One for the memory banks

[WOODSAZ]

I remember the first time I got to head out into the deer woods with my Dad. I wasnt hunting but got to just go along and hang out, waiting in the stand with him. We had one doe come in that morning, and it walked into about 20 yrds and fed on by. I remember that feeling I got, the blood pumping andrenline rush we all look forward to every year. I remember that morning like it was yesterday and always think about it til this day. One thing that never crossed my mind about that memory was how it made my Dad feel, having his son in the woods with him. Well I got to have that experience this past weekend with my son, Conner. The whole crew, consisting of Conner and I, Ron and his little boy Ryan, Rob, and my father set out of our sons first huntin trip with Dad.

 

Last year Ron and I kind of started a tradition. We decided to put in for the HAM pig tag instead of the archery tag in order to focus on deer during the archery hunt and be able to take our daughters out on the pig hunt with us. Unfortunatly last year the weather didnt cooperate much and keeping little girls entertained is tough to do on the side of a mountain in the rain.

 

So this year we decided to take the boys with us. Ryan just turned 4 and Conner is only a few weeks behind him. We were worried that it might be too soon but decided that the main goal for the weekend was just to make sure they had fun , and if we got a pig it would be a bonus.

 

We planned on the area we would hunt, a spot Ron had hunted before with success. One of the issues we had with taking the gorls out the year before was manuvering around cactus, So we decided to bring our bigger packs(Eberlestock J104 and a Blue Widow) and put the boys in the packs in order to get arounnd easier. Then we got to thinking that we could very well just sneak up on the pigs with the boys and shoot with them on our backs. So know this is the plan. As I was packing for the hunt I put Conner in my pack to see if shooting would be an issue. it seemed it would work great and everyday up until the hunt Conner asked me if we were going pig hunting yet and if he could get in my backpack again. I was excited about seeing him so excited.

 

So the day came when Conner asked if we were going pig hunting today and I finally got to say yes. We loaded in the truck after work, kissed Mom and sis, and headed down the hill to meet up with the rest of the hunting party.

 

After a quick bite to eat with everybody we headed out and set up camp. We got the boys in bed, had a couple brews while figuring out the plan of attack for the morning.

 

In the morning we started the trek into the desert to our glassing point. The boys walked some but the Dads ended up carrying them most of the way. We got set up and started glassing. The boys occupied themselves with a pile of sand and two railroad spikes that Ron found on the hike in.

We glassed for the entire morning seeing nothing at all. We were getting a little frustrated but the boys never said once they were bored. They were perfectly happy just playing in the dirt.

We continued to glass but no luck. The heat of the day set in and we stopped to have a bite for lunch. Getting frustrated with not seeing anything and having drug the boys a good mile and a half into the desert, we were getting worried that we were pushing them too hard. I asked Conner if he wanted to head back to camp. He looked at me and said " No, I wanna go pig hunting".

 

So to the next ridge we headed, Ron and Rob stayed behind to look out a different direction. When my Dad, Conner and I made it to the next ridge, it looked good. We sat down and I combed the cut with the glass and Conner would take over some. Everytime I asked if he saw anything he just said "cactus".

 

 

Rob, Ron and Ryan met us at the top and sat down to glass some more. We sat overlooking a big cut. The boys sat down and started building a house out of rocks. After about 30 mins I thought I heard something. I asked Rob if he heard it to. He said he did but couldnt tell what it was. Ron with his highly tuned engineering ears said it was a car coming down the road.....

 

After a few minutes we heard it again, coming from the big cut we were overlooking. It sure sounded like pigs to me, Rob agreed. So we told the boys we had to be REAL quiet. A few minutes later we heard that distinct sound of pigs squabbling. YES!

 

We had pin pointed the sound and started making the plan of attack. Once we decided the route we asked the boys if they wanted to go chase after those pigs. "Nooo, we want to stay and build our house...."

 

So we rephrased it, and asked if they wanted to get in the backpacks, sneak up and shoot a pig? Now the answer was a definite "Yes".

 

As we started unloading the packs o make room for the munchkins Conner was adiment that he needed face paint for the stalk, so we painted up the boys and they were ready to go!

 

 

So the stalk was on, and we worked our way down the hill. The boys were great the whole time. They never made a sound.

 

So we worked our way down and within about 80 yrds from the edge of the cut, Ron catches movement and sees about 5 pigs turn and head back over the hill.

 

Thinking that we were busted already Ron headed up the hill to cut them off and Rob and I stayed low, slowly working into the tree Ron had seen them.

 

As we get to the edge of the cut we could see Ron making hand gestures saying he could see pigs in two different spots. Rob and I slowly worked over the edge.

 

Wanting to get this hunt on film Rob was running the video camera. We could hear the pigs moving down below us but the brush was so thick we could see anything. I asked Rob to range a small grassy areas where we could hear the pigs moving around. Just as Rob switches the video camera out for the rangefinder the pigs start to rustle the bushes 10 yards below us. Immediatly I go to full draw and as soon as I did pigs were coming out of the woodwork! I picked up on one and it turned running straight away. It was within 20yrd so I put the 20 pin on the back of its head and the 30 and fourty pins on its body and shot. Got it! I could hear the pig pile up and die within seconds. Unfortunatly it all happen too soon to get on film.

