Carizzo Hogs

[jamest91]

Planning on heading out to the Caliente Mt area on Carrizo Plains for some hog hunting. Has anyone been recently? I've never been there and any information I can find seems to be relatively outdated. (Haven't had time to call the ranger station for info yet)

It has been raining a bit lately so I'm hoping that brings some hogs in.

 

[Bubblehide]

That is a tough area to hunt hogs in. They tend to stay on private, where the food and water is. This weather will have them dispersed; as such, your chances of seeing a hog(s) is actually greater. Frankly, I would not hesitate is utilizing old but sound advice, locations... But, with this weather, and the soft ground, the first thing I would do, is cover as much ground as I could, looking for rooting. If you find concentrated rooting areas, check to see how fresh they are. The odds are that if you have fresh rooting, the hogs will still be around.

Best of luck!

 

[cjack]

Going out on private just a bit North of there tomorrow, I'll let you know what I see.

 

[jamest91]

Great. Look forward to hearing from ya cjack!

 

[jamest91]

That is a tough area to hunt hogs in. They tend to stay on private, where the food and water is. This weather will have them dispersed; as such, your chances of seeing a hog(s) is actually greater. Frankly, I would not hesitate is utilizing old but sound advice, locations... But, with this weather, and the soft ground, the first thing I would do, is cover as much ground as I could, looking for rooting. If you find concentrated rooting areas, check to see how fresh they are. The odds are that if you have fresh rooting, the hogs will still be around.

Best of luck!

thank you sir.

 

[ChrisAMX]

I went earlier to South Chimineas Unit and also the Crocker Springs area. I went all over and saw nothing. I did see some elk, though

 

[sbrooks1985]

Went last year and drove and wandered around a bit. Didn't see any sign of pigs. Plenty of rabbits though to pass the time.

 

[sbrooks1985]

Think savagehunter went to the same area as chrisamx not too long ago, forget what he said about his trip though

 

[jamest91]

Think savagehunter went to the same area as chrisamx not too long ago, forget what he said about his trip though

Ya I was just looking at the website information for south chimineas and their website specifically says basically "don't come here looking for pigs, because you aren't going to find any." lol

So I'm probably going to travel more on to the mountain area. There is some private land north, right next to the caliente.... will probably give that a wander.

 

[easymoney]

Just got back from the Carrizo Sunday and I hit my usual spots.
No pigs or any new sign and not much old, lots of fresh elk sign and tracks, no coyotes seen, just fair water in the low spots.
IMHO, don't waste your time, especially if us locals who know where to look are not seeing anything that might save the out of town folks the fuel costs. The flowers are just getting started and with the hit or miss rain we could be in for another very dry year...

 

[jamest91]

With my job and hunting buddy's job, its basically impossible to take multiple day trips and travel up north for hunting zones. I am starting to see its basically impossible to get out and hunt for a day trip for pigs if you live in Los Angeles county. Everything worthwhile is going to be a 3+ hour drive, unless I can get access to private land, which still is yielding signs of pigs. Hmmm

Any suggestions all? I've never been pig hunting around here and all the info is from like 2001.

 

[easymoney]

Pay for a guided or unguided hunt to learn the ropes and the area...
There are loads of hogs in SLO county and there is plenty of public land (200,00 acres in the Carrizo alone), but finding the two together can be expensive and frustrating.

 

[jamest91]

Pay for a guided or unguided hunt to learn the ropes and the area...
There are loads of hogs in SLO county and there is plenty of public land (200,00 acres in the Carrizo alone), but finding the two together can be expensive and frustrating.

Ya my buddies and I would love to do some guided hunts..... that is once we have $500-$1200 to spend on it of course. Regardless, we luckily also enjoy hiking around the wilderness and nature and all that so hunting trips seeing nothing isn't a total failure for us. :smile-yellow:

 

[easymoney]

Wild pig hunting is big business (because cattle prices are down, taxes are high and the demand is growing)and that is why many ranches farm out to licensed hunting guides.
If you do a little searching you can find guided, semi guided hunts or even unguided hunts for a much better price than you show, especially up near Parkfield or in Monterey county. In fact look at a few of the JHO sponsors and you might like what you see.
BUT, the odds of finding cheap guided hunts or even cheap trespass fees adjacent to the Carrizzo Plains will be futile, believe me I have looked. The ranches with the good habitat, feed and constant water are also the biggest and most already have long term contracts with guides and their prices are very high, because of the demand. A bull elk hunt can run as high as $15,000.00 for a guided tule elk hunt.
Good luck...

 

[jamest91]

Wild pig hunting is big business (because cattle prices are down, taxes are high and the demand is growing)and that is why many ranches farm out to licensed hunting guides.
If you do a little searching you can find guided, semi guided hunts or even unguided hunts for a much better price than you show, especially up near Parkfield or in Monterey county. In fact look at a few of the JHO sponsors and you might like what you see.
BUT, the odds of finding cheap guided hunts or even cheap trespass fees adjacent to the Carrizzo Plains will be futile, believe me I have looked. The ranches with the good habitat, feed and constant water are also the biggest and most already have long term contracts with guides and their prices are very high, because of the demand. A bull elk hunt can run as high as $15,000.00 for a guided tule elk hunt.
Good luck...

Might as well bag me a cheetah! I saw a sale going on right now for an Afircan guided safari hunt only $17,000! Just gotta fly to Africa hehe

 

[easymoney]

Like I said, cruise the sponsors and there are at least a couple that offer reduced fees for "self guided" hunts. One in southern Monterey County and on from the southern valley.
I went on one for $200.00 for the self guided and even though we did not score on one, we did see pigs and loads of sign. Hunting with a bow vs gun brings another level of difficult, but oh so fun...

 

[jamest91]

Like I said, cruise the sponsors and there are at least a couple that offer reduced fees for "self guided" hunts. One in southern Monterey County and on from the southern valley.
I went on one for $200.00 for the self guided and even though we did not score on one, we did see pigs and loads of sign. Hunting with a bow vs gun brings another level of difficult, but oh so fun...

Props to you if you hunt with a bow sir. That's a whole other level of difficulty. I like guns too much! lol :shootin-rifle:

 

[easymoney]

IMHO, I too luv firearms and I own many flavors, but bow hunting despite the hardships far out weighs rifle season hunts as it limits the sheer numbers of other hunters.

 

[thewolfman]

Easy money... When did u do the $200 unguided hunt and which outfitter??.. I m sure a bunch of guys here would pay that in a heartbeat to do a pig hunt... The way everything is going up in prices like Tejon and Wilderness Unlimited to name 2... That's a small price to pay.... U end up paying more if u do Public land pig hunts anyways... Please do share the info if u don't mind

 

[easymoney]

I went out to Bryson Hesperia Resort near Lockwood to hunt. My buddy set the hunt up for the pigs only and since we are locals did not need to stay at the resort, they have small cabins and a convenience store. This type of hunt is basically a trespass fee, where you do all the work. We had a great time and saw some nice property.
I would suggest to do a back search on the wild pig hunting forum and do a back search on this topic. Lots of talk and some photos from JHO'ers, about past trips to Bryson, Camp Roberts, FHL and others. There was a guy running a similar hunt outfit out of Madera I think, that has reasonably priced hunts and I think he does self guided or bow hunts for less.
Up in Northern San Luis Obispo, San Benito and Monterey County there loads of guides and hunt ranches, especially out of Parkfield.