about to give up.

[rbrown77]

It seems like either you have to be rich (which I am not I work on an ambulane and wk 12hr shifts) or you have to have lot and lots of free time to scout and hunt BLM land. Any tip or sugestions? thx everyone. I always look on here and drool at all the hogs you guys get...

 

[hogswild82]

It seems like either you have to be rich (which I am not I work on an ambulane and wk 12hr shifts) or you have to have lot and lots of free time to scout and hunt BLM land. Any tip or sugestions? thx everyone. I always look on here and drool at all the hogs you guys get...

I am totally with you man, just that I am a teacher and everyone knows teachers do not make a lot.........

 

[bigboarstopper]

Public land is tough. Plain and simple. I hear a lot about people not being succesful on public land or even seeing anything. What I see most public land hunters that fail do is not go to the right place at the right time. I almost always hunt on private. Of course its better. Better land, less pressure on the animals ect,ect. While hunting hogs is a year round sport this is not the case for the public land hunter. I do on occasion hunt on public land and get hogs from time to time. How? Timing. I will never hunt on public land in the summer. Always winter. I will never hunt public land on the weekend. I have always gone on a wednesday, thursday or friday when the pressure on the hogs is at their least. Wintertime the hogs will have feed and water on public land. I know a lot of guys that hunt private land that will always hit certain public lands every winter. Public land stinks in the summer and weekends. For anyone who hunts public land this would be my best advice.

 

[wyemjohnson]

bigboarstopper pretty much said it all. Very good advice.

 

[Farmerdoug]

It seems like either you have to be rich (which I am not I work on an ambulane and wk 12hr shifts) or you have to have lot and lots of free time to scout and hunt BLM land. Any tip or sugestions? thx everyone. I always look on here and drool at all the hogs you guys get...

With all do respect (please don't take this the wrong way), I really think that your missing the point of hunting. In this day and age, hunting isn't just about bringing home meat to put in the freezer. It's about getting away from the city life and spending quality time with friends and family. When I take new guys hunting with me, the first thing I tell them is don't expect to see or shoot anything. The second thing I tell them is just think of hunting as a day of hiking while being able to carry a weapon. I really make it a point to try and explain that hunting, shooting, and killing are three entirely different things. Most hunters turn on the TV at night and probably watch a little OLN or the Hunting Channel. The fact of the matter is, that's make believe. 99% of the population will never get to hunt the areas shown on TV. You either have to own the land or have a savings account that has a number with 7 zeros behind it to even consider it. The only real advice I can give you is keep your chin up. Public land hunting is tough. Public land hunting in California is almost impossible. The one thing I can promise you is the day you do shoot that hog on public land, and you will, you'll be much more proud and satisfied because you did the right way. Sure, you can pay a guide or go to some fenced rance for high percentage success, but the gradification you'll recieve, along with the bragging rights, will be unsurpassed doing it on public ground. If I was you, I would take the advice of bigboarstopper and pick his brain whenever you have a question. I don't know him personally, but the advice and tips he gives are usually dead on. Once again, good luck and stay persistant. Always remeber that success is just over the next ridge!

 

[Rotorhead]

Very Well spoken bigboarstopper and farmerdoug.

rbrown77, I can relate to your frustration but these guys are right on the mark. Like you, I cannot afford to pay someone to hunt private property but I doubt if I would - even if I could afford it. It's a principle thing for me. After being pretty successful on archery elk & deer on public land while living in Washington and Oregon, I can't bring myself to pay to hunt. I don't have anything against people who do pay to hunt or those who charge to hunt their land - it is just not for me.

All that being sadi, I have yet to kill a hog. Public land pursuit of these critters has been a humbling experience so far. But every time I get out I learn more about the animal, and locate spots where fewer hunters venture. Don't get discouraged; its not all about the kill and the work we put into the pursuit will be rewarded in a variety of ways. Just MHO

 

[JNDEER]

Its all about the challenge of the hunt. Public land hunting for anything is not easy. My best advice is when you can hunt and get out..stay out, don't leave at 1000 or 1100. Take a topo map and really scout out those areas by putting in lots and lots of walking. Make notes on the topo and after 3-4 trips, sometimes, a bigger picture will pop out at you and you will see how the pigs or any game move in and out of an area, where they bed, eat, drink..etc...make notes even as far as the direction the tracks are on their trails...then once you have the big picture, go and hunt those ideal spots when you can. Always hunt them and eventually it will work out.

 

[MJB]

Try FHL or Camp Roberts it's almost like private land and has good numbers of pigs if you spend some time to learn the lay of the land.

On public land hunt the boundaries of the public land next to the private prop.

 

[rbrown77]

thx for the help everyone, everone on this board is so helpful It seems like everyone who say its not about the kiling has already killed at least there fair share of hogs. I will try to get out but when you work 12hr shifts and wk 5-6 days a week and have a family it leaves little time to scout and hunt enough to get an idea of where the hogs are at. thx again for all the help. Merry Xmas...

