1997 Hunting Trips Reports
By
9/5/97 – 9/7/97 Dove Hunt/Retreat
Sixty seven men and boys (59 hunters) participated at the 7th Annual Fall Dove Retreat on 9/5/97 – 9/7/97 at the Hymeadow Ranch north of Lampasas (our second best attendance ever). Although there were not a lot of birds, we had our usual great time of fellowship. There were also several bass and perch caught out of the tanks and the six acre lake.
Thanks to Paul Wilson for putting the hunt together and for bringing his canoe, Eddy Chance, Warren Hoke, Smitty Smith and Derrich Pollock for leading “How to” clinics, Keith Syler, John Murray, and Jim McGee for teaching Bible Studies, Mark Weaver for his Sermon, and Smitty Smith and Keith Syler for leading us in song. Thanks also to Darin Koch for bringing his “Monster Telescope” and delighting us with close ups of the constellations.
3/7/97 – 3/9/97 Hog Hunt
A record five men (two officers and three members) chased hogs for two days at the 3/7/97 – 3/9/97 Hog Hunt at the 3300 acre Hill Country Hogs Ranch. This was our second archery only Hog Hunt. Hill Country has a 35 acre hog pen where they keep approximately 100 hogs stocked. We opted to hunt it both days. The hogs were very skittish. During the weekend we averaged three shots each at running hogs.
Only Tim Price managed to hit one and that was probably because he was only six yards away (hiding behind a cedar tree) when a herd ran past him. Unfortunately we eventually lost its blood trail. The rest of the hunters had shots at running hogs. The terrain was very brushy and hilly with some creeks. There were hogs that we saw on the first morning, including a black and white one, that we never saw again! We were convinced that they were beamed up to the Enterprise!
During the hunt an amazing thing happened. I, Randy Rowley, was at one end of the rectangular shaped pen. Suddenly I saw about 30 hogs running down the far fence line. David Chalmers was chasing them but was about 75 yards behind them. The hogs got to the corner and then ran to the corner near me. I was in head to toe camo (including face mask and gloves). I had not moved a muscle, yet they knew that I was there.
They started to mill around and then got into the most amazing formation (quicker than most groups of humans could do). The big hogs got in the back of the formation. The medium sized hogs were between me and the big ones and the small hogs were between me and the medium sized one.
They then ran right down the fence line in that formation. I had a 20 yard shot, but if I wanted to shoot a big hog, I would have to shoot through a medium sized one (we were only allowed to shoot one hog)! I aimed at the big hogs backs and let loose. My arrow stuck harmlessly in the trunk of a cedar tree.