Texas Hunters Stalk Russian Boars Hogs,Corsican rams, Black Hawaiian rams and Catalina Billys

Stalking in the South Texas Brush

Bolie McGuire owner of GCCI of Spring Texas brought his family and company staff to hunt with us at Las Auras ranch. We talked a bit on what he wanted and he said I want a Catalina Billy and a good Painted Desert Ram. I want to be able to take my wife and kids to see the hunt if possible? I said sure, but be ready for a hunt especially for a Catalina.

He says really. I told him they are tough, not that elusive but tough, be ready for a stalk. The problem is that Catalina's have both size and what they lack in elusiveness they have in endurance. So , you as a hunter need to understand that fact.

On Friday night when they arrived I stated it looks like tomorrow it might rain. Which might make it a bit tough since they usually hide in the thickets but, nonetheless we will go hunting. So, I will wake you up around 5:30am to be at the stands for hogs at dawn.

When I picked Bolie and his Father in Law Mr. Sharps , they mentioned that they had seen a large deer like animal with straight horns that curled back and then curved forward. As we were driving down the sendero we saw a bull Kafue Lechewe and two cows running together.

While scouting the area we ran into a Yak, several sika does along with a good Sika buck. When we realized that there were several good rams in the brush. Bolie says what kind of rams are those, Paul?. I replied "with a good silver medal Corsican Ram, a very good Painted Desert Ram with good markings, a small Armenian Red sheep and in the mix a Gold Medal Corsican walking in the back."

He quickly reminds me that he is looking for a Painted Desert along with the Catalina Billy. Three miles later and after a two hour stalk. Bolie makes a great shot with his 300 Win Mag. He Brought down a high level Silver Medal Silver Medal Ram.

After heading back is friend Jose Shanchez says I do not know what ram I want, Tell be a good one and let's see if I like it. Sure, the time of year and the all rams are in there winter coats, but you should try for a good Black Hawaiian or Texas Dall since there manes is what makes the rams.

We dropped of the ram at camp and hung it while the taxidermist Mark Sanders and wife Narce started to work on the ram. While driving in the back pond we see four rams in the mix where two excellent rams one Corsican and the other a Black Hawaiian. You good clearly see the difference between the two Black Hawaiians both record makers but the one on the left made an impression on Gus.

This Black Hawaiian Ram took us on a good hour stalk back to where we saw him the first time. It literally never gave us a shot hiding behind the other rams moving all the time. Then waited patiently behind a mesquite until the right time. You could see the glee in his face when the ram was down. A great shot of 90 yards, for this first time hunter.

We headed back to camp to take a break and have lunch and a quick siesta. When the Bolie group was ready again to but this time we went after Catalina Billy's.

After checking a few senderos' we saw a good group of Catalina's of good size a coloration to them. We glasses them When Bolie said I want the Gold one to the left of the group. Again Murphy's Law was upon us since the Billy was well protected behind some nannies and kid's. We walked down the sendero when the nannies saw us and the chase began. We stalked Bolie's Gold Medal Billy for well over two hours. Never once giving us a clear shot. While stalking this Catalina we were stopped to glass from a hill when we heard Mouflons ramming about five hundred yards in the brush. We walk up to a great chocolate fallow and we stood there looking at each other with a confused look like wow! What next?... then it bolted in the brush, what a sight we both said.

Bolie finally was able to take a good clear shot to bring down this Billy. Bolie Turns and tells me you need every bit of the 300mag to bring them down , he ran for a good fifty yards after a clean shot on the center of the his shoulder.

Now it was Jose's chance for a Catalina Billy. I told them lets drive around to find the other herd and look to see if you like any of the Billy's. While driving we spotted herds with good billys but Jose's eyes were fixed on a good silver medal Billy with good height to the horns.

The herd was about four hundred yards so we drove a bit closer when they all started to move in to an open field. We walk to get a better position but the nannies again warning the herd and off they went into the brush. About 30 minutes later José took the Billy with a great one shot kill about 75 yards away.

With Jose's shot we spooked a swarm of hogs that we drove off to get the billy to camp and hung. To get back on the fields for some Hogs. While driving we saw swarms of hogs in total around forty in different groups. They were not running but flying across the senderos like they knew they were next. Not one gave us a shot.

After dropping the Billy of at camp we drove back to a sendero where they are know to cross. Murphy Law was upon us again. The only hogs were about 10 pounds. We saw I sow with a group of piglets and decided to let her pass by.

Dusk came while driving back to the camp we saw several hogs running in front of us around 100 yards or so. I told Bolie when every you all are ready the front hog is boar and the rear hog is a boar. Take either one. He shot no later than I had told him when we saw about 12 hogs clear the road and the first boar was on the ground. A great shot to the neck while the boar was on the go.

We drove back and had a few laughs at the walks and talked about the shot placements. This was a very enjoyable hunt, since I was with a group of hunters that enjoyed hunting in general. In fact the best part was when Mr. Sharps, Bolies Father-in-Law tells me Paul," you have these boys smiling, that's good ".