and more deer.

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

And I even see a few more coyotes but none so gracious as this one who held real still for the camera. Notice the deer in the background. The deer and the coyotes seemed to tolerate each other quite well down here.

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


I waited and I waited but I never heard Marvins signal that he had shot something and I never saw the hogs I had waited desperately for. As darkness closed in around me, I see a dim light through the trees. Marvin is in route to my location. Surely he has made meat and just not signaled. CK

As Curtis said, we discussed where to hunt for the evening over lunch.  Curtis was really pumped about the pond and wanted me to sit there for the evening.  I wasn't hard to convince.

We had gone in and made two alternative blinds to use, depending on the wind.  I settled into the first one and waited for the fun to begin.

The wind didn't cooperate.  From my ground blind on the end of the pond, the wind was blowing almost straight up the pond.  It's gusting and shifting around and there is no way to tell what it is going to do.  At one point I heard pigs off to my left, but they never apeared,  I guess they got a whiff of the human waiting for them.  The wind gets stronger and I hear what sounds like thunder in the distance.  I can't see beyond the brush, so don't know for sure, but it might rain.  The wind is still blowing predominantly across the pond, so I move to the other blind.  When I get there, the wind is blowing back toward the other blind and across the area I am expecting game.  This is no better.  At about 6:00 I go back to the original blind and just decide to hope for the best.  This should give me a small window of opportunity if they come out where I expect them.  Finally the wind calms a little and it is now comeing blowing toward the 10:00 position.  The pond is at 12:00 so hopefully they will come in at 4:00 and come to my end of the pond, offering me a chance.

Here is my view from my blind.  The stick at the edge of the water was 17 yards from my blind.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/PondViewAgain.jpg)

This guy was a frequent visitor.  Curtis called him "Companiaro" or something like that.  I don't know what that means, but it sounds like companion and I was glad to see him and felt like we were old friends.  He didn't seem to mind me being there, and even came closer to investigate me.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/RoadRunner.jpg)

About 6:30 I see movement at the other end of the pond.  Something comes out and goes into some more brush.  I put my binoculars on it and wait.  Whe it comes out, its a big old Bobcat.  He meanders around the other end of the pond and appears to want to hunt frogs like Curtis and I did, then gave up and went to the waters edge.  He is about 80 + yards away and unaware of my presence.  This old boy lays down at the edge of the water and drinks, then just looks around.  He stay for about 20 minutes just enjoying the shade and being beside the water.  All the pictures I took of him didn't turn out very good, because he was so far away.

Got to go home now.  I'll continue in the morning.  Sorry guys I didn't want to break this one up, but I am already late.

More to come.

Awahh damn Marvin, You cant just cut it short and leave us hanging like that! GET ON WITH THE DANG STORY!!!!  :bigsmyl:  

I gotta go eradicate bees now too. The night job calleth. See yallin the morning. Hope you enjoy all the pics. CK

Both of ya bailing out??.... That's just not right....   :readit:   Terry

This has been a good hunt so far.  Glad you're taking me with you.

Curtis is just "ittle and that snake is mansized .
ck you could make a pair of pants from the hide .

Marvin them ain't rabbits them be Bunnies and they can be the most fun you can have in the right company   :D  --herb --sitting here lonesome and wishing

Don't be lonesome bruther Herb...I'm right there with ya in spirit! I'll never ferget that last mornin with ya'll as long as I live.

An he's right, in the right company, them Bonnies are some of the finest game in the world to chase.  :readit:

Sorry about that guys.  Promised my wife I wouldn't be late last night.

Now where was I?  Oh yeah...........

The cat has now quenched his thirst and had a small break from the heat of the desert.  He exits to my LEFT and things get peaceful.  

About fifteen minutes later as I am watching the local dove population coming in for their beverage and wondering how dove season works in Texas, I detect stealthy noises to my LEFT, and very close.  The cat is still on my mind and he went that way!  :scared:  

I eased my right hand onto the string, while slowly turning my head to the left to see what is going on.  At first it didn't register what I was seeing.  My first thought was "what is a fire hose doing out here in the desert?"  Second was "There wasn't a fire hose here when I sat down!!!!"  I jumped up and turned to get a better look and was very happy to be standing in my snake boots.  I've seen big snakes in zoos, but this is the largest snake I have ever seen in the wild.  His head is as big as my fist and is mere inches away from the stool I have been sitting on!!!  :scared:  He is so close to me that I am afraid to shoot with my bow because I might hit my own foot!!!  I grab my arrow to stab him with it instead of shooting him and he decides that he has an urgent appointment somewhere else.  Now I grew up around Black Racers and have had them chase me, but this guy is faster.  I have no doubts he could outrun one of the Road Runners that had been drinking at the pond.  He is gone in a flash!!

