This trip was originally planned as a Red Stag hunting trip, but due to the lack of rain the Stags have not come down from the higher elevations yet. So with some last minute changing of plans, I was able to get permission to hunt an 8000 acre property in the heart of Boar country. I am trying to break so ground here and prove to the locals that these Boars can be hunted with a bow. The normal method here is to hunt them with dogs and dispatch the boar using a knife. Without the use of dogs locating the Boars is difficult. We are not talking about hunting the flat land in Texas or the swamps in other parts of the US, but mountains. These mountains are similar to hunting elk on the West Coast of the US. Hunting these boar require elk hunting shape, which I was not in and I felt it. The weather and a stomach virus took its toll on me and I had to cut the trip short, but I am already planning a return. Enjoy the photos.
First morning waking to a hard frost and fog
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My trusty Border's all tuned up and ready to go. I hope it will be enough. The manager of this property took 18 boars last year with his dogs. The average field dressed weight of these being 350 pounds. Chile is said to have some of the largest boar in the world.
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The first day I left the camp at 2500 feet and hunted through the pampas (meadows).
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Here is some fresh boar sign that I found. All the tracks head up the mountain from here.
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2 hours, 4 miles, and 2500 vertical feet later, I arrive to the big native hardwood forest. There are tree that are well over 1000 years old up here. The boars like to pass the day here and head down to the pampas in the night. I spent a fair amount of time still hunting up here. What a beautiful day in the woods, with the fog rolling in and out of the forest.
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More to come!!!
Looks like awesome country to hunt in. Looking forward to more of the story and pics. Thanks for sharing.
Bill
After eating a quick lunch after some still hunting, I started down and around the back side of the mountain. Learning the land and looking for boar sign. Another 4 miles and about 1500 vertical feet down I arrived at some pampas on the other side of the mountain.
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The next day I woke to driving rain mixed with snow. I decided to hunt the pampas that I found fresh sign in the previous day, hoping the boar would stay out of the mountain with this weather.
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After hunting until around 3 o'clock I head back to camp. I was soaking wet and looking forward to a warm meal and a change of clothes. When I arrived back at camp I found that I left the top vent of the tent open, allowing rain to completely soak everything in side the tent. Wet and tired with a stomach virus flaring up, I decided to pack up and head home. The very nice manager of this property offered a bed next to a warm fire so I would not have to drive down the mountain in the dark. I gladly accepted. This also gave me a chance to pick his brain a little and establish a good relationship with him. I will be chasing the boar here again very soon.
The next morning was beautiful, but I was not in good shape. Here is a photo of the snow left behind by the storm the previous day on a near by volcano.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a222/JPStangs/IMG_0663.jpg)
I hope you all enjoy the photo from this part of the world. Next time I hope I can add a trophy shot.
Very nice pics and thanks for the story, great beautifull country.
Wow! Absolutely gorgeous country. :thumbsup: With 350 pound pigs too, what more could you ask for?
Thanks for sharing. :D
Bravo.
From what I have read, Chile has some of the best protected ancient forests in the world, and has groves of 3000 year old trees that go on for miles and miles.
Thanks for sharing!
Awesome Scenery James. Where in Chile was this? I made it up to Torres del Paine NP in December 06 when I went down for the beaver workshop on Tierra del Fuego. Hogs were a concern there as well although not widespread. Chile is one of my favorite places I've been and am hoping to have a chance to go back. You are getting into autumn there now aren't you? Are those big trees a speceis of Nothofagus or are those limted to TDF?
Good to hear from you Steve. Glad you enjoyed your trip down here. This aera is south east of Temuco, about 500 north of Torres del Paine. We are in the middle of Autumn now, and the snow is starting to come in the mountains. Not sure on the name of the trees, but there was various types of big ones.
James
great adventure
Very, very beautiful country you live in down there! And with Rusa and big boars to hunt! Great pictures, and I'm looking forward to hearing more about the adventures to come!
Wow! That is truly beautiful country. I never knew of such beautiful mountains in Chile. Thanks for the pics. Just one more place to add to the list of places to go before I die.
Beautiful country, thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Incredible pics James...simply gorgeous country.
Joe, do you see our next hunt after Austrailia? :saywhat:
Good story. Nice place to hunt.
JAMES, THANKS FOR THE TOUR OF SUCH GRAND COUNTRY! I HOPE YOU CONNECT WITH SOME BIG BACON ON YOUR RETURN TRIP. WOW!!
GOD'S PEACE, JED
James, that looks a lot like the California hog country, just a little wetter and with more snow on the mountains! Please keep hunting and taking pictures in Chile for us.
Thanks,
Norb
Great pics and story! Looks like you had a good time apart from getting sick and cutting it short! Thanks sharing! ;) :thumbsup:
Nice! vary nice! thanks for taking us with you.
Glad everyone liked the photos and thanks for the kind words.
Future hunting in this area looks very promising, as I just put a bid on 8 acres that border the two properties (20,000 acres combined) I have permission to hunt. If everything goes as planned, I will be building a small cabin there in the spring. The second property I received permission to hunt goes into the Andes farther and is higher in elevation. This means it holds Red Stag. Boar, Stag, and Trout all will be accessible within 20 minutes of the cabin.
James
You should start an outfitting service! That would be a very unique hunt. Look what they have been doing in New Zealand!