I wrote about an hours worth this morning and somehow erased it I am just getting back the nerve to try it again.  I told y'all I would give details on the trip that Kevin and I went on so here it is.

     Friday 8:00 Kevin arrives at my house and we head off to Three Rivers Texas for a bowhunt at the bowhunting only Helm Ranch. 

We had about a 6.5 hour drive all was great till we got to San Antonio, a truck going over the mix-master broke down right in the middle.  Kevin and I were about 3 vehicles back, I think we both looked in the rearview mirror at the same time to see a big 18 wheeler hauling booty up the hill and I started to panic.  Luckily he turned north on the pass, the oposite direction, I almost pooped my old britches.  I decided I didn't want to sit on this bridge and get rear-ended so I got over to the shoulder and was going to sneak around the 18 wheeler.  BAD move I almost lost my brand new truck to concrete and 18 wheeler 2 times in 2 minutes I almost crapped the britches again.  I got by maybe by an inch I swear it was close.  Ok, we then had to deal with a pissed off truck driver, luckily,  we got away from him.
    The directions were great, first plus to our adventure.   We exited off I-37 and the next thing you know we are at the ranch, at first pulling up I was thinking this sure looks a-lot like the Callahan ranch in Laredo where I also bow-hunt.  I was wrong.  We pull up to the camp and we meet our host Don, he tells us he is glad we made it safely, he didn't know yet about the 18 wheeler and the side of bridge yet  *LOL*.  He showed us the camp and I was already impressed.  They have full campers for singles and married couples with showers along with mobile homes for larger groups.  Most of all they are AIR CONDITIONED, oh,  and showers with hot water too.
   We unpacked and He took Kevin and I around the ranch showing us a-lot of stands and feeders giving us a chance to scout and look at the exotics like Texas Dall, Mexican Rams and such, my goal was to get wild boar, so, I had my mind set.  I didn't want to disappoint my buddies on the forums.  Don takes us to a spot he said he hunted the previous week and we got out and looked, I liked it, water was not to far off but I wished it was closer.  I put out my *IN HEAT SCENT* sow in heat all around the area I would be hunting Kevin and I both were astounded to all the trails and sign by the feeders.  Bad thing was the high wind wiping out all the tracks in the dry hot dust.  But, Don said they would come and the feeder would go off about 8:30.  So, we go around to a few more stands and I put out more *Sow* scent at a few stands that I may hunt and we seen a mess of turkeys boy did we see turkeys.
   We got back to camp and I take a shower put on my bug proof Ghillie suit from Dugle Datsfund and Don says we need to be in our stand by 8:00 pm.  Well, Kevin was going to video the hunt that evening but the doggone batteries were dead so we would have do it at a later time.
  So, about 7:45 we got in our mode of transportation on the ranch, Golf Carts all camo and so very quiet.  What a wonderful idea no noise, no pollution along with a quiet relaxing comfortable ride.   !!!PLEASE GOD DONT LET ME MISS!!! I wont live this down, well I covered myself with in heat scent *Scent Destroyer* and we headed off.  I climbed in my tripod about 8:05 and five minutes later I see a coyote walk across the sendaro I get pumped and excited 8:30 the feeder was supposed to go off but it didn't.  I started to get worried about 8:45 with no hogs showing up.  I was starting to get worried when I see movement down the sendero, it's two deer.  I watch them for about 15 minutes and still no hogs.  Well, then it happened, about 9:10 I seen movement to my left out steps a big ole pig my heart starts racing, it was getting darker but I could still see my *Tru Glo* pins so I was cool.  I relax, I have measured out all the distances with my mind so I knew about where he was distance wise.  But he would not turn sideways.  Still facing me he stops and starts eating corn on the road but won't turn broadside. I make a decision to shoot downward into his neck right between the shoulder blades.  I steady draw and release,  smack!!!!  It was a hit it!!! The big hog fell right in its tracks.  It was so dark I didn't know exactly where I hit it but it wasn't moving.  So, I climb down the whole time telling myself "whose your daddy!!" hello yeah I was pumped.  I walked up and the darn arrow was sticking straight out of his head about an inch above his eye line right square in the middle of the forehead.  I couldn't have been luckier.  It was an awesome experience and Kevin was as amazed as I was. We took some pics and I must say so far my first experience at the Helm ranch was a dream.  I must also say that I shoot Muzzy broadheads from my bow, man, they do the work skull hit and all.
  Ok, we load up mr piggie and head back to camp.  We do the pic thing and the cleaning and ,oh, I must say they have a walk in cooler and it sure helps.  I must also say the *IN HEAT SCENT WORKS* I am convinced that is why this boar came in, it was just not a coincidence.  I am like Kevin on this subject. Too many times along with to much evidence to support that it works if you put it out play the wind right.  Use a good scent destroyer it will all play out, I think they are the keys to success.  Also, I must say, so far, at the Helm Ranch it has been a blast!  I will try to write day 2 tomorrow if time is available. Tim Hicks
my tru glo pins

DAY TWO AT THE HELM RANCH

Ok guys after my long first day story,I hope that y'all can handle another day of this.

