After many decades, Barry and I have decided that our upcoming 2014 Pig-Gig bowhunt in Texas will be our final organized group hunt. We are simply getting too old to organize these things with multiple trips back and forth to check out new ranches, handle all sorts of red tape with liability insurances, having to deal with habitat loss, cattle issues, mud, aerial hog gunning from helicopters, commercial hog trapping, etc. We regularly read or hear comments from guys wanting to hunt with us, so I thought I better post this as a "last chance" offer. We contracted a new, huge (45,000 acre) javelina property near Marfa, TX for 2014. This is in fact the same ranch Fred Bear use to hunt with his astronaut buddy Joe Engle. The ranch facilities are excellent. Long range glassing with spot and stalk opportunities will abound. Other than javelina, wild hogs and aoudad sheep are also available on the ranch with a trophy fee for aoudad being extra. The five day hunt dates are March 3-7, 2014 with arrival and departure the day before and after. Cost is $995. Available slots are limited. Contact Barry at barrywensek@hotmail.com for booking info or questions. Hope to see you in camp. Thanks for the memories.
Sure wish I had the time and money. Would be a pleasure meeting you Gene. Good luck with your future hunts. Knawbone
Hello Gene ,I just sent Barry an email , if there's any room left I'd like to go along . I'm sure these hunts will be missed , Be well , Fred
Guys, make sure you don't copy and paste Barry's email from Gene's post. It is NOT barrywensek@hotmail.com
It is barrywensel@hotmail.com
Sincerely,
Steve "always editing for the Wensels" O.
Messed up. Please delete.
Messed up. Please delete.
Brilliant Steve-O. :biglaugh:
It this a one one week hunt or will you be starting march 3 and doing several one weeks in a row?? I might have a week in march but not the 3rd through 7th....Answered my own question on your website.....will be contact some friends tonight....
Thanks for the offer. I have an antelope hunt already booked for 2014. I had a great time hunting with you guys in 2008 and 09. the memories will last a life time. Thanks again!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I've had on the last four Pig Gigs. Now the fifth one will be even more special. Thanks guys.
Besides my email address being listed wrong by Gene, I should also clarify the price includes six nights quality lodging with many separate/private bedrooms. Also I've had people ask if the second hunt will be as good as the first. The fact is the second hunts are usually as good, if not better than the first because we then know the hotspots and honey-holes through feedback from the first week. Hope you can join us and share one more campfire. Thanks. BW
email sent! id love to join in on this one.
I have already booked a spring bear hunt, but for those who haven't hunted javelina, the area around Marfa is some really cool west Texas country. If I wasn't already committed, I would jump on this. It will have to be a good time.
Barry, you'll have to excuse Gene. He takes after his brother.
how far from Austin? I have a daughter there that could help me out. I would love to do a spring hunt with the Wenzels.
habujohn its 400 to 450 miles from Austin.Its what we call a good ways away.But we will drive 100 miles to go out to eat..... :laughing:
QuoteOriginally posted by habujohn:
how far from Austin? I have a daughter there that could help me out. I would love to do a spring hunt with the Wenzels.
John, get it right...the are going by "Wensek" now :laughing:
With planning a job "reversal" this spring I regret not being able to make this hunt but I have to say, the memories of the last Pig Gig I was on with Gene and Barry will be with me forever. Since that hunt I kept telling myself next year, next year, but life kept getting in the way. I'd have to advise that anyone that can make this hunt, DO IT! You won't be unhappy. :readit: :thumbsup:
So is there anyone interested in doing a group road trip from the Midwest to Texas? I live in Michigan's upper peninsula and it would be a long road trip for just me?
Hey Habujohn, I live under the bridge. About 20 miles ME of Grand Rapids. Sounds like a fun trip! I've been wanting to do one of these with the Ramblin Rednecks. Let me know if you're serious. Denny
Sorry to hear it's the end. Being in camp with Barry and Gene is always a great time. I should know what my current situation will be in the next few weeks guys and hopefully a spot will still be open cause I'm going.
