Everyone was impressed with the power of 3,000 psi of compressed air blasting a big bullet down the bore.
I had the opportunity to join outdoor writers Luke Clayton, Joe Arterburn and Doug Howlett for some east Texas hog hunting. The gathering was sponsored by Pyramyd Air, the country’s leader in the growing sport of hunting big game with an air gun.
A well-known Texas writer and radio show host, Luke had approached Val Gamerman, president of Pyramyd Air, about setting up a writers’ hunt to try out their Seneca brand 50-caliber Dragon Claw.
Pyramyd Air is the world’s largest online retail store for air guns, airsoft, ammo and accessories. Air Venturi is the manufacturer of many of those products, including the Seneca Dragon Claw.
Luke has been hog hunting with the big air guns for quite a while. I asked what prompted him to take up the sport.
“Shooting and hunting with a gun powered by air that could push a huge 350-grain bullet with 500 foot-pounds of energy was totally new to me,” Luke said. “Just like years before when I first began learning about muzzleloaders and shooting compound bows, I was anxious for a totally new challenge. After a lifetime enjoying the shooting sports, totally new challenges have become pretty rare.”
On the other hand, Joe, Doug and I had never even laid eyes on one. So, following afternoon flights into Houston, the three of us were greeted by Luke and Mark Balette and taken to Mark’s B&C Outfitters ranch near Groveton. Mark has several hundred acres of typical east Texas terrain that’s fenced, holding exotics like axis, red deer, aoudad and blackbuck. He also offers free-range hunts for deer and hogs.
Along with Luke and myself were Doug Howlett, a former editor at Outdoor Life magazine and current editor of Fur and Fangs magazine, and Joe Arterburn, a freelancer for a number of publications, including Outdoor Life.
Our party would be hunting hogs inside the fenced area which, trust me, isn’t as easy as it sounds. The only difference between these and the free-rangers on the other side of the fence is the hogs we were after are not quite as nocturnal. Even Mark isn’t sure why these animals living inside the fence are more active during the day. But, hey, it worked for us.
On the first day of our hunt, Mark and Luke took us to the range for an introduction to the Dragon Claws we’d be hunting with. Everyone was impressed with the power of 3,000 psi of compressed air blasting a big bullet down the bore. We also shot the “air bolts.” Tipped with a good broadhead, these proved to be absolutely lethal, even on the biggest boar taken.
I spoke with Val Gamerman of Pyramyd Air recently and asked about the growing popularity of air guns.
“Two or three years ago, after we started getting the power way over 200 foot-pounds, the market really started to grow,” Val explained. “And when you’re hunting with an air gun that’s 50 to 100 percent more powerful than a crossbow, there’s a huge difference in lethality and efficacy.”
During our two days of hunting, we used a variety of methods, from elevated stands to spot-and-stalking. The range of the bolt was limited, so getting up close and personal on the ground was especially exhilarating when slipping within 40 yards of a sounder of feeding pigs.
After two days of hunting, we all took hogs. Joe used an Air Bolt to dispatch the biggest: a toothy boar that weighed close to 180 pounds. The rest of us took what we like to refer to as meat hogs.
As Joe, Doug and I were heading back to the airport, Luke loaded his truck bed with three fresh porkers destined for his favorite processor, Kuby’s in Dallas. He’s promised to save us some wild sausage for our next adventure.
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