boar hunting laguna mtn., ca

[HOGHUNTER714]

Uper,

Let's put it together. I know at least one other JHO'er that would wanna go maybe two. I've never hunted Laguna so I would be going off of maps. I have plenty of gear and backpack as long as it takes. A Fri, Sat, Sun would probably work. I hear the deeper you go the better your chances. Any other takers on this one???? Superduty???

 

[UPER]

HOGHUNTER, I have been up there a few times so I know the terrain pretty well. It looks like you can get back there pretty far and I would like to check it out. PM me when you are thinking of making a go of it, I may have one other guy who has hunted it with me besides HOGFEVER who would be intrested. HOGFEVER you in? time to put those backpacks we aquired last year to work....

The only bad thing is if we knock one down in there we are going to have one hell of a time getting it out even quartered

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

If we knock one down...Slit up between 5 to 6 guys would be easier than slit up between 2...Anyway you look at it it's work and I'm willing to do it....Let me look at the calender tonight and look at some dates. Its gotta be pretty soon, cause the longer we wait the hotter its gonna get. I saw Superduty tonight at the archery shop and told him about it, he's thinkin pretty hard

 

[superduty]

You guys need to give me a date so I can get coverage. Both boys are in ball and the wife works weekends but superduty needs to get out too.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Boy oh Boy...You mean I influenced you yesterday...I'm pretty much Self Sufficient on gear to back pack in there.


Gear Checklist:

Kelty Morain 3700 CI Backpack

Kelty Teton 2 Backpacking Tent (2 Man, 1 Man if my partner snores)

North Face Cats Meow Sleeping Bag 20 Degree

Sleeping Pad

MSR Pocket Rocket/MSR Fuel

Kayatlin Water Purifier

That "Great Tasting Dehydrated Food"

Salomon Low Hiking Boots

Rifle, Ammo, Binocs, Pig Tags......

 

[Speckmisser]

Originally posted by HOGHUNTER714@Mar 29 2005, 05:43 PM
If we knock one down...Slit up between 5 to 6 guys would be easier than slit up between 2...Anyway you look at it it's work and I'm willing to do it....Let me look at the calender tonight and look at some dates. Its gotta be pretty soon, cause the longer we wait the hotter its gonna get. I saw Superduty tonight at the archery shop and told him about it, he's thinkin pretty hard

Yeah, but what if five or six guys knock one down?

I know, slim chance... but what if?

If you go deep, follow the creek on back there. The boy scouts had a marked trail that will take you down into the creek bottom and actually crosses over to the other side of Sweetwater Springs (but I think it crosses some private land on the way). But if you head on back along that creek, you'll get into some danged good looking hog country. I don't have it marked on my GPS anymore, but it's only about five or six miles in from the trailhead.

That's a real nice hunt come summer, by the way...if you can stand the heat. The little bit of water that's left (and not hammered by day hunters) will be back yonder in the out-of-the-way. But you'll be hard-pressed to get pork out of there before it spoils. Skin it, bone it, and get it cool ASAP.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

Phil,

I was curious as to whether or not you were advocating shooting a hog that was being pursued by another man's dogs.

 

[UPER]

HOGHUNTER, I will talk to my partner tonight to see what dates are open for him and get back to you tomorrow. Speck does it open up the farther back you go? Also HOGHUNTER where can I get some of that delicious dehydrated food? to be honest I have not packed into anywhere to hunt but looking at your list I can gather the gear you menioned..

 

[Speckmisser]

Rifleman... I started another thread on this one. Ought to be interesting.

 

[BGH831]

there is another thread somewhere about crossing the lines out there. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE! The land owner down there is a real piece of work so I've heard.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Uper,

Dehydrated food has really improved over the last 10 years. Prior to that it use to taste as good as nawing on a piece of cardboard. Nowdays, you can get anything and I mean "anything" dehydrated. I perfer to pack "real food" but on a trip like this weight will be an issue. So, if weight is an issue I stock up on dehydrated food. I usually buy mine from REI. Sport Chalet also has a good selection of meals. There are a ton of companies out there that make dehydrated food. IMO, stick with "Mountainhouse or Backcounty Pantry". I think there make the best product for the value. I'm sure you can buy them online as well. Go to REI.com and you can get some there. Hope this helps.

