Camp Roberts-Memorial Hunt Recap

[BuckFinder]

Unfortunately for those of us that were there it was poor at best. Hunter success was 1% on Saturday. Sunday, twenty speeding hunters were sited for moving violations by 9:00 AM! Note, each violation cost $150. Three other hunters forgot to check out and were being actively "searched for"-again $150 violation and other more severe consequences. Personally the only thing I regret about this weekends hunt is that the new hunter that I took with me was also snubbed by fellow hunters. We positioned ourselves ahead of everyone else in hopes of pigs fleeing our exit route. With his obvious hunter orange vest and hat, two hunters got out of there vehicle, glassed him, then walked a quarter mile to his exact location-then sat down! Honestly I have never witnessed such an event but my fellow partner has now has a sour taste about camp roberts and other hunters.. I'm happy that they are cracking down on the base but feel that they could really use someone out in the field to curb the many violations that are occurring...Hope everyone else had a better hunting experience...

 

[Shot]

I had the same exact thing happen to me, the guy sat 20ft in front of me, even though I told him to move. I felt like every dumb hunter on earth was at Camp Roberts this weekend, I met some nice people but those idiots caused me to leave early. I didn't want to risk my life or my fathers life with those kind of people around. Just imagine a pig ran between you and another hunter, thats a scary thought.

 

[sportyg]

Guys sounds like CR has turned into a bummer place to hunt .. Good thing nothing ran between you all.. They seem like the kind of people who would have taken a shot anyway..

 

[Boar Tracks CA]

I am verry sorry that it turned in to a ZOO. I have no say on anything at CR , but I would tell the Base CO (address can be found at CR web site) whats going on. I have tried to get a limit on hunters when I was there, but all they see is $$$$$$$ at the end. It going to be sad if someone gets hurt out there.
Its not worth getting hurt for some pigs.
LK

 

[dreaminhogs]

Sorry to hear about the bad experience. Sounds like a scene from the movie JAWS when all the locals come out to go fishing with guns,spears, and harpoons. Well I hope it gets a little more organized as it is a nice piece of land even if you are unlucky bagging a pig.

 

[Shot]

Boar Tracks, your are right when you say they want money. Before I left, I starting talking to one of the DFG officers and was telling him what happened, and that they needed to put a limit on hunters. Well, before that I got in a semi-heated conversation about the raise of pig tag prices, he was telling me that the increase was needed to keep programs like this running (thats ok by me), but then he said that that state has a big budget cut and they need the money, I thought pig tag money only goes toward pigs (management, etc.). Then I replied with "what was the $55 annual pass going towards," he had nothing to say. There were about 150 hunters there that weekend, if all bought day passes for one day only (at $15 dollars each) that would be $2250, now thats the bare minimum, most people either bought the annual pass for stayed they whole weekend. Why do they need all that money for?, I have seen no efforts to make hunting more injoyable for the hunters. Maybe they can built a decent camp ground for half that price? I don't know, but one thing I know is I am done with CR, until they act upon some of these problems.

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Shot,

You've got some valid concerns. Definitely do as BoarTracks suggested and get those complaints and recommendations to the Base CO. Change CAN happen. But it won't happen if we just gripe amongst one another... we need to take it where it can make a difference.

We lost our prime proponent at Camp Roberts when they put the screws to Lowell, so it's up to US to do anything now.

 

[Shot]

Speck, I am almost done with my letter, it will be sent out tomorrow. I can't wait to see what they reply with, that is if they do.

 

[Live2hunt]

Now I see why the DFG guy who checked me in on Saturday morning wanted to see my money before preparing my paperwork. I and my dad was up on the same window and I was to paid for both of us. We both slide our applications and forms in the window at the same time and I told the guy I'll pay for both of us at the same time. The guy turn around and said, "Can I see your money or check before I start the paperwork?" Sounds to me like he's thinking, "I don't think you can afford $30."



L2H

 

[Cda55]

My letter just went out.

 

[One Track]

I've never hunted at CR. It must be an awesome piece of property. Because I have hardly heard anything Positive about anyones experience there, other than enjoying the land, and seeing game. I swear, it seems like every CR thread has a bunch of negative comments. So many nightmares. There has to be something very positive about the place to draw people so oftern. What is it about CR that keeps you guys interested. Just curious.

 

[Mel Carter]

I've always wanted to hunt CR, but haven't due to all the bad experiances people have been having. The only reason I would think people keep going back, is probably due to the fact that it's your best chance of success on public land. From what I gather, there are a lot of hogs there, if you know where to look. I'm very picky on who I hunt with, especially when it's with a firearm. There's just too many issues going on at CR regarding safety and hunting ethics for me to go there for a hog hunt. Unless somethings change, I won't be making a trip to CR anytime soon.

I will probably try an archery deer hunt there though!

