Woody's Smokehouse

Talk about the smoking gun!!! I saw this while driving around San Antonio. They are here in town for the annual cookoff that Sea World puts on every year. This is Woody's Smokehouse trailer and they are located at 1021 W St. Marys in Centerville Texas. The guy driving this trailer was Jason, and he was very friendly, and gave us some samples of beef jerky. It was gggrrreeeaaattt!!!!!!

Momma got a long distance call

Looks like we have another member of the 200 club, Shawn Taylor’s the name, knocking pigs down is his game. Johnson invited Shawn Taylor out to hunt some hogs this night. Also out with us was a previous hunter named T, who you might remember from an earlier POST. Really, it was an earlier POST, a green post. Anyway, back to the story, we got out early today because I wanted to test some reloads for my 45-70, (which shot great) and afterwards we took a stroll through the woods hoping to spot some hogs that might want to come home with us. Johnson took T to one side of the property with instructions not to shoot behind him which is where we would be. I took Shawn through the woods and after seeing 4 does run past us we decided to move to another spot trying to figure out which way the hogs would be traveling, and trying to put Shawn on some hogs so he could nail one with his 7 mm mag. Shawn reloads for his rifle and apparently enjoys shooting long distance shots.

So after moving to another area we climbed up 15 feet onto a platform that leads into a deer blind. I didn’t have the key to get in but all we needed to do was get some elevation to see the back part of the field, and also to look back at the tank where our vehicles were parked, which was probably over 800 yards away. As we looked through binoculars checking the field we saw nothing but cows in the back pasture. Looking back towards our vehicles that’s when we saw a large group of hogs in the back part of that field where the tank was at. It was getting dark so I told Shawn we could probably get there before the sun went down, but we’re gonna have to move very fast. Being in the Marines, you can guess what his answer was, “lets go”, so we did. He had his backpack on (probably with bricks in it), and his bull barrel 7mm mag with scope on it and I was traveling heavy with my binoculars and seat cushion and we were on very fast walk headed to the hogs. About three fourths of the way I told him, lets stop so I can check with the binos where the hogs were at. I actually wanted to catch my breath, but I noticed he wasn’t even breathing hard. After glassing the field I could see more hogs were in the field tearing up the ranchers winter oats that were planted. So we continued and arrived at the first gate, with him going through it and me going over it. We continued on to the second gate and came up to the vehicles and then crept up to the tank where we lay prone on top of the tank.

A couple of weeks ago I had a good friend, Elliott and his son Collin and with their range finder they were able to get a reading of 480 yards to the fence. There were about 9 hogs off to the left right in the corner which was about at the 480 yard mark. Then there was a large group (about 20) in front of us somewhere around 450 yards out. I told Shawn to pick one out and knock it down and a few seconds later kaboom, he fired and I could see the dust kick up close to the pigs. Miss, I yelled out, then kaboom more dust as the hogs ran towards the back of the field. I told him they’re going towards that big tree, and I don’t know why, but for some reason all the hogs had to go underneath the barb wire at the same place. There was a lot of dust being kicked up at that spot and I couldn’t make out how many hogs hadn’t gone under the wire, but apparently Shawn still had them in his scope and then fired again. Kaboom, a third round was headed down range followed by a loud whack, then immediately the loud WWWEEEEEE WWWWEEEEE, WWWWEEEE. YOU GOT IT!!!!!! What a shot, right at the fence, that’s some good shooting. One of them hogs got a long distance call from a 7mm mag. Now lets go get it, so Shawn switched rifles to his Ar15 and we started walking out to the hog. Halfway there I could see hogs at the fence walking back and forth which was not good. Uh Shawn, have you ever been hog hunting, I asked to which he replied no, never have. Okay, lets hold up here and lets go over some things. They might be around the wounded hog protecting it and if they charge us, you need to shoot whatever moves our way. I’ll break off to your left and take care of anything on the left. I was thinking to myself, we just crossed over 400 yards of flat pasture land, the only trees close to us, in case we needed climb them is where the hogs are at, and there was no way I was gonna out run this marine, so I better make it to the barbwire fence in a hurry if we had to. We moved closer and now we could hear the very distinct sound of hogs chomping or gnashing their teeth. We moved closer and we could hear something moving in the brush which turned out to be the wounded hog. I spotlighted it since it was dark now and Shawn finished it off with two more rounds. Johnson and T drove up and Shawn and T crossed the barbwire to retrieve the hog which it was found to be a very big sow.

