Yearly Archives: 2026

2026 Annual Skyrose Pig Hunt

Planning for our annual pig hunt at the Skyrose Ranch, my shoulder has been bothering me and was not going to be good enough to start pulling my bow back in time, so Jeff A (Ashlok) and I decided to go halves on “Project Crossbow”. After some fevered research, we settled on a traditional limbed Excalibur RevX. Our sight in sessions progressed quickly, and our test with the chosen Slick Trick broadhead landed dead center. Project Crossbow is ON!

Jeff E confirmed he would join us, and unfortunately, Bryon could not this year. I had missed last year for a work trip to Cape Cod but am determined not to miss again. We all arrived at the Skyrose gate on Friday at 2 and followed Jared to our beautiful lodge. The weather is perfect for June, maybe mid-80s.

We set out Friday afternoon around 4:30 with a quick stop at the range, where Jeff E & A both ran the bell with one shot at 100, and we were all deemed good to go. Jeff E came prepared with a beautifully stocked pre-64 Winchester in the fabled .300 Holland & Holland. Jeff A equipped with his trusty Kimber 84 in 7mm-08. I forgot to bring my rifle since I was going to sit in a blind with the crossbow.

I had packed my first rifle, the same Remington that started this madness for me, an ADL in .270 Winchester. Since that first pig in 2002, the bargain-basement rifle has been customized with a Pac-Nor barrel, Jewell trigger, and Bell & Carson stock. It hits the 500-yard steel at Kyler and Dylan’s, so I know it will do the job if needed.

My stock Remington ADL on my first pig hunt with Kyler Hamann.
Plaid hunting shirt. I think this was in the 1940’s

The guys dropped me off at the blind, which is about 44 yards from a concrete water trough. The crossbow should be solid at that distance with a scope and illuminated reticle for distance. I love sitting in a blind. Mostly bird watching, but you never know what may appear. After the sun set, I could soon hear some pig noises in the distance. Hopes are high.

Not long after sunset I hear rifle shots. Pretty sure someone has shot one. Unfortunately, even though the field was teeming with pigs, none made it into my drinker that night. Not long after dark the lights of the pickup appear. I gather my gear and join the guys. Jeff E has dropped a nice boar with one shot from his vintage Winchester. We go collect him, and he’s an easy drag to the truck.

We got back around 10 and cooked some great hamburgers with the burger left in the fridge for us from the cattle ranch. We had a nice evening catching up and turned in around midnight for a rough 4:15 am pickup. Saturday morning Jared took us to a hilltop with a heavily travelled game trail. I set up with my back against a tree like a turkey hunt, ready with the crossbow. Another concrete trough at only 30 yards. Sure enough, shortly before sunrise, a group of pigs streamed by. It was legal shooting hours, but still a little dark to judge the outline of a black boar in the rear. My finger was on the trigger, but I just couldn’t make the shot. We wait a little longer, and two more small ones come by, not shooters, and they don’t stop. Jared comes up with great plans, always fun, and they usually result in a shot opportunity.

Saturday morning ambush view with Excalibur RevX -pigs came throught but no shot

We decided to scout around in the truck and it’s not long before Jared has spotted pigs out browsing on a hillside. He and Jeff A head out for a chance at them. I decide to grab my rifle and see if I can take a second shot on one. We sit on a hilltop and it’s a perfect set up. The pigs browsing on the opposite side about 150 yards. Jeff is set up on a black boar on the right and I am watching a couple to the left. At Jeff’s shot the other pigs run only a short distance. Jared tells me to try for the spotted boar. I’m on him, shoot and he’s down. Jeff’s boar is still moving and he hits him again at what looks like 200. We have our double!

Sean, Jared, Jeff A – ready for the double

Jeff’s big black boar and once again I shoot the ugly one.

After a couple more drags to the truck we head back to the lodge. We’re super pleased to have our pigs but wish we could have christened the crossbow. Jared decides we should try for a jackrabbit. We don’t have to go very far until Jared spots one about 40 yards from the road at the tree line. I proceed to put 3 bolts within a hair of the hare who seems utterly unconcerned by my efforts. I let Jared take the last one and he buzzes a bolt just over him. I think that was $120 of carbon fiber, illuminated knock, slick tricked crossbow bolts.

Jackrabbit is out there if you can spot him

Back at the truck, Jeff A laughs and says he was never really concerned for our bunny, as he seemed to be some sort of spiritual manifestation rather than a corporeal being. We remain humbled. At least he didn’t charge us like the one in Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

The unharmed hare and $120 worth of crossbow bolts somewhere beyond

Back at the lodge, Jared takes care of our pigs with Jeff A doing a nice job on his own under Jared’s direction. They have a great skinning setup and a huge walk-in cooler right there at the lodge. That night, Jeff A barbecued tri-tip for us, and we enjoyed a great meal and another great evening. Sunday morning, Jared meets us to fetch our pigs from the cooler, and we all head home. Another great time at the Skyrose.

