Hog sign or the presence of hogs in the area is usually fairly easy to spot if you know what to look for. With an estimated fifty percent of the total US feral hog population located in the state there are very few counties that don't have a significant number of hogs. Typically the most common sign when bow hunting hogs in Texas is the rooting into the soil to find tasty bugs, vegetation and new growth on shrubs and other types of greenery. The ruts dug by the hogs can be as deep as three feet and tend to cover an extensive area. Hogs will typically root all through one area before moving onto a new feeding location.

However it isn't uncommon for hogs to also have an extensive range and develop well developed game trails. Footprints on these trails can be used to check how frequently the hogs travel around their range, which can be up to fifteen miles or more. Wallows in wet area and rubs on trees, downed limbs and even rocks are also common signs of regular visitation of the area by hogs. Droppings are a sure sign and are typically found in large quantities in areas where hogs routinely visit.

What is the best time of day and location for bow hunting hogs in Texas?

Whenever possible hogs tend to feed and travel in the coolest part of the Texas day. In the summer months this is usually pre-dawn and just after the sun goes down. However, in the cooler spring, fall and winter seasons they are more often seen in the late afternoon and even well into the morning hours.

Hogs tend to prefer feeding in the open during the night and they are largely nocturnal feeders. In the daylight hours it is more common to find the hogs in the moist areas around creeks, rivers or lakes, but they can also be in dense brush or wooded areas as well.

What are the advantages of guided hunts when bow hunting hogs in Texas?

Hogs are very intelligent animals and are also unpredictable so a guided hunt really does provide you the very best opportunity to get off a shot. Bow hunting hogs in Texas isn't as easy as hunting most of the other native and non-native species since they are so difficult to kill with an arrow. A guide will not only help with finding the right location to set up for the hunt but also in tracking in the very likely event of a hit without a kill shot.

Guides also know the territory and movement of the animals, allowing you to just focus on the hunt itself, not all the logistics leading up to the big day. These professionals really do increase your chances of both seeing and bagging a hog for your freezer or for your trophy wall.

Are feral hogs worth hunting for meat?

Many people prefer feral hog meat, which is one of the reasons bow hunting hogs in Texas continues to grow in popularity. Sows and young boars are leaner and more flavorful than domestic pork however the older boars can be more gamey in taste. Dressed weight of a feral hog will vary based on the species of hogs, however most hunters can walk away with enough meat for a few great roasts and a lot of meat for ground pork or sausage.

Labels: bow hunting, feral hog hunting, feral hog hunts, texas hog hunts

Texas bow hunting ranches offer several advantages lease properties or hunting on public lands. Trying to find farmers that will grant permission for you to be on their land can be frustrating. Not only can this endeavor be time consuming but you may be surprised at how many farmers and ranchers simply don't want you on their property. Unfortunately too many hunters have not been respectful of livestock or cleaned up hunting areas giving others an undeserved bad reputation.

The major benefits of bow hunting on Texas managed game ranches are you know exactly where you are going, you are assured that game will be in the area and you also know that the animals are in great condition and some will be of trophy size. In addition you can package your hunt, including several species in one outing, including some really incredible opportunities for hunting exotics you can't find outside of a high fence game ranch.

Where are Texas bow hunting ranches located in the state and what types of game hunts are possible?

Texas bow hunting ranches are located all across the state. Bow hunting ranches can be found as far south as the border with Mexico but tend to be concentrated in the south, central, and western parts of the state. That being said, the piney woods area of east Texas and the drier areas of west central Texas are also home to some outstanding Texas bow hunting ranches.

Besides native species such as whitetail deer, and turkey, there are also a variety of other bow hunting options. Some ranches offer pheasant and goose hunts in addition to a wide range of exotics. Popular exotic hunts include aoudad sheep, sika deer, fallow deer, elk, axis deer and black buck, and feral hog hunting. It is important to do some research and check around on the internet to find out what each of the Texas bow hunting ranches have to offer in the way of native or exotic game animals and birds.

What is the cost of a hunting trip on Texas bow hunting ranches and how does this compare with other areas of the country?

