Well first of all I would like to thank Alex Gutirrez(aka-gatorgar) for his unbelieveable hospitality. When Alex found out that myself and longbowben were coming to Zapata Texas fishing, he invited us to come hunt some javies with him. We never thought his generoous offer would go this far. We arrived at the Falcon State park where we had reservations to camp for the week. Without unloading our truck we hit the water for a couple hours of fishing until dark. When we arrived back at the launch ramp we were met by a man who asked" Are you guys Mike and Ben". When we replied yes he said he recognized my license plate"STKBOW" and waited on us. Alex asked if we unpacked yet and when we told him no, he said good. Your staying with me this week. And he wanted nothing for lodging. Remember, we only met Alex here on the gang and never met in person until now. Heres me,Alex, and Ben at the cabin. (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/017.jpg)
So to the cabin we go. Upon arrival we found a very modest, neat and awesome cabin. Hot showers, A/C, comfy beds, the works. Heres a pic of ben in the main room. (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/010.jpg)
So you can see why we were so excited. this was great. It gets better. After meeting the local house residents(batman is the cats name) we were told of his importance. batman can sense rattlesnakes. those that know me know that this Marine doesn't fear much of anything. BUT I HATE SNAKES! Needless to say me and batman became best friends. As long as batman was around, no rattlers. (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/014.jpg)
So the next day we went off fishing while Alex prepped our hunting areas. After looking at the area I finally realized why you Texans hunt with bait and tripod stands. Ain't no way your getting this Ohio boy to walk through those bushes. And there are no trees. I take all the bad comments back that I said about baiting in Texas. No other way to get the animals out in the open(if there is an open area)Heres a pic of the area from the back porch of the cabin: (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/009.jpg)
Been waiting for you to start on this story...lets see how much you embelish it :D
:thumbsup:
So we go to sprinkle some corn on the road/trails of the hunting area. We drive Alexs Blazer down the road and sprinkle the bait out so when the javies come out we stalk up and shoot them. In theory that is. On our first trip down into the hunting area(did I mention I hate snakes) guess what is crossing the road; you got it, a 6 foot plus rattler. Now me and Ben are in the vehicle feeling pretty safe right now when Alex jumps out with his .22 rifle and walks right up to about 3 feet from this snake. Well the snake does not like this so he attempts to B-line for the brush. Alex grabs him by the tail and pulls the snake back into the road. Me and Ben are thinking " Forget Jeff Corwin, this guys nuts!". Well he's trying to shoot this snake in the head so not to mess up the skin. Finally Alex gets the barrel inches from the rattlers head and kills it. Now me and Ben finally get out of the truck. Me with my quarry I bravely harvested.LOL(I'll take credit now) Pretty brave when it's dead, ain't I. (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd312/sargeyriley/003.jpg)
Aaand......
Dead and headless I might add. Here I thought that these big tough Ohio boys would come back me up when I jumped out and grabbed the snake. No such luck, she was pretty docile though, so I don't think I was ever in any real danger (I mean she only struck twice at me). 18 rattles if I remember right. I ate her two nights ago deep fried, man was she ever tasty, wish ya'll could have tried her as well.
So the first night was eventful enough. The hunt starts tomorrow. Tomorrow evening comes and low and behold 3-javies on the trail. Now I'm supposed to stalk up the road where we killed(or should I say Alex killed) this snake, staying close to the brush, and shoot this javie. Yea right. So I venture up this road and guess what, I spooked all 3. Alex says" Mike, you guys have to stalk them in the brush. So here comes tomorrow.
Me and Ben get the bait out (Alex was working. As if he hasn't done enough for us already.)Go back and get our bows and off we go. Alone in rattler country. Now Ben has an excuse, he's an Air Force guy. But being a Marine I have to be brave. So I let him walk the center of the road while I road on his back! :bigsmyl:
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
So we no sooner sit down and i decide to take a stroll to check another lane. About 200 yards down the trail and I turn around to see a Javie come out of the brush 25 yards from Ben. Now Ben sits on a brick with bow on the ground. He was completely ready. :banghead: The javie feeds for a minute and heads into the brush. Ben grabs his bow and sneaks over to where he last saw the javie. At 20 yards the javie sees him and does his puff up thing with his hair. Before the javie could dart Ben gets the shot off. I got to watch all this through binos. When I get back down to Ben he said, "I can't believe I missed. When he puffed up I completely lost my spot." After a good chuckle between us it was once again my turn.
Quit rubbing it in Alex, I'm writing a story here. :biglaugh:
We turn down another trail and there we go, 1-javie all alone. So this time I get up my nerve and hit the brush. Figuring I needed to cover 75 yards of brush to get close I was wondering how many rattlers I would encounter along the way. So off we went into the bush. Almost to my spot I can see Alex had arrived down from us and was coming to us in the bush. I could see he was poroud we finally hit the bush on a stalk. Well I was able to get about 15 yards from the javie and when he was behind a bush I ducked down behind a cactus. With an opening at only 11 yards I sat and waited for the shot to present itself. Not sure how but the javie spotted me. I found a small opening and figured it was now or never. After picking my spot I let her fly. Well it was never, cause the bush claimed my arrow. The javie wasn't sure what happened but figured he better bolt anyhow. What an adrenaline rush!!!!
