Camp Roberts

[BLASTMASTER]

Well, I wish I could say I got one, but not this time. I heard (when I checked out sunday morning) that there were 5 taken on saturday, including 3 by one lady-hunter! I was told she got them all from one group in east-garison area.
We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. We saw a "pig-freeway" with hours old tracks between the range and the river, but must have missed seeing the pigs. We als saw some tiller-work by deer trail, but there was so much truck traffic that evening, the pigs didn't come back out for us.
It was just me and my 2 kids, but we had the best picnic rest mid-day saturday! We had the view of the river with the easy-up and folding table/chairs. Big lunch, and lots of napping (following my 5 hour drive on 2 hours sleep). What a beatiful place! Even the kids, who are usually bored after 20 minutes, insisted we stay and hunt some more sunday.

 

[Bill in SD]

Sounds like you had a good time!!!! And the woman hunter must have had a field day!!!

Cheers
Bill

 

[Cda55]

I managed to get a turkey out of area #2, but no pigs. I did see two right by the river. One was shot at about 10 times before it went down. The other ran towards the tank range. Maybe next time. I only hunted till about noon Saturday. Had to cut it short. I think I'm going back in May to have another try at it.

 

[Bill in SD]

Hey Cda55 Congratulations on the turkey.

Were there a lot of other hunters out there?

Take care
Bill

 

[Cda55]

In the morning at the gate there was a big line. But, in the field I didn't see too many. We didn't make it over on the 5 and 6 side. Drove through most of the other stuff. It took us a few hours just to check it out and get the map figured out. Next time I'll know a little more about it and hope to get a hog. I'm planning on the May hunt too. Maybe I'll meet up with some of the people on JHP. The turkey was an accident. I took a shotgun but didn't plan to hunt with it till Sunday. It just jumped out in front of me. It was my first so I'll take it any way I can get it.

 

[Boar Tracks CA]

well the first hunt of the season went good i thought, there was 6 hogs taken on sat with one of them 280# dressed. what a hog!! As for the lady who got 3 hogs, she did it with a bow!!!!!!!

And her and her husband are JHP"ers,as was the hunter who shot the 280# hog. so JHP did good. I had to go do wife stuff on sun and did not get a report on sun results. I hope all who came and had a good time, and hope to see you all there for the 3 day hunt in may

 

[GUNNER5569]

HEY CDA55 SEEN THE PIC AT ROBERTS NICE TURKEY 17 LBS ALSO SEEN THE GUY THAT GOT THE 280 LB AND HIS BUDDY GOT A 168 LB HOG BOTH WERE VERY NICE HOGS THERE WAS ANOTHER TURKY TAKEN ON SUNDAY THAT WAS ALSO 17LBS WITH BOW WE SAW 5 PIGS BUT COULDNT GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO TAKE A SHOOT ALSO SEEN A LARGE BADGER IN AREA 1 AND ALOT OF TILLER WORK IN 4 ,3 AND 5 THERE WAS ONE SUNDAY MORNING THAT WAS TAKEN THAT DRESSED OUT AT 75LBS NOT BIG BUT MORE THEN WE GOT OVER ALL IT WAS A BLAST

 

[Mnfshrman]

I'm one of the JHP'ers that was up there in the group. First off I'd just like to say thanks so much to Boar Tracks for the Guide service on Saturday morning. Its too bad we didn't come face to face with a hog, but did get to see some beautiful country up there. As for the pigs I'll just give a small amount of detail seeing the Young ladies hubby may want to tell the whole story.

Anyway about 9:30-10:00 on Saturday morning NOBUCKKEV, His Wife, Renegade, and myself were stopped on the side of the road when another JHP'er (can't recall his screen name) pulled up for a little chit chat. After a few minutes I had walked down the hill along the river when a shot was fired, and then it began. I thought it was WWII going on up at the top of the hill. Come to find out a family of about 8-10 pigs had come running from the hills across the open field heading for the river. The 280 pounder was dropped after several and the rest just kept on going (remember now, I was at the bottom of the hill without my gun). I couldn't believe it, all those shots and only one down pig. The pigs crossed the river and into the thickest stuff I've seen in some time and never came out the back. As the afternoon came we decided to try and do a push of the thick stuff. It was by far the funniest thing I've ever seen. Three of us pushing, one on the other end. The young lady was our stander seeing she had never had a kill since she has started hunting a little under a year ago. We all were useing Shotguns (NOT BOWS). As the three of us went into the thick stuff and got into the middle of it we could hear the pigs but couldn't see them. They would double back on us so nothing would come out the other side. So we put the stander on the other side and pushed back. This went on after several 4-5 times of going back and forth. They finally came out and the young lady shot three of them. They were small ones (around 40 pounders) but after eating some of it tonight I must say it was the best darn PORK I've ever eaten in my life.

Later in the evening the JHP'er that shot the big one earlier in the day stopped by and wanted us to help them push again seeing that there was at least one more pig in there that we knew about. After the push nothing came out but one of his friends found the 130 pound pig from that morning. I can't honestly say who shot that pig with all the bullets flying when they came across the field, but we do know it was one of those pigs. CONGRATS to the guy that found it, Free pig to him. So I guess you can say we were part of 5 of the 6 pigs shot Saturday.

I had a great time and can't wait to meet up with the JHP'ers again sometime in the future. Once again, I can't thank you enough Boar Tracks. It meant more than words can say.

