FHL GEN. WEAP. TA'S OPEN FOR THIS WEEKEND FEB 8-10 2013

[mr sunset]

Gen. Weap.: 17, 18, 23, 26, 27, 28. :smiley_doh: This blows my whole game plan of going into TA7.
Anyone know anything about these areas for piggys'.

 

[Live2hunt]

27. There are pigs working the 27/28 boundary. Good luck

 

[RodeoFlyer]

^^^ This.

As of a few weekends ago, anyway.

 

[Uncle Bambi]

Last time I went to FHL I was planning on hunting TA 7, as it was the only area I knew well. It wasn't open, so I picked another at random - one I'd never been to in my life. I had a 200lb dead pig on my hands before 7:30am.:smile-yellow:

I'd hang around the shack and see where everyone else is going, and then go somewhere else. I don't like high traffic areas when the traffic is armed and looking for movement.

 

[mr sunset]

Thanks you friends, I'm packing my gear for the trip and watching the weather. 100% chance of rain today, 20% tonight.
the roads will be slick but the tracks will be fresh. sunny on saturday and sunday. Thanks for all the advice. it has been a
work in progress for sure. The time for talk is done. hope I can cross paths with porky. good luck to any and all going out in the field this weekend. full report on monday.
:JHO rocks:

 

[Uncle Bambi]

Thanks you friends, I'm packing my gear for the trip and watching the weather. 100% chance of rain today, 20% tonight.
the roads will be slick but the tracks will be fresh. sunny on saturday and sunday. Thanks for all the advice. it has been a
work in progress for sure. The time for talk is done. hope I can cross paths with porky. good luck to any and all going out in the field this weekend. full report on monday.
:JHO rocks:

Good luck! If all else fails - get up high near thick brush that is adjacent to more open areas. Chances are that you'll catch a late party animal coming back to bed. If you're in front of the bedding area, they have to come to you.

I think rain and crappy roads wil work in your favor if you're willing to walk. Lots of folks are road hunters, and if the roads are unusable there will be less traffic and the pigs will not be as agitated and wary. Remember, you can go in 2 hours before shooting time.... that's a big advantage if you're quiet and willing.

 

[707Hunter]

Hey Uncle, if you don't mind me asking, what was that TA you chose at random?

 

[RodeoFlyer]

Hey Uncle, if you don't mind me asking, what was that TA you chose at random?

If I remember right he was in 2.

 

[Uncle Bambi]

If I remember right he was in 2.

Specifically, I chose a TA 1 and TA 2 combo pass. They let you do that on the low production and less popular areas, but you have to ask. You're right though - I happened to be in TA 2 when I caught a pig out in the open. Surprised the crap out of me.

 

[Uncle Bambi]

Hey mr sunset....... wazzzzzup?

Inquiring minds want to know!!!!!

 

[mr sunset]

In a word "Blanked". not for lack of effort, thats for sure. We went into TA29. archery, muzzeloader and shotgun.
useing my rem 870 wingmaster pump with 300 grain *Trophy copper sabot slugs. 1900fps. note: always read trajectory chart BEFORE using. Ta 29 is a walk-in only area. so 5:40ish am we find some med. high ground, seperated by around 300yds from one another and wait for daybreak. at 8 am I hear my buddy fire off 3 shots above me. an hour later I get a text...missed. saw 15/20.
he chased these pigs a good 1/4 of a mile up hill and spooked one out of the brush, well I think the pig spooked him cuz he missed 3 times at about 50 feet, whats worse missing at that range or not seeing them. anyway it was high noon now and time for a tailgate lunch. then we drove down to lake san antonio ? there were deer all over that campground. on the road back 4 pigs, private land, all around 150lbs just cruisin across the landscape. at least now I have seen pigs. went back into TA29 a few hours before sunset and got up high on a mountian and glassed till dark. nothin. now I requested going into 27 or 28 for sunday but seeing as he got a shot or 3 off in 29 he was hellbent on going back. As I have read here on jesse's hunting forum, the pigs are never in the same place twice and that was the case. all day sunday walked for miles up and down mountians. nothin. got back to the check in station around 2pm sunday. kill sheet for the weekend was 1 pig taken from 29. No harvest for me, but I am not disappointed. Hunting is hard to do and when I do get first pig it will be sweet as can be. going back in march. So again thanks to everyone here for the tips and advice.

 

[cjack]

That sounds like a great hunt to me! You've got me motivated to start hunting FHL. See or hear any turkeys?

 

[Uncle Bambi]

You saw pigs, which sets you apart from 99% of everyone else that was there.

Sounds like a good time - wish I could've been there!

 

[mr sunset]

That sounds like a great hunt to me! You've got me motivated to start hunting FHL. See or hear any turkeys?

Neve saw or heard one turkey the whole time. My guess is they are waiting for spring season to come out.:thumbs up2:

 

[TakeABackRoad]

New to this site, but my brother and I were up there for the first time this weekend. Having never been there, and only bringing rifles we hunted zone 27. Saturday morning we got turned around (the map they give you leaves alot to be desired) and we ended way up high on the private land in between 29, and 27. While we were figuring out where we were, we heard your friends 3 shots!

mid morning We hunted the border of 27/28 like live to hunt said above. We saw some old sign but no animals. We spent most of the afternoon trying to figure out the zone near the entry point/private property border, with some success. Then went back down below the Sycamore Reservoir for the evening and didn't see anything. Sunday morning early we went out by the border of 27/28 near the Nacimiento but didn't see anything. Spent the rest of the Sunday afternoon exploring and doing some 4X4 playing.

No pigs but had a great time and learned alot about the area for next time!

 

[Phil80]

Sound about like my trips to FHL. My brother and ussually bring our .22's with cooper and do a little varment hunting on Sundays.

 

[mr sunset]

@takeabackroad, I am learning more about FHL each time I go. It has all the right landscape to do the methods of hunting you want. welcome to the forum, theres a lot good people on here.
atiotic-wavin-flag

 

[TakeABackRoad]

Yeah it seems like a pretty fun place, and lots of potential for hunting. I plan to be back once more before June. Then buy a year long membership. I'm down in Ventura so it's not a bad drive 3.5-4 hours.

I'm planning on picking up a shot gun soon. Then I will bring both rifle, and shotgun and can hunt any zone.

What do you guys recommend for a shot gun? I'm thinking $600 range but could be inspired to go higher.

 

[mr sunset]

As I have just learned in another thread, 1187 with a canilevered/rifled barrel. 600 won't get it. 300 just for the barrel.

 

[Uncle Bambi]

Mossberg 500 on sale at Big 5 is somewhere in the $200 plus range, and the cantilevered barrel can be had for $100 - $150 on eBay. Add your choice of scope and rings, and be happy.