I described him to Curtis later that night and CK said he was an Indigo and they are endangered.  I've got to say that, that particular snake was endangered, 'cause I was gonna take him out!!!!  I have always had a problem with things being behind me.  Some people are clos.......clostra............scared of close places -- I'm paranoid about something being behind me.  Even in the military, I always hated when the inspector would turn at the end of the rank and come down behind you to check you out from the rear.  I hated it.  This old boy had come upon me from behind -- stealthily!!!  I was not happy.

After he left and I got my heart rate back to something close to normal, I sat back down, turned my chare a little in that direction to give me a better chance of catching him if he came back and waited for developments.

Next installment -- Standoff at the waterhole, with pics.  Give me an hour.  Got work to do.

Those Indigos are on our side, imported to eat rattlesnakes and protected in TX. Still, don't think I'd like one puttin the sneak on me! They get real big and seem extra long for their size, gotta have room to swallow a long rattlesnake.

Protect that water hole Marvin

Im at home today. Damn waterwell is down. Once Marvin completes his waterside story, I'll wrap this hunt up. Be back in a bit! Here's something to brighten your morning.

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

CK

Now, Marvin, when I move like that it generally tends to clear the area of wildlife. Surely, it did the same for you??      But, a ssssnake'll sho nuff do it to ya.

About fifteen minutes later and things start to get interesting.  I feel like I am in rush hour back home.  One after another, creatures start to appear.  

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/DrinkingDeer.jpg)

Everybody wants a drink.  Coyotes are coming in almost constantly.  They are extremely skittish and seem reluctant to come to the water.  Nothing comes in from the left side of the lake, and I am not surprised since that is the side the wind was blowing toward all afternoon.

The cows are in and out as well as the other creatures.

I was busted once.  This old girl saw me moving to take her picture.  She had a small buck with her and was very protective.  Curtis saw them also.  Here she is trying to figure it out.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/P6250016.jpg)

And this young lady was concerned about another predator.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/WatchingDeer.jpg)

And here he is.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/CuriousCoyote.jpg)

At one point, there was a coyote drinking near my end of the pond.  He suddenly raised his head and looked to his left, then trotted off up the pond a ways.  As I watched this little drama unfold, I decided that this was going to be one of those water rights battles that you hear about from the old west.  As he moves up the pond, a group of cattle came in.  When they saw him, they poceeded to follow him up the pond bank, instead of just going to water like the other cattle had done.  They ease up there, keeping their eye on him all the time and he goes off into the brush.  Their attention immediatly turns to getting a drink.  As they wade out into the pond, he comes back out of the brush and follows them to the waters edge.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/MexicanStandoff.jpg)

As they waded out into the pond farther, he actually came to the waters edge and drank.  When the cows heard him, they turned around and walked back out, making him retreat back into the brush again.  Mexican Standoff at the Pond!!!

I 11 coyote sightings (probably some duplicates) and as many as three at the water at one time.  I counted 14 deer sightings, again some were duplicates, but it was a blast watching them.  These were really healthy looking animals, although some of the 'yotes were limping, probably from cactus spines (I felt their pain -- literally).

No hogs came in that evening, but I literally had a ball sitting there and my mind drifted to other lands and thoughts of Safaris in more exotic places came to mind.  It was easy to imagine the coyotes were jackels or wild dogs, the deer were gazelles, and that I was sitting on a wate hole in the African Plains.  That may be as close as I will ever get to a hunt like that, but the feel was there that night.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/Texas%202005/P6250015.jpg)

As darkness closed in the Bull Bats came out and circled the pond and one of the landed within a few feet of the blind.  Once again, I felt like I had a companion to watch the end of the day with me and that soon the pond would belong to the creatures of the night.  I got my gear together and walked out to find Curtis.

Ck so prickly pears have a use besides making me drop my pants and dig out the tweezers .

Marvin almost like hunting a waterhole in Africa even has the snakes .looks like i better learn what an indigo looks like as if i see a snake if i stop running i will kill the sucker --herb

OK, I'm going to go ahead and put my final installment on here and jump ahead of Curtis to finish up since I left ya'll hanging last night.

