Fish and Game Offers December Pig Hunts Through SHARE Program

[Live2hunt]

I heard through the vine that the first period hunters didn't listen to the DFG guy working at the registration check-in. DFG guy wanted them to wait for the thick fog to clear before they walk in the gate. They walked in with thick fog, 15 yard visibility. A group of 30 pigs were spooked and ran uphill. Second day some guys saw 10 pigs and took a shot but not fatal.

Second period people didn't see squat. Everybody got soaken wet and gave up by 11am except one guy who brave the rain til 3pm. Last I talked to that guy he was on his way home back to LB. He said it was foot hunting only and the terrain was a torture. It looks like nobody for the second period will be hunting on their second day.

For the juniors, I want to see some pics of dead pigs, not hunters giving up after the first day. Now go GET 'EM!!!

 

[DFG_Bear]

Rumor control:
I was the DFG guy working the check-in on day 1. The fog wasn't too thick in the AM, and I let everyone head in at 0600, as stated on the property rules. Four groups of hunters saw pigs; I estimate by the reports they saw three sounders with 5-15 pigs each. One guy took a shot, but duffed it at the pig's feet. Another hunter saw it limping away, but the shooter never recovered it - I had him head back out and check some more after he grabbed a snack. If he did hit it, it was most likely non-fatal and the rain washed away any blood trail. The weather broke around 11:00, and some guys stayed out all day.

All eight guys showed up yesterday (start of period 2), and the rain was relentless. Nobody saw pigs, but a couple groups did hear some grunting from the chemise. They're back at it today, but this country is tough for archery hunting.

Juniors start next week, and hopefully the weather will cooperate a bit better for them. I'm hopeful the pigs will also cooperate. There are a bunch of good spots to set up and wait for a cross-canyon shot. Lots of watering holes and there's evidence of bed sites under dang near every oak tree in the hunt zone.

We have roughly 4,000 acres in the hunt zone, but most folks are concentrating on the 1,000 acres nearest the parking lot. I feel that if you're willing to work your tail off, and can play it smart, you'll have a good shot at some pigs.

-Marc

 

[sdnative13]

I feel that maybe I wrote my number down wrong because I never got a call

 

[mallarditis]

How'd the bow hunters end up doing. Any of you guys get out on this hunt?

 

[7WSM]

I feel that maybe I wrote my number down wrong because I never got a call

They have the draw results posted on their site.

 

[sdnative13]

thanks

They have the draw results posted on their site.

yeah I know I was just hinting at the fact that I didn't get drawn:lol bashing sign:

 

[miensean]

Marc... sounds like you drawl a bunch of rookies for this hunt. j/k
Great job in getting us the chance to drawl for a free hunt.. I can't wait for another chance.

 

[Huntr Pat]

Its a 2 day hunt why did they hunt only one day.

 

[mallarditis]

Its a 2 day hunt why did they hunt only one day.

I think some of the boys are getting up there ready to go and then find out how steep that country is - and it is STEEP! Not to mention it's a walk in hunt. Getting after it in that country is not an easy task but those that do are probably going to do pretty well. It'll be interesting to see if the dads can keep up with the sons next week during the apprentice hunts. My son says he's going to run me into the ground and wants to get deep into that ranch. haha - big talk. We'll see how he feels after an hour of uphill hiking.

 

[Huntr Pat]

Good luck to you mallarditis! I have no Idea what the country look like. I hunt Hunter liggett we have thick country and big rolling hills and chemise. We hunt the tunnels on hands and knees. Leather gloves is a must.

 

[hoover]

wondering if a push/pull cart would be allowed on the ranch to retrieve a downed pig, if my son should happen to connect with one ?
thanks in advance

 

[mallarditis]

wondering if a push/pull cart would be allowed on the ranch to retrieve a downed pig, if my son should happen to connect with one ?
thanks in advance

I'm sure a push cart is allowed but may be more trouble than it's worth. It's steep canyon country and I'm thinking the way to go is boning and pack framing.

 

[hoover]

I'm sure a push cart is allowed but may be more trouble than it's worth. It's steep canyon country and I'm thinking the way to go is boning and pack framing.

thanks mallarditis, I was thinking the same thing, pack frames. leaving at 3 am tomorrow, son cant wait , i'm pretty jacked too.

 

[mallarditis]

thanks mallarditis, I was thinking the same thing, pack frames. leaving at 3 am tomorrow, son cant wait , i'm pretty jacked too.

I'll see you out there. I'll be in a blue dodge pickup. My name's Eric by the way.

 

[hoover]

my son and I (chad) will be driving a white yukon. look foreword to meeting you.

 

[7WSM]

Any positive reports?

 

[feelinducky]

My friends son was drawn for the Monday