Just returned from a two day hog hunting trip in Centerville, which is about 2 hours southeast of Dallas at Tall Pines Exotics. I had researched several properties and after running into issues with availability at Langley Ranch, decided to give Tall Pines a try. Initial phone call and subsequent texts were with Keith, the son of the property owner. His dad, Larry, met us when we arrived Monday afternoon around 2pm. He was very welcoming and gave us a tour of the ranch house and immediate property. Since there was only my son Andrew and myself, he had us stay in the spare bedroom of the main house. There is also a bunk house for larger parties. Larry offered us a beer and sat and chatted with us for a good two hours.
Around 4pm he drove us out to our respective stands which overlook timed corn feeders. Andrew took the first stand which was an small enclosed hut with a window and comfortable office chair that overlook a feeder about 50 yards away. I got the old school bus, which had setups for 3 or more hunters if guys wanted to stay together. My feeder was about 75 yards downrange. The feeders were set to go off right at 5pm or so and within a half hour I heard Andrew shoot with the 30/30 he had taken. I however did not see any hogs until close to dark. Then about a half dozen of so started milling about and it was just a matter of picking the best shot of the bunch. They all looked similar in size in the fading light. I ended up shooting a decent size boar with my newly built .350 Legend. I hit him in the shoulder and he went straight down. Later when cleaning we saw that the bullet probably broke both shoulders and hit both lungs before exiting.
Larry came along and picked us up with the hogs and we spent the next hour watching him expertly quarter both of them. I had brought a large Cabelas (100 can) Polar Cap cooler, similar to a Yeti, and several bags of ice. As Larry pitched the hog parts into the cooler, we packed it with layers of ice. The one cooler held both hogs which ended up being 95 and 105 lbs before dressed. I did not get home until Saturday, so daily I would drain the water/blood from the cooler and add ice a couple times. I'll give a plug for the Cabelas cooler - heavy, but very nice quality and ice retention.
After cleanup, Larry made us a great T-bone/baked potato/red bean/black eyed pea dinner (both breakfast and dinner were included). Andrew and I sat out on his front porch and enjoyed a bourbon and celebratory cigar. Larry fixed sausage/eggs and biscuits for breakfast.
Overall it was a great hunt and a good way to spend some quality time with my son. I highly recommend his property. The final total for both of us including lodging, hogs, cleaning and tip was right around $500.
Around 4pm he drove us out to our respective stands which overlook timed corn feeders. Andrew took the first stand which was an small enclosed hut with a window and comfortable office chair that overlook a feeder about 50 yards away. I got the old school bus, which had setups for 3 or more hunters if guys wanted to stay together. My feeder was about 75 yards downrange. The feeders were set to go off right at 5pm or so and within a half hour I heard Andrew shoot with the 30/30 he had taken. I however did not see any hogs until close to dark. Then about a half dozen of so started milling about and it was just a matter of picking the best shot of the bunch. They all looked similar in size in the fading light. I ended up shooting a decent size boar with my newly built .350 Legend. I hit him in the shoulder and he went straight down. Later when cleaning we saw that the bullet probably broke both shoulders and hit both lungs before exiting.
Larry came along and picked us up with the hogs and we spent the next hour watching him expertly quarter both of them. I had brought a large Cabelas (100 can) Polar Cap cooler, similar to a Yeti, and several bags of ice. As Larry pitched the hog parts into the cooler, we packed it with layers of ice. The one cooler held both hogs which ended up being 95 and 105 lbs before dressed. I did not get home until Saturday, so daily I would drain the water/blood from the cooler and add ice a couple times. I'll give a plug for the Cabelas cooler - heavy, but very nice quality and ice retention.
After cleanup, Larry made us a great T-bone/baked potato/red bean/black eyed pea dinner (both breakfast and dinner were included). Andrew and I sat out on his front porch and enjoyed a bourbon and celebratory cigar. Larry fixed sausage/eggs and biscuits for breakfast.
Overall it was a great hunt and a good way to spend some quality time with my son. I highly recommend his property. The final total for both of us including lodging, hogs, cleaning and tip was right around $500.
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