Pork Chop

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: Graphic photos of hunt…

Pork chops, tenderloin, B.B.Q. ribs, and many other delicious dishes are what any carnivore like myself would love to cook and eat over an open fire. Hunting is a resourceful and adventurous way of obtaining that delicacy.  To me, it’s a rite of passage as we grow in our society.  Whether you’re a hunter or you find it a horrific act on an animal, hunting boar (Wild Pig) is a necessity for the community.  More specifically to our local farmers who depend on their crops for a living.

Boar is an aggressive and destructive invasive species of wild pig that endangers farmer’s crops by eating and destroying their fields. Their ferocious appetite knows no boundaries and will trespass on to any place they deem desirable to gorge on.  Boars can destroy a large portion of a field if not kept in check, not to mention they are extremely aggressive and will attack with their large tusks (teeth) if they feel threatened. Domesticated pigs frequently escape captivity and if left on its own in the wild will become a feral pig or a wild pig.  Hogs are built like small tanks but are surprisingly quicker than they appear. Their short but powerful legs help them move easily over hills, thick brush, and any obstacle in its way. Boars’ hide is tough which gives it that edge to survive in extreme environments such as deserts, woods, brush, mountains, or any other variations of terrain it becomes adapted to. Did I forget to mention they’re delicious?

Hunting is a legal and effective way of dealing with the threat of this invasive species without having to deal with poisons that can harm the environment and wildlife.  The state of California has strict regulations on hunting.  You must:

1. Pass a hunting regulation course and be trained to obtain a hunting license
2. Buy a Tag (A hog permit)
3. Your gun must be registered and you must past a gun permit test. Sounds easy but it can be a time consuming ordeal.  It’s all worth it if you like adventure.  I have had the privilege to hunt in what is consider the mecca of hunting in Southern California, a private Ranch.

Up before the sun shows a glimpse over the horizon, it’s Saturday 4:30 a.m. and my alarm goes off simultaneously with the rest of my hunting party in the cabin.  This morning being like many other hunting adventures the adrenaline and anticipation starts to kick in.  I can feel the need to hurry as I lace up my boots with one eye half open after a long week of work.  Soon sleeping becomes secondary desire as my group begins to hand out cups of coffee to each other as they pack their backpacks, their rifles, their snacks and most important at least one energy drink.  The group consist of three members and myself.  Two of the guys are older and very experienced hunters who have taken it on themselves to help with my hunting ethics and education.  A long day of hunting begins.

We roll out into the darkness with no other lights beside the moonlight and our truck’s headlights to scout and wait for first light to appear in a good vantage point on a peak.  As the morning comes, binoculars in hand you begin to survey the hills for little black dots that most of the time may move in unison.  If you’re lucky you may spot a hog and the chase begins.  From that vantage point you can see the beauty of your surroundings.  The open fields, large trees that are full of life in the morning, and most important cows!  Besides pigs, coyotes, ground squirrels, eagles, birds, elk, deer, and many other wild animals you find herds of cows.  Cows roam freely as they graze on the green grass of the ranch.  If the morning turns out to be slow as it did in this adventure, you consider going on to plan “B”, the hike.

Many times, including this adventure we hiked. My comrades with more experience many times have what they consider a honey whole:  A place that has produce pigs many times before.  We traverse down on the crest of a steep hill that feels like you will lose your balance and slip on your bottom.  I kept an eye on my partner on the adjacent side of that canyon.  I stop and double check my boots to make sure they’re nice and tight.  Stealth and silence is the name of the game.  You keep watch to where your comrades are position.  In this adventure I was guided by one other down the canyon.  He kept in view in the opposite site of the canyon to ensure a kill if the hogs were to try and escape his way.  The hunt begins!  We find track that leads to an inner part of the canyon and begin to follow.

They say all roads lead to Rome, at least that’s what we were hoping for.  In this case I hoped all roads lead to hog, hopefully a big one.  As my partner points, I can see he had spotted the prize.  He goes in for the kill.  I keep my distance and make sure that I wasn’t in any place of his shot and I find the target in my scope in case he misses.  The loud noise of his rifle echo’s as it goes off.  His shot was right on target but the beast does not go down.  I can spot where the shot hit its shoulder.  It was a direct hit but its tough hide and layers of fat helped it stay up.  The need to stay alive keeps the animal on its feet.  I shoot from my position and hit the boar in its right hind leg.  This massive beast keeps running and the chase keeps going.  I position myself for another shot but it’s too late.  My partners shot meets the bull’s eye and the pig was down.  I was sure the animal was dead.  I began to close-in on the carcass to examine the kill.  To my surprise the hog was a beast way bigger than what I saw in my scope.  The work was just about to start.

Most people believe that once you shoot your prey the hunt is over.  To me, it’s only the beginning.  The task at hand was to pull the pig out of where it was killed and onto the truck.  Using a harness, I strapped it around my upper body and connected it to the feet of the hog.  I begin the strenuous job of puling the pig behind me up a hill and then down to the main road.  A job that would normally take a least two people if it wasn’t for the fact that I keep my extra-large body in somewhat of a shape.  I struggled for a bit only to find a cold bottle of water when I reach the truck.  With the aid of the group that was waiting for me, we carry what felt like a heavy sack of potatoes into the bed of the truck.  As we reach camp, my hunting education continues by one of the senior members of the group.  The cleaning of the kill was next.  My knife in hand I was instructed on how to remove the hide from the pig and then what first felt a little awkward, the opening of the belly and expelling of its entrails.  I had done it before and soon remembered what had been taught to me on a previous hunt.  After cleaning the carcass and placing it in a freezer I could smell the aroma of lunch being prepared before we headed out to meet our next adventure and fill another tag.  The warm sun, the endless open ground, the eagles flying up above us was just too sweet to call the day to an early end.  An epic adventure if I may say so.  I look forward to more in the future.