Hunters Joe Trumpio, John Morrissey, and Ed Sullivan from Southern California arrived at the 4B Ranch at noon on Friday, December 7th ready to hunt Russian Boar. All three left on Sunday with trophy boars.

The following is a chronicle of the hunts by ranch owner and guide, Paul B.

FRIDAY EVENING HUNT:
In the blinds at 4:00PM. Weather is warm, especially for December.... We get into the blinds and hunt 'til dark. We see a few animals but no shooters. Animals we do see seem skittish. Hunt was a total bust....That's OK, we have a great meal planned for our guests and there's plenty of time for more hunts.

SATURDAY MORNING:

In the blinds at 6:00 AM. Another hunting bust.... Saw some nice shooters but no shots. Skittish barely begins to describe the way they were acting. Out of the blinds at 9:00. I notice the weather is starting to turn cool and the wind is now out of the north. We'll have a big breakfast and maybe try a spot and stalk after lunch.

SATURDAY MID-DAY:

Mild north breeze. Stephen and Matthew took hunter Joe Trumpio who was shooting a big bore pistol (S&W .460 XVR) out in the hunting rig on a spot & stalk. A large mature boar was spotted on the east end on the ranch. Credit goes to hunter Joe Trumpio for making a well placed shot on the boar from 40 yards. This kill was also a ranch first in that it was shot with a revolver type pistol.

This boar was 282 lbs with a 3 1/2" cutter. (his other cutter was broke off all the way into the gum) This boar was scored and will place in the top 20 in the weight class of the WWT Trophy Wild Boar Record Book.

Joe Trumpio and his 282 lb. Russian Boar

SATURDAY EVENING:

In the blinds at 4:00PM. The weather is DEFINITELY turning. It wasn't freezing cold yet but it was getting there and the wind speed had picked up. We see even more animals but still don’t get a shot at any big ones. Out of the blinds at dark. I think there was some disappointment at this point since there was only one hunt left before they had to head back to Cali. We had a great meal of mesquite grilled German sausage and Ribeye steak with baked potatoes, corn casserole, salad, and jalapeno cheesecake. With only one more hunt left before we’d have to take the hunters to catch their flight back to Cali, I think everyone was a little concerned. But I know it's about to get real cold. I also know the Russians love the cold. They do move in the cold.

SUNDAY MORNING: (last hunt)

In the blinds at 6:00AM, light at 7:10AM. Weather is cold. I was guiding John Morrissey who was shooting a Blaser .270 with a Zeiss scope. Looking out the windows of the blind toward the north wasn’t easy. That north wind was cutting like a knife. Conditions for us were almost miserable with having to look into the north wind. It doesn't often get like this in Southern California. Did I mention that the Russians like it cold? In fact, it can't get cold enough for them.... The big boars are on the move. And they ain't skittish, they’re looking for food.

--- 7:15 AM ---

A big mature boar wonders into wheat patch and then to the feed spot and starts feeding. Hunter Jon Morrissey puts the crosshairs on the boar and lets the lead fly! The big boar goes down and Mr. Morrissey finished the boar off in the field.

This boar was 280 lbs with a 2 3/4" cutter on one side and a 1.0” cutter on the other. (Mature boars in the wild more often than not have tusks that are broke off from fighting) This boar was scored and will also place in the top 20 in the weight class of the WWT Trophy Wild Boar Record Book.

John Morrissey and his 280 lb. Russian Boar

--- 7:25 AM ---

Hunter Ed Sullivan is in-blind with Matthew. I can imagine that after hearing the shots and then hearing on the radio that John took a big boar, Ed is dreading the flight back to California since both hunters Trumpio and Morrissey will most likely be giving him untold amounts of grief about not getting a boar. Have I mentioned that the big boars love the cold weather and that the cold puts them on the move? Only 10 minutes had transpired since Mr. Morrissey’s shot rang out when a big mature boar saunters up on the feeder that hunter Sullivan and Matthew were hunting over........ Hunter Sullivan puts the crosshairs of the scope of his .300 Winchester Short Magnum on the boar and lead flies! The boar goes down but gets back up and moves west. With the boar now at about 130 yards away, another shot (or two but who’s counting) is put into about the boar to finish the job

This boar was 270 lbs but with both tusks, each at 2 3/4", he should score BIG. After scoring, this boar has unofficially placed FIRST in the High Fence Tusk Class of the WWT Trophy Wild Boar Record Book. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH ED SULLIVAN AND THE 4B RANCH!

Ed Sullivan and his WORLD RECORD Russian Boar

=========== IN THE END============
In the end all three hunters were happy, and truthfully I think they would have been happy even had all three not scored but no doubt they were even happier with all three of them harvesting really nice animals. These guys were serious hunters. I have to give them a lot of credit for hanging in there and being patient even when it started to look like it was going to be pretty tough hunting. But…. when given the opportunity, all three performed well. None of the animals were gut shot and all three of the animals were down within only a few yards of where they were initially shot. (we didn't end up having to track their animals all over the ranch) No doubt they were here to have a good time but first and foremost, they were here for some serious hunting. They were also very courteous to staff and were the perfect guests.

Congratulations to Joe Trumpio, John Morrissey, and Ed Sullivan......

Tres Amigos de California!

---------- SHAMELESS 4B RANCH PLUG----------
There are only a few ranches in the United States where hunters can harvest a trophy quality pure Russian (European) Boar. The 4B Ranch specializes in these animals and I’m very proud that there are several of our animals in the record book. I’m also very proud that we were able to get three trophy quality animals in one weekend. This is NOT an easy task. (ask any of the Three Amigos) Although the 4B Ranch is high fenced, the animals are free to range the entire ranch. These are NOT canned hunts. The big mature boars have plenty of places to keep low and they are not without guile. They will make you hunt using different methods or you’ll pay the price in terms of success rate.