 

There are still pigs all around us. Ron has one run and stop 10 yards from him. As he gets ready to draw he notices Rob directly behind the pig preparing to draw on the same one! Ron whistles to get Robs attention and the pig darts into the thick brush over the ridge we had just came from. Unfortunalty the brittle brush ws so thick and tall, most of the time all you could see was the brush moving as the pigs ran through. I followed Rob over the ridge towards the pig and Ron focused on the other side of the cut. He had a few within range but none would stop for a clear shot.

 

After and attempt to call them back in it was over. Rob headed off to try and catch up and Ron, me and the boys headed down to look at my pig. It didnt go but 30 yards. Here is a pic of the boys walking up to it for the first time.

Rob worked his way back, and we headed back up the hill to get the rest of the stuff and my Dad, who watched from the hill above. We set up for our photos and watching the kids reaction to the pig was priceless. They wanted to feel the hair and see the teeth. They thought it was pretty cool.

 

 

 

Conner, my Dad and i stay to clean the pig and Rob,Ron and ryan took off to hunt the remaining daylight, hoping to catch back up with the herd. Unfortunatly they had no luck.

 

We made it back to thew truck and headed back to camp for the night. Needless to say the boys were pretty tuckered out. Ryan fell asleep on Rons shoulders for the hike back. He woke up as the got to the truck, looked at Ron and said "wow, that was easy...". I dont think Ron agreed with him at that moment.

 

We got back to camp and i couldnt even wake Conner up for dinner. He slept for 13 hrs!

 

 

Unfortunatly the rain came in and hit us pretty hard during the night. We didnt end up getting out until about 9 the next morning once the rain broke. We glassed for the few hours with no luck until we had to break camp and end our weekend adventure.

 

We got camp broke down, had lunch and let the boys shoot a little.

 

Its a bummer we didnt fill all the tags but at least we got to give the boys a taste of what we love to do. Hopefully Ron can get out next weekend and fill his tag.

 

We asked the boys as we were leaving if they thought this hunting stuff was pretty cool. The responded with an emphatic yes! Im sure alot of you have already experienced hearing that before but for those who havent yet, it will send a chill down your spine and put a tear in your eye.

 

Thanks for reading, and hopefully Rob and Ron can chip in some too.

 

Pass it on,

 

Jay

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[tjhunt2]

This has got to be the best post , by far, I've read and enjoyed in a long time. Great story and pictures to go along. When I say thanks for sharing I really mean it from down deep inside. That's just some good stuff right there.

 

TJ

[azcouesandelk]

That is one of the best writeups I have ever read Jay! Awesome job and definately a neat way to get the boys in the hunt by carrying them!

[bonecollector]

That is a great write up! Way to get the kids involved, I think it is pretty cool that you guys carried them around the mountains in your packs. that is awesome! Thanks for sharing a great post.

[detox]

Reading your write up gave me a lot to look forward too. It brought a smile to my face and a tear in my eye. I can't hardly wait untill my son is old enough to take out in the field.

 

I am truly blessed.

 

Thank you,

 

detox

 

[FlyingW]

That's what it's all about right there !!! Thanks for sharing a great story & photos ...

[gotcoues]

Thanks for sharing that great story and wonderful pics

[HaYen]

Awesome story Jay. Thanks for sharing and for helping to ensure the future of hunting!!!

[WHT_MTNMAN]

Jay and Ron I've been looking forward to this post since I got a few pictures on my phone, nicely done and what a cool story and picture essay. Some of my favorite hunting memories are when I am with one fo my sons. Awesome, to bad it wasn't caught on film but thats ok you got some great pictures.

 

[Coues Sniper]

Now THAT was cool . Great idea with the kiddos in the backpack. They don't have to walk and they get a birdseye, over the shoulder view of the whole hunt. Too cool. Congrats.

 

By the way, how do you like those "Shooter's Gloves"?

[GTT]

Awesome story & pictures Jay! The kids in the packs is so cool! What a great way to get the little ones out in the field & keep it fun for em' Thanks,Bret

[willhunt4coues]

THAT IS AWESOME. Here soon I will be doing that with my boy and I CANNOT WAIT. Thanks for sharing that.

[WOODSAZ]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

 

Coues sniper- are you talking about Ron's Sitka gloves? I just have cheapy Red head ones and they work OK. I ususally dont wear it on my trigger hand though.

 

One another side note, My wife got me a Havalon knife from Amanda and I have to say that they are incredible! I would definatly reccomemd one!

[ultra300mag]

Great story. Even though I never had any sons it definately reminds me of the outings that I had with my girls. They have all enjoyed the hunt and success with each killing animals of their own and now I get to start with the grandkids. It is very nice to see the effort that was put into this hunt and the memories that you have given to the boys. I am a Probation Officer and it really makes me wonder how many of my offenders lives would of or could have been different if they had been able to have that same experience. Keep them hunting with you and you will most likely not have to hunt them. Congrats!!!

[Coues Sniper]

Coues sniper- are you talking about Ron's Sitka gloves? I just have cheapy Red head ones and they work OK. I ususally dont wear it on my trigger hand though.

Yeah, sorry, I wasn't sure who was who. But those were what I was aking about. The 2 other people I have asked were nuts about them.