 

[easymoney]

Ah, the cycle comes full circle...
This problem is not unique to Camp Bob. It is the same circus at any wildlife hunting area. The bad behavior of a minority of people is going to forshadow the entire hunting group and probably set the tone for future hunts(or lack of them). These hunts have become TOO popular and attract TOO many ignorant and untrained novices. I'm not saying anyone in particular, but the vast increase in bodies alone, tends to bring the rude and sometimes dangerous individuals as well as the considerate and well trained. Someone will get hurt eventually.
This is one of the reasons why "this local" does NOT hunt Camp Bob or FHL any more. I can't see risking my life, bowhunting pigs among gun hunters sighting through their scopes instead of using binocs. Having someone sneak up on you, as if you are the quarry is definitely an eye opener and not worth taking the risk, in this hunters point of view.
We (ALL HUNTERS) need to better police ourselves or the powers that control these events will put a stop to them.
Just my 2cents...

 

[Speckmisser]

Brent,

CR IS a great piece of property, and if you learn the land I think it can be a very productive hunt... at least as far as public land goes.

I've only hunted the place twice, and the first hunt was the archery deer season, so no one but bowhunters were on the place. However, even then, I met guys who'd never even shot a bow, but opined, "if I can shoot a rifle, I ought to be able to kill one with a bow."

Seriously, that's almost a direct quote from one of the guys I talked to in line.

I don't mean that as a personal slam on anyone, but it is indicative of one of the "problems" at CR. Take that level of competence and then put a gun in its hands.... get my drift? But that's a risk you take an any public land hunt.

Despite my misgivings, I have to say I didn't really run across much of the ugly stuff on either hunt. I'll admit that Lowell helped steer me on both trips, so that was certainly to my advantage. But we didn't go anywhere that anyone else couldn't have gone... in fact, I know that, had I been on my own, I would have gone to a couple of those spots without guidance.

A majority of hunters seem to congregate around the river in the archery/shotgun area, and I do believe that's an accident waiting to happen there. Especially with modern shotgun ammo, it's almost like hunting with rifles down there... and it's just a matter of time before an ill-aimed slug catches someone unaware.

Advice then, is get away from that area. There are too many other good spots if you'll just go look for them.

CR needs to implement crowd control, and limit the number of hunters in an area. I also wouldn't be averse to seeing the archery/shotugn/ML areas be restricted SOLELY to archery/crossbows. I just think the area is too small for guns. This gets especially serious when the bird hunters are in there, as I heard several reports about folks getting peppered. Bird shot is fairly harmless, but what about a hollow-point slug? (I sent them a letter to this effect last year.... no reply.)

I will probably go back. But I won't likely hunt that river edge again. At least not as long as there are firearms and unlimited hunters in there.

 

[Cda55]

I sent out an email to the email addy on the CR web site. It's a lady named Lisa. She sent it to this guy. Staff Sgt. Tom Murotake. He seemed like he wanted to hear concerns and wanted to help. If you want to speak to him send an email to the address below. If anyone got the seat belt cops name he would like to get it too. I told him where he was but I didn't get his name. After about 2 minutes of his rambling I walked off from him.

Thomas.Murotake@ca.ngb.army.mil

 

[bighorn67]

One Track,

The reason Camp Roberts is so popular is that the amount of game there is incredible and the price to hunt is cheap. If a hunter knows where to look, the odds of bagging something are much better than public land and not much less than private land. I have seen pigs on every trip I've taken up there and shot one. They also have an awewsome blacktail herd as well as a ton of quail, rabbits and dove. There are some places a hunter can get out to and get away from everyone else. They are just harder to find.

Dave

 

[Shot]

Originally posted by bighorn67@Jun 4 2004, 05:17 AM
One Track,

The reason Camp Roberts is so popular is that the amount of game there is incredible and the price to hunt is cheap. If a hunter knows where to look, the odds of bagging something are much better than public land and not much less than private land. I have seen pigs on every trip I've taken up there and shot one. They also have an awewsome blacktail herd as well as a ton of quail, rabbits and dove. There are some places a hunter can get out to and get away from everyone else. They are just harder to find.

Dave

From my last trip I find that very difficult to believe. There was a hunter under every tree (it did seem like it). There are other public lands that are as good as CR, and it will stay that way until it gets exposed and all goes down the toilet.

 

[One Track]

Good answers. I guess if I lived within an hour or two, I would be all over CR. Sounds like the more time you spend there, the more you can learn to avoid the kooks. A year or two ago, I was ready to make the drive and hunt CR. Now, it's definitely not a priority. Sounds like they need to work on PR at CR.

 

[Shot]

Oh and one more thing, the last hunt only 2 pigs were taken, both by the same guy. From talking to the DFG lady there were around 200 hunters. That is a 1% success rate. And last Thanksgiving that I was there 9 pigs were taken, by 5 different hunters, and close to the same amount of hunters, that puts the success rate at 2.5%. So I wouldn't say the success rate is that much better than a good public land hunt.

CR has a lot of game, but you can't hunt them. The ground squirels are all over the place, lots of yotes, and bobcats.

FHL does a better job at managing the hunters per hunting area, why can't CR. Don't they talk with each other? Maybe its for money, like Boar Tracks said.

 

[bighorn67]

Shot,

You will have to go more than once to get a feel for the place. I've been four times now and have found that the majority of the crowd is around the river, especially during quail and dove season. There are areas away from the river that are not as crowded. I have hunted spots with lots of sign and no other hunters.

Dave