As with most types of guided hunting opportunities, Texas bow hunting ranches will have a variety of different hunting packages to offer. The price for each hunt is determined by the species or group of animals you want to hunt, if you are going for a trophy buck or not, and how long you are staying for the hunt. If accommodations and meals are included in the cost of the package expect to pay more than if you are staying in a hotel off site and providing you own meals and transportation.

The ideal year round conditions in Texas tend to help keep the cost of feeding and maintaining herd sizes down, so many hunters find that Texas bow hunting ranches offer very reasonably priced hunts that are highly competitive with other hunting markets.

Labels: bow hunting, bow hunting hog, escondido hunting ranch, south texas hunting ranch

In spite of potential mid-day heat, visiting Escondido Ranch can be very refreshing, as you hang out in the river for most of the day and hunt early in the morning and later in the evening. On this trip we were anxious to bow hunt feral hogs. We had been talking about reducing the feral hog population with our bows for several weeks. I was getting very excited and anxious to start the afternoon hog hunt as I practiced shooting my bow.

After discussing strategy as to which area of the ranch we would target for hog hunting, it was decided that we would seek out the feral hogs at a ground blind at the top of the ranch.

That evening, Tony and I slowly approached the blind and eased around the brush to get a glimpse at the feeder. Sure enough, a large herd of Aoudad were at the feeder. Excited, we started glassing the field to see if one of the big trophy males was in the area. We saw several animals in the 25 plus inch range, but the large trophy size male Aoudad were not to be seen.

As I eased into the ground blind, the Aoudad moved on and vanished into the brush. I settled in and waited. It did not take long for an Aoudad to move towards the feeder followed by the rest of the herd. Within about 10 minutes of grazing, the entire herd lay down about 25 yards from the blind.

As the evening progressed, the Aoudad moved on into the canyon. I sat and watched the sun going down over the hill as the cedars faded into gray. I was beginning to think that the hunt was over, when a large feral hog emerged from the shadows and trotted towards the feeder.

I ranged him at about 35 yards, pulled back and released my first arrow ever at a live animal… Alas, the arrow sailed over the hog’s back. But, I was not upset. In spite of the miss, it was awesome to have the opportunity. It was so intense!

I was gathering my thoughts and trying to come down from the rush, when the same feral hog came back for a second glance at the feeder. With a renewed sense of purpose, I snuck out of the blind and stalked to within 20 yards of the animal. My first thought was to put down the bow and shoot the hog with my pistol, but the rush of a potential bow kill was too intense. I drew back, placed the pin on the hog’s vitals and released the second arrow. Oops, and another miss! Sigh… The shadows grew long and there would be no more opportunities that evening. It was time to pack up.

The next day, we strategized about the best place to video my next feral boar hunt attempt. We chose an elevated tree stand which could situate two hunters. Tony was on the camera and I was the shooter. Within 30 minutes, Tony spotted a feral hog making his way from the canyon. Although, I was unable to see him, Tony whispered that it was a large feral boar. Tony is simply good at identifying the sex of many animals. Must be all those years spent on a farm.

The hog wandered within 20 yards of the stand. Before Tony, even had a chance to tell me to shoot, I was already drawn and I released the arrow. The arrow hit the boar just behind the ear. The animal fell straight down and expired immediately. Needless to say, we were excited. I was thrilled to have my first kill with a bow. And as an added bonus, we got it all on VIDEO. Sweet!

As we were taking pictures of the harvested feral hog, we received a call that there were more feral hogs by a river blind. Tony and I quickly loaded the black feral boar in the back of the truck and headed down to the river. Determined to harvest another feral hog, we probably set a record for the amount of time it took us to get to the other side of the ranch.

We parked a couple of hundred yards away, jumped out and began our stalk. It was getting dark, but the fading light was on our side. It would be much harder for the feral hogs to see us with the sun at our backs. We made a successful stalk into the wind. As we emerged on the edge of the brush we noticed a much bigger problem. We had two bull elk in velvet and a trophy axis mixed in with the feral hogs. We had to wait.

Tony made sure we had a clear shot before giving me the go ahead. The arrow quivered through the air, and as on the day before, right over the feral hog, skipping and sparking along the rocks. The hogs jolted away from the feeder. But since we did not expose ourselves, the feral hogs saw no immediate danger and re-approached the feeder. By that time, I already had another arrow drawn. Tony gave me the distance and the arrow cruised straight into the hog. It fled into the brush with the rest of the animals.