Sorry no pics of the javie hunts but I can tell you this. Although we had to cut this hunt short, me and Ben had the most fun on this hunt and never shot a thing. Alex is a great person and we can't thank him enough. That man opened up everything he had to us and showed us a great time. Thank you Alex we definately will never forget this hunt. It is a pleasure to call you friend.
Hope you all enjoyed our adventure. Me and Ben sure did.
Mike
BTW- Alex, get your cold weather gear ready for deer season, it was in the single digits here today. :goldtooth:
You forgot to mention the follow up shot on that second javie, LOL. I have not seen another snake since ya'll left so I guess ya'll were just lucky that first day. By the way how's was the fishing at Fork?
It was a real pleasure having ya'll down here and I hope we can do it again sometime.
Alex
One, Two, ten, whos counting shots. :jumper:
Man , that sounds like a great time. I have only met Alex 1 time, when I delivered his bow to him and he seemed like a great guy. Glad u guys enjoyed our South Texas kind of huntin. Bob
And a mighty fine bow it was Bob. Got to shoot it and it was nice. Your a fine craftsman.
Thanks neck.
Glad you guys had a great time, sorry I couldn't make it to the ranch to meet you guys with work and all but anytime you guy's feel like hunting javi's let alex or me know and you guys are more than welcome to hunt them and stay at the cabin.
I feel a fool not to mention Jorge(Coon007). Although we never got to meet Jorge, Alex had a lot of great things to say about him. Jorge is the owner of the cabin and property,Alex manages it for him. Thanks Jorge, your good people down there.
Mike
your welcome leatherneck, any friend of alex is a friend of mine. like I said anytime you wish to hunt feel free to call on us.
Hey, I know that cabin...and Coon007 and gatorgar for that matter! Wish I could have made it up to hunt with yall but just wasn't meant to be. Maybe next time! Glad yall enjoyed this neck of the woods.
You should know this cabin Duck'n, last time you were up here you took that monster gar. It was also the time I scolded you for taking shots at 30# fish and not waiting for the big ones, LOL.
Yes i want to thank both of you and i can wait to come back,But you can keep the snakes.Here is a pick of leatherneck in a texas stand. (http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj10/longbowben/0053.jpg)
As i have said before the Texas people are the best people.Always treat you right.Wish i could meet the rest of the gang.Thanks again :campfire:
Too funny!
I was looking for a place to lock my Gorilla stand on to. The funny part was watching my fat a** try to get into that ladder tripod. :help: Thanks God for oak trees.
That's great stuff guys..kudos to all involved! :notworthy:
That is why I rather hunt the ground. That tripod scares me lol. Ben, it was a pleasure having ya'll down, now add your side of the story,hehe. And maybe next year ya'll can get one.
That story was so much fun even going to work doesn't seem like a bad idea. Thanks, guys.
"but I have to be brave. So I let him walk down the middle of the road while I rode on his back"...you owe me for a keyboard.
I haven't read past that part yet; but, I don't have to. I already know you guys had a great time. Better yet is the hospitality of my West Texas cousin Alex. You'll find most folks here will be as good as you give them a chance to. BTW, that dead snake can kill you almost as fast as the live one. We do have plenty of rattlesnakes.
Straitera, I made sure to remove the head as quickly as possible and dispose of it in the brush. They were never in any danger, I handled the snake until it was 100% safe. I feel a dead snake is more dangerouse because a person is less careful around them, and all it takes is a scratch.
Dead snake when i was in the back of the blazer that So called dead snake was still crawling around,gave me the hebe gebes. :eek:
Nearly swallowed my tongue over LN & the rattlers. Couldn't stop laughing. I'd pay to see that. It's a wonder he ever looked up far enough to see any javies at all. Then, leans down behind a cactus? Holy Smokes! JFTR, when out West, it's hard to look over 15' in any direction with all the snakes.
You're the Alex Bob delivered the bow to. I called him again just a few weeks ago for another generous measure (he gave a bow away). He put you in good light also. Heard good things about his bows too. Hope to fling some arrows with you guys some day. You never know if or when these things may work out.
Looks like a great time and some awesome hospitality! Having spent jusy a little bit of time with leatherneck and Ben at Compton last yeat, I am pretty sure they have fun wherever they go! Mike
Good Lord Almighty that's a BIG snake. I'm with ya'll on this one. HIGH-AND-DRY!!!
You got it Mike, we sure try to. Good to hear from you again.
Mike
Yea straitera, that be me, :D BTW, how far "West" are you? Mike, I have to agree with you, these two guys were always looking for ways to have fun.
So that is why you kept looking over your shoulder while we were driving down the road, Ben? I was wondering what you were looking for, LOL.
Alex, next year I get to pull on the snakes tail. Yea right!
Great story guys. Javies should be on everyone's adventure list! :thumbsup:
Sounds like a good time. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Hey Ben & Mike
Lets see, someone puts you up in a great cabin, Let's you hunt their awesome ground won't take anything for thier hospitatly. Where have I heard that story before? Sounds like Texas guys are a lot like Ohio guys. I think maybe what goes around comes around. Kudos to your hosts. Sounds like a great time. C ya. Jim
I have had more fun sharing camps,We meet great people enjoyed new teritory.And something always happens funny.Trad gangers are great people.Hope we can share a camp with others in the future.