Bow hunting pigs in CA

[bjake21]

I have yet to take up bowhunting

, though my buddy and I have been tossing around the idea for a while now. I would like to buwhunt in order to hunt areas like Lake Sonoma which seem to be great hunts limited to bowhunting. However for the price of the equipment to get started I might as well pay for a couple of private land hunts. Besides the occasional special access hunt I think I would stick to rifle hunting since I normally hunt the national forest and military reservations, that is tough enough for now.

What kind of $$ would it take to get equiped with all the neccessary bow hunting equipment and any ideas on where to shop? (online or close to Ventura/Santa Barbara County)

Hearing all the good things about lake sonoma and choppers has really got me fired up to start bow hunting!

Any info/opinions appreciated!

 

[PIGIG]

The best advice i can give you is stay away from online shoping untill you know more about the equipment. you can get into the sport buying used equipment for around 300 bones for a bow then arrows for another 65 bones a release for 60 more bones. so for aroung 500 bones you will have what you need. look for some thing with at leist a 7 1/2 inch brace hight and around 34 inches axle to axle length.

 

[Lurediver]

Bought my bow on Ebay, there's no since in buying a brand new bow when you're only going to tear it up hunting! Saved a bunch also!!!

 

[Franklin3]

I bought my last four bows online. 3 on ebay and 1 on archery talk. I saved so much money it's ridiculous.
On average you can find an excellant setup complete ready to hunt package for under 500.00
but I been screwing atound slingin arrows off and on for about 35 years so I know what I want most of the time.

Get with someone to help you figure out all the particulars that will be unique to you as a shooter.
draw length, type of bow ( compound, conventional....) then try some out at the shops or from freinds to see what feels good in your hands. Then do your homework as far as prices and options and tackle are concerned and start looking. I'm telling you if you walk into a pro shop your going to drop a grand on a descent setup. You'll get the same thing on ebay or archery talk for half price.
Most of all have fun with it.
good luck.

 

[YoungBlood]

Jason and AS got me into bowhunting. This will be my first weekend after big game w/ stick and string. AS set me up w/ a sweet deal w/ a tried and true killing machine. Now it's up to me to see if I can carry on the tradition. Buying a set-up from someone that's used it successfully numberous times is a big benefit. I hope I can live up to the traditon this bow is used to dealing with.....Wish me luck.....

 

[Orso]

Oh how we all assume its gotta be a compound....

Go traditional!!

Brand new Samick recurve (50lb) about $300
Arras - about $65
Broadheads - 6 for <$20
Finger tab $6
Armguard $12

 

[Franklin3]

I'm gonna get me another one of them recurve thingees one of these days.

 

[bighorn67]

If you go the compound route you need to know what your draw length is. Go you your nearest archery shop and get that measured. You don't want a bow set up for the wrong draw length. It will really screw you up. You can also try out different bows at the archery shop and see what you like best. They should have a few used ones to try out.

Dave

 

[Arrowslinger]

All bows shoot a bit different, go to a PRO shop and have them measure your draw length. Once you have this, you can shoot different model bows and get a feel for what you like and don't like. Start with a draw weight around 60 lbs or so, you can always go heavier once you muscles get accustomed it.
Other than that, it's really going to help if you have someone local, a friend preferably that can help guide you and offer his personal suggestions on what to get and where to go...if not, we will

My current bow was purchases used from Orso and LD got a smokin deal on his from e-bay, there's deals to be had...best of luck with whatever you choose. Bowhuntin' ain't easy, but it's awfully damn fun.

 

[BirdDawg]

well I'm about $1800.00 in the hole..........but well worth it.........my buddies been trying to get me to bow hunt for years..........figure if I can't get them by throwing lead I sure couldn't get anything shootin sticks............LOL..........anyways haven't shot anything yet but just shooting the bow is a blast...........wish I would've done this years ago...........listen to these guys.......go to a pro shop and try out different bows...........

 

[bjake21]

Looks like I turned some heads of you bow hunters - thanks for the responses. Nobody seems to want me to save my $$

- I thought I was in the clear! After getting into hunting in January, I finally felt like I had enough toys to keep me busy for a while.

I am going to have to get into bow hunting eventually it just looks like a lot of fun. But between the bills and student loans, it might have to wait until I can scrap up some bones

....Anybody in the SB area willing to school a new bow hunter? I think I am going to have some time this weekend and we are going to be in Reseda, there is a Turners there - do they carry archery equipment?