It turns out this sow was pregnant with 6 little mobile plows (piglets) that would not be tearing up any fields. She was big as you can see.

The 200 club

It’s amazing the amount of damage a single hog can do to a ranchers field. This weekend I’ll be out in the field again and I’ll try to remember to get some pictures of the area the hog in this story was at. My brother-in-law Mark Johnson and I stayed late and took advantage of an almost full moon. A couple of hours earlier Elliot, Collin and Albert were doing some dove hunting and what sounded like a war going on at the tank

only ended up with 7 birds. Somebody needs a little more range time.So after letting Elliott and the boys out Johnson and I decided to set up for hogs in the third field on top of the small tank. In case you are wondering how we set up on a tank, let me tell you first off, it’s not an army tank. I feel the need to explain that after telling my wife a few years back we set up on a tank and she had a picture of us sitting on a military tank. The tank I’m referring to is a pond, or you might say water tank or just tank.

So we park Johnsons truck on top of the tank and situate ourselves in the bed of the truck and figured out our shooting lanes. Like I said earlier the moon was almost full and with a good set of binoculars, which I have (Nikon)

on a clear night we could see clear across the field we were in and into all the fields around us. About 2020 hrs, while glassing (looking through the binoculars) the field I noticed a good sizehog on the opposite side of a huge oak tree walking away from us towards the back of the field. I followed it and watched as it stayed in the same field we were in but about 300 yards away.

This hog was tearing up the area at the back of the field we were in and we watched it go back and forth as it dug up the field for about 45 minutes. At one point Johnson got off the truck and stood next to his truck and it wasa waiting game to see what this hog was going to do. Finally I saw the hog turn towards us and I told Johnson to get ready, he’s coming in. This ole hog was traveling the same way he walked up, and he was going to be walking behind that huge oak tree sitting in front of us. At 2105 hours on an almost full moon, at 80 yards we could see this hog without binoculars walking behind the oak tree, and Johnson was kneeling down already, waiting for it to come out. The oak tree is huge, and has several large branches that swoop down to the dirt, so we momentarily lost sight of the hog. As I strained my eyes looking to the left then to the right, trying to get a glimpse of this hog as it came out Johnson shoots. KAABBBOOOMM, followed by whack and loud squealing, then we could hear it running through the field.

After waiting 15 minutes we went looking for this hog and as we walked in the darkness around the oak tree, I could hear what sounded like a hog close by trying to flee or getting ready to charge us. Flashlights were immediately turned on and pointed in the direction we heard the sound and we could see the reflection from his eyes deep in the weeds. Johnson picked him up on the scope and put another round from his 30-06 in him. Now he had two rounds to his left shoulder but he was still trying to get up and now he was backing up with his hind legs but yet facing us so Johnson tried to get another round in him and it’s uncertain if the third round hit, so I had him hold my flashlight while I walked up with my Glock 23. I aimed for the head and hit, and we figured that’s it. As we walked up, the hog tried to get up so I put 2 more rounds in him and finished him off.

When we saw him tearing up the back field he looked big, but now he was really big and trying to swing him onto the tailgate was no easy job but we did it on the second try. This guy is one large pig, well over 200lbs, that won’t be tearing up the ranchers field anymore.

That sure was great

As you can see, I didn't wait long to cook a backstrap from one of the hogs that Johnson shot yesterday. I hit it with a meat tenderizer that Alma had picked up where she works. It has about 54 razor sharp blades, then I placed it in a ziploc bag with red wine vinegar overnight. Then I put some Tony Chacheres seasoning on it with some Grub Rub and grilled it. Right before I took it off I put some barbecue sauce on it and then it was time to eat. It was great!!

New Years Eve hunt 2011

Look at the dental work on this guy. Here is a closer shot of the dental work from the previous post. Below are both hogs that Johnson shot on New Years Eve.

The one on the left had just come out of a pond and was soaking wet. That was a lot of pork in the bed of the truck. The one on the right was covered in mud and has a splitting headache after charging Johnson.