Another fist pump and a few high fives we were two for three with a bow that night, new Escondido Ranch record for bow kills in one evening! We retrieved the hog and made our way to the cleaning station. We took a few pictures and arrived at the main house for a few cocktails and a delicious dinner.

A special thanks to the Wiseman Family for another successful hunting weekend!

Labels: bow hunting hog, texas feral hog hunts, texas hog hunts, trophy hunts, wild boar hunts

I had been looking for a good place to hunt a trophy Blackbuck antelope for about 3 or 4 months when I saw the website for the Escondido Ranch. I was immediately struck by the great pictures of the Llano River and the way the hunting lodge rested on the edge of a high cliff overlooking the river below. So I called the number provided and had the opportunity to talk to Tony about the possibilities of hunting the ranch.

Tony indicated they had numerous Blackbuck antelopes and was sure they could put me on a trophy animal. He also sent me several recent pictures he had taken of some of the Blackbucks he had been seeing on the ranch. In particular, Tony pointed out a very nice mature animal he had been seeing frequently going back and forth between a couple of feed plots. This animal had very nice black and white coloring and looked to have horns that measured at least 18 inches straight-line. There was only one problem, one of his horns had about 6 inches broken off on the left side. Blackbuck antelope males are very territorial anyway and it seems this guy was extremely aggressive when it came to his sharing his harem of does. As a result he had the battle scars to prove it.

At first I was a little concerned that Tony would suggest that this was the animal I should be interested in taking. Needless to say, a lopsided mount on my wall would be a great conversation piece but not necessarily the trophy I was looking for. When you have the itch to go hunting and when you are looking for a particular trophy animal cost is not the most important issue on your mind but cost is a consideration in any hunt with an outfitter. Tony was pretty certain that the horn could be repaired by a taxidermist and assured me they would make it worth my while with a discount to offset increased taxidermy cost if I wanted to take the animal. He seemed to be so sincere in his believe this was an outstanding blackbuck (other than its battle damage), so I promised I would think about it and check with a taxidermist I had used in the past. Sure enough, I was assured that he could fix the broken horn. It might take a little longer to find the right fit but the additional cost of fixing it was much less than I anticipated it might be.

So I booked the hunt and told Tony I would consider this particular blackbuck after I got the chance to put my binoculars on him and get a good look. I made a special arrangement to come out to the ranch on a Wednesday instead of the normal weekend hunt. They were very accommodating in meeting this request and I met the on-site ranch manager upon my arrival. He took me to the rifle range to sight in my guns. I had brought my new Browning .300 Win Mag X-bolt and was anxious to try it out on live game instead of shooting at targets. I also brought along my little 30-30 as well in case I got the chance to take a crack at a wild hog or two. They were both shooting spot-on, the sky was blue with hardly a cloud, the temperature was in the 70’s and I was ready to get going.

The ranch manager took me up to the lodge to get settled in before Tony and his lovely wife Heather arrived. As I walked out onto the back patio of the lodge I quickly observed that the great pictures I had seen on the Escondido website really did not do justice to the majestic views. Directly below was the flowing Johnson Fork of the Llano River surrounded by large, mature trees and green, open food plots. As I looked through my binoculars from this vantage point I saw a small herd of about 15 blackbuck antelope does on the outer edge of the property line. Just below the cliff nearest the river in a nice food plot was a group of about 30 Axis deer does and bucks. Most of the Axis bucks were in full velvet and several looked to have antlers in the 30 inch class.

Off to my left on the opposite side of the river was another food plot with a feeder nearby. Under the feeder was a nice, younger Blackbuck antelope that had a great set of horns. But he was light brown in color and didn’t yet have the very distinctive black coloring and white eye circles that make the Blackbuck antelope male such a great mount. As I watched him graze around the feeder another Black Buck came trotting out of the brush toward him and the fight was on. As I enjoyed this sparring match between the two animals it became evident that the second Blackbuck antelope was the one with the broken horn. At that point I was ready to make a hike in their direction and try to put a stalk on them to get a closer look at Mister Broken Horn.

