10-17-2010

Today I guided Felipe DeSouza from San Francisco, California on a pig hunt. After we had all of the paperwork filled out we headed up the hill to see what we could get into. At first light we could hear some pigs working in the brush below us but never did spot them so we headed down the road to see what else we could find. We turned up a ridge to head to a vantage point when I looked over my shoulder and spotted a lone boar working his way through the next canyon over. After a quick U-Turn we were off to see if we could relocate the boar. We knew we were in the vicinity of where the boar was headed when all of the sudden I saw him walking out of the draw. We stopped the ranger and I told Felipe to get out and take a shot as the boar was now standing broadside at 75 yards looking at us. As Felipe tried to get his gun loaded a case of pig fever must have taken over as I watched in disbelief as he jacked all of the shells from his magazine onto the ground without ever firing a shot. By this time the boar had enough and headed up the canyon. After Felipe gained his composure I told him not to worry as I thought I knew exactly where the boar was headed. We went up and over the next ridge and got set up over looking a brush patch where I thought the pig was headed. Within minutes I could hear something moving in the draw below us, so we crept up to the edge and looked over. I quickly spotted the boar and ranged him at 182 yards. Felipe got on the sticks and was getting ready to shoot when the boar walked behind some trees and we lost sight of him. While Felipe was trying to relocate the boar I looked down where he had just come from and a group of 5 more pigs came walking out. Felipe picked out a good sized pig and took the shot. The pig dropped in it's tracks and the rest is history. After the shot I looked over at Felipe and he was all smiles and was still shaking. This was his first wild pig and I can assure you that it will not be his last. I enjoy watching some one else take their first pig almost as much as when I took my first. This was a hunt that Felipe will always remember, and he has assured me that he will be back for another hunt soon.

Stony

9-23-2010

We began work on a Wetland Project on 9-14-2010, off of Harbison Road. For all of you who are familiar with our property it was the milo field in the past. We have taken the 40 acres out of production and are turning it back into a natural marsh land. The 40 acres has been laser leveled, swales cut and I am in the process of installing the drain pipes and transplanting tules. As soon as I get the tules transplanted I will flood the wetland and get some photo's posted. My plan is to transplant the tules this fall and then plant 1500 willow trees this spring. I will also be planting water grass and smart weed within the project so that the birds will have feed next fall. This project will take 3-4 years to make my vision come to life, however, when the trees are all grown up this should be a nice little mallard hole for our client's to enjoy. I will keep you updated on this project as we move forward.

Casey

9-22-2010

Today I had the pleasure of guiding Kevin Cornish of Lafayette, California on a pig hunt. We met at the casino and headed up to the ranch. Upon completing all of the necessary paper work we were off to the races. Our first stop was a high vantage point over looking the flats where the wheat fields are planted. We glassed for 10 minutes without turning any thing up so we headed further into the ranch. We were headed down hill when I looked up and noticed a group of 5 or so pigs standing up the hill. We stopped the ranger and Kevin got out to take a shot , but the pigs had a different plan and they headed up hill quickly. We took off walking in hopes of getting another chance at them. As we crested the next little hill I immediately noticed a big boar walking right to us maybe 50 yards away. I grabbed Kevin and pointed at the boar, but he vanished as soon as he appeared (Strike 2). We continued to try and relocate the pigs that had eluded us but with no prevail. We then continued on and stopped at a little brush patch that always has a pig or two in it. I set Kevin up where the pigs were likely to try and escape and I circled back around to try and push something out to him. Within minutes of crawling into the brush I could smell a pig and knew that something good was about to happen. I continued moving through the brush when I heard a shot quickly followed by another. As I made it to the end of the patch I could see Kevin and he was all smiles, so I knew he had bagged one. We went over to take a look and I was surprised to see a 250 pound boar laying there dead. The pig had come out of the brush a mere 25 yards from Kevin and he hammered him. The boar had 2.5 inch cutters and looked like an old warrior with all of the scars on his back and his shredded ears. This was another great hunt, and Kevin was alot of fun to hunt with. Maybe next time Kevin's buddy who was supposed to come on this trip will be able to make it, and we can kill a pair of old scrappers.

Andy