I added the picture below to show how thick his hide was. Some hunters call it a shield some call it fat, either way it is pretty tough. Mark Johnson shot this one with a 150 grain 30-06 Winchester ballistic tip, from about 80 yards and there was no exit. After getting hit it ran 30 to 40 yards and dropped. Pretty tough little guy.

2011 Ended with a BOOM

New Years Eve 2011 ended in a spectacular, but very different way. Oh sure theusual and customary fireworks flying through the air and exploding were seen throughout the night, but before the the midnight hour, I along with several hunters were out in the field, and we were looking for hogs and doves. Collin and Chase were by the water tank dove hunting and I along with Mark Johnson and my neighbor Carlos were on the other side of the property waiting for hogs.

We set up at the same place where Elliott and I had stalked about 40 hogs two days earlier. Elliott had crawled to within 20 yards of the hogs and put a round into a big hog which took off and died in the neighbors property. Today though we had the big guns. Johnson had his trusty 30-06 loaded with 150 grain Winchester Ballistic tip. Carlos had his AR 15 and he loads his own ammo. He was shooting a 69 grain Barnes Bullet, and I had my 45-70 loaded with 325 grain LeveRevolution made by Hornady.

The wind was in our favor and around 1645 hrs we had a hog come in. It was about 80 yards out and Johnson had his gun up and tracking it through his scope. Carlos was sitting next to a big oak tree so he couldn’t see the hog since it was approaching from an angle that was covered by the oak tree. The hog wasn’t running, (yet) but it was walking at a good pace and never lost a beat as it came under the fence and continued walking. I was thinking someone better shoot because we’re fixing to lose sight of him then, KKAABBOOOMM, Johnson shot. That hog took off running and for a moment I thought he missed, but then we heard this thing crashing through brush, breaking limbs and brushing up against cactus, then silence. From where the sounds were coming from I pretty much knew where it was at so I told Johnson and Carlos to stay put and I would go into the woods about 40 yards and head to where I thought it was. I also told them to stay alert for another group of hogs since we could hear them on the next property and if the did come out to shoot them as they crossed the sendero, but if they made it to the tree line I would shoot. I worked my way up the hill stopping every few seconds checking the area with binoculars and after a few minutes I could see the hog about 30 yards away laying next to some cactus and it wasn’t going anywhere so I worked my way back.

Modern technology is wonderful and works great in the woods. I texted Johnson and asked if there were any hogs in sight or if it was clear to come out, and his response was come on out. I told him and Carlos his hog was down and we still had about 45 minutes left till sundown so lets stay a little longer if they wanted and we did. A few minutes later we could hear hogs in the woods where I was but they never came out and we could hear them going the opposite way. They must have come across my scent and traveled back the opposite way so we called it quits and went after the downed hog. When we spotted the hog off at a distance we noticed it was pretty big and kept getting bigger as we got closer. Once we put hands on it, it was obvious we were gonna need some help dragging this brute. Johnson went back to get Collin, Chase and his truck while Carlos and I went back to get our backpacks and other gear we left behind. Minutes later Collin called me and said he could see Johnson walking back and there was a group of hogs approaching him. It was getting darker and Collin couldn’t see how many, but they were about 40 yards from him and approaching him, then we heard KKAABBOOMM, KKAABBOOMM. I hung up with Collin and Johnson called me, and he sounded a little excited. He said he shot two more and one was down and one ran off and some ran back towards us.

After getting our equipment and walking back to the downed hog we heard a twang coming from the barbwire fence close to us and heard pigs running from us through the field. A few minutes later Johnson, Collin and Chase drove up with the one of the hogs Johnson at shot.

Johnson said he was walking back to get the boys and his truck and was walking along the fence line when he heard the hogs to his left. He said saw Chase and Collin with their light to his right and they were flashing their flashlight at him. He looked back to his left and with his flashlight shining he looked beyond the hogs and to their left and right just to make sure there were no cows around. Once he saw they was nothing else but hogs in front of him he picked one out as they were still approaching him and fired and hit one. Johnson said that’s when things got crazy because it looked like they were gonna charge him and as they ran towards him one stopped about 20 yards in front of him so he shot it in the middle of its head and dropped it, while the others ran past him. Apparently Johnson started waving his arms in the air and jumping up and down trying to spook them but one still ran about 4 yards from him. What a time to do the hokey pokey. It was an exciting evening for sure.