Anyone hunt hogs in the monterey area??

[NikolaKangrga]

My GF and I have heard alot of good things regarding hunting public land hogs in monterey. Has anybody hunted them? Any opinions? After Krista killed her last hog, last weekend with archery equipment she is dying to get back in the field. I have always wanted to check out monterey hogs, but know NOTHING about the area.....
Thanks Nick.

 

[hifi55]

Check out FHL! Probably your best bet?

 

[easymoney]

I hunt in monterey county all the time, as it has one of the highest populations of pigs in the state.
Do a little research starting up at the top of the page, where jesse(thanks) has provided much info on species and habitat for hunting on public land. Good stuff...
IMHO, FHL & camp bob are two of the best public areas because they have limited access so the game gets rested, they are huge places and the numbers of pigs are pretty good.
There are always discussions about the public areas near coalinga, parkfield and holister, but the success rates are very low and they get very crowded with hunters and atv users.
Good luck...

 

[bigboarstopper]

Monterey county is definitely a king pin for hog hunting. Probabally the worst as well for public land hunters. Fort hunter ligget works for some folks. I hunted there a little bit when I was a kid. When I got older I started getting into the hound thing and never looked back. No hounds allowed at hunter ligget. If I was you Id look into a guide if you can afford it. Other wise look at stockdale mountain. Id advise you to google it first and think about it before going. Its in the middle of great hog hunting all around that area but it definitely has its drawbacks.

 

[bigboarstopper]

Check out big sandy hunting area.

 

[easymoney]

IMHO, steer clear of Big Sandy as the odds of pigs being there is very rare and usually at night on the way to the river on camp bob. Waste of time, as it is a dry gravel river bed with big cottonwood trees, no food, water or cover, except back on the private ranches.
And be very clear about where you are exactly, if you go to stockdale mt, as it is private all around and well guarded. Do a back search on past posts, as stockdale mt and the rest of the public areas (especially those in monterey and san benito counties)have been discussed extensively.
The suggestion on a guided hunt is the best, if you want a higher success rate or even a sure score. There are lots of good guides in the area and Jesse has a page for that alone, plus there are some sponsers who advertise here.

 

[bigboarstopper]

eazy might be right about big sandy. I havent been there in a long while. The last time It was this time of year and I caught 2 with the dogs. I was a long time ago and to be honest I didnt know dogs werent allowed there. But at that time there was a little water and some good wallows inside the river bed. We struck em both at the same time and was back to the truck before 8:30am. Guessin the guide would be the best route. But Id be dammed to pay that much for a hog hunt.

 

[myfriendis410]

My vote goes to FHL. Especially if you are primarily bow hunting. Too bad you don't have an active duty or retired military hunting friend to take you to VAFB. That's another good venue. We're seeing hogs every night. I shot a 100 pounder Wednesday night and Richracer1 got one about the same last night in the same field. They are definitely moving.

 

[NikolaKangrga]

Iam not looking for a "guided" hunt, only because I have places to hunt hogs around here (Sonoma County), although have heard alot of good things about the monterey area, so would like to one day check it out.

 

[NikolaKangrga]

My vote goes to FHL. Especially if you are primarily bow hunting. Too bad you don't have an active duty or retired military hunting friend to take you to VAFB. That's another good venue. We're seeing hogs every night. I shot a 100 pounder Wednesday night and Richracer1 got one about the same last night in the same field. They are definitely moving.

My Uncle is retired Air Force, and my Father is Retired Marine Corp..... I wonder if that would work? I would love to one day check out VAFB.

 

[Krisdude]

easymoney where is the Holster hunting spots? I live in Carmel Valley and looked around, is that spot up at the San Luis area?

 

[easymoney]

The DFG has a booklet out that has all public access areas open to hunting listed. It lists locations and types of game at each. DFG also has a pig hunting on public land publication with good info.
Or look up at the top of the opening page and there are links pinned there by jesse with load of info and map as well.
The two areas near San Luis, cottonwood and panoche are in there as well.
As bow hunter I think FHL or camp bob are two of the best, but are further south and can close at the whim of base command for training exercises.

 

[QEU]

Unless you know exactly where the boundry line is, save yourself the headache and stay out of Stockdale Mnt. Even if you believe you know where the boundries are, make sure you are in sync with the neighbors. He will cite you and take you to Kings County Court to discuss the boundry line (a lose situation already, even if you prove youself in court). Stockdale Mnt BLM map was a joke the last time I paid for a copy. The border lines are not clearly marked and you will get cited.