Bound for Vandenberg on Monday

[New Pig Hunter]

The calendar cleared and I'll be at VAFB Monday morning and plan to wander around through Thursday night. I'll be driving around in a dark blue '74 BMW 2002 and the welcome sign is always out.

Cheers,

Carl

 

[sportyg]

Carl, has been keeping me posted on his Vandenberg hunt. He has only seen one pig at this time. He didn't have a shot at it. But he is having a great time !!

 

[SDHNTR]

Hog huntin in a Beemer? Gotta love it.

 

[Bill in SD]

I used to hunt out of my BMW. Well not hunt out of, but go back and forth to my hunting area in it.

I remember when I got my first deer in the Laguna Mountains. I had quartered it and put the sections in a cooler in my truck. I had changed my clothes and I was driving down the dirt road and was waving my hand telling the other bowhunters that were returning to their cars, I had killed a deer with my bow.

The one guy I talked to probably did not figure I had been out hunting.

I still remember sitting at the Sherriffs office waiting to get my tag signed and the deputy looking in my backseat at my bow and remarking "you shot that deer with that bow?"

Fun stuff, besides a 2002 is more of a rally type of BMW anyway, right?

Cheers
Bill

 

[New Pig Hunter]

Back from the VAFB Hunt !!

The Good News is I actually saw a pig in Area 4 !! I use the moniker "New Pig Hunter" for good reason.... this is only the second time I've seen a live pig in the wild !! This particular pig was a black sow, about a 90-lb, with little piggie in tow.

The Bad News is I didn't take a shot, as it was behind some very thick bushes with thick branches and never really provided an ethical target. I was probably wrong about making that call, but that's what my brain was telling me in the 15 seconds I had to do something. But I gained some valuable experience in actually being around a living and moving target (as opposed to a target target).

The other Bad News is that I didn't hear nor see any other pigs from Monday through Thursday morning. I wandered a lot of real estate and got a lot of much-needed exercise and saw some sign, but I'm kinda discouraged simply because I'm too New at this to know if I'm doing the right things.

But for a hunting experience, I'm 100% jazzed !! I saw and sneaked-up upon 4 deer, hiked some gorgeous countryside, enjoyed the peace and quiet of the great outdoors, took a couple of much-needed showers in the locker room of the base gym, the Burger King and Shoppette were available to take care of any munchies, and the weather was simply glorious !!

"BILL IN SD".... don't know if you are the same fellow, but there is a hunter from San Diego who goes by the name of Bill, a retired Navy Chief, I chatted with him briefly last year. He spends a few days in SD then heads back to VAFB for more hunting. He has a boar's head painted on his door. Twice I saw him driving around in Area 4 so that means that pigs were to be found there, he is very well known on-base for his hunting skills and knowing where the pigs are. I wasn't able to meet up with him this time, but he is a wealth of local knowledge.

Last weekend two pigs were taken way way up north on VAFB. Except for one short excursion up to Shumate Wash area (ticks galore), I stayed in Area 4 (no ticks !!).

And this isn't the first time I've gone 4-wheeling in my BMW, and I have a big dent in the gas tank to prove it. No problems at all and I'm grateful the roads were dry and sun-baked. I had no concerns whatsoever. Plenty of room for all my junk and it makes for great sleeping accommodations..... the 2002 is the best !!

Cheers,

Carl

 

[Mnfshrman]

Carl, I know how you are feeling about being the new guy when it comes to these hogs. I'm still a newbie myself, but you will get your pig sooner or later. I got my first one up there in Vandenburg about 2 months ago and it took me a few trips up there to get it.

I think the guy your talking about is better known as PIG BILL. He pretty much lives up there in an old RV. He has killed alot of pigs up there, but he has been hunting it for years and years. Everyday when he is there he is driving for hours. One day we will have to hook up and get up there for a weekend.

I'm heading up to a ranch next week for a archery only hunt and than continue on to camp roberts for the weekend. I sure hope I come home with at least one pig, but you never know. Its nice to hear you had a good time up there and I'm sure your looking forward to the next trip. Until then, keep on dreaming of whats to come.

David

 

[sportyg]

Carl,

You did the right not taking the shot.. Even if you had one it would have been best to pass it up as that sow had babies, tagging along. Glad you had a good time. There is a pig at vandenberg with your name on it. When you score you'll score big. Keep a huntin dude..

 

[New Pig Hunter]

David,

Yep, that's him, Pig Bill. Last year I had a chance to chat with him and get acquainted.
Thursday morning he had just checked out of the fam camp when I rolled in there about 9am or so hoping to find him.... I cruised over to the vehicle storage yard but didn't see him. Oh well.

I reckon that getting one of these pigs is just like a lottery: ya stay serious and stay in the field and pretty soon one will cross your path.... heck, real early Monday morning right after I checked in at DFG I saw 4 deer standing on the side of 13th St not far from the gym.

Good luck on your archery hunt... I've read the postings about that !! Great fun !! I'm also a bow and arrow shooter and after seeing that pig and sneaking up on that deer I began to get a faint glimmer of just how difficult archery hunting can be.

I sure don't plan to give up, I'm having a great time !!

Cheers,

Carl

 

[Levergun]

Go get 'um Carl!!

 

[spectr17]

We met Pig Bill at FHL last year. He was with a buddy who was also quite a character.

He puts pig decals on his door for every hog he takes.

 

[New Pig Hunter]

Jesse,

yessir, that would be Pig Bill and the door of his rolling hunting machine !!

Cheers,

Carl

 

[rookiehunt21]

i have hunted with pig bill. i kow of there spot they hunt in area4 . they walk in about a mile or so and just sit there every evening. they usually drive around in the mornings. he let me barrow his sled one time when i shot a 323lb boar on the beach eating crabs.

 

[New Pig Hunter]

rookiehunt21,

Wow, hunting with Pig Bill.... what a great opportunity to learn a lot and learn about hunting VAFB.

Good to "hear" from you again.

Cheers,

Carl