Thanksgiving Pig

                                                          By Marlene Odahlen-Hinz
 

With our local archery club’s wild game dinner on the horizon, Jerry and I decided to head for Texas to see if we could get some menu items.  We were the successful bidders on this 2-day hunt with North Texas Outfitters at a fundraiser in March banquet.  After our traditional Thanksgiving dinner had settled we pointed the truck south and were off on our 1,000 mile grocery-shopping trip.

           North Texas Outfitters are located about 50 miles west of Gainesville,TX and Gainesville is less than 10 miles from the Oklahoma state line.  With good weather and clear roads this trip is easily doable over a long weekend. 

           On our arrival, Don Wade told us to “camo up” as soon as we were settled in the lodge for a tour of the ranch.  Experience has shown him that opportunities often arise while giving hunters a tour of the management areas.   With temperatures in the mid 70º F we had a very pleasant ride looking over the various game North Texas Outfitters had to offer. 

 Since Jerry and I were the only hunters we had the lodge to ourselves.  Don told us that the following week more buildings would be brought in that would serve as sleeping quarters for future hunters and the lodge we were currently in would be remodeled by enlarging the kitchen and expanding the great room.   

           Our main mission on this trip was to take a nice sized eating pig to use for the Wild Game Dinner.  We saw a lot of pigs varying in size from 100 lbs. to nearly 500 lbs. It was obvious that some of the hogs still carried genes of their Russian ancestors.  We saw one boar that we estimated would tip the scale at close to 600 pounds.  He looked like a boxcar lumbering through the woods.  If we were successful taking a hog we each had hoped to pursue one of the sheep and goat varieties roaming the ranch.

           Over a fantastic evening meal Don told us that usually he puts hunters out in stands by 6:15 a.m. and that meant our wake-up call would be at 5:30 a.m.  We woke up the next morning to the smell of fresh coffee brewing.  Don and Brian escorted us to a section called the Outback.  This was where the hogs ranged as well as a large variety of sheep and goats.  I’d hoped to take a black Catalina goat during our stay.

Don said he’d be back to retrieve us from our stands around 8:30 a.m. for a hearty breakfast back at the lodge.  Both Jerry and I had a wide assortment of hogs around us once dawn arrived and I finally saw what I felt would be excellent table fare for our club’s dinner.   Don, Brian and Jerry were excited when I told them I had a hog down. 

           After the “photo op” we headed to the lodge for breakfast while Don skinned the hog and put it into their walk-in cooler.  By the time we were finished with our sausage and eggs Don had finished processing the hog. 

           We than made plans to try for the other animals on our list.  Jerry had hoped to bring home a black buck and sat that afternoon in a different part of the ranch.  I returned to the Outback in the hope that I was in the right spot to take that black Catalina.  As the day began to close I was presented with the opportunity to shoot at what I learned was an African Mountain goat. 

           When we picked up Jerry he said he saw just about every specie of big game North Texas Outfitters offered in this 1,000 acre section except a black buck.  Don said that they are extremely difficult to get with a bow because of all the vegetation available to them at this time of the year.  They are very shy and aware of changes in their environment like a bowhunter in a tree. 

           During dinner conversation that evening, Jerry said he’d hunt with me the next day in the Outback.  He’d seen a Marino ram the first day that caught his eye.  The next morning after we were back from our morning sit we decided to do a spot and stalk after breakfast.  I was able to get closed to a beautiful almond/milk chocolate Catalina goat and took it. 

           We finished our hunt on Sunday and then after the evening meal we headed back to Minnesota.  What a fabulous experience we both had.  Don couldn’t have been more attentive to our needs.  We came in as clients and left as friends.   

           North Texas Outfitters can be reached at 940-567-6959 or www.ntohunt.com . They are definitely worth checking out.

 Hunt set-up:  Reflex Bow, Nikon Rangefinder, Rocky Mountain Broadheads.

( To see hunt pictures, click on the "Pictures" link! )