As far as driving from MI to SW Texas, it's brutal and you don't end up saving much money if any in the long run. It is nice to have your own truck though but rental cars can take a fair amount of abuse.
CJ
ok, im in. anyone from this area (wy, sd, mo, co, ne, ect) want to carpool? save some cash...
Killinstuff I know the drive will be no piece of cake. I drove out to Idaho and Wyoming this past September and did that by myself. This hunt will be a lot of fun I think and a low pressure one for me. The wife now wants to go with me so she can stay with our daughter in Austin for the week. Will book for week two.
I talked to Barry and am now booked for the second hunt. Really excited to be doing this hunt as I have never hunted Texas or pigs for that matter. Any other Michiganders signed up for this hunt period?
bringing this one back up. anyone near Wyoming want to car pool>
I have hunted with the Bros, a couple times, and I always had a good time. They are fun to be around, they know a bunch and are willing to share their knowledge. They want everybody to be successful and tend to nudge you in the right direction to do so.
Just watch out for Barry. He tends to have things happen to and around him..
Oh, and they seem to like big ol burritos with lots of green sauce, and bear and noodles, and dump cake and...
I think you will enjoy this hunt experience.
ChuckC
Wow folks are coming from everywhere on this one. I too am booked for the second hunt with a good friend of mine. We will be rolling from Ky. Neither of us have hunted hogs and the chance to hunt with the Wensels was to good to pass up.
Arrowbuster I am really looking forward to this hunt, meeting new folks and getting out of the snow at that time of year. What is your set up going to be for this hunt?
60 lb Great Northern fireball. Gold tip trad arrows and grizzly single bevels or possibly the no mercy zwickeys. All that is subject to change once deer season winds down I love trying new bows. My fireball is my favorite at the time though.
I also will be looking forward to a break from winter at that time of year. Perfect time to head to Texas. Hopefully come back with a bunch of new friends and some memories that will last a lifetime.
sounds like a great set up. I have been shooting Axis 340's at 58# from a Vyperkhan LB. Mostly shoot my old 165 gr snuffers but have some 175 ace supers coming in I may try.
Julie and I will do our best to make this my 3rd and sadly last trip. We have a great great time. I'll call Barry in a bit
So tell me people, do the Javies really taste as bad as what I have read about them? One guy said to cook them in a pit but once they are done just leave them there so they have a proper burial.
ive had one javi, it tasted fine. not the best but certainly edible. Matty, ill be coming through there if you want to car pool.
Matty, which hunt are you trying for?
David Neils from your neck of the woods is coming down for the Lamb's Head hunt, as am I.
Javies can go either way as far as eating. I've had some that was excellent and some that was terrible.
still looking for car poolers from up north!
Any spots still open ?????
,,,Sam,,,,
For those that have done this hunt in the past I have a few questions on blinds. Are you mostly setting up pop up blinds, tree stands or spot and stalk?
For my taste, I left the tree stuff at home. Spot and stalk was the name of the game most days for me. I carried my ghillie suit for the times I wanted to sit by a waterhole or river crossing. Some had pup ups or made ground blinds for the same.
Bring a good comfy stool or seat. Some pruning shears and some rope or twine to tie branches away or move small trees apart.. You might consider throwing in a very light 5-6 ft sq piece of cloth to make a shade screen for mid day siestas or even a blind front. Shade was sometimes lacking.
Bring good walking shoes. There is cactus down there and although I like my Bean boots for stalking, I ran a spine right thru the side of mine, into my foot, the wrong direction for taking the foot out of the boot. owie !
Compass and flash light are good things to have, as is some sort of map of the place.
Bring a camera. It is different enough from home that you may find yourself taking a lot of pix.
ChuckC
Chuck I appreciate your insight. Sounds like my leather Filson boots will be the ones to bring. Will have to talk to Barry about getting maps of the place. I like spot and stalk and hope to be able to use that method to shoot a pig but will bring a popup blind too. A small tarp sounds like a must also, will add that to my list. That and some good sunscreen.