First Time Hog hunting! PLease help

[dredogg]

Hey guys

I live in San Francisco CA and I've never been hunting before. I'm a newbie so please bare w me.

i was looking to get into hog hunting but i'm having a little trouble picking out a rifle and a public place to hunt thats not too far from home.

I was looking into a savage axis .308 .... would anyone suggest me not to ? and what kind of optics would you guys suggest?

ALSO i am not trying to spend tons of money on an outfitter and i would rather go stalking on my own with a couple buddies. Any suggestions on a public place in monterey county or anywhere close to san francisco (1.5-3.0 hr) ?

Please help thank you for any help !

 

[Wild1]

About the rifle: a .308 will work just fine (assuming you put the bullet where it belongs), but I'm not a big fan of the Axis line of Savage rifles - they're built very cheaply. I tend to spend the same or more on the optics, as I do on the rifle, but they are costly. Leupold Vari X II, or similar (Zeiss Conquest), or due a google search for reviews on similar models - there's tons out there. Public land(s) for pig hunting are far and few, but you might want to try Ft. Hunter Liggett or Camp Roberts, both have specific regulations so check their web sites for more information. If you're willing to drive a little further, Tejon Ranch will be your best bet - they have a "pig management hunt" 5 or 6 times a year, which is unguided and gives you 2 1/2 days of hunting. Go to www.hunttejon.com for more information. Good luck.

 

[jb229]

That Savage will have an accurate barrel but you may run into issues with the stock not seating the barrel all that well which will result in poor groups. I would look at the Marlin XL7 Serries which is in the same price range but has a adjustable trigger and may have a nicer fit and finish. As for scopes the Nikon buckmasters or Burris Fullfield are really nice for the money, 200.00 +- depending on where you order from. You won't find much public land in Monterey county but if go North to Cache Creek or BLM off hwy 20 you will have a lot more land to hike around on. If you do a search for Hog Hunting on this forum you will find an abundant amount of information. If you do go South remember you will need to purchase Non lead ammo. DFG website will have a map of the non lead hunting areas as well. If you want a guide that will teach you a lot on your hunt search for Tom Willoughby out of King City.

Good luck.

 

[w8_liftr]

Have you seen this yet?

http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=23231

If you want to get some insight and instruction:
http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/dfg-to-offer-one-day-wild-pig-hunting-clinic-in-april/

I shoot a weatherby vanguard+bushnell combo. Very accurate and affordable. Pretty good rifle considering the cost.

 

[Fugaloo]

I would recommend getting a guided hunt. I used to poo poo on the idea but the value is truly there. Especially if you are new to hunting, getting on pigs right away is priceless. Public hogs in CA are really tough. You could spend literally years before seeing anything on a public lands hunt, but you could also see one your first time. But I think everybody here would tell you that public hogs are a hard hunt in this state. Hunting with a guide will give you first hand experience with a guy who hunts for a living.

For your first gun you may want to check out www.Calguns.net and buy from their private firearms sales. Just stay away from the tactical guns, they're for pretending your a swat team sniper or zombie hunter. A good hunting gun looks like a hunting gun.

Good Luck

 

[catchdog]

stay away from the axis. savage makes some good guns but the axis is not one of them. IMO savage should be ashamed to but such junk on the market. the stevens 200 was alot better rifle.

 

[easymoney]

Today almost any rifle in a 30 cal will harvest any game on this continent and it would be hard to find one that was not well made.
That being said, IMHO go on a guided hunt first to learn some of the ropes, and there are some very good sponsers here on JHO.
Do a little searching on hunt reports here on the forums by those who have gone with a guide, to get the good, bad and ugly.
The state has a lot of public land but most of it is not suitable for hunting, successfully. Also, we are blessed with huge numbers of wild pigs, but they are only in certain counties with only certain locations showing repeated success. Look up at the top of the hog hunting forum and you can check out all the links jesse has pinned there. Do a little research and save yourself a lot of money and heartache.
Good luck...

 

[ltdann]

Tikka rifles are extremely accurate for a little over 500 bucks, and light as well. I also agree that a guided first hunt is the way to go. Pick the guides brains, your paying for it.

 

[HOGHUNTER714]

+1 on Tikka Rifles. I bought one last year in 22-250 and man that gun is light. The action is like "Butter", very smooth!!!! Pretty dang accurate out of the box as well...I paid $499 for the rifle..

 

[707Hunter]

Being new to hog hunting a guided/semi guided hunt is the way to go. A lot of guys here have talked about DeeDee at Bryson Resort. IMHO, getting your feet wet with a guided hunt, you will learn valuable info on how to hunt hogs. Then you can take that info out with you on your own. Check DFG.gov as they have all sorts of public land opportunities on there as well as draw pig hunts. Another area is Fort Hunter Liggett but they have not had many TA's open as of late. Good Luck!

 

[RoosterKiller]

Up your way check the Mendecino Nat. Forest. Get a map. You are up by some of the best hog hunting in Cali.
Lake co. has lots. If you have friends that have property up by Clearlake then find out if you can hunt.
Look up Cache creek. lots of pigs over there.
I would reccomend you go buy a remington 700 or a Savage Stevens if you want low cost but a good rifle.Also to keep cost down buy 30-06.The more common a round you use the better the price.
Now with that the rest is up to you to get out there and spend a lot of time in the feild.Read everything you can find on this forum about pig hunting.

THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND IN THE FIELD THE MORE CURRENT YOU WILL BE ON THEIR MOVEMENTS.

Good Luck