We got back to camp and hit the sack immediately.  Next morning, CK was up early and we were out quickly for the last morning of the hunt.  Curtis put me on a new spot, dropping me off a couple hundred yards from where I was to be and telling me, "it's down there on the left, just before you get to the curve."  

I headed ouut in the dark and for the first time all weekend my boots didn't squeak.  This was a phenomena that had me worried about making a stalk, so I was definately glad to hear (or in this case not hear) it.  

As I'm easing along the road I hear the coyotes warming up on my left.  I stopped to listen and soon they broke out into the Song Dog Top 40 and I enjoyed the music standing there on the side of the road and wondered if they were singing about rabbits in the cactus, quail at the feeders, cattle at the pond, fawns in the fields, or some other aspect of the canine lives.  It made me feel good to hear them this morning.

I eased on down to the curve and backtracked to a trail that looked like the right one and into the brush I went.  I found the feeder and set up as best I could, backed up into a Mesquite, on the only side of the area that was semi-downwind.  The wind was not kind again this morning and as the sun came up, I only saw quail, rabbits and birds in my area.  

Eventually I decided that it was too nice a morning to waste sitting on a stand waiting when the wind wasn't the best, and I headed back into the brush to explore and chase bunnies.  I had about an hour till CK would be back and I wanted to explore.

At one point, I stopped for a break in the shade of a Mesquite to rest and take a drink.  While I was there I snapped this pic of my gear in honor of Killdeer so that she could see my hat, with a little Mesquite added to soften the lines.  

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/Texas%202005/BowhuntersRest.jpg)

I did manage to find proof that there are Javalina in there and I could almost hear Joe Javelina's Texas Cousin snickering from the brush as I snapped a picture of this track.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/Texas%202005/JaviTrack2.jpg)

As I hit the road to head out, I came across this laying in the road.  I don't know if I knocked it off on the way in, or something else knocked it off, but the bunnies profited by it.  You can see the "Footprints in the Sand" (Sorry Curtis, it was just too good an opportunity) around this little desert snack.  As you can see, not only did the rabbit profit from it, a fly is also getting a little moisture for himself.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/kyarcher76/Texas%202005/BunnySnack.jpg)

I came out of the brush just in time without any additional rabbits to show for the morning, but I'm carrying a quiver full of memories.

My hunt was not successful if you consider that I didn't "bring home the bacon", but it was a resounding success in experience photographs, and memories gained in a beautiful place.  I know that my footprints are already gone from the sand, but maybe, just maybe, I can go back someday and leave a few more.

Thanks for the opportunity Curtis.  It was great.

I must say that I can't remember much about the last night in camp. All my memories and emotions were running together. Id hunted harder than Id anticipated on this trip and even after several days of close calls, I still had an empty meat cooler. Well, except for a number of bunnies and frogs.

I know Marvin and I sharpened a few broadheads and did some other gear repair at on point but I can't begin to remember when. We would have one last shot at making meat when the Sun rose in the morning. For now We'd sleep.....


The morning routine was just becoming second nature at this point. Two large cups of coffee, a short trip to the library, and then a tribal council to decide where we would spend our last morning on the Ranch. I gotta tell you that I started this last morning with a lump in my stomach. Im not sure what the force is that drives me but sometime it overtakes my ability to decipher the importance of the hunt-vs-killing. I guess I've come to think Im expected to drag meat out of the thorn bush every time I go in. Debbie would later relieve my negative thoughts by telling me how proud she is to have me a Trad archer rather than a wheel shooter. She says that she sees where my friends and I place the importance of a hunt. Deb says it is a comfort to know it is more a spiritual journey we as trad archers undertake in a hunt instead of a record number of kills or seeing how far we can shoot.. She never knew how much it ment to hear those words.

This mornings hunt would find me once again overlooking the gate area leading to the pond. Marvin wanted to shoot a javalina so I told him of an area Id been in that held a lot of sign. He promptly agreed to hunt that area as his last effort to encounter the elusive javi.

The morning kind of drug on. I saw very few critters as the Sun rose higher in the deepening blue sky. I made a special effort this morning to record the finer details of a trip slowly comming to an end. I took a picture of a small cactus that hung high above the ground in the crevace of this Mesquite tree.

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

I had earlier caught this Dragonfly in the rising light of day.

