[Bullrdr82]

While at the LSBA banquet in June I won a hog hunt at the Hacienda Ranch in Uvalde. I spoke with Brad in July about when to take the hunt and he told me when it was cold. Well, it is normally cold in January, and my buddies Buff and Chunky were slated to be there the weekend of the 9th, so I booked the hunt. Come to find out Buff would have to work that weekend, so it was only going to be Chunky there with my brother and I.

Fast forward to this past weekend, my brother and I packed up early Friday morning, and tore out of Houston for the 5 hour drive to Uvalde. It had been extremely warm for winter, even in Texas. We got to the ranch shortly after 1:00 PM. Upon arrival we got situated in our room, and grabbed a sandwich. My brother, Brent, and I decided we would go down to the range and fling a couple arrows to make sure everything made the trip ok. While Brent was shooting his compound, I decided I would shoot the recurve. Upon seeing me shooting the recurve, Brad (the ranch manager) decided to come down and fling a few. After a good hour long shooting session, Brad and I decided we would sit in the same stand that night to see if we could both get our first trad kills.

About 3:00, Brad’s phone rang and it was Chunky. Once he got settled into his room, it was time to go hunt. That first night was real slow. Brad and I did not see one pig. My brother had a group come in real late, and missed.
The next morning, the wind was blowing about 20 miles an hour out of the north, so Brad decided that Brent and I would change stands. Well, I decided again to take the recurve. I had pig come in well before day light. I waited until it was good and light outside and picked a nice size meat hog. I drew the string back, and hit my anchor. About this time, the hog I was originally aiming at moved forward presenting a better shot on the one right behind it. As I settled in on that one the string just came out of my hand like it was natural. About that time, all the pig scatter and I see my arrow laying on the ground. I knew I had missed. Upon slowing the video down I see that the pig actually jumped the string.

That night I decided to take the compound rather than the recurve. The pigs came in that afternoon about 30 minuets before the feeder went off, so I sat and waited. Once the feeder went off it was not long before a big group of hogs came in. I picked out one that was about 60 pounds drew back and let the arrow fly. I hit the pig, but it must have been right in the leg, because we did not find any blood while tracking. Right after I shot, there was another group coming up the road, so I grabbed another arrow and picked a pig that was in the back of the pack. I drew let the arrow go again, and this time I hit my mark. We did not have a hard time tracking this one.
All in all it was a great hunt and I will be going back to the Hacienda Ranch!!