 

[MJB]

rbrown77, keep at it you'll get it, just keep walking until you see sign then hunt that area real slow and at first/last light. But first you must find some sign even if its old then your in the right area. Also talk to some locals that live in the area they can really help you out.

Good luck! Don't give up!

 

[Huntr Pat]

Try FHL or Camp Roberts it's almost like private land and has good numbers of pigs if you spend some time to learn the lay of the land.

On public land hunt the boundaries of the public land next to the private prop.

Even fhl & camp roberts is getting harder. Like bigboar said its all in the timing and knowing where to look. Alot of people hunt many years to find a good or favorite spot on public land. But if you visit page enough you'll get close to a hint of where peeps are finding hogs.

 

[larrysogla]

rbrown77,
Try to backtrack on the posts in this hog forum.......especially the posts by "live2hunt" who has amassed a list of successful public land hunts. If you examine his posts....he is always on the ambush spot BEFORE daylight and he picks public land that has a lake as a water source. Then in the military camps......Camp Roberts and Fort Hunter Liggett are near lakes and have rivers that are year round flowing with water and have permanent ponds with water year round......just review the many posts of those who are knowledgeable about hog areas in those military camps and you will get an idea where to gravitate to put the odds in your favor. The military camps and the other public lands with water sources(lakes) are huge, gigantic areas and you will burn a ton of money on gasoline, cheeseburgers etc. just scouting and reconnoitering the areas. Just read the previous posts by XDhunter, live2hunt and others about Camp Roberts, Fort Hunter Liggett, the other public lands with lakes that allow hunting and you will be in public lands that support a resident population of hogs. Avoid the dry areas of public land.....like Laguna Mountain, Carrizo Plain Nat. Monument etc. without year round water sources because the creeks, springs, ponds and seeps dry up during the summer. The hogs will be transient and very, very hard to encounter.....let alone be in a position to shoot. Stick to the public land with permanent sources of water(lakes) and keep on reading the previous posts by successful public land hunters.
'Nuff said
larrysogla

 

[rbrown77]

thx again. Yah I tried FHL before and saw tons of sign but no hogs. I guess I just have to go out and try again. If anyone is going hunting on blm of FHL please let me know I will drive ,ect.... I am a humble person and would love to learn more. Thx again.

 

[MJB]

One other thought, save your money and sign up for the JHO Tejon hunt in May.

It's 5 months away plenty of time to save some money, and it will be a great place to learn about hogs and how to hunt them plus you'll see 30+ hogs a day.

 

[rbrown77]

One other thought, save your money and sign up for the JHO Tejon hunt in May.

It's 5 months away plenty of time to save some money, and it will be a great place to learn about hogs and how to hunt them plus you'll see 30+ hogs a day.

I am going to take u up on that its a great idea where do I sign up? there is probally a sticky i will look. thx

 

[JNDEER]

thx for the help everyone, everone on this board is so helpful It seems like everyone who say its not about the kiling has already killed at least there fair share of hogs. I will try to get out but when you work 12hr shifts and wk 5-6 days a week and have a family it leaves little time to scout and hunt enough to get an idea of where the hogs are at. thx again for all the help. Merry Xmas...

I have been pig hunting on public land for 6 years and am yet to take one. I have only seen pigs 3 times and have taken one shot (and missed). It is not easy and takes a lot of time, patience, etc...but eventually things will work out...just keep at it when you can..

 

[Fugaloo]

Chin up Bro,
Private land isn't always great either. My spot I have access to hasn't had pigs in two years.

I feel your pain, and I don't even really have that much interest in public land because it's so blown out in my area. I have been trying to work my way into more private pig access for years. Lately I have been trying to get in with the ranchers by hunting coyotes. I am just starting to get rolling on it, and hoping that the relationships I can build with these guys will parlay into big game access on the same property.

By the way, if you're working so much, why not treat your self to a guided hunt. Nothing wrong with rewarding yourself for all the hours your working. I have a family and just can't afford it, but if I had the money to throw at a pig I would not be ashamed to do so.

 

[boarhunter67]

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One other thought, save your money and sign up for the JHO Tejon hunt in May.

Spend some time looking around a little. If you want to go on a guided hunt that guarantees you see some pigs and maybe even guarantees a shot you should be able to find one for under $500. I even know of some guides who are charging under $450 right now. If you think that makes you rich, then you're pretty spoiled. No offense.

 

[rbrown77]

Thx

Spend some time looking around a little. If you want to go on a guided hunt that guarantees you see some pigs and maybe even guarantees a shot you should be able to find one for under $500. I even know of some guides who are charging under $450 right now. If you think that makes you rich, then you're pretty spoiled. No offense.

I might have to do that anyone have a guide in mind feel free to pm me if u want thx again just got off wk now have 30 people at my house for Xmas then off to wk tomorrow
I hope. Everyone has a great Xmas !!!!!!

 

[larrysogla]

30 people!!!!!................now you really need to kill a pig to feed those hungry guests. Just kidding. Again Merry CHRIST'mas y'all.
God Bless everyone, always
'Nuff said
larrysogla