Posts Tagged ‘AAE hunts’
by Craig Ellwanger, AAE
The author w/ his first hog by bow
There will be lots of landowners and lease holders out there cussin’ out loud right now at the slightest peep or thought of a “nasty ol’ hog” story. If that’s you, simply turn away. For the rest of you, here is a “pig-tale” of an east Texas archery hog hunt.
Whether it’s the introduced Russian boar or the common “yard pig” turned wild hog, hunting for these barrel-shaped balls of destruction has become as much necessity as sport in Texas. Their ability to proliferate induces thoughts of a famous ESPN quote that goes something like “…you can’t stop ‘em…you can just hope to contain ‘em!”
A good friend of mine, Chris Farris, hunts a piece of property just outside of Bryan/College Station in Brazos County. Wanting to improve their resident deer herd and with a wild hog population on the brink of taking over, I was invited to try and assist in harvest efforts. Being the noble sportsman that I am, I would never scoff at the chance to help a fellow hunter with some population control – especially when the reward for doing so includes bacon and thick pork chops!
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Success in Sonora
by Craig Ellwanger, AAE
There are hundreds and hundreds of hunting stories where everything just seems to come together perfectly (just watch the last 10 minutes of most hunting shows). The perfect stand, the perfect wind, the perfect time of year, and then the perfect deer walks out…BOOM. Story’s over. Yet, for most of us, events seldom transpire this way. Hours, days, and even seasons worth of seemingly “perfect” set-ups may go by without the epic crescendo of a successful harvest. Our hunt in Sonora, Texas on the Diamond TF Ranch this past weekend was one of the best few days of my short bowhunting career, but it definitely did not start out nor appear as though it was headed that way. Here’s the unlikely story of how a friendly game of poker taught me to be a better bowhunter.
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Last weekend,October 9-11, was my first chance this season to “get into the woods” and chase a few exotics. Our good friends, the Fields family were gracious enough to let me join their son and my friend, Tanner, for a couple days of good bowhunting (and a little ranch work). Their ranch is a 1,900 acre ranch located near Sonora, Texas in Sutton County. With an ever-growing axis deer population and very little hunting pressure, anticipation was high for this year’s hunting opportunities and this weekend.
Day1
I have to admit to sneaking out of town a bit early from work in hopes of making the Friday evening hunt. The 300 mile journey across the state from College Station to Sonora flew by despite pouring rains and a lack of satellite radio in “The Beast” (our beloved, but grizzled ’99 Dodge 4×4). Arriving at just after 4:30, I greeted Mr. Fields, who was headed to call some Friday night football for the Sonora Broncos. If you ever saw Friday Night Lights and said there’s no way high school football is THAT big in Texas, think again.
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