FHL Post Drought Hunt Advice

[jdm49]

Hi All,

After finding hogs hard to come by up North in the past few months on public and private land, I am planning to go down to Fort Hunter Liggett next weekend with a visitor from out of state. I am not sure if its the drought, or just being out of sync with the game on previously productive spots in Lake/Mendo/Sonoma area, but activity seems lower to me.

From a few posts here and there, it appears the FHL is still reasonably productive. In terms of areas, based on posting of successful hunts and access to water, it looks like area 29 is a good bet, but my buddy doesn't have a slug shotgun setup, so we are looking for rifle options. Does anyone have any recommendations for recent activity in areas at FHL? Also, how do you typically hunt there? It seems like may areas are accessible with a 4x4. Is it better to try and cover a lot of ground with the vehicle, glassing from time to time, or getting out away from the access roads and hitting the hills at FHL? I am not averse to hitting the boots (I have never actually hunted from my vehicle before) but I also don't want to squander a weekend stomping out an area that has no game.


Thanks in advance

 

[QEU]

I think this drought actually makes finding them a lot easier. Find their water source and bedding and you'll see them. And yes, there are still plenty of water holes. These water holes, you don't see them on maps nor from a car. Gotta burn some leather boots. If you've never been there, tag along with a regular.

 

[mike_cook82]

I'll be up there for the whole month of may. I'll let you know what I see...

 

[jdm49]

THis week's FHL open areas for rifle hunts are not up yet, but based on the last week, areas 4, 8, 11 might be whats open this weekend. I have heard of hogs being taken on 14, and 11 is next door and has some water, so maybe 11 is the best bet out of that three?


This is my first time out there and we are trying to get registered. My understanding is that now everything is on Telectrac based on what it says here http://www.liggett.army.mil/sites/fishhunt/update.asp. Does that mean that there is no face to face check in for a weekend hunt at all anymore (big advantage in terms of travel time for me if thats the case)? I am trying to get through to speak to an actual person there but no luck so far.

Thanks for any input.

 

[CaliJeephuntr]

There is an office on main base, but I'm not sure what their hours are. It's where you have to go to get your FHL hunter ID card.

 

[Hikingwithguns]

Make sure you know about the weapon registration too. You will either have to mail it in or go on a weekday which is a pita. And you cannot bring the weapons with you into the cantonment when you register them. Best bet is to have your buddy wait outside the base and you drive in with paperwork on a friday. Make sure to get there early.

 

[jdm49]

hiking with shotguns, hiking with rifles, no pigs.

Well..

We hit it hard at FHL this weekend and put in many miles morning and evening. The 20 word overview: No pigs at TA 29 (the lake) or close to Jolon Rd., lots of sign, elk, deer, coyote, rabbits, quail.

The San Antonio reservoir is now completely dry within the bounds of area 29 and its like a dried out African Savannah now. We hiked the full length and saw some other hunters at the eastern fence also with no luck and no sightings.

Looks like the lake is at 5% capacity and dropping:

http://www.mcwra.co.monterey.ca.us/...ta/CurrentReservoirData/ReservoirDataPrev.pdf


Up near Jolon Rd we saw sign at the road and put in some hours in the open areas close by. Ran into someone who took a 250 lb boar there about 2 weeks ago, but saw no recent action except right at the road. That kill two weeks ago may have scared off the heard for a little while. Theory is that the pigs there are hanging out on the West side in some of the areas that are in use/not open much these days and that they are only coming out , and occasionally getting hit by cars, after hunting hours. We did see pretty good sign around but actually very little in 29. It seemed like the fishing was better than the hunting as everyone else I ran into that weekend weren't having any luck with pigs or turkeys, but we did see a few nice rainbows

But we did see huge elk (huge for me anyway), deer aplenty, and rabbits, among other things. It was a great experience and I couldn't help thinking about every half hour "I can't believe they are letting us run around with weapons and 4x4s willy nilly on an army base". It was pretty busy on the access roads with Army truck rollouts, machine gun practice and humvees cruising around and we got a couple of helicopter flybys out in the field.

Gate guards and the game shack people were very helpful and friendly.

Next time...

 

[Uncle Bambi]

Someone posted in a forum about killing a pig in 29 several months months ago, and that area has been overrun by hunters and scoured clean ever since. the last time I was there there were almost 30 people checked into that area. I doubt there is a pig within 20 miles of TA29 right now.

 

[jdm49]

Someone posted in a forum about killing a pig in 29 several months months ago, and that area has been overrun by hunters and scoured clean ever since. the last time I was there there were almost 30 people checked into that area. I doubt there is a pig within 20 miles of TA29 right now.

yup :confused-yellow:ig-laughing: