2004-2005 LAKE SONOMA PIG HUNTING

[Kentuck]

You know I don't think I was as frightened as that group of deer that passed me going full steam about 30 seconds before I was blinded!

Before I go on and I am truly sorry I didn't say this right off but thanks PIGIG for the leg work and the info. There will always be room for ya in my boat!

Kentuck

 

[nofear25]

Hey everyone,
I think im goin to try to head up there wit some buddies.. I have 2 friends that are good shots with their bow and one of them has a small bass boat... It will be hard for us to pick a date because we all have different days off of school.. Ill let you guy know.. Thanks for the info PIGIG... Gl eveyone

nofear

 

[Arrowslinger]

Yeah, I was hoping they'd have this hunt again, i saw a monster pig up there last year. Either by boat or foot, this is one you don't want to miss.

 

[PIGIG]

Originally posted by Kentuck@Sep 27 2004, 04:08 PM
There will always be room for ya in my boat!

Kentuck

Hey thanks for the invite I am sure I will take you up on it soon. I will be up there on Tuesday for a morning hunt then back to the bay for work. its incredible what we do just for a little time outdoors

 

[sportyg]

I'm looking at some time between Jan & March I'll be hunting A22 in Nov & Dec.. If in I don't stick a deer sooner...

 

[buck_t1]

Im going up tue. Oct. 5 for the first day. I was hoping they were going to have this hunt again. I am going to put some time in there this year atlest 1 day a week.

 

[PIGIG]

Spent the day getting the boat ready for the Sonoma opener on Tuesday, it looks like it's going to be a good day. WHO's GOING!!!

hey ya know I see all these little icons on here have guns when is someone going to make one with an exploding arrow or at least a bow??

I also see 238 people have downloaded the documents from http:\\calfly.com\ so far.
The rangers are grateful to JHO for their participation in this hunt lets keep it going guys.

 

[Speckmisser]

You mean like...

 

[MikenSoCo]

Howdy men, I mentioned this last year but don't know that any of us tried it. I've been hunting here ALOT, and have almost always found pigs in the following spot... On the north side of rockpile rd. across from the turn-off down to Liberty Glen Campground, there is a service road(dirt) behind a gate. Follow the road down for about a hundred 300 yds. or so until it levels off and paralells the lake far below. Dive off to the left and side hill back and fourth toward the lake. It's a VERY good idea to schedule someone to pick you up at the shoreline in a boat. You'll end up somewhere in the vicinity of Broken Bridge Campground(if it's still in service). Good luck and flag down the red canoe if you need a lift

 

[Backcountry]

PIGIG & I plan to be at the boat ramp between 5:30am and 6:00am, launching the tactical Zodiac. I think our plan involves a boat ride out into the lake, see what we see, then chase pigs in the steepest and thickest terrain we can find. We both spent a few days up there last year and got close to pigs, but couldn't quite connect. Tuesday is redemption day!

Backcountry

 

[PIGIG]

Originally posted by Speckmisser@Oct 2 2004, 07:26 PM
You mean like...

sweet spec
where do you get these

 

[PIGIG]

AAGGHH

is it PIG thirty yet

boats loaded gear packed truck gassed up what am i for getting

oh yea BC lets go

 

[Backcountry]

Yawn..... Zzzzzzz... uh, I'm still packing, it's 7:00pm, and I'm meeting you at THREE-AM! Hope you got a pillow in the Zodiac so I can catch up on my beauty rest.

Let's get dem bastards (the pigs that is)!

Backcountry

 

[Speckmisser]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

where do you get these[/b]

Hey Pigig,

Look at the bottom of the Smilies and you'll see a link that says "Show All". There's a whole pile of smilies available. Lots of classics, and even more that you've probably never even dreamed of.

 

[Backcountry]

PIGIG and I just got home from opening day at Lake Sonoma. Getting right to the point, it's still as steep and rugged as it was last year, but today it was near 90F by mid-day, so that upped the ante incrementally in terms of the fun-factor. The fog was also THICK this morning, but PIGIG's internal compass thankfully kept us on track out in the middle of the lake while still dark

I'm a bit bushed, but bottom line, things are VERY different that what we saw last year during the rainy season. No rooting, no sign, the wallows don't appear well-used, no scat, etc... I did see three nice pigs, but they were across the lake in the no-hunt zone. The one thing that is the same is that the place is still crawling with deer... they are everywhere! Maybe the pigs are way back up in the other arms of the lake? Maybe they are simply more spread out? Maybe they are right there under our noses but with the hard dry ground they don't leave as much evidence of it? The only way to figure out this mystery is to RETURN!

Here a couple pics of PIGIG and I motoring back to the boat launch in the exceptionally spacious Zodiac powered by a 6hp 1962 vintage outboard (oh yeah, we were style'n).

Looking forwards (tons of storage in the V-berth!)

Looking backwards (note the spacious accomadations!)

Seriously, if anyone (mikensoco?) has a clue about where the pigs are and/or how to find them this time of year, we're all ears...

Backcountry

 

[BDB]

Well, I'm glad I didn't endanger my impending marriage by tagging along with you boys since you didn't see much

Doesn't look like I would have fit in the boat anyway

Hopefully I'll be able to make a Dec hunt with you guys. Make sure you spend lots of time finding the little oinkers so that when I come up you can take me right to 'em

 

[Kentuck]

Thanks for the report BC. Sounds like Mel, Justin, Dominic and mine's first trip up there last year. Saw a large group of pigs in the no hunt zone. I guess the trick will be to find water up from the lake. I remember finding a pond not far from the "full moon" spot the last trip we went out. I would also think it would be good to focus on the oaks as any acorns around will be dropping.

 

[Backcountry]

Originally posted by Kentuck@Oct 6 2004, 09:32 AM
I remember finding a pond not far from the "full moon" spot the last trip we went out.

I had actually forgot about that pond until we were right on top of it. It looked like pigs were there daily, but not a lot given the very limited wallowing evidence... maybe just one or two pigs. Bunch of turtles and bullfrogs though, and about a dozen wood ducks too!

I found a similar spot yesterday several miles down towards the dam... there was a flowing spring on a STEEP hillside in THICK brush... it cascaded down into at least 10 different mudpools... I checked each mudpool but all the tracks were old and there was no wet mud splashed at the entry-exit points of any of the pools... very strange because it was so hot yesterday. That spot was "pretty hard" for me to get to, so I'll guess you don't really care where it was at.

Remember where you showed me the spot Dominic got excited and took the shot too early? We also found a small spring and wallow in the brush just to the south of that big clearning about 75 yards up from the lake. It had not been used recently but we will definately put it on the short list of places to watch before the rainy season begins.

What's really odd is that there are still well-used trails through the grass and brush snaking everywhere... these aren't deer trails as they are too wide... the pigs must be there somewhere. PIGIG also thinks the pigs are eating acorns.

If/when you go before the rains begin, try to get to one of those springs before first light, and approach from the downwind side (but you know that)... that's our plan next time.

Backcountry

p.s. I didn't get your video in the mail yet... no box on Saturday but I'll get it out this week.

 

[Kentuck]

No worries on the video. If you want hang onto it until the JHO Pheasant Hunt.

 

[PIGIG]

is it morning yet
we had a great time even though the scrapspigus was not where to be found.
but i will be back ,do not tally the scores i still have 5 months to win