Diamond Bax Ranch Two Thumbs Down!

[Ironwood]

:oops: Just got back from a hog hunt on the Diamond Bax Ranch near Lampasas.  I gotta tell ya.  Being from Texas that place was a real embarassment to me! :oops:   After being assured, by the owner, the 13 of us should be able to take 25 or so hogs, not only were there no hogs to be seen there wasn't much game of any kind except, raccoons, rabbits, and turkeys.

The automatic feeders, that did work, only ran for about 5 seconds and the little amount of corn dispensed was quickly gobbled up by turkeys or raccoons.

There were 6 or 7 very small pigs seen, and three of those were shot.  They looked like they were all from the same litter (which makes you wonder) and only weighed about 20 pounds or less.  Not one grown hog was spotted in 1-1/2 days of hunting by 12 people.  When the owner was confronted, about the shortage of game, his only comment was, "Well you got one, at least".   He was real scarce after that.

The promised Barbqued Hog for Saturday night turned out to be some kind of boiled pork (not browned at all) and a banana pudding.  When 13 guys consisting of some growing boys and a few "healthy" men such as myself can't eat something, you know it's got to be bad.

I won't even go into the accomodations.  Just let it suffice that I now know how a sardine feels.

If this sounds like sour grapes let me assure you it's not.  I took 3 hogs this past deer season just 15 minutes from my house.  I drove the 250 miles, a little over 4-1/2 hours, to meet some of my internet friends and because of the generous amount of game that was assured us.  I got to meet the friends, and had a great time with them, in spite of the poor hunting.

If you are considering a hog hunt in Texas, you would be well advised to look someplace other than Diamond Bax Ranch of Lampasas, Texas!

[IronKnees]

That's a shame, especially because of the youngsters... But, like you said, it must have been really nice to fellowship with your internet friends... and, in the end, if they gained and learned from that, all was not lost... Hope you can get a chance to get into the Tennessee area some time. I absolutely can assure you of success as long as you stick with the reputable guides and lodges as found on here... If you are interested, I have put together a webpage listing some... here is the link: http://www.accs.net/users/drquick/wildboar.html   Then, the link at the bottom will take you on to my personal webpage in case you wish to visit...

[Ironwood]

Dave.... I really don't need to go more than 15 minutes from my door to be into some excellent hog hunting.  I'm in 2 hunting leases here in East Texas, both have a much larger hog population than we would like.  I think I posted a photo of one I killed last fall in this forum.  Thanks anyway for the suggestion.  

We did have a great time meeting and shooting the BS.  It got mighty deep around the camp at times.  It was good putting faces to the nicknames of my internet friends also.  :grin:

Here's a photo taken at a different stand from the one I killed the "Muddy Ol' Boar Hog".  We trapped all the pigs in this photo, but the sow got away.  I'm sure she is out there making more little pigs already.

[Zachary]

Ironwood,

Hey man, it sounds like you had a major disappointment.  Safe to say that neither you, nor anyone else who reviewed your post, will be going back to that place anytime soon.

Zachary

[Ironwood]

Zachary.........You better believe I'll never go back there.  I posted this topic in hopes that no one else will get taken like we were.

That was my first and probably my last paid hog hunt.  There's too many of those critters running around on my hunting lease to pay for hunting one.