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

As my watch neared 10:00 am I climbed from my perch and went for a quiet stroll. I needed this time to strech the cramps from my legs and move a bit. I hate to sit too still for periods of time. It makes me figit like a kid in Church.
On my walk this morning I really felt at one with the environment here. Nothing really seemed to notice my presence as I crossed paths with many of the smaller creatures that inhabit the region. The window of opportunity was closing quickly and no matter my action, I could not prevent it from happening. I suppose I would have to bow to Mother Nature on this trip for the victory was all hers. I had no hard feelings. Afterall, Id triumphed over nature on many hunts and knew I was the one who the Spirit Guides had smile upon, no matter the weight of the meat in my cooler. I was content as I crawled behind the wheel of the Ford to traverse the Ranch one last time.

On my last trip back to camp I stopped to take some parting pics. This one reminds me of being back on the Reservation out West.

  (http://photobucket.com/albums/v241/Littlefeather/th_OUTOFGAS2.jpg)

Those of you who have experienced the Navajo Nation have seen sights just as this before. Who could have known the events that lead men to exit a truck and just leave it there for time to swallow up?

After checking over the condition of the ol 72 Chevy, I pressed on. I was sure Marvin was waiting on me and I had high hopes he had gotten his javalina. I'd certainly seen stranger things happen than taking a game animal in 4th quarter, with long yardage, in the closing seconds of the game.

I saw one last opportunity at a great picture. As I passed an Oil Field Tank Battery, I noticed the ladder on the side of a tank. Surely I could get a nice parting shot to remember the trip.

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

I took the picture and knew right away it could never do justice to the view. I continued on to pick up Marvin...... CK

Thankyou for the great story.

I must say, I was very disappointed when I found that Marvin hadn't gotten his game animal. It was my biggest goal for the trip to send him home with a memorable kill and it hadn't transpired. Marvin seemed happy anyway and we stopped just outside of camp to examine the last of the species we'd see on this trip. It was a Texas Tortus and he was as bis as Id ever seen one. Most of these Desert dwellers outnumber my years on earth by a great deal. Texas Tortus's live to be more than 100 years Im told. This guy must be a Great, Great, Grandfather.

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

Back at camp we gather gear and place everything back as we'd found it. Marvin and I said our farwells and he left the Ranch. I stayed behind for a little while. I mostly just fumbled around camp taking inventory of my memories. I always have a hard time accepting the end to great hunts and this time was no different. Almost as if I was leaving this place to never return. My heart ached and my throat burned. I longed to stay!

I regretably placed the lock on the cabin door and fired up the diesel. I was on my last leg of this fine journey and as I went through the gate for the last time, I couldn't help but notice that more Immigrants had passed this way. The only sign of their ever passing, was their "Footprints in the sand"..........

Thanks guys.  That was great storytelling.

I enjoyed the story..... Thanks for taking us along guys....   :thumbsup:   Terry

That blasted Charlie Lamb and is story telling classes!

Thanks for taking us back through it with you guys, awesome pics. Gave me incentive to take more the next time out!

Great story Curtis, thanks for sharing another piece of America  :thumbsup:

Well written Marvin, CK.  Well written indeed.

Marvin, you have to make room on your calendar for another trip.  Round II so to speak.

Thanks guys, I really enjoyed perusing your endeavors in the Texas wilderness.

Tracy,

I'd love to come back.  Beautiful place!!!  Lots of wildlife, including alians.  What more could you ask for?

What a hunt! I am still thrilling to the tales. Stories well told, and super pictures to boot! My compliments to the chefs for cooking up this fine adventure.

And Marvin, from my hat to your hat, "You had a wonderful time, wish I were there."

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/Killdeer/TG%20Uploads/HatatHuntley.jpg)

And I would add, "But well-armed!"
Nothing scares me but people, and illegals scare me deeply! They are already breaking several laws, and you don't know why each one is leaving home....brrrrr!
:scared:

 
Killdeer  :thumbsup:

Thanks guys! The comments are the fuel to write them. I appreciate it.

Before this thread fades into the archives, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to Jerry Gonzales(Pedernal Bowhunts). Without his excellent work managing these properties, we wouldn't have the opportunities to have the quality of hunts like this. If Jerry or I can ever place you on a hunt, don't hesitate to ask. Jerry manages seven or eight very large ranches that are very low pressured, to ensure you the best opportunity to take game. Thanks again Jerry! Great job!

Thanks guys. Love that south Texas brush country. I'm dreamin of TS06 and also my anual trip south in March. Thanks again for sharing.

nicely done guys,nicely done.

Thanks guys.  I got almost as much enjoyment out of telling the story as I did going down there.

