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Nice! Looks like a really fun trip! Can a guy spin fish that creek with barbless artificials or is it fly only?

Right on guys! Super happy for Jared! Kudos to all who made this happen! Blessing is right!

Congratulations to the happy hunter! Gotta love the hunter with his pearly whites in full display...the kid, not so much! LOL!

Some of you may recall that last spring I had some feelers out for hog hunts in Texas (and California). One of those seems to have panned out. I contacted a guy in California (Erik Smith) about his operation back then but he wasn't booking dates at the time (full). I checked into his gig on Jesse's hunting and people seemed pretty pleased with his hunts. His operation is outside Madera, California. It used to be called Cottonwood Hunting and his website is now www.smithadobe.com. Anyways long story short, I have been offered a number of hunt dates to book a trip with him for next year. He takes a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 hunters per party. The deposit and hunting fee we have been offered is $250 per person. This includes lodging, but food is up to us. This is a semi-guided opportunity on private land. The hunts are from Fri -Sun morning. $200 kill fee only if you get a pig. Hunters are responsible for their own California hunting license and pig tag. Skinning, gutting, quartering up to us. This is a pretty good opportunity to get a WILD Hog without having to drive to Texas. Dates I've been offered are as follows: Friday, January 8th - Sunday, January 10th, 2016 Friday, February 5th - Sunday, February 7th, 2016 Friday, June 3rd - Sunday, June 5th, 2016 Friday, July 1st - Sunday, July 3rd, 2016 Friday, August 5th - Sunday, August 7th, 2016 Friday, September 2nd - Sunday, September 4th, 2016 Friday, October 7th - Sunday, October 9th, 2016 Friday, November 4th - Sunday, November 6th, 2016 Friday, December 2nd - Sunday, December 4th, 2016 I'm most interested in the February date, followed by the June date, and maybe the July date. Not really interested in fall dates since they could interfere with fall hunts here at home. Let me know by PM if you are interested. Please list your top 3 dates in order of preference. If we can get consensus on a date and deposits from a minimum of 3 other people I think we can make this happen! Thanks, Nick

Tear it up Adam! I may have to join you on that next time. I love pulling on big fish as much as the next guy, maybe more!

Since there has been little to no interest in this I let the guy know that I was not able to get a group together. So I guess I'm going to give up on trying to put a hog hunt together and maybe just play it by ear if someone else organizes something or has a better idea. If anyone has a group going hog hunting and needs another hunter, please keep me in mind. Sorry guys, Nick

I have fed my allergy dog Sam (see This is for the Dogs thread) the sweet potato/venison from Natural Balance with good results. Also have used the bison from Natural Balance and the Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream. My dog itches like crazy if I give him regular (chicken, pork, beef, lamb) protein sources. Grains also set him off. Any of these would be worth a shot before you go for the full on hypoallergenic dog food that the Vet recommends for $120 a bag or raw venison unless you can find a lot of donations. Good Luck!

Score...about 3 hundred and AWESOME! Who cares about the number, that thing is one of a kind regardless! If I had to guess I would say around 300 but that is a wild guess without seeing anything up close. Great story and pics! Thanks for sharing. Nice job sticking it out. You earned that excellent bull!

Praying for your Dad

Bought tickets for Football games but never concerts from StubHub as well. No problems with them other than the fees are somewhat outrageous.

Great pics, thanks for sharing. Nice to see someone who doesn't mind doing a little homework. Good Luck to you!

That is really generous of them! I'm glad that your fortune has turned around some. Right on!

Outstanding bulls! Huge congratulations to all involved!

Wow! Not cool! Hope they get it fixed.

Thats a cool offer Adam, good for you!

My cousin and I bumped into you and those nice mules last year as you were taking your last load out on the Kachina trail. Congrats again! My cousin and his family have tags again this year too. Maybe you'll see him again. Good Luck!

Check out the Bowsite. There are some hunting Hawaii threads on there. Goats out the yin yang on Maui I believe. If you can get hooked up with a local I'm sure it will cost way less and probably better opportunity. There is public land like others have pointed out. Very steep country, good luck!

No, but I walked that stupid thing from top to bottom when I was in my college wildlife classes. Helped catch a Coues fawn with my bare hands in the enclosure. Doing that survey is fun. Talk about up close and personal...LOL!

1. Yes this is ridiculous, but true, #1 my nemesis...archery javelina 2. Archery bison 3. Pope and Young class archery bull elk I believe all totally achievable in the next five years with a little luck and hard work. Anything beyond that is gravy. The Good Lord blessed me with a Desert Sheep tag already so I won't even think about lightning striking twice and ever drawing a Rocky tag here in AZ, but I will continue to apply. Killed a decent muley with my bow a few years back so that is actually another that I have crossed off the list. I could put about 10 list items here. Hogs, Dall and Stone Sheep, Mountain Goat, Caribou, Moose, Kudu, Gemsbock, Red Stag, Ibex, I could go on and on...

Cut the antler skull cap off and chuck that nasty thing out away from camp somewhere for the critters!

Nice way to try something different!

I probably would have at least skinned it first, then put the head on that cool off road bumper thing right up front...

I will be up there as well. I've been during August and early September during the archery season but never during October. Deer are everywhere up on top during the archery hunt. Not sure about the doe hunt. I would imagine that the deer might start coming off the top by then but probably not anywhere near the winter habitat. I believe the ADA or Mule Deer Foundation, not sure which, is running a Youth Game Camp that weekend. If you can get in touch with those folks they might be able to steer you in the right direction. Game and Fish probably has some info on their site about the Camp. Wanted to add a couple of things of note after reading all the posts here. It can snow in October but probably not going to be covered in snow yet but be prepared for the worst which can mean snow and freezing conditions. Also, pretty sure the hunt is only open on the West side this year, so keep that in mind. The warm fire burn near the highway is probably a good place to start if there is not too much cold weather or snow before the hunt. Good Luck! Nick

I'm currently using Zamberlans and they fit great, but can't stand most boots with an adhesive bound sole. The adhesive in the seam between the rubber and the leather always gives up way before the tread or the leather upper. Getting a few more miles out of my current pair after some shoe goo but kinda getting sick of buying new boots every other year. I too am in the market for some new boots. I wish Redwing or Justin made a good Made In USA hunting boot. I might try some Chippewas with the lug sole. I really like the ones I have with the Vibram utility sole. I usually prefer a one piece, full grain leather upper with no gore tex or other waterproof lining for hunting in AZ. With regular Obenaufs treatment and some good wool socks my feet never get wet or cold. Finding models with no waterproof lining is getting harder though.

Way cool story and hunt! I really appreciate the awesome story and pics! Congratulations!