Kevin, Don ,and I went out the second morning to put out some feed in the feeders and see if where we had baited there might be some Javelinas. I think we put out about 5000 pounds or so of corn, milo, and protein mix.
  Well, we started early and got Kevin a stand setup by where I was to hunt in the evening so he could video. we put out some corn and I once again spread some IN HEAT SCENT sow potion and also Kevins' test potion, boy did we have a time extracting that stuff!! Well we went back to the camp and decided to take a shower and nap. I was wore out, you have to be used to the heat but its different down there if you don't have plenty of liquid it will wear you out. Anyway we took a nap. I got up and started dinner, oh I must say I cooked Hamburgers at lunch and also put on some deer back-strap filled with jalepenos and wrapped in pepper bacon and I smoked them about 4 hours on the ranches smoker. Well I got up from my nap and cut up some squash and put in foil with butter and wrapped some taters and drank a few beers and practiced shooting my bow. I had to be good this night for sure I was to be on camera I am gonna be famous one day. Well Don had some things to do after I fixed his hot-water heater for him so he was gone. Kevin and I were now the men in charge. I made Kevin take a shower good gravy he needed it you guys think he looks bad on a friday should see him in 120 degrreeeees and he forgot his deoderant lol no just kidding. I remembered every thing except a towel but anyway Kev took a shower and I sprayed him down with Scent destroyer from In Heat scents and I knew we were good to go well I would say we got in our tripods about 7:15 and we did the thumbs up thing and I smiled all dressed up in my fancy camo. Man do I love that ghillie suit I feel invisible I had dove nearly landing on me. Any way, we watched deer and deer and deer, doves and doves and more doves. Anyway, about 8:30 I seen Kevin motion to me something was coming, I readied and out stepped about 10 piglets I waited and wathched Kevin it seemed like 10 or 15 min when a sow came out about 100 pounds or so. Kevin gave me the thumbs up I waited till she was broadside and released shooting her right behind the right shoulder. I thought I missed I was nervous I had never missed an animal yet but GOD ALL THIS PRESSURE!!
  I climbed down went to my arrow and noticed good red blood on it and no guts. I climbed back in the stand hoping for another shot. Kevin and I had agreed that if I shot one early to wait and see if I could get another shot. I must say after I shot I was watching hogs run from places I didn't know they were there. I should have waited just a little bit longer, I seen some big ones 250 or better. Like I said Kevin and I waited I had 3 or 4 come in right behind me but not a clear shot so I held. We watched some more deer a big ole doe that hadn't yet fawned and a couple young bucks. I think we hunted till about 10:00 pm.

We got on our hands and knees in the dark and started tracking the hog I shot. My gosh that stuff is thick and everything around either sticks stings or bites! I promise to you guys that have never hunted down there,,, I hope you have a wife that don't mid pulling cactus out of your as__ it took a while but with Kevins' brains and my eyes and a little just not giving up we found her about 75 yards from arrow penetration. It just turns and get thick, I was back about 1" further than I need to be but it was a kill shot. We drug her out and I got Kevin unlost I mean unlost the man was trying to make me sweat more than I already was he wanted to go the opposite way, oh he still owes me 2 cokes we found the golf cart upon my directions and loaded up. Kevin again was driving as we headed back to camp.

All weekend all I heard from Kevin "I want to see a rattlesnake" and he cuts his lights off and then decides he cant see any snakes with the lights off just as he turns on the lights back on an armadillo is 6" for the front wheel!!!! I told y'all these golf carts are quiet, Kevin poops his pants and I sh_t mine and we laugh and head on hearts still pounding.
We get back to camp do the picture taking thing gut her and put her in the cold storage and went to eat. We ate dinner and talked to Don who also shot a pig but couldn't find it. We decided to view the video and head to bed, man was I ready. All I can say is I would highly recommend this ranch to any bowhunter. The stands were perfect the feeders working minus my little glitch, but I didn't care the host said they would come and they did. The facilities were awsome the ranch has good comfortable beds and the ac is cold I mean cold. I was able to snore and not bother anyone. But as a bowhunter and an outdoors person I would rate this as a 10, I cant wait to get the video. I didnt see any javelinas but I did see deer turkey and lots of hogs it was a special weekend and I hope to do it again thank y'all for reading and good hunting

TIM HICKS

**OUR THANKS Thanks to Hunterclaus for providing The INHEAT SCENTS *SOW IN HEAT* and *SCENT KILLER*!

I (Kevin, WebMaster of TexasBoars) would like to also extend a grateful thank you to Don for the invitation to hunt The Helm Ranch.
Regrettably, the Helm Ranch is no longer in the hunting business however.

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