Cant miss this time!!

[LongroofJosh]

I have yet to get a pig, but I have seen many. The three times I've been hunting in this particular location I have run across pigs. Big suckers too!! The first time there was this huge boar that walked right past five of us with guns pointing at him, but noone shot since it was our first time hunting with each other. I guess we didnt want to step on each others toes, and the property owner was there. And I dont even want to talk about the other two times

This times going to be different

Last week we set out feeders filled with cracked corn. And this weekend we are filling them back up with cracked corn and stinky trout. (the following weekend is the hunt). The day before the hunt we will refill.
I have my night vision goggles ready, I will smoke my clothes and sharpen my blade.
There are bushes around where all the tracks and scat are, and they have tunnels bored right through them. Are the pigs living in the bushes??
What else can I do to get a pig??

 

[Coondog]

Is this the same property in Tehachapi??? If so, baiting is illegal there and I am assuming hunting at night is too. You will not find much help in this forum if hunting illegally!!

 

[LongroofJosh]

NONONO, out of state. Thats why we are making it a weekend trip. My friend is a Sheriff, and we dont partake in illegal stuff. Thanks for your concern Coon.

 

[Coondog]

Just making sure.. Some people do not understand the rules... sounds like you have everything set up.. Just be real quite and try to play the wind as best you can...

 

[LongroofJosh]

Thanks..., to be honest I'm not sure if hunting at night in California is illegal. But since evrything else is, its safe to assume that hunting at night is a nono.

What about the tunnels in the bushes, with all the pig sign around?? A good place to look??

 

[Coondog]

Not sure about the tunnels... They are definitely using the trails I assume, but do not know if they live in there or not...

 

[chvyhs]

Here's what the hunting regs say about using image intensifying (NVG's) souces.

353. Methods Authorized for Taking Big Game.
(h)Except as otherwise provided, while taking or attempting to take big game under the provisions of Section 353 or Section 354, Title 14, CCR it is unlawful to use any device or devices which: 1) throw cast or project an artificial light or electronically alter or intensify a light source for the purpose of providing a visible point of aim directly on an animal. Devices commonly referred to as "sniperscopes",night vision scopes or binoculars, or those utilizing infra-red, heat sensing or other non-visible spectrum light technology used for the purpose of visibly enhancing an animal or providing a visible point of aim directly on an animal are probibited and may not be possessed while takeing or attempting to take big game. Devices commonly referred to as laser rangefinders, "red-dot" scopes with self-illuminating reticles, and fiberoptic sights with self illuminating sight or pins which do not throw, cast or project a visible light onto an animal are permitted.

That should clear up any confusion.

 

[LongroofJosh]

Oh well, guess I'll just have to trust the ol' "naked eye".

But since I'll be out of Ca.

 

[shadow]

Hogs love the thick brush! The thicker the better! Hogs are also hard to pattern unless you have a feeder setup. The only real solution is hunt night time over a food source. Durring hot days try to find a wallow (mud puddle or pond) that they may frequent to cool off. Their sight is not that great, nor is the ol' smeller, IMHO. You can usually walk within 10 yards of a bedded down hog and he won't move if he doesn't think he his threatened but if he does feel threatened then he can and will probably charge you.

Now I'm no pro at hogs but this is what I have found for the areas I hunt.

Good Luck and make sure you check all the Regs for the location you plan on hunting! Mistakenly hunting a particular way is not an excuss a game warden will take and your sure to get fined or worse.

Last time I looked ferrel hogs are not considered game animals in Texas you can use spot lights and night vision goggles as well as dogs and can also hunt them 24x7x365, on private property of coarse.

 

[spectr17]

There was a time when NODs were legal in CA, at least the law hadn't caught up to them yet in the early 1980s. When we got them on our team inthe USAF the LT told us to go out and learn how to use them. WE practiced sneeking up on deer and hogs at FHL and here in SoCal. Since they were the early generation NODs (PVS-5) we couldn't see depth for a darn and would fall over logs and miss when jumping ditches or little creeks. WE scared more animals I think then we snuck up on. Lots of bruised shins using them things.

 

[chvyhs]

So, did you get one?

 

[BDB]

Personally, I'd have to disagree with Shadow on the sniffers not being so good on hogs. The ones that caught a swirling breeze with me in the area were gone in a heartbeat same as a deer.

As for them tunnels. Put a nice big bowie knife in your teeth (in a state that allows it of course) and go crawling around in there, you never know you might just find one

Just kidding, those can be a dangerous place to encounter a hog. Last time (and first time) I came face to face with a boar in a tunnel I was pretty darn happy he had a 90 pound pitt bull hanging off his ear

They are great places to hang around waiting for them to come out of their beds in the evening though. I have found they will come out and mill around in the open on the edge of the thick stuff where they bed quite early before moving off to where ever they are headed for the evening.

So as chvyhs asked, how did you make out???

 

[LongroofJosh]

Well, there I was; minding my own business. When six pigs ran up the side of a mountain about 500 yards away. I had borrowed my father in laws mini-14 just for some target practice. It was the only gun loaded at the time. We didnt expect to see any pigs where we were, so we were taken off guard. We were looking across a small valley.... the rest is just excuses

Bottom line, no pigs
But I sure scared the shit outta them

 

[bigtusker]

2 things.
#1 - Pigs have an exceptional sense of smell!
#2 - When hunting hogs, throw that mini-14 away!

 

[LongroofJosh]

Yeah, I hear that!! I only used it because I had not loaded my 30-06 yet.