about to give up.

[weekender21]

If you really want to kill a hog you would save money going on a guided hunt once or twice a year unless you live really close to some good public land.

I really enjoy hunting hogs on my own but it's certainly not about saving money on food. I'd hate to think what wild game cost me per pound!

 

[myfriendis410]

If you really want to kill a hog you would save money going on a guided hunt once or twice a year unless you live really close to some good public land.

I really enjoy hunting hogs on my own but it's certainly not about saving money on food. I'd hate to think what wild game cost me per pound!

I figure I'm up to around $20/lb. for pork and I hunt on VAFB.

 

[bux-n-dux]

While not always possible, I try to combine my hunts. Now I have never killed a pig but have hunted them. I hunted some pigs on public land when quail was open, and after hunting hog in the morning I took out the shotgun and got a bag of quail and a couple of rabbits. The place where I hunt deer has multiple game opportunities. One year I went home with a buck, quail, rabbits and even ducks, not to mention trout. And this is on public land. I know sometimes hunters have only one day or at the most two to hunt and then it's better to target one species like pig, but if one can combine a hunt with overlapping seasons it makes the hunt a little less frustrating.

I am hoping to take my first hog in 2010 and will most likely do so at Tejon. I too am at a financial disadvantage but i've gone through the storage and found things I can sell to save the money and have started a savings account just for this hunt. Good luck and don't give up!!!


bux-n-dux

 

[Troggy92]

Save your money and try to go on a guided hunt every other year. That is what I have to do and while it seems like forever at least I get a hog once in awhile and some good meat to eat stories to tell and memories with good friends. Oh yea I also dove hunt and fish, that helps pass the time betwen hog hunts. Think of it like this: save about $45-$50/ month and you will be able to go on a guided pig hunt with most guide sevices in 18 months. Thats a hunt costing around $550-$650 with food, ammo, tip etc pluse alot of cost can be spead out like gas etc. While you are waiting for your trip practice with your gun alot so you are ready when the shot presents itself. Good luck !

 

[Live2hunt]

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

Oh O!!......Looks like my posts are being stalk now. I might have to report it........hehe.


L2H

 

[easymoney]

Great points all and as many have said, it's not easy...
I too have hunted public land for a very long time and have come to two conclusions. First pig numbers fluctuate greatly year to year, which we have no control over and second, human numbers have only grown enormously over the years, especially in the southern part of the state, which we also have no control over. You can go to any public area or even private spots and expect to see others doing the same thing you are, period. Every secret spot I ever had is now crawling with others, most coming from somewhere far away...
That being said, it has become harder and more expensive to pursue the hunting sports. One has to be creative and flexible if one ever expects to have any chance at seeing game, let alone take something home. And the old saying, I'd rather be lucky than good, is a fact. Timing and location are paramount when pig hunting as they range for miles at night searching for food and water. And just because you saw them in one spot yesterday, doesn't mean you will tomorrow.
In todays world it really isn't about putting cheap meat on the table, as can be proven just by browsing the meat section at your local market for sales...
I just consider myself lucky to get to go out hunting (thanks honey)and taking a pig on public land is a trophy in my mind regardless of size...

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Great points all and as many have said, it's not easy...
I too have hunted public land for a very long time and have come to two conclusions. First pig numbers fluctuate greatly year to year, which we have no control over and second, human numbers have only grown enormously over the years, especially in the southern part of the state, which we also have no control over. You can go to any public area or even private spots and expect to see others doing the same thing you are, period. Every secret spot I ever had is now crawling with others, most coming from somewhere far away...
That being said, it has become harder and more expensive to pursue the hunting sports. One has to be creative and flexible if one ever expects to have any chance at seeing game, let alone take something home. And the old saying, I'd rather be lucky than good, is a fact. Timing and location are paramount when pig hunting as they range for miles at night searching for food and water. And just because you saw them in one spot yesterday, doesn't mean you will tomorrow.
In todays world it really isn't about putting cheap meat on the table, as can be proven just by browsing the meat section at your local market for sales...
I just consider myself lucky to get to go out hunting (thanks honey)and taking a pig on public land is a trophy in my mind regardless of size...

Well put Easymoney.....

 

[Caviel]

Take a trip to Texas..... If you know someone there definitely take a trip there..

 

[mw0248]

Where are you! have MANY places to pig hunt in Arkansas! And at VERY REASONABLE prices!!
cuzcuzwildhogs@yahoo.com I'm going in April!

 

[mw0248]

WAKE UP!! Where are you! Livermore sounds like CAL. I'M in Ar. and pig hunting is hot!! call me at 501-276-9093! Got a 200+ with my KODIAK .50 cal yesterday!!
No bullshit, gauranteed kill; My son is coming down from ST.Louis next month;
I'm not an outfitter; will take you to the best (and cheapest) in state; I don't get a dime; just want you to come see what's here;

 

[mw0248]

I am posting this link so you can see for yourself; www.cuzandcuzwildhoghunting.com;

If you want to kill giant pigs, you must come here; Big, Bad, and DANGEROUS;
I am not kidding; I have no connection with them, but their service;

 

[tpuig]

It can be pretty frustrating. I hunted pigs for a couple years without seeing one. In the Russian River area, FHL and a few other places. Then took some time off. Got my first pig ever on a guided hunt last May. Spotted but didn't have a shot at one later in the year. But it was sure great being outdoors and not behind a desk.

Figure that a hunt will cost about $500 to have a guide who has access to where some pigs are, actually get a shot, and have it cleaned. Then another $200 for the butcher unless you do it yourself. Add in gas and maybe motel money, and you're up there in costs. Odds are pretty good you'll come home with one on a guided hunt.
Maybe you live near some public land, you can spend days and days, and maybe see something. It comes down to how much you value your time. I used to put aside my lunch money a couple times a week to save up for stuff like this. Instead of $6-10 for a burrito or burger, or a couple beers after work, it went into a "fun" fund. Doesn't seem like much, but I didn't really miss the money, and it added up pretty quick...

 

[MikenSoCo]

Contact me

Howdy RBrown, I haven't been on the forum much lately, maybe some of the old fart members remember me. Anyways, contact me with a PM, give me your number.....:toast-yellow:

 

[Krisdude]

so fair I've seen pigs on public land twice, a year apart, first time was my first hunt and couldn't get a good shot after stalking it up a long step hill, second was this year opening of quail and about 10am their it was 20/ 30 yards away, but all i had was a shotgun, well I'll be better prepared next time. I hope I come across another pig before a year agen.
All we can do is keep at it.

 

[DirtyDave]

so fair I've seen pigs on public land twice, a year apart, first time was my first hunt and couldn't get a good shot after stalking it up a long step hill, second was this year opening of quail and about 10am their it was 20/ 30 yards away, but all i had was a shotgun, well I'll be better prepared next time. I hope I come across another pig before a year agen.
All we can do is keep at it.

I always keep a couple slugs in my vest when I'm bird hunting, especially if I am somewhere that might have pigs

 

[weekender21]

I am posting this link so you can see for yourself; www.cuzandcuzwildhoghunting.com;

If you want to kill giant pigs, you must come here; Big, Bad, and DANGEROUS;
I am not kidding; I have no connection with them, but their service;

200 acre ranch, high fence? Not judging just wondering.

 

[Killzone]

50 cal, OMG, overkill, send us some pics please