Within a few minutes, Tony and Heather arrived with their friend Steve, his wife Christie and son Ryan. I told Tony I had seen the Blackbuck with the broken horn and he could tell I was itching to go get a better look at him. After a short strategy session we hopped into the ranch jeep and set off in the direction of the feeder. Steve came with us and had the video camera to record the proceedings. We drove downhill toward the feeder and parked a good way off down in a low place on the road next to the river. We hopped out and started toward the feeder. We moved along the edge of the river through several ravines that allowed us to be below the field and the sparring Blackbuck antelope males. We were completely out of their sight and moving as quietly as three people can move. When we had gotten to the point where we estimated the animals had been fighting we eased up the river bank and peered over the edge. Expecting to see the Blackbuck antelopes within 120 yards or so we were surprised to see nothing on the food plot. Apparently, they had gotten tired of hitting each other and wondered back into the brush. Tony assured me he would be back at either of his favorite areas that day or the next. By this time it was 4:30 in the afternoon, daylight savings time had already started and we would have to wait until later in the day to give it another try. So we headed back to the lodge to get ready for the evening hunt.

As luck would have it, just before we were heading out for the evening hunt and before we were able to get into the stands we again spotted both Blackbuck antelope and about 20 Axis deer in the same food plot where we had seen them previously. Shooting from the stand was not going to be an option and we were going to have to stalk them again. But this time they were going to have numerous sets of eyes and ears to see and hear any approaching danger. Rather than retrace our original path to the field Tony suggested we drive around to the other side of the field and approach them from the opposite direction. It would be a much longer walk but we would have the advantage of better cover and the wind would be in our favor. Steve again came along to try and get as much video of the hunt as we could. We arrived on the opposite side of the field with plenty of time left in the day and the wind in our faces. We were able to walk most of the distance on an existing road which made our approach much quieter. The road led directly to the feeder and Tony was walking about 30 feet ahead of Steve and I to scout our approach. As we came up a small rise in the road we got within about 300-400 yards and Tony could see Mr. Broken Horn just under the feeder. We would have plenty of screening vegetation to get us within easy gun range of the animal. Unfortunately, this path would also make us visible to the many Axis deer scattered in the field between us and our quarry. We were going to have to take a different approach to get within range. But at least we knew the animals were there and didn’t seem to sense our presence.

To get a more direct view and to avoid the other deer in the field we doubled back and again used the numerous ravines and low points adjacent to the river. As we carefully moved over the rough ground to get into position I couldn’t help but notice the overwhelmingly sweet smell of the new spring flowers just blooming on this warm and beautiful day. That’s because in some cases I was on my hands and knees crawling through the brush and came face-to-flower with them on several occasions. What I didn’t notice until later were the two, large bloody scratches on my hands that I had gotten as we crawled and made our way toward an opening where we might get a good look at the field. When you are “in the zone” and are concentrating intently on stalking and getting into position little else matters at the time. As we got into position where we could get another look at the Black Buck I got my first good look at his horn configuration and decided that I would take him when we had the opportunity. I told Tony I was going to trust that the taxidermist could fix what nature and the fighting instinct of the Blackbuck antelope had broken. I could see the top of him through my binoculars but did not have a clear view of the entire animal. Tony had shooting sticks with him and ranged the animal at 175 yards. Between me and the Blackbuck antelope was a slight rise in the terrain that partially obscured him. I got on the shooting stick Tony had brought and looked at him through my scope for the first time. While I had a shot it was not the sure thing I was after. I’ve never been a fan of shooting off the sticks if I didn’t have to. I prefer a much steadier rifle rest if I can find one – an accommodation to my advancing age I guess. It looked like we could keep moving along the edge of the river below the field and feeder and out of sight of the deer. Tony confirmed we could continue to move around about another 150 yards and come up much closer to them.