This was our sixth annual Skyrose Pig Hunt. Such a great tradition, wonderful company, and always-exciting hunts with our excellent Guide, Jared Christensen.

Action Shooting Match at The Range in Soledad

My third time back shooting USPSA at The Range in Soledad. What a great match this is. You come Saturday morning, and five stages are ready to go. Today I started on Squad One. The people are awesome, super friendly, and helpful.

Stage One is usually the USPSA qualifier. I used to shoot Production class with my Glock 34 back in the day. Now things have changed and I’m shooting ‘Carry Optics’ division using a Holosun Green Dot sight. Production Division used to be limited to ten-round magazines. Now Carry Optics allows for high-cap mags. Since I don’t own any, I have to reload a lot. I got a few compliments on my reloading today. My shooting not so much. I’m pretty slow compared to most out there, but I’m getting better. Today I finished 42 out of 49. Definitely need to shoot a lot faster next time. Most of the people out there are very good.

I didn’t get a video of Stage One, which was the qualifier. I got through it in 12.64 seconds without missing. Many were shooting it in six seconds, and a few in five. I could probably afford to shoot a lot faster, and even with a miss, I would score better. This still gives me a C rating, which is what I was expecting.

Stage Two was called “Bricked Up,” and you had to shoot each target three times, which was fun. If you can remember. Since you most always shoot twice, it can trip some people up, and it did. I made a stupid mistake on this one. Before even shooting, I told myself, when you’re done, look and make sure no misses. Sure enough, I had one in the black on that second-to-last target, and I could have easily just made it up if I had looked left. So one mike for the day. Later stages, I did make up a few misses and went clean the rest of the match.

Stage Three was called “Shoot Fast, Die Last.” Lots of white ‘No Shoot’ targets really slow me down. It’s a -10 penalty to hit one. And finally, I see another round in the black and make it up, adding like five seconds to my time. Amateur!

Stage Four is called “Monkey off my Back.” This one had some long shots and some with more No Shoots, so you really had to take your time. It also had a moving target that you activate by hitting a steel target. I decided to shoot that four times to avoid a mike. Made it through this one clean, albeit slow.

And the final Stage Five was called “Angled,” which featured some steep angles that had you really having to plan how you would shoot at which target. This one I finished and then realized I have two shots into black (hard cover), which would have been two mikes, so I made them both up. Phew.

Turkey Hunt at the Diamond C -May 2026

Late turkey hunt at the Diamond C Ranch. Turkeys not really responding to our calls. Saw a couple in the ring by the barn and then a couple with hens in the road. Spent some time shooting at Dylan’s great steel target set up. Sight in target at 100 yards and hanging steel out past 1000 with metal animal targets and swinging red vitals. I managed to ding the Ram at 500 a couple of times, but not the vitals. Nailed a coyote at 400 and then hit the 450 a couple of times, but not swinging the red vitals section. Shooting with my Cooper Backcountry .300 WM with a brand new VX5-HD 3-15×44. I was hoping to get it better dialed in, but 15 power is a disadvantage when you are really trying to get out there. Dylan has many Pure Precision rifles, all with 5-25 power Swarovski scopes. I may need to get one in 7 PRC to take this seriously.

Hit coyote vitals at 400 yards with Backcountry

In the meantime I’m confident my Backcountry is ready for deer, pigs or whatever. Finally Saturday afternoon we go out again, this time with Clayton and he hears a answer to our hen call. We drive a short distance and walk to where we think we’re close enough. We get another prompt answer to the hen call and set up for them to come to us. There is a nice stump at the end of a dead log that I can rest the trusty Mossberg on. We hear them coming but I’m not sure if it will be to my right or left so keep switching. Finally they appear on the left, two toms single file. I see the first one is kind of small with a short beard. I wait in hopes the one behind is a shooter. Dylan gives another hen call and the front one gobbles. Then finally they separate and the one on the right is a shooter. I don’t waste any time letting off a 3.5 inch magnum tungsten load of 7s and it hit him pretty hard putting him down right away in a cloud of feathers.

Another great turkey hunt at the Diamond C. We remain 100%, I think it’s ten years since I started this. It is so fun. Always exciting, and now I get to make a massive batch of my favorite turkey salad!

Action Shooting at Scotts Valley Sportsman Club

We focused on malfunctions for most of the day. Took turns with someone setting one up for you, then on command turning around trying to shoot and clearing it. This stage was a lot of fun, and a lot of rearward movement so care taken to keep the muzzle downrange. Took my time on the hostage target on the far right and got my two hits. No mikes!