FHL Saturday Recap, TA25

[Cazador]

First trip post here:

Arrived Friday afternoon at 1:30pm after a smooth 4 hour drive from Orange County. I was the second person in line and secured my TA 25 permit for saturday's hunt. Did a little reconaissance the rest of the day before checking into my room in Paso Robles later that night.

Made it to the gate at 5:35am in the dark,
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waited a little while since I heard we were not allowed to enter before 6 now. 10 minutes later another group rolls up, opens the gate and barrels through, so off I went to keep them company.

Started the day stalking up a canyon following some fresh tracks, they led off the parallel road to Tule Road.
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The trail led up the hill to this area of rototilling
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Still hunted up the trails which eventually ended at a tunnel into a brush choked canyon with a small wallow in the bottom. I setup on an opposite ridge with the wind in my face for 2 hours hoping I might have something move. I only saw a group of 4 does.

Drove around and glassed from the higher roads, but only found more deer. Around 10am I decided to still hunt the brush hoping to find a pig bedded.

 

[Cazador]

Continued:

Found this old "pig bathroom"
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Found some really fresh tracks along the ridgeline above Tule Road, fresh droppings as well but never smelled or heard the slightest rumbling of a pig. What I can say about this area is it is littered with pig sign
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[Cazador]

After hiking around for a few hours, I decided to check out the rest of TA 25 to setup my evening hunt. Spotted a huge bobcat(40lbs+) in the northeast section and of course more deer, but not much more sign. Checked out the river area for some tracks and droppings but it didn't feel right. Headed to the last road off Tule headed up a canyon and found another nice fresh set of tracks from last night.
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So decided to still hunt the canyon of sage where the tracks ended for NADA.

Setup for the evening in my first area hoping the pigs would leave at last light for the river but unfortunately they didn't show. Saw some more deer though of course

 

[Cazador]

Full moon plus little rain= no piggies for me

Here are some more shots from the day:
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Roads were in good condition for the most part, hardly any water or mud.

 

[bhrhunts]

Cazador- Bryson Resort is 1 mile away from TA 25 and TA 29. Our rooms are as cheap as Paso Robles! Next time you come you should stay here, you could almost sleep in! Just food for thought... Come play with us, we'd love to have you.

Deedy

 

[easymoney]

Cazador,
Thanks for the report, it does put things into real perspective about hunting on public land... Loads of sign old and new, not much in the way of actual sightings. Better luck next time...
IMHO, photo number 4 looks more like a coyote territorial marking spot.

 

[ksberry209]

That sounds like my experience on Prez weekend. Signs and tracks everywhere and no piggies but the deer were out in full force. I think they know the seasons better than most of us. They know when they can run around and when to duck.

Nice report and pics!

 

[Shot]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cazador @ Mar 4 2007, 11:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

After hiking around for a few hours, I decided to check out the rest of TA 25 to setup my evening hunt. Spotted a huge bobcat(40lbs+) in the northeast section and of course more deer, but not much more sign. Checked out the river area for some tracks and droppings but it didn't feel right. Headed to the last road off Tule headed up a canyon and found another nice fresh set of tracks from last night.
[attachment=39561:attachment]


[attachment=39560:attachment]
So decided to still hunt the canyon of sage where the tracks ended for NADA.

Setup for the evening in my first area hoping the pigs would leave at last light for the river but unfortunately they didn't show. Saw some more deer though of course

[/b]

I don't mean to sound rude, but those my friend are not pig tracks, they are of a deer. Also from my experience of TA25, I found the best results by sitting up high and glassing, mind you this was like 5 years ago. Good luck next time.

 

[Cazador]

On the photo with the droppings, it could go either way, but the weird part was their were piles of droppings throughout the 100 yard square area just like this, some were old and some still wet, if they were yotes then there were a heck of a lot yotes.

On the tracks photo, I think the pic doesn't really do the tracks justice, because they were so wide and rounded, but I could be wrong, I am kinda new at this.

Thanks for the input! It was a whole lotta fun!

 

[BirdDawg]

I have hogs come down on my place........they find an area and bed up during the heat of the day..........have places that look like that pic of all the droppings.........

 

[easymoney]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

On the photo with the droppings, it could go either way, but the weird part was their were piles of droppings throughout the 100 yard square area just like this, some were old and some still wet, if they were yotes then there were a heck of a lot yotes.[/b]

Yeppers, there are loads of songdogs in this area... Hog poop usually, looks alot like bear or human, large loose(depending on what they have been eating) and coiled. Coyotes usually have hair or bone and it is usually dark(or white after it's very old) and somewhat pointed on both ends...
And I would have to agree that some of the other tracks are deer. Pigs are wider, more rounded and look like small cow prints.

BirdDawg, is that an open invitation?

 

[Shot]

The droppings do look like they belong to coyotes, but I could be wrong on this one. As for the tracks, the first set look like they could belong to a pig. The second track pic you posted is definitly a deer, look how they are V shaped.

We all learn from someone or someplace. I have learned a ton from this site and the guys on here.

Here is the link to DFG's "Guide to pig hunting."

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/pig/index.htm

 

[BirdDawg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

BirdDawg, is that an open invitation?[/b]

LOL....walked into that one......I have several people who are hoping to get a hog......if they come down this year like they did last year they should have no problem.....let me help these guys and then we'll talk.