So again, we slipped quietly through the brush and followed the curve of the ravines along the river until we could find a suitable place where we could ease up the 10 foot bluff and look onto the field. Since this was to be our most likely shooting spot Tony let me go up the incline first. As I reached the top of the bluff I peered over the edge and the field was full of deer - but my Black Buck was not immediately visible. He had decided to move from the feeder but I could no longer see him. My first thought was that we had missed him again and for an instant I regretted not taking a shot earlier when I was on the sticks. Part of the field was obscured because of the thick brush. As I got to the top of the bluff I crawled slowly to my right about 10 feet to get a better look at the entire field. Mr. Broken Horn had moved to the opposite edge of the field and was grazing with the rest of the deer at just over 100 yards away. By this time Tony and Steve had also gotten into position at the top of the bluff.

Just as we were congratulating ourselves on our stalking technique and our good fortune my Black Buck decided to lay down in the food plot - the only animal in the entire field to do so. He was laying with his tail in our direction and the only available shot I had was a “Texas heart shot”. To further complicate matters the Axis deer were moving directly between me and the Black Buck and getting closer and closer to where we were hiding and greatly increasing the chances of our being spotted. We still had the wind in our favor but I was getting more anxious by the minute. I had managed to wedge my gun between the low limbs of the bush directly in front of me. It was a perfectly stable mount and I was ready to take this animal. As I peered through the scope I could see numerous Axis deer, does and bucks, walking in and out of my line of sight. They were both in front of and behind the resting Black Buck. We sat there for what I’m sure were only a couple of minutes but it seemed much longer at the time. Suddenly, the younger Black Buck jumped into the air like he had pogo sticks on his legs. His jump startled the Axis deer, startled Tony, Steve and myself and caused Mr. Broken Horn to get up off the ground from his resting spot. My only guess as to the reason for this behavior is that he was ready to resume his sparring match with the older Black Buck. Regardless of the reason, my Black Buck was up on his feet and perfectly quartered to me and my gun. He started licking himself and had his head down for what seemed an eternity. To complicate matters the Axis deer were still moving back and forth between me and him. Suddenly the sea of animals parted and I had a clear shot from 115 yards. I didn’t hesitate. My .300 Mag sounded like a cannon when I pulled the trigger. While it’s probably too much gun for a smaller animal like a Blackbuck antelope it left no doubt as to the outcome with a well placed shot. The bullet hit the animal with such force that it knocked him down and rolled him completely over. To our surprise he rolled over and jumped to his feet and started to move away in a dazed trot. Given his demeanor it was evident that he was not long for the world. After he had moved about 20 yards he fell and I had my trophy.

There is always a sense of relief when you harvest the specific animal you are looking for. I was both relieved and elated that our efforts had been successful. That night we celebrated with a great steak dinner expertly prepared by Tony’s wife Heather. I was also able to get an Axis doe the next day under much less dramatic circumstances from one of the many stands on the ranch.

During my stay we also made a nighttime excursion with Steve and his son Ryan through the ranch looking for the many nocturnal wild hogs that reside there. While we did not get a hog we saw plenty of game. I also had the opportunity to tour the ranch on a four-wheeler and saw many bull elk, axis deer, fallow deer and sika deer. I also witnessed a titanic struggle as two Aoudad sheep butted heads almost oblivious to our presence.

I highly recommend Escondido Ranch to anyone interested in hunting trophy game. The ranch is well populated with many species. A special thanks to Tony and the ranch manager for their professional knowledge of the game and the ranch terrain. In addition to helping guide hunters, Heather is a fantastic chef. Thanks to Steve for his efforts to capture the video. I was treated like family by everyone. This won’t be my last visit.

Steve Knowles Austin, TX

Labels: black buck hunting, texas trophy black buck antelope hunts, trophy black buck antelope

When writing a recapitulation of an exciting hunt at Escondido Ranch I speak from the hunter’s perspective. In this instance I am going to make an exception because this particular Trophy Sika Buck managed to escape the cross hairs of a .243 not once, but twice. And even though the animal was eventually harvested on the third day of the hunt I am willing to give the victory to the Sika Buck. So here goes the story from the Sika deer’s point of view:

The morning started out with a little breakfast consisting of some remaining acorns under some big oaks on a plateau just above the river. My Elk buddies and I like to bed down here at night and then cross the river in the morning and steal some leftover corn and deer protein from the nearby pasture before we make our journey up the switchback. Onward we go through the gravity pasture and eventually down into Eli canyon where we stretch out for a nap for the remainder of the morning and early afternoon. Yea, I have to admit, life at Escondido Ranch is pretty amazing. We sleep in everyday and the food is excellent and plentiful.

