Prickly Pear Pigs       by Aussie John.

For those that don’t know, prickly pears (cactus) are a Maltese traditional fruit, so my wife Mary-Anne who is Maltese tells me. Who would have thought, that hogs would be making it their favourite bush tucker too!

It was mid April 2009 and depending on the situation rain can be heaven sent or hell when you’re hunting.

I awoke the sounds of rain early in the night as it plinked down on my canvas roof of my Shippshape Tent, as it gradually got heavier and then it downright poured.

Hmm I thought as I lay there in the dark, I drifted back into sleep when that blasted alarm sat me up in bed! My first thought was ‘is it still raining?’- No! - The rain had stopped, you beauty! 

Mother Nature is incredible- one day dry like walkin’ on corn flakes next day wet and quiet underfoot. 

It had been so dry the game was scarce.  Other hunters had been on this property for a week previous to me and hardly seen a pig let alone get a shot off at one.

I was actually here hunting Deer- it was April and the rut was in full swing. Briefly I shot a cracker of a Fallow Buck on the first day. He ran out 200 yards in front of me I gave 2 grunts, he stopped, I shot, ...he dropped.  The hog hunt’n was a big EXTRA BIG BONUS!

Any way the rain had stopped and it was so misty, a hot mug of tea felt just right in the cool morning air.  The Nissan heater warmed to cab as I headed down the track 5k through the gate and up Prickly Pear Mountain, boy it was slippery after the rain but the Nissan clawed its way, and I had a good feeling!

I fed 4Federal 225 grainer’s into the 338win magnum, and headed to the vantage point with just enough light to class the mountain tops and within minutes the first pigs were spotted.

A short stalk, a solid rest, crosshairs centred, squeeze and the hogs head disappeared!

I reached the ‘Cactus Gardens’ as I call’em, but ½ dozen cattle were there so no hogs at home. I got up high again when the Gold Ring Leopold’s picked up 3 black porkers walking the fence line about 1k away. Good binoculars make all the difference in the world hunting hilltops!

I reached the fence line about ½hr later and with caution opened the bolt and passed though. It was only 20 metres when I heard muffled squealing and squabbling ...when I spotted 5 good sized black hogs feeding under a prickly pear tree. They were so busy they didn’t see me as the Kustom Shop Remington 338 went into action, 2 more porkers off to hogs heaven. I made my way back to my Nissan Patrol it had been a long morning but with great results.  I headed down the mountain for lunch and a snooze.

As  I came through a clearing I looked back to the adjoining mountain and blow me down there were black dots moving, as I grabbed the binoc’s there were 3 small black hogs about 2k away. Looks like a late lunch.  1½ hours later and another pig to add to the tally.

Hunger pains, now for that lunch.

Around 4pm I headed out again, I took the long way around and head up to an old mill were once fence posts were cut, nothing much happening here so back on the trail. With the sun in my eyes I thought I could see big, really big black shapes moving. Outcome the binoc’s and focused onto 2 huge boars feeding on falling prickly pears. I didn’t want them to spot me so I had to head around the other side of the mountain and stalk them with the sun in their eyes. By the time I arrived there was only 1 boar, it was an uphill shot about 100 yards I had a tree to take a rest as the 338 pushed back into my shoulder and the thump signalled a solid hit, never moved a muscle, it was dark and I was knocked up, I will come back in the morning for the tusks.

The pigs were all full of prickly pear, the fruit was everywhere and the pigs love em, thus the pigs were all in great condition.  

That night I really enjoyed a hot solar shower and hot dinner and bed was so good I ached everywhere.  I‘d been hunting for the last 9 days I was nearly done.

I was lying in bed when a buck started grunting 500 yds from camp. Briefly I put in a solid stalk, managed to elude his harem of doe’s, he was a mature buck the biggest I’d seen, it was all over,  1 hour later he was mine. By the time I’d caped and butchered him and gone and removed the trophy tusks from the boar taken the night before it was time to pack up and head for home.

A total 10 pigs over 10 days! It was my best tally to date and 3 trophy Fallow Bucks, taken over 3 different properties, mind you I put in an average of 10 hours hunting every day.

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It was one of the best hunting trips I’d done for many a year and one I will remember for-a long time to come! 

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