I figured out what BLM stands for, Bad, Lousy, and Miserable. I took a ride to Paskenta and Red Bluff. We went into the Mendesino National Forest. We saw deer, turkey, and Pigs. Yes Pigs! All on private land. As soon as we reached the public land the hills were steep and the brush thick. Not good pig country. 300 miles and $100 in gas and no god pig country. We did find a great little resterant and spent the night where we could see the Trinity Alps, Mt. Shasta, Mt Lassen, the Sierra Navadas. All and all not a bad trip just never got to load my rifle.
HOGHUNTER714
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Them pigs stay on that private property for a reason. Goodluck to you if you try to catch em on public land again...
bux-n-dux
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I have had good times on BLM land. I vastly prefer it over National Forest land, although I spend a good deal of time and boot leather there too. You've already tackled the toughest part about hunting on public land of any kind.......getting out there and being on it.
I put in 6 years of hunting, scouting and walking on public land before dropping my first buck. Keep at it and you'll connect sooner or later.
I hoped you marked the areas where you saw game. Many hunters I know who have been successful on public land were successful because they saw game on private land that bordered the BLM or forest land. Sometimes that game crosses the boundaries in their daily or weekly comings and goings. Figure out if they do so and if so when and where, and then be there when they do. I wish I had taken a similar journey as you recently.
bux-n-dux
I put in 6 years of hunting, scouting and walking on public land before dropping my first buck. Keep at it and you'll connect sooner or later.
I hoped you marked the areas where you saw game. Many hunters I know who have been successful on public land were successful because they saw game on private land that bordered the BLM or forest land. Sometimes that game crosses the boundaries in their daily or weekly comings and goings. Figure out if they do so and if so when and where, and then be there when they do. I wish I had taken a similar journey as you recently.
bux-n-dux
GVOllie
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Why would you think that? I am by no means the great white hunter, but everything I have read (we are supposed to study our quarry, right?) suggests that hilly,brushy country is excellent for pigs.
If I'm wrong, I'd rather be educated sooner than later.
weekender21
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There is a reason over 95% of CA hogs are killed on private land! Most of the public land in CA is dry and thick compared to the rolling hills covered in live oaks on the private land.
Yes, hogs do prefer thick brush to bed in but it's hard to see them in that stuff, even if they are there. Property that offers thick bedding cover, water, and open pasture country is ideal for hunting pigs. Once they make it back to the thick chamise they bed in, it's almost impossible to find them.
Yes, hogs do prefer thick brush to bed in but it's hard to see them in that stuff, even if they are there. Property that offers thick bedding cover, water, and open pasture country is ideal for hunting pigs. Once they make it back to the thick chamise they bed in, it's almost impossible to find them.
Where the BLM land begins is at least a mile into the thick brush. When I say steep I mean reach out and touch the hill in front of you steep. Though I could get down getting out would be a bummer. You would also need a map or GPS to find your way out because the brush is ocer six feet tall. Add limited shooting lanes and a bad drag if you did shoot something makes this area not worth entering. If I were going to hunt this area it would be from the top of the valley with a 7 mag or 300 Winnie. I'd use a spoter and shooter so we could guide the tracker into position. Not worth it! I'll keep scouting There's got to be some huntable land out there some where.
Will pigs live above 2000 feet in the pine forest of Mendasino Forest?
As for deer, I've been hunting them 17 years and usually get at least one. Steep oak covered hills of Lake Shasta. They're up there but you sure have to work to find them.
DFG_Bear
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Yes.
BigDog
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Ever done any research to find out why BLM holds what they hold. Most of it (not all) is land that nobody else wanted. If you look at properties that were homesteaded, you will find that most of them contain landlocked pieces of land that now belong to BLM. The settlers did not want to spend the time and effort on land that was not going to be productive.
DirtAddict
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Yes, anyone who regularly hunts private land holdings should consider themselves very lucky. I'm a public land hunter myself and dream of hunting private land anytime I want, but not having to shell out several hundred dollars every excursion. I'm not knocking guided hunts or saying they aren't worth it, I just like to go more than my wallet can handle. :smile-yellow:
That said, now imagine you get that public land pig...what a reward! You are one of the few and the proud.
That said, now imagine you get that public land pig...what a reward! You are one of the few and the proud.
Fugaloo
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I have seen pigs in pretty steep terrain. Lake Sonoma has it's share of wicked climbs and still holds tons of swine. They will thrive in dense brush too. What you want to look for are trails that run straight up. Deer will usually zig zag up a steep climb, but the pig trails go straight up. Of course they don't do any mountain climbing so to speak, but if you could make it up then I bet they can too. Still beats not hunting though.
I've hunted Lake Sonoma, though the terrain is steep and holds a lot of brush there's still a lot of open areas, grass and oak. What I saw was all brush. The only open areas were dirt and there were only a couple scragly evergreens every couple hundred yards. I didn't see much brush oak and the majority of the brush was thorny. Further up the road there is pine forest and the bursh subsides but we didn't go the far up. We stopped at 1800 feet.
bux-n-dux
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I have personally seen MAJOR pig sign in the MNF above 2000 feet. While I never saw the pigs (due to thick brush and steep vegetation) I heard them and know they were there. Say, I should go back to that place..........
bux-n-dux
bux-n-dux
mike_cook82
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just some advice
im am by no means the great white hunter either, but i have harvested quite a few piggies in my short time. and what i always considered non-suitable pig country has turned out to be anything but that. in my personal experience, getting into that tight brush and making a little noise has flushed them out. using a handgun or shotgun would be great. ive missed my share but ive harvested quite a few as well. keep trying and putting in the legwork will put the bacon and sausage in the freezer in no time.
im am by no means the great white hunter either, but i have harvested quite a few piggies in my short time. and what i always considered non-suitable pig country has turned out to be anything but that. in my personal experience, getting into that tight brush and making a little noise has flushed them out. using a handgun or shotgun would be great. ive missed my share but ive harvested quite a few as well. keep trying and putting in the legwork will put the bacon and sausage in the freezer in no time.
I say yes and I call shotgun:hog chewing: :archer green:
sneeke
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public land pigs
the best blm land holding pigs is the stockdale mountain area in monterey county. pigs are actually in the parking area at night.but beware of the ajacent land owner bill kesterson he will stop at nothing to accuse you of tresspassing and call fish and game.there is only one trail to acess the blm land and you better have maps.if anyone is interested i will sell a custom topo of the blm land for 15.00 good luck!
the best blm land holding pigs is the stockdale mountain area in monterey county. pigs are actually in the parking area at night.but beware of the ajacent land owner bill kesterson he will stop at nothing to accuse you of tresspassing and call fish and game.there is only one trail to acess the blm land and you better have maps.if anyone is interested i will sell a custom topo of the blm land for 15.00 good luck!