Let me know the dates and I will see what I can do.

List so far....
Uper
Hogfever
HogHunter714
Superduty

Am I forgeting anybody?

 

[UPER]

Yea, one of the guys at work with me. Not a member of JHO.... YET!!!! will let you know hopefully this afternoon on the dates he is available.. Ron........

 

[UPER]

HOGHUNTER714, The weekend of the 15th looks good for myself my son and also my hunting partner. If these dates are not possible for you or SUPERDUTY let me know, if not maybe we can nail down some different dates....... Ron

 

[BLASTMASTER]

Good luck, fellas.
I've been there a lot, and NO I have not taken any pigs out of there yet, BUT I have actually seen them, and even had a partner mess up an ambush with a missed shot. I'll tell you what I know, for what that's worth.

I've only seen good sign in the winter.
I've only actually seen them on the Sweetwater side, and mostly at night, or in the rain.

I've camped 5 days there one February, with some guys from work. We could hear them at night, and so that's when we scouted.

Oh yeah, the pigs in Laguna Mt. have rocket engines strapped to their a$$'

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Uper,

Do you mean the 15th of April? If so I was looking at some dates today as well. The 15th & 16th are open for me, but the 17th (sun) I have conduct an audit for work. I have to be in Santa Ana at 3pm. Laguna Mountain is 4 1/2 hours for me so I would have to leave Saturday night. Let me see what I can work out here in the next day or so.

 

[UPER]

Yes I meant the weekend of the 15th of April. Let me know if you can swing it, if not I am sure we can get something together some other time.

 

[UPER]

Thanks for the insight BLASTMASTER. I have hunted there a few times in the winter and you are right on the money about sign at those times. With it getting warmer it maybe a killer hiking thru there. Did you camp close to the river? or did you hike in a few miles?

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

Uper,

Is there water to filter up there? Basically if there is a stream with half way decent water I can filter from that. I hate lugging 3 days worth of water in my pack. It's much easier if you can filter...

 

[BLASTMASTER]

Originally posted by UPER@Apr 3 2005, 04:21 PM
Thanks for the insight BLASTMASTER. I have hunted there a few times in the winter and you are right on the money about sign at those times. With it getting warmer it maybe a killer hiking thru there. Did you camp close to the river? or did you hike in a few miles?

UPER,
We camped high on the Sweetwater side. They would travel from that farmer's land to "all over the place", at night. They didn't seem too worried about our following them at 11PM. I never saw a satisfying amount of sign on the Laguna side, but if you can find something fresh way-back, I suggest you stake it out at night. You may be able to guess where they'll be the next late afternoon, if you can pattern their route.

 

[Speckmisser]

I was out that way not too long ago, Blastmaster. Ended up way the heck back and actually found the "Sweetwater" spring. Had to belly crawl through some wicked stuff to get there, though. Tons of sign, but almost 100% nocturnal. I was in the woods by 0330 and stayed until way past dark, and not so much as a distant squeal. Yet the next morning, there were fresh tracks and rooting right where I'd been hunting.

If you go in off of Laguna and go deep, you'll find "The Spot". When you get there, you will definitely know you're there. Also, it should get better as things dry out. Right now, there's too much food and water everywhere...although they do seem to like the local barley crop.

Sweetwater is relatively small, and it doesn't take much pressure to put the hogs on the night shift. And the place definitely gets lots of pressure. Still, it's the only place that I've actually seen hogs during shooting light. Apparently someone else did too, recently, as I also found a very fresh 7mm mag shell casing and what appeared to be a drag trail. So you can score there. Just takes work, patience, and a ton of luck.

Hoghunter, if you get back there you'll find plenty of water in the creek. It's running high right now, and with this much water it'll continue well into the summer.