I figured it was time to get out and away from people. To me, social distancing should be getting within 100-yards of a wild animal. The more social the animal, the closer I figure I can get. I was invited to hunt a large private ranch that is for sale. Among other things at the property is a strawberry farm of many acres. I am not sure if the javelina eat them, but I was told they are "messing up" the strawberry patches.
The ranch is rocky with slight changes in elevation and a mixture of mesquite, cactus and rocks with a creek or river clipping the back border. I was told if I stick to the cut trail it will take me around the outer circumference of the ranch and total about 5-miles as the trail winds and twists. Trying to be as traditional as possible considering the nearly 80-degrees, I set out wearing a brown cotton over-shirt with short sleeves, tan duck drop front pants and ankle high moccasins.
I loaded the .54 flintlock and strapped on the leather bag filled with an antler and hickory short starter, pan primer and antler/pick tool, extra ball, patch and vial of powder. I do not have an on-board loading rod, so I put my wood loading rod on a "sling" and wore it opposing my powder flask. My knife was a somewhat more modern "Canadian Belt Knife" style blade with wood handle pinned 3-times and resting in a hand-made leather sheath.
As morning broke this all seemed like a great idea. But, it was so hot and humid that I decided to put 3-16 oz plastic water bottles and 2 granola bars in my leather backpack. As I wander off I am thinking my moccasins are doing great keeping my feet dry, steps quiet and body comfortable. About an hour in I changed my mind about the time a mesquite thorn pierced through the bottom of my foot. After removing the offending thorn and checking the damage I continued on - but slower. Around the 2-mile mark I saw some javelina.
They looked awful small, but I snuck in with the wind in my favor. At about 75-yards I concluded that this was a group of immature shorties less than a year old. An hour later at around mile 3 I saw movement low to the ground that appeared grey. I thought it might be a coyote and decided I would shoot if given the opportunity. I held up for a while and then moved into light cover.
As the critter came into an opening, I eased back into the brush a little more while keeping my eye on the grey animal. "Bad idea" I thought about the time I felt the sting of a cactus spine enter the side of my foot. So much for the moccasins doing a great job. What did the Native Americans, Mountain Men and Pioneers wear on their feet while hunting? Probably not these things.
In spite of the heavy double leather bottom and slipper-like comfort they do not keep pointy things out. Gritting my teeth I pull the cock back as the animal clears the brush. No go, it is a real small whitetail deer. Cool little girl with a grey tint. She watches for a minute and slowly moves off the way she came. I ease the frizzen forward, then lower the cock and re-set the frizzen and put a stall on it. I continue on.
Just when I think I am close to completing the circle around the ranch I see javelina. I sneak through the rocks and sporadic vegetation and shrubs to close the distance. I am 40 or 50 yards from them and I take a seat - carefully. No pointy objects or snakes. I am waiting and watching these shorties for about a half-hour. They are always in a cluster, never a clear shot at just one.
Even though the limit is 2 per year I do not want to fill the limit with one shot. My foot starts throbbing. I look at it and see my moccasin is reddish. Great- my foot is obviously bleeding. I don't know if it is from the first prick or the second but it is starting to hurt. I ease out and go around the javelina. I complete the circle and get back to the truck.
After putting everything away I check my foot. All looks good now, no swelling or bleeding and no remaining pieces. This hunt will continue tomorrow with essentially the same plan, minus the moccasins …….
The ranch is rocky with slight changes in elevation and a mixture of mesquite, cactus and rocks with a creek or river clipping the back border. I was told if I stick to the cut trail it will take me around the outer circumference of the ranch and total about 5-miles as the trail winds and twists. Trying to be as traditional as possible considering the nearly 80-degrees, I set out wearing a brown cotton over-shirt with short sleeves, tan duck drop front pants and ankle high moccasins.
I loaded the .54 flintlock and strapped on the leather bag filled with an antler and hickory short starter, pan primer and antler/pick tool, extra ball, patch and vial of powder. I do not have an on-board loading rod, so I put my wood loading rod on a "sling" and wore it opposing my powder flask. My knife was a somewhat more modern "Canadian Belt Knife" style blade with wood handle pinned 3-times and resting in a hand-made leather sheath.
As morning broke this all seemed like a great idea. But, it was so hot and humid that I decided to put 3-16 oz plastic water bottles and 2 granola bars in my leather backpack. As I wander off I am thinking my moccasins are doing great keeping my feet dry, steps quiet and body comfortable. About an hour in I changed my mind about the time a mesquite thorn pierced through the bottom of my foot. After removing the offending thorn and checking the damage I continued on - but slower. Around the 2-mile mark I saw some javelina.
They looked awful small, but I snuck in with the wind in my favor. At about 75-yards I concluded that this was a group of immature shorties less than a year old. An hour later at around mile 3 I saw movement low to the ground that appeared grey. I thought it might be a coyote and decided I would shoot if given the opportunity. I held up for a while and then moved into light cover.
As the critter came into an opening, I eased back into the brush a little more while keeping my eye on the grey animal. "Bad idea" I thought about the time I felt the sting of a cactus spine enter the side of my foot. So much for the moccasins doing a great job. What did the Native Americans, Mountain Men and Pioneers wear on their feet while hunting? Probably not these things.
In spite of the heavy double leather bottom and slipper-like comfort they do not keep pointy things out. Gritting my teeth I pull the cock back as the animal clears the brush. No go, it is a real small whitetail deer. Cool little girl with a grey tint. She watches for a minute and slowly moves off the way she came. I ease the frizzen forward, then lower the cock and re-set the frizzen and put a stall on it. I continue on.
Just when I think I am close to completing the circle around the ranch I see javelina. I sneak through the rocks and sporadic vegetation and shrubs to close the distance. I am 40 or 50 yards from them and I take a seat - carefully. No pointy objects or snakes. I am waiting and watching these shorties for about a half-hour. They are always in a cluster, never a clear shot at just one.
Even though the limit is 2 per year I do not want to fill the limit with one shot. My foot starts throbbing. I look at it and see my moccasin is reddish. Great- my foot is obviously bleeding. I don't know if it is from the first prick or the second but it is starting to hurt. I ease out and go around the javelina. I complete the circle and get back to the truck.
After putting everything away I check my foot. All looks good now, no swelling or bleeding and no remaining pieces. This hunt will continue tomorrow with essentially the same plan, minus the moccasins …….
