Pretty quick like after De Judge left, I was packing up for a Texas hawg hunt down to southern Texas with a bunch of sure nuff ruffians. Adopted son Jim Plumhoff, now down in San Antonio, had lined up a wild hawg hunt for a group of 9 thru Arrowhead Outfitters out of Wasilla, Alaska down in Cameron,TX. We were all going to gather there on Sunday Feb 1 for a Super Bowl party prior to the hunt.

The Cahills

A local adopted son, Pat Smith, and I pulled out of Montrose on Jan 30 for an early start and made it as far as Dumas,TX the first nite. Early AM we headed for Colleyville,TX near Ft. Worth to spend the nite with ole fren Jared Cahill, his lovely KK, and young William.† William had sure grown since I last saw him and he wanted to take us to Bass Pro, his favorite place. While there, we got our Texas hunting licenses and Jared took us next for a beer at Bonedaddyís, an upscale HOOTERS with much better scenery. Unfortunately I didnít have my camera with me.

Learning to Shoot

Back to the Cahillís, we settled to a great dinner and awaited the arrival of Jaredís brother Matt from Mississipi. Next AM we hit Cabelas, then caravaned south to Cameron, which is a ranching community south east of Waco. Plum was already checked into the motel , as were Drue Wiggins and Billie Higgenbotham from Houston. So far 7 of the 9 in the group had arrived early Sunday PM. We were only missing the star ruffian of the group, Country artist, Daniel Lee Martin and his cameraman Cris, who were en route from Nashville.

Plum Scores

A few years back, Daniel Lee gave up a lucrative marketing business in order to pursue his dream of singing, hunting, and fishing. His latest CD , ìOn My Way To Youî, is on the shelves and selling fast. In addition he has developed a TV show for the Sportsmans Channel, BACKSTAGE AND BACKROADS, which features all his hunting and fishing adventures. Go GOOGLE the show and pull up his website and you will quickly learn he and his lovely wife Kristina are living the shows tag line----îIts not the destination, Its the journeyî. While you are on site, order his latest CD and check out the TV schedule for his show.

Jared & Matt

We were all anxious to finally meet him, but they were running late, so we all headed over to Bobís Steak House for a Super Bowl party and a meetup with Howard Tieden and his lovely Deb of Arrowhead Outfitters in Wasilla. Howardís main business is flying hunters into the Alaskan bush for moose, carribou, bear, and such critters, but during the winter he and Deb head south to warmer climes for wild hog hunting huge Texas ranches. They joined us with our party in full swing and our waitress Deitra busy keeping our glasses full. The plan was to head out early from the hotel and they would get everyone out on a stand near a feeder to lay a wild hawg ambush.

Drue & Billie

Daniel Lee and Cris pulled in after midnite and we all got acquainted over a continental breakfast. Then it was off to the ranch. Pat was dropped off first to a tree stand, then I parked my truck and Deb walked me into my stand, which was a popup blind 35 yds from a feeder. Then Howard took all the other guys on to their stands. After light I heard a gun go off, later to find out Jared had been the first to miss a big hawg. I sat all day in the blind and didnít see a hawg til just after sundown. Suddenly 7 appeared just out of range and they were headed my way. Just before they were in range there was a volley of gunfire and my hawgs flushed for the bush like a covey of quail.

Daniel Lee's Big Boar

After dark we all gathered up to the corrals and found that Daniel Lee had nailed a huge boar with his bow and Cris got it all on film. And, Plum had shot 3 in a parade under his stand with his bow at 20 yds.in less than a minute. to top that off, Drue had gotten a small pig at point blank range with his pistol. Pretty good for day one.

Drue's Piglet

Day two was another bust for me, but Pat, Billie, and Matt connected on their hunts, and Plum got his fourth pig with a bow. That nite Howard and Deb hosted a wild hawg BBque for us and it were scrumptious to say the least.

My Big Boar

Day three arrived and by then only Jared, Cris, and I had not gotten a pig. After the morning hunt I was frustrated and Pat said I was going with him in the PM to an area he had been seeing a big boar. About 3PM we loaded up our gear on a 6 wheeler and headed off to the far reaches of the ranch. We set up lawn chairs 30 yds from a feeded and settled down to wait. Just before sundown 3 little pigs came to bait and I eased my rifle into position. After 20 minutes momma squealed off in the distance and her piglets scurried off. We decided to move to a new feeder and on the way, Pat spotted the big boar off about 250 yds quartering away from us. Keeping low to the knee kigh grass we ran to cut it off and get closer. At 200yds Pat sat on the ground and I took a rifle rest on his shoulder. Once I centered the crosshairs on the boars shoulder, Pat grunted and the boar stopped dead in his tracks. With a soft trigger squeeze my shot was dead center. The hawg bunched up with the hit , ran 20ft, and toppled over. Easing in on the pig to be certain he was out, we discovered it was the same board Pat had previously had twice at 20 yds with his bow, but couldnít get a clear shot at.

Howard, Pat & Me

Pat ran back to get the ATV and we struggled to get him loaded after taking lots of pictures. Back to the ranch we found out that Jared had also gotten a huge boar and Cris had connected on 2 with his bow. Now we all had been successful with a total of 13 hogs between 9 shooters. HELLOFA HUNT!

Celebration

Since most of the ruffians were about to scatter after 3 days hunting, and since everyone had at least one pig, a celebration grand style was called for. Out to Bobís Steak House we went once more, where we all gobbled up the best steak you could ask for, with lots of libations supplied by Dietra and entertainment by some of the local lasses. After everyone got sideways on shooters [ some more than others] a few of the guys hit the dance floor to boot scoot. I left about midnite, but Daniel Lee, Cris, and Pat closed the joint down.

Party Time

Pat and I pulled out next AM to pick up our hawg meat before heading south to San Antonio for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. We said our farethees to Howard & Deb, who had been gracious hosts and bent over backwards to get everyone in on some action. If you are interested in any flyin hunts in Alaska or a hawg hunt in Texas, check out their web site at www.arrowheadoutfitters.com. They run a first class operation and we all plan to be back next year!

With Dietra

And, in about 9 months the hunt will be on Daniel Leeís Backstage and Backwoods TV show on the Sportsmans channel, so stand by for a future update. For you country music fans go out and buy his latest CD so you can help him keep on hunting and fishing in the style to which he has become accustomed.