Killy,

Don't know if you get as much enjoyment out of your hat as I do mine, but you must since you feature it so much in your posts.  Don't know what I would have done in TX without my hat.  Kept the back of my neck from getting any redder than it is.

Great story, the trade off in writers was cool.
Well worth the wait!!!
Thank you two for sharing.

Bravo!  Thanks for taking me along on the hunt fellas.  It brightened my week.

Thanks guys...that was great  :notworthy:    :notworthy:

Dang I think you've got it.  Nice story, well told with just the right amount of suspence.

I give it a 9.5.

Mike

Great job, great hunt.  I'm not so sure about crawling around in that stuff with those python size snakes   :scared:  you have down there though.  Great story guys, thanks for sharing to both of you.


David

Thanks guys... good story well told! (don't know why you raced through the tellin, though!   :D  )

JC,
Next time we meet up with Charlie lets take him for a little walk in the brush , he isn't that big and he did say he was getting old   :bigsmyl:  

Curtis you learnd well at the Knee of the master and you sure are improving in the telling -- herb

THAT!, was awesome story. Curtis, you really need to give some serious thought to submitting your adventures to be published. You tell a better story then most of them fellers that do it for a livin.IMHO!!!

Maybe sumday we'll adventure together, until then Happy huntin!

Hutch  :thumbsup:

Curtis,

The pictures of Texas in full bloom are really impressive. Sounds like you guys had a wonderful hunt. Thanks for letting us enjoy it with you.

Chris

Thanks you guys....that was fun!!  Very much appreciate the time and effort it took to take pics and tell the story!!! CK, you are a mad man!  Not sure if you will ever profit from a therapist, so I'd like to apply as your psychological buddy.....I don't know how tall you are, but that dang snake could have hurt someone even if he wasn't poisonous!!  I'd personally like an account of how you nabbed him in detail...and an explanation of why ya didn't just shoot him??  Thanks again!

5'6"     :scared:   That messes up the hide. Gotta cut the head off with a pocket knife!  

Well I enjoyed that one.Sounds like Marvin had a great time.

I was really hopeing that knife river head was gonna find blood,but I know it's just a matter of time.

Good job to the both of ya.

Okay, Killdeer and Marvin, who makes the hat?  Are they Filsons?  Sump'n else?

Thanks guys for the great adventure.  I've made the long trek to south Texas the last 2 Marchs from northern MN to chase hogs.  There is something very special about the brush country.  I absolutely love the early mornings.  The sounds and sunrises are extraordinary.  Curtis you would make an excellant professional writer but I'm sure you don't need another job.  Thanks again,  Chad

Congrats on a great hunt, and thanks for taking us along. That was an incredible read.

Tracy,

Got mine at Noggintops.  Here's the link.

 Camo Safari (http://www.noggintops.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=70&p_catid=&sid=9fIMQs1FE2aD80p-54105100275.16)  

And, Oh look!!!  They're on sale!!!

Thanks Marvin.  I've been lookin at that style of hat for a while now.  Reckon I'll look some more this evening.    :thumbsup:

Thanks for the great story tell'en guys. You can have the snakes..  :D

Great story.  Hooked ya in,and kept ya there.  Hey CK, wanna come up here to West Virginia and help me look for a snake?  My son's 3' red tailed Boa is loose someplace in the house, and the Missus is drivin' me nuts.

That was almost as fun as being there! I loved it.

CK this jerry guy has emailed me a couple time and my return emails keep coming back. If you could email me his email addy I'll try again.
brianroness@yahoo.com

CK & Marvin, Thanks again for putting your hunt to words!!

http://www.pedernalbowhunts.com/

HUNTANDFISHADV@USA.NET

Jerry's cell phone#...956-645-2775......


Please dont call Jerry until you've looked over his website. Jerry is a very busy guy and his website answers most of your questions. When you talk to him please mention that I suggested you get ahold of him. I hope all your future hunts are the awesome quality that Jerrys hunts generally are.

Excellent Story Fellas!!!

CK,
     You should be writing a book with all these adventures!!!!!!Great Stuff,I really enjoyed it.

Great story guys!
Marvin Im glad my arrows got some action.
I may not make it to Texas this year but atleast   my arrows did.

Terrific story!!  Enjoyed it thoroughly - thanks for sharin'...

Just caught up on this thread.  Thanks for the Texas vacation.  Gotta get down there someday.  I think in the winter though. Sounds hot!

Excelente!!! neat story Curtis and they way it was told was special!!

Thanks a bunch!!!!!