Any input regarding JCA hunting ranch?

[rwlittle]

Has anyone ever hunted with, or heard reports (either bad or good) regarding JCA hunting ranch in Salinas? I searched through the forum and was unable to find much of anything. The web site looks pretty darn good.

www.jcabiggamehunting.net

any input will be appreciated.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Heard of the operation, but havent heard anything good or bad. It seems they charge $450 for a hunt. That's pretty standard for a hog hunt. One thing I'm not fond of is the $100 "trophy fee" that they slap on you if you shoot a boar with 2 inch tusk or better. IMO, you can head down to King City and do a 2 1/2 day hunt for $450 and there is no trophy fee. If you shoot a 100 pound meat pig or a 400 pound boar with 4 inch cutters its still gonna be $450. If you need help deciding on a outfitter, email me and I'll put you in contact with three central coast guides that I recommend. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[rwlittle]

Thanks Hoghunter,

look forward to the info. I just sent you an email this morning.

 

[Speckmisser]

RW,

I know JCA has been covered in here before, but can't recall the last time.

Hoghunter714 ... I know you're not "pimping" for other operations, so if you have recommendations, it's OK to post them. Also, if you haven't done so already, post up on the Hunting Guide Reviews section. That's what it's there for, and it could definitely use more user input...both good and bad.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Speck,

Your right I wasnt "pimping" out any outfitters. I forgot to mention Tejon, Ham Slam 2006...Thats a great way to go as well... Oh man the little purple bottle and hogs...Brings back memories.

 

[Speckmisser]

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

Oh man the little purple bottle and hogs...Brings back memories.[/b]

Memories?

Zero sleep, 14hr days in the field, too many hours around the fire with that little purple bottle, and lots of bloody, dirty guys...

Yeah! I can't wait to do it again! Is it May yet?

 

[bigtusker]

Ron,
JCA is a 500 acre high fence operation about 20 minutes south of Salinas. Most hunting is done out of tree stands for hogs, black hawaiian's, dall sheep, jacobs 4-horns, barbados, spanish billy goats, etc........

If you choose to spot and stalk, it can be quite challenging. The terrain is steep. Sitting in a stand generally results in 100% opportunity. It's not for everybody but to each his own I say.
I took my 10 year old there in 2004 and he got 2 bowkills and we had a great time.

 

[hatchet]

be leary of the dudes that charge you extra cash for a 2inch toothed hog,
christ any mature sow will have two inch cutters, especially if there off the truck.
this is just my

and dont want to

to much as to each there
own.good luck.

 

[bigtusker]

I have been there and the hogs are WILD. And anyone out there can check MY credentials, I know what wild hogs look like.


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

christ any mature sow will have two inch cutters[/b]

I disagree, I have never seen a sow with 2 inch cutters and I've seen plenty.

 

[crittergetter]

I've never hunted there but I can vouch that Jim is a good guy. Also happens to be a VERY accomplished hunter and archer. He has a nice bow shop in Salinas where Iv'e seen a lot of exotic pics and heard that he runs a decent operation. If you are close by you should stop in and talk to him if you havent on the phone already. He is a no nonsense kind of guy and he will leave it up to you unless he says otherwise. As mentioned it is high fenced so the animals are there or he wouldn't book a hunt to you. That is the most guarantee you will get. You also have a chance of shooting an exotic as a bonus. Two inches insn't much of a trophy to be charging extra for in my opinion. All in all I assume not a bad bet. Probablly not a really wild adventure either. 500 acres is less than a square mile. Hunting a stand may have it's advantage over other hunts based on your phisical condition and stalking skills. Good luck.

 

[richw]

Hey where are them sows with two inch cutters is that a new breed and did you get any of them chopper. And how was the safri show? Did the leak stop or has it even rained up there yet.

Rich

 

[rwlittle]

Thanks for the input, Chopper. Hopefully, JCA will have availability in March. We are having some serious pig hunting withdrawls. We also want to book a hunt with you again for this Fall. We promise we won't bring back "Team Real-Tree".

 

[hatchet]

no doubt you have seen few in your tenure there chop, like i said
my two cents and take it for what you will , i guess the women
hogs ive dropped over the past two decades just tend to be a bit
long in the tooth, ive just never agreed with the 2inch and over
rule on a hog thats on the ground when you walk up to it,
"well son thats a hell of a hog , heck he,s got 2 inch teeth, gonna
have to hit you for some more cash!"i think its chicken #$%^.
then again thats my opinion, i think its up to the guy whos doing the
hunting to really do the research and make sure you know what your in for.
again my

good luck on your decision there rw.

 

[larrysogla]

600 acres is about a square mile and 500 acres is plenty. Wild boars DO NOT become domesticated because they are high fenced on 500 acres(bigger than one square kilometer). They will remain wild and elusive within that large confine and will be skittish and hard to connect. As Chopper has said, it is an adventure in itself trying to connect and trying to spot and close the range in the first place. I have hunted a wild hog(bought from trappers and also free ranging wild hogs coaxed into the enclosed 300 acres by baits placed inside a one way animal gate) and exotic ranch in San Antonio, Texas with a swampy, wooded 300 acre high fence surrounded by 2,500 acres of free range hunting on swampy river bottoms also. It was a 2 and a half day/night hunt(high fenced or free ranging as you choose as you are free to access the vehicle gate to the surrounding 2,500 acres) and after spending the first afternoon and the first night not getting close enough to shoot I finally got lucky on the noon of the 2nd day in the swamps, cutting down two 100 lb'ers(the 2nd one was running full bore) with my semi-auto .338WM. For me it was exciting enough with my semi-auto, I can just imagine how MUCH more exciting and challenging it would be with archery. It would be a blast with archery as those enclosed boars are truly wild. Of course just my 2c. 'Nuff said.

 

[bigtusker]

Hatchet, I am in agreement with the trophy fee for big cutters, thats why I dont charge one. And I have seen a couple sows with some pretty impressive teeth but I've never seen 2 inchers. I suppose they are out there, I've just never seen one.

Rich, SCI was impressive. It took all of 2 days to see everything. The icing on the cake was the fact that I came home with more money than I took!

Ron, team realtree

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Chopper,

Did you just get back from the SCI show here in Reno, NV? If so I wish I would of known.....

 

[bigtusker]

Hoghunter714,
I did. I posted up in the Campfire on the 18th that I was going. I attended the show Fri-Sat. There was a lot to see.

 

[crittergetter]

To clarify:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Probably not a really wild adventure either. 500 acres is less than a square mile.[/b]

I should have used a different term. I didn't mean to refere to the swine. I know nothing abount them there.
What I ment was the conditions. It is not like you are going to be on a large expanse of land where you can really get a wilderness type of experience. And since it is a high fenced area you know they are there unlike an unfenced area that I refere to as "wild" thats all. Still plenty to hunt and I'm sure you won't just be walking up to them. I am familiar with 640 acres since that is one place I hunt on. It is basically one square /mile mountain. It does not take that long to walk the whole fence line. When ever I do I don't feel like I was really in the wild since I couldn't get lost. I feel like I just walked four miles of fence line on a ranch looking for a wild animal. Still a very wild place with very wild animals and a very pleasurable time. Hard to explain. Hope you get it.