Thanks for the responses, looking forward to getting in on some of these JHO bow hunts!

 

[Family Tradition]

Originally posted by Orso@Oct 13 2005, 09:06 PM
Oh how we all assume its gotta be a compound....

Go traditional!!

Brand new Samick recurve (50lb) about $300
Arras - about $65
Broadheads - 6 for <$20
Finger tab $6
Armguard $12

Orso

Thats what I'm talkin about..........Sticks are the ultimate killing machine

Except lose the tab and get a glove......and make your own armguard

On a side note: this got me pumped up!!!! I am going up to call bears this eventing and I think I'm gonna bring the Curve with me instead of the .06

 

[Orso]

FT - Loose some arras tonight. I'd love to see ya witha big ol bruin.

I'm making my own bows and arras but havent got into the leather work too much yet. I did make a plains indian style quiver earlier in the year, but I just cant seem to put down the hip quiver to use the one I made.

Good luck tonight.

 

[Gyopo]

If you go the compund route, make sure you check the draw length of the bow maker you intend to buy before ordering.
Just b/c you draw 29" on bow H, it doesn't mean that brand M's 29" will fit you.
Some manufacturers can be a little long or short.

 

[Family Tradition]

Originally posted by Orso@Oct 14 2005, 12:53 PM
FT - Loose some arras tonight.  I'd love to see ya witha big ol bruin. 

I'm making my own bows and arras but havent got into the leather work too much yet.  I did make a plains indian style quiver earlier in the year, but I just cant seem to put down the hip quiver to use the one I made.

Good luck tonight.

Orso, well my hunt was a BUST!!!!!!!!

I got to my calling spot without problems and set up, waited 5 mins and hit the call hard.

As soon as I get the call going a doe runs from about 100 yards away up to about 10 feet to check me out!

She must have had a fawn and figured it was in trouble.

After she realized I was up to no good she skedaddled.

After another 5 mins of being quiet I hit it again and after about 25-30 mins a nice big SOW slinks in but I passed since she was being Sooooo carefull I figured she must has had her cubs stashed just out of sight.

So its back to being quiet when I hear a HEEELLLLLLOOOOOOO

I glass up the hill two see to guys walking around my truck.

So I slip up on them and ask whats up.

Seems they had been hiking and the FS locked a gate they were parked behind and they had to hike out.

From where they found me they had at least 20 miles to the nearest phone.

So being the nice guy I am

I took them back to their truck to get the gear the left and then drove them out to be picked up by family.

Its nice to know the Forest Service locked that gate without checking to see if anyone was behind it. Especialy as we have a high mountain storm comming in.

Those guys could have died up there if I had not chose to hunt the area I did.

All said I feel blessed to be able to help those guys out, I'm sure they like hunters a lil more tonite.

 

[Orso]

FT - I am sure they very happy you helped them. Just too bad it had to come at the cost of a hunt. Keep us posted on the next hunt.

 

[Lurediver]

FT, calling bears? How do you call bears? Im interested, been hunting for a giant one for awhile and someone popped him 2 weeks ago(440 lbs.)!

 

[Family Tradition]

I was happy to help those guys out. Bear season is just getting going and I honestly think those guys were in a heap of trouble.

LD I use a small predator call and call just like I would for coyotes.

Once you get some ravens or hawks checking you out you know your doing it correct.

Also works great for does as I said. Anyone with a either sex tag should try it.

The big trick is to keep calling, if you stop calling they stop comming in.

I still want to try it to stop a big buck for a shot but have not had the chance.

Now back to the bowhunting for hogs channel.

I'm going up to my bro's with the curve tonite lookin to put some pork on a skewer.

As Orso put it, I'm gonna loose some arras

 

[brknarrow]

go to a couple of pro shops try there bows shoot and fall in love in love with one pay the extra $$ wel worth your first bow . my first love hoyt after several e-bay mishaps???

 

[Family Tradition]

The local PRO shop here gives a month of lane time to you when you purchase a bow and have it set up there.

Not sure Ebay will extend that to you

Just go in and ask lots of questions.

Then once you have shot bows long enough not to need the training wheels anymore you can order up a nice custom Recurve and start bowhunting