I did have a close encounter the last couple of nights that nearly sent me straight to the top of somebody's fireplace. Can you believe someone tried shooting me at 140 yards last night, but missed completely?! I felt so bad for the guy that I decided to give him another chance the next evening at about 80 yards but he made some excuse like it was "too dark." It was great because the whole thing was on video. Whoever was holding that camera sure did a good job as they never took their eye off of me. I'm thankful that the guide who was shooting video did not have the gun or I would be singing "The Day the Music Died" by the late great Don McLean.

Typically, if we make it to Sunday afternoon it means your safe and can rest until next weekend rolls around. All I had to do was make it one more day and it was smooth sailing. Sunday morning came and what a beautiful morning it was as the sun came up over the backdrop of Escondido Ranch and reflected off of the gorgeous Llano river that runs through the middle of the ranch. We bedded down in some thicket just up from the river that we crossed late last night. As we started our morning I was feeling a little frisky and felt like a sparring match with my buddy who is a 5x5 Bull Elk. I was overmatched but I still put up a good challenge. After our early morning joust I started across the river in search of leftover corn and protein pellets. I made it just to the edge of the low water crossing and that's when I knew I was past the point of no return. I must congratulate the hunter/rifleman because he never made any noise or give up any scent. He must have been some 250 yards away. Someone must have been tracking my Elk friends and I for awhile because they knew just where to be at just the right time. Before I leave you should know that I was truly a Gold Medal Trophy Sika Buck and well worth the hunt. I enjoyed many meals and memories at Escondido Ranch and I hope ya'll will do the same.

Until next time keep on shootin' straight and shootin' often. Peace.

Labels: sika deer hunting, trophy sika buck hunts

Labels: barbary sheep hunts, texas trophy aoudad hunts

Many of you reading this post are no strangers to hog hunting in Texas. The story I'm about to share with you involves two country boys, lots of crossbred feral hogs and an advanced technology night vision scope. Enjoy!

My wife and I invited some friends, Stephen, his wife Christie and son Ryan to join us for a weekend of rest, relaxation, and of course, a little hunting, time permitting. Stephen has been a regular guest at Escondido Ranch. I've had the pleasure of guiding Stephen on several hunts and have been impressed by his long distance shooting and successes as a hunter.

Recently, we've noticed an increase in coyote sightings and wanted to get a few of these cunning hunters on the ground to protect our spring fawns. As a result, the week prior to the visit, we had been strategizing night predator hunting.

Growing up on a working farm in South Texas, Stephen was no stranger to harvesting coyotes and wild feral hogs. My task was to provide a predator call, while Stephen arranged to borrow his father’s 'night vision' scope mounted on a Vietnam War era, semi-automatic M-4 (.223 caliber) gun. Stephen’s family arrived to the ranch on Friday evening. Our guests’ arrival was marked by the brightest moon in nearly 100 years. Stephen told me later that this was known as the 'Wolf Moon.' Truth or fiction, it did add a “spooky” factor to our weekend.

It did not take long for Stephen to produce the much anticipated night vision scope. That late evening, we stood on the veranda of the main house and scanned the river valley below through the scope. Everything came to life! I have never seen something so cool!

For those of us who were experiencing “night vision” for the first time, we were just amazed at the day-like clarity offered by this highly advanced optic. When looking into the scope you press your eye against the rubber protective piece and boooya…the night turns into day. For that time you have the same vision of the animals you are watching. Truly amazing! I was contemplating watching Elk, Axis deer, Sika deer, Fallow deer, and Black Buck antelope for a while longer, when Stephen spotted about dozen wild hogs meandering in the rocks next to the river. We lit them up with the scope and spied on them from about 400 yards away.

Wild pigs are naturally intelligent and social animals and if you put too much hunting pressure on them they become 100% nocturnal. The last large, wild boar taken on the ranch was in early November and since then we had only trail cam photos of the wild hogs between the hours of 3-4 AM. Make no mistake, there are plenty of wild feral pigs on the ranch, but hunting them often becomes a night time event.