David

 

[Mnfshrman]

OPPPS, I forgot to answer BILLS question about the amount of hunters. I think there was more people fishing than hunting, but I can't give you a count. If any of you decide to go up there, it is a very very nice river full of trout.

David

 

[BLASTMASTER]

A BOW?!!!
HOLY (R@%

 

[One Track]

Right on!

 

[Bill in SD]

That's really excellent!!!! And with a bow!!!

I was thinking what where the camping options? Could you camp in a tent on the base? Or in the back of your truck on the base?

Or did everyone stay in a motel?

Is there a Hacienda to eat lunch and dinner like Fort Hunter Liggett and is it open to the public?

Also, how long did it take to get checked in and out hunting? Were you guys able to get out before sunrise, or what time did you start hunting?

Sorry for all the questions

Cheers
Bill

PS I had a real fun time rottotilling the back yard and preping for grass sod next week

 

[BLASTMASTER]

I don't know about the camping rules, or food. We stayed in the motel and brought in our own food.
We got there saturday at 04:30 and were about 20th in line at the gate. It was supposed to open at 05:00, but I didn't see things move until 05:30. Although we had the firearms form ready, I had to fill out the other registration forms for 3 of us and wait in line at the window to pay. It was light when we got out of there, but sunday was a different story. We got to the gate at about 04:20 and were about 4th or 5th in line. I had picked up all the forms the day before and had them ready. This time the gate opened promptly at 05:00. Only one guy in front of me at the window. We were settled in the field before shooting time.
Great place, friendly people.

 

[Mnfshrman]

Once again, SHE SHOT THE PIGS WITH A SHOTGUN as I had said in the previous post.

David

 

[Cda55]

We got there Saturday morning at 3 A.M. We were 4th in line. Like Blastmaster said it was a little slow getting going and the check in was a little slow. We stayed at a motel in San Miguel. Right down the road about 8 miles. I think next time I'm going to take the RV and stay on base. Great place and I had a good time.

 

[caiman]

Several groups camped by the railroad tracks, off East Garrison Road, some in tents. There was even one 5th wheel camper. I and my buddy managed to get 3 hours of sleep in the cabin of our truck (the red Ford Ranger).

In the morning we hunted along the river, in areas 6 and 4. Jumped a doe and saw a beaver in the river. No pigs. Later, we went to area 3 and saw lots of rooting, but no pigs. Shot a couple of jack-rabbits.

That cannonade around mid-day was very impressive. We thought the army had decided to get in some extra training on the weekend.

Some of you people must be shooting 20-round magazines! I was expecting a machine gun to open up any moment.

Congrats to those who scored a pig and good luck to everyone else next time!

 

[nobuckkev]

I got to admit, it was like Desert Storm all over again when the shooting started and we only got two of them. My wife did get three by the end of the day thanks to our agressive pushing through the thickest crap I have ever crawled through. I couldn't even see her when she started shooting but it was like a war zone, AGAIN. The three she shot were her first official harvest of game ever and she was estatic to say the least. She didn't even remember pumping the next round into the chamber because I asked her how the kick was and she said, " I don't know because I can't even remember pumping another round in. I was just shooting away and the pigs were dropping". She has never shot a shotgun before either. It was just a really good day for us. When the weekend was over, we were directly involved with 5 of the 6 pigs taken out of there. As for the Camp itself, the pigs are there but it takes some work to get them. And Boartracks knows just where they are at. Thanks again to him for hooking us up with the info to find them and bring them down. But, like I said, it ain't no picnic getting them. And luck played an important role in our harvest. As for the guy that got the two bigger ones, the right place at the right time was the ending factor there. The whole "War Zone" incident would have made a great video on what not to do when hunting but was quite amuzing and a story that I will never forget. And to have my little son there with me to see it all made it even better. I don't know what it is about the Mnfshrman, my wife and myself when we go hunting, but there is always a halarious outcome and a story to last a lifetime, and the meat always gets in the freezer somehow. If you plan on being there for the May hunt, plan on doing some walking, and get in line early, like 0300. I will be there and I am staying on base so when the gates open, we will be first in line at the DFG and in the field before most of you get through registering your weapons and vehicles. As for a place to stay, make reservations now, because the town gets full quick on weekends and it ain't cheap to get a room there. $80 a night is the norm for a fly by night motel. The pigs there can be in the most unlikely places so don't let your guard down ever. And bring every different type of weapon you have for just that reason. And Boartracks, there is a nice $20 in it for ya' if you quit telling people where they are. Just kidding. I like to see pigs taken out by anyone. Mnfshrman and myself will even help you drag them out if we are available. Hope all who go have the best of luck. Look for my green Dodge 4X4 and stop and chat for a bit. It is always nice to put a face to the names we see here at Jesse's. Oh, one more thing, WHEN THE SHOOTING STARTS, GET IN ON THE ACTION OR DUCK!!!!!!!!

 

[BLASTMASTER]

"...Boartracks, there is a nice $20 in it for ya' if you quit telling people where they are..."

I'll top that offer by another $1.00 for the inside scoop!
My daughter will be hunting herself for the first time ever, and I think she'll throw another 50 cents into the pot!

Bribes Paid Here

 

[Boar Tracks CA]

Any other bids? No ,I just like to help hunters out anyway I can.

 

[spectr17]

Sounds like everyone had a good time. Camp Roberts is a kewl place.

I've got some motel info on my Camp Roberts webpage at http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/camp-roberts.html

The Western States Inn in San Miguel just south of the Camp where Westy and me stayed was only about $40.00 a night.