Near the end of the week last week, I got an email from Michael down at Native Hunt. He had a professional videographer coming down, and wanted to know if I could make it for the weekend, both to cover the event for press releases, and just to join the fun. He’d also be trying out a new camp chef, so he needed a few hungry mouths to feed. It’s always a blast to hang out with Michael and his crew, whether I’m hunting, taking pictures, or just visiting.
Anyway, it sounded like fun and I didn’t have anything planned for the weekend. I asked if Kat could join us, and of course Michael, generous guy that he is, said, “Sure, the more the merrier!”
We hit the road late on Friday, and didn’t arrive into camp until almost 9:00. Dinner was already done, but we were fortunate that they’d left a little bit of chili… just enough for two servings. It was pretty tasty stuff, and it sure hit the spot as we stood around the fire under a light, drizzling rain.
There were three hunters scheduled for the weekend. One had already tagged out with a nice boar before we arrived. Michael wanted his guides, Sam and Ed to take his partner, myself, and the videographer over to his other ranch in Priest Valley (about 45 minutes from the main Native Hunt ranch). Kat would hang out at camp while we hunted. As we discussed the morning’s plan, Michael told me to take my rifle along too. If the chance came to shoot an additional hog, we could possibly get some extra video.
Best laid plans and all that… we arrived at Priest Valley to find the roads were a total quagmire. Simply walking on the flat ground was a challenge, and there’s very little of this ranch that is flat. Much of it is nearly vertical, and it’s a tough hump even when it’s dry. The shale and clay turn into a wicked muck, slippery and clingy at the same time. I should’ve taken a photo of the accumulation of mud on my boots, as it was quite sensational.
Anyway, we had a tough hike, and after an hour or two of near disasters and almost dumping his camera in the mud, the videographer opted out. He wasn’t quite prepared for the extreme nature of the hunt, and the risk to the $6000 camera was too much to deal with. He and Ed turned back, while Sam, Arlen (the hunter), and I went on.
Well, it was a nice walk anyway… lots of sign, but only one quick encounter with a hog.
We were back at the lodge for lunch by 1. Chef Dave whipped up some really awesome blue-cheese stuffed hamburgers, along with a Waldorf salad and some ranch beans. As we sat talking about the day, and plans for the evening hunt, I asked Michael if Kat could take a hog in my place. She’d taken one several years ago, but on that occasion the guide had literally been holding the hog down while she put the muzzle to its head and pulled the trigger. Not quite what she’d pictured, and not very satisfying.
Of course Michael, (again, being the generous guy he is) said, “Sure!”
With that, we set out. Since neither of us had really expected to be hunting on this trip, we hadn’t brought her Browning .270 along on the hunt. She’d have to use my truck gun, a semi-customized Savage 30-06. It’s a great rifle, and very accurate, but the stock was a little long for her. Still, I was sure that if we could get set up for a good shot, she’d be able to do it.
There are a bunch of feral pigs on the front of the ranch property. With some diligence, you can almost always find a group. This time took a little more diligence than usual, if diligence means walking. Kat spotted the hogs first, but at almost 400 yards, it was way too far to do anything except get closer. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing directly at our backs. We set up on a ridgetop across from the pigs as they fed. They were working their way towards an open field, and if they kept going they’d cross our wind and give us an advantage.
Luck held, and they moved on by, although several of the hogs seemed to get a little panicked as they went by. Even at over 250 yards, they were getting our scent. They squirted across the saddle and gathered again down in the field. It was time to make our move.
First, all we had to do was walk down a vertical hillside, covered in slick mud and rotten shale. That accomplished, we had to drop down onto a road, and cut around the base of the hill over the field, until we got into position. A lone boar fed out behind the main herd, and I decided this was the one we’d take. We crept up to the edge of the road, until we were on a ledge about 80 yards from the boar. The wind was perfect, and we had a screen of weeds and brush to hide us. I had Kat stretch out prone, and put my Stetson on the ground for her to rest the rifle. Once she got into position, it was just a matter of waiting for the boar to turn and give us the right shot opportunity.
Kat’s shot couldn’t have been more perfect. The boar had turned just slightly quartering away and had his head down 
to feed. The 180 grain, Winchester ETip took him just above the “elbow”, crossing just over the heart and exiting low on the opposite shoulder. The hog went down like he’d been struck by Thor’s hammer, and with a couple of kicks, he was done.
The videographer, unfortunately (for us) was with the other hunter on a different part of the property. I captured the shot on my camera (that video will be online soon), but after the way this thing played out, I was really wishing we’d had the professional there to see it. It was a classic “boom-flop” kill.
Anyway, we rolled out to check her hog, and it turned out to be a decent little boar, with about two inches of razor-sharp tusks. Not a monster, but a great meat pig and an excellent experience. For my part, watching her make that shot was way better than if I’d killed the hog myself.
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Kat
Fred
I hope to get my first hog this year at Rex’s Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club on the edge of the Mississippi Delta. Marian 
It was good to have you and Kat out again Phillip, many fond memories are being made.
As a dog man myself, over the years I have found that if you do have to use the dogs (some people want to experience it at least once in their lifetime) you must let the hunter feel the animal.
Meaning, that I will let the client hold the animal themselves (along with my help of course) and then after the client has had a “hands on” experience I will coach them through the dispatch of the animal.
This can sometimes have near disastrous consequence’s though like the time when one of my clients (a strapping 210 lb. youth of all muscle) got his pants leg grabbed by a very big 300lb. sow.
She got away from the dog;s and myself holding her and then grabbed the poor fellow by the pants leg and shook him like a Raggity Ann doll. all the while as this was happening he was screaming like a little girl.
Within seconds the dog’s and I had regained control of the hog and then the young man was able to hold her by the hind leg and dispatch the animal with a single pistol shot to the head.
Luckily, the young man was not seriously injured and had received only a scratching graze up the calf of his leg.
To this day he still tells the story just the way it happened, and tells it with much gusto and fondness.
He has been out several times since and has taken quite a few hog’s but, never has requested the dogs ever again.