It was getting late. Both Stephen and I agreed that we need to get some rest and would try to put a sneak on feral hogs and do some predator calling the following night. On Saturday morning we hunted until about 9 AM with no luck. Stephen and I made our way back to the lodge where our wives and Ryan enjoyed the cool side of the pillow. Escondido Ranch is a great place to take the family and get away from the hustle and bustle. That afternoon we took a hike into one of the many beautiful canyons that encompass Escondido Ranch. It proved to be a worthy hike as little Ryan found his first antler shed. An Axis Buck dropped his antler and it became a ready made souvenir for the youngster. Unfortunately, Stephen's wife, Christie, had dropped her camera in a pool of water about 10 minutes prior, so pictures were on hold for now.

Nighttime was approaching and my anxiety level was escalating. I knew there would be hogs running tonight and I could hardly wait to give a few of them a dirt nap. For me, hogs are my favorite animals to hunt because there is enough danger involved that it creates an enhanced level of excitement. A wounded hog can be very dangerous due to their aggressive nature and razor sharp teeth. Historically, in places like Greece, Mesopotamia, New Zealand hunting wild boars was the right of passage for many of young man. Although, the long knife and shield has been replaced with a handgun, rifle and a shot gun, many, including myself, still prefer to hunt hogs with a bow and arrow. But not this weekend…This weekend the weapon of choice was the M-4 with a nightscope.

After supper, Stephen and I got into a truck about 9 PM. With a predator call, M-4 night vision scope and an abundance of determination we started our evening’s hunt. We made the usual pass around the backside of the ranch at all the favorite "Porky’s hideouts." Out of necessity, we were starting our hunt a little earlier than normal, but we were getting sleepy after eating a small feast for supper. Did I mention that the ranch received 3 inches of rain earlier in the week and the hog activity was at its peak?

We came down the hill into an area called “Windship.” I threw the truck in neutral and killed the lights as we coasted towards the open field. When we emerged from behind the brush line, I stopped the truck and Stephen peaked into the scope, lighting the field up like the '4th of July.' He exclaimed "there is all kinds of deer in this field." I, on the other hand, could not see anything and was depending on Stephen for intel. The next moment, Stephen screams in a whisper "Hogs!" Apparently, three large wild hogs were making their way through the open field towards a feeder.

Stephen gave me a frame of reference of the hogs’ whereabouts relative to the position of the truck. I knew it was going to be one hell of a shot because we were at least 200 yards away. Stephen found a good rest, leaned into the scope, selected the biggest of the three boars and squeezed….KAPOW!! "Hog down!" – he yelled out.

The bullet knocked the wild boar down and rolled the sucker about 5 yards. Although, the first shot clearly connected, at that distance and with an animal of that size we needed to make sure it stayed down. I threw the truck into drive and covered the distance to the point of impact in just a few seconds. But by the time we got to the spot, the wild boar was already up and hauling towards the brush. Stephen and I jumped out of the truck and the pursuit was on!

It was dark. Stephen was chasing the wounded hog through the brush with a flashlight and gun in tow. I was 20 yards behind trying to keep up. My heart was racing. We were pursuing this wounded beast with little visual orientation and relying almost solely on hearing to pick up the animal as the hog crushed its way through the underbrush. At that stage, the evolutionary instincts transformed Stephen into a hunter in pursuit of his prey. Get out the way…
The boar covered over 100 yards through the thicket before two more shots jolted me. Pow! Pow! I swear the echo from the gunfire lasted for nearly 10 seconds… or it could have just been the ringing in my ears. We eased up on the wild boar. The animal was down and out.

When we finally pulled hog out of the ravine and saw him in the light for the first time we gave each other a high five as if we had just won the Super Bowl. After an intense twenty minute pursuit, we were a little winded, but THRILLED to have captured our quarry. It was simply awesome!!

We later ranged Stephen first shot at the wild hog at 247 yards. What an awesome hunt at Escondido Ranch. This old, silver/ black feral hog and Russian boar cross-breed weighed in at 170 lbs, with 3 1/2 inch razor sharp tusks. Hope ya'll enjoy the pics!
Stay tuned for more night time hunting excursions. Peace.

Labels: feral hog hunts, texas wild boar hunting