First time Hog doggin

[Barticus]

I have been hunting pigs for about a year now, but today was my first time with dogs. I have been on this forum for about a year also, soaking up everything I can. I dont post much, cause I dont know much. I live in the Peoples Republik of Kalifornistan so there isn't alot of hog dogging going on. I met a guy on one of our Cali hunting forums and he and 2 of his uncles and another friend of his came out to the ranch I hunt today. They are from Sacramento and I live a hour and a half north of Sac town. One of his uncles has a GSP, a catahoula and a mountain cur. The one friend has a GSP gyp and a Cat crossed on something no one knows what.  And I brought along my year old catahoula Buck.( He has been in a bay pen a couple of times and did good there.)  These men are Hmongs. They are native to Viet Nam and Laos but are a people unto them selves. They have their own language and their own history and culture.They were a very primitive people.They sided with the U.S. during the war. They worked with the special forces and the C.I.A. mostly. From what I have read any U.S. soldier who worked with them loved them. Hard courageous fighters. They were not liked by the Viet Namese and after the fall of the south they were hunted down and killed by the commies. Our goverment tried to get as many out as possible, but as with anything our govt doe's, they didnt do very well. Alot of them have settled here in Cali. It was my honor to meet and hunt with these men. Well we started about 4:30 this morning. I hunt a 17,000 acre ranch of mostly almond orchards with rolling hills of grass. We started at the edge of a block of orchard next to a gully where yesterday we saw 8 and shot 2 of them. We followed the dogs for about an hour till it started to get light. This was all up and down rolling hills. Not easy for a 45 year old 300 pound fat guy. I was suprised at how short ranged the dogs were. They hardly ever got out of sight. The male GSP was the most experienced dog, and was first to strike a hog. This dog is totaly silent. He never barks. He finds then catches pigs no matter how big. He runs with a Uglydog kevlar vest on at all times. Well I had went around this one large hill with Mike, also a man of heroic perportions. And as we round this hill a hog of about 150 pounds runs out of this draw and heads across this clearing Mike and I are walking along. Then about 50 feet behind him comes Dash the GSP. I have my dog Buck right besides me. I couldn't get him to go more than 15 feet in front of me the whole time. Very disappointing. Anyway the hog runs through some tall grass and then back into another block of almonds with the GSP right behind him. Then I see my Hmong friends running with the rest of the dogs about 100 yards behind. I try to get Buck to follow but he's to busy protecting my right leg. Long story short, the hog got away in the almonds, but not with out Dash going around or two with him. He was cut  a little. Just enough to see he connected with the hog. Those Uglydog vests are worth the money. When Steven, the owner of Dash got up to us he was laughing. He said Dash pointed the hog before he flush him out of the tall grass. End of story, no hog, my dog totally disappointed me, but I had a great time, met some really cool guys and am hooked for ever. I know I am being hard on Buck, He's only 13 months old, but I was really hoping he would turn it on the first time. But I know it might take him awhile, and I look forward to the day when he doe's. I wish I had found this awesome sport when I was alot younger. All those years I miseed.

[Brushbuster]

No hog, buy sounds like you still enjoyed yourself, and that is what it's all about. Don't be to hard on your dog yet, being his first time out and all. Keep putting him where the hogs are and don't expect too much for a bit. Good luck.

[Cutter Bay Kennels]

Glad you enjoyed yourself.  You set the scene nicely for me to tag along in my mind.  As for your dog, keep in mind, that he fealt out of place with the dogs he did not know.  If he has it in him, he will come around.  Keep him in the woods, and he will progress.   Thank you for sharing your tale.

[BIG BEN]

 I was born in Sacramento and grew up in a little town called Galt about 20 miles south of Sac off hwy 99. I now live in east texas. Where abouts did you guys run the hogs? We use to get after them on the coast and in the san andreas mnts.

[Barticus]

Buckhunter I hunt just south of Orland in Glenn county. I hunt Cal Worthington's Big W Ranch.

[BIG BEN]

 I know where your at, I use to party pretty hard in Chico when I was a kid. My family owns land in Mendocino, and Paradise. I have a uncle that lives in Corning. Some good hunting around that area but damn it get HOT

[cward]

Keep working your dog one day you will him him set down then on out you will be for sure hooked!!

[Barticus]

I moved down here from Washington State about 2 years ago. I really like it here. If all Californians were like the ones around here California wouldn't have such a bad name. Good hard working folks around here. To bad the bay area and L.A. give the rest of the state such a bad rep. The hog hunting is good too.

[Wolverine]

Old Cal... you're a lucky guy to hunt that property.

Buckhunter I hunt just south of Orland in Glenn county. I hunt Cal Worthington's Big W Ranch.

[Barticus]

Dont I know it. 17,000 acres. Cal is in his late 80's. And when he goe's his son says no more hunting. I am very blessed to be able to hunt here.