At The Lake Right Now Pre-Scouting For Wild Pigs, Beats Work!...Photos.....TRA

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Got here at the lake 5:30 am was on the trails by sunrise. After a couple hrs just a lot of old sign so far. Getting ready to hit another spot. It's warm windy and cool but very sunny very nice. I was taking a photo of this doe and all of a sudden three other deer blew out from this big bush, it was a monster Blacktail for sure with very tall tines and mass. He had three does with him, they blew and stomped out hard. I don't know if I can get photos uploaded where I am at but let me try. Stay tuned!.....tra

Well having a hard time downloading photos, might come out goofy..

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[voidecho]

I'm sure if you see something you'll post the GPS coordinates here, right?

 

[Wild1]

Looks like a great day to be out in it!! Wish I was there - enjoy! Looking forward to seeing a "pig down" picture.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Well I covered a couple more big areas and so far nothing real fresh to work with, everything is very dry acorns are everywhere. Haven't seen any pigs yet. Lot dry turkey scat in all areas but haven't seen one yet. Got one more area t OK hit and then register and then see my baby
Grandson in Santa Rosa and then head home for a long drive.
If i can't download photos now i will later for sure.........tra


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[eoats]

Great views!

 

[thewolfman]

Beautiful.... sight seeing as well as hunting...great combo...thanks for sharing

 

[TraditionalGuy]

I have a pretty good idea of where you are in those second set of pics, TRA. I'm a bit disappointed that all the sign is so old. That's pretty much right where I was planning on hitting next weekend. Hopefully things will change a bit by then

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Wow I just woke up and feel like I did a marathon 24 hrs ago.
Well I finished up my scouting trip early yesterday afternoon and headed back to Santa Rosa to see my grandson.
I had a great day scouting the lake wish I could of stayed till sunset and hit a couple more areas. The liberty Glen camp site was still closed.
The main trails had heavy foot traffic prints everywhere for sure.
With all the fall foliage and colors turkeys are really going to blend in with the landscape so u really have to look hard.
Met some nice hikers later in the day. Please for all of u hunting the lake be very kind and polite with the locals who use the park and trails people are very nice and could be helpful with info where pig's might be. Yesterday I met a regular hardcore local l.s. hiker that hits those hills and trails all day long and he stopped and asked me if I had seen any pigs and then he gave me the 411 on alot if areas that he saw fresh sign. It saves u a lot of leg work with good info like that.
Remember these are the same people who are part of friends for lake Sonoma and have a big say with the hunting program at the park so we must always represent us bow hunters in a positive way and not a negative like the gunners did to loose their privilege. We are so lucky as bowhunter s to have this awesome public land park like L.S. to hunt so please don't blow it for us.
We'll it's going to be an interesting season at the park for sure and I wish good luck to all bowhunter s at the lake this season.
Here's some more photos from my trip yesterday, thanks for reading and have a great day!.....tra



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[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Here's my 9 mo. Old grandson and me together after my scouting trip. Shoot my grandson only lives like 25 minute s from lake Sonoma, how lucky , hopefully I am still around and still in great shape 13 years from now to hunt with my grandson at the lake that would be awesome, it's on my bucket list......tra


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[dchunter]

All great pics, especially with your grandson. Good luck with the hunting and your grandson. I think you'll make at least 13 more yrs. RA!!

 

[dthome]

You're an inspiration, TRA!

 

[Sniper1]

Great pics, thanks for sharing. Lake Sonoma in a Army Corps of Engineers Project, so no center fire rifles allowed, only shotgun and bow. I know people do things they should not do, however; people are watching and they will get caught, it's just a matter of time. It drives me crazy that ethical hunters are denied access and excluded from areas just because of these idiots, however; I've always been told, pay now or pay later. DO THE RIGHT THING PEOPLE!

 

[Grasslandhntr]

Sniper1 your are incorrect it's archery only at lake Sonoma!

 

[Sniper1]

Unless they have some sort of exemption, they are shotgun and bow. Corps nationwide is bow and shotgun only.

 

[Grasslandhntr]

Feel free to look up the regs to hunting lake Sonoma shotgun has been banned for a few yrs now at lake Sonoma

 

[Sniper1]

2013-14 shotgun not allowed. I just read that, so u would be correct. Not the norm for Corps lakes though.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Thanks everyone! If u are wondering why the photos look so awesome I took them with my 4 th. and newest smartphone that just came out a month ago the Samsung Note 3 with almost a 6 in. Screen 1080ip hd resolution is one of the best cameras out there out of all the smartphone s. And the zoom is a awesome.

Sniper1 if u read my post closely sir i mentioned they lost their privilege., there use to be shot gun hunting at the lake too but about 3 years ago they lost their PRIVILEGE 's due to trespassing, trash, defecation, shooting stuff that they should not be shooting.
So from all the compliant s from the landowners that boarder the lake which make up the group ( Friends of Lake Sonoma ) who have a big say with the pig depredation program and are highly involved with the program at the lake which led to the banning of gun hurting for now, will it come back I don't know maybe Ranger Joel might have some aspect on the future of gun hunting for pigs again.
Me personally i am happy it's archery only and that's why I also mentioned that us bowhunter s hunting the lake have to be highly respectful and curtious to the locals on the trails if they get rubbed the wrong way we can loose our privilege like the gunners did.

Here's a photo I took of the doe, while I was taking her photo in the big clump of Bushs next to her was a huge tall tine blacktail buck and and 2 other does that popped out and ran off.......tra


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[Sea 2'er]

We were in the rockpile area, below Liberty Glen for turkey this weekend. Got pushed out around 2:00 due to all the hiker and horse rider traffic.

No turkey, few signs either.

Seen alot of old pig sign, but nothing fresh. Wish i had better news for those heading up next week. Seen some awesome 4 and 5 pt bucks, will post pix later.

Big thanks to the corps and DFW for putting this on.

Good luck next weekend!

 

[Sniper1]

Thanks Tra for the pics and info, Ranger Joel is a friend and I do know him as I too am a Ranger. I was not aware of the shotgun issue at Sonoma, i know the regulations at Corps Lakes, just wasn't aware of this perticular situation.

Happy Hunting ......

 

[Davis6]

Great Pics and Info. I second you on the showing courtesy to ALL of those we come in contact with. You never know who they are or who they are related to. The impression we leave will always be a good one or a not so good one, Lets be smart about the politics of good relationships with our non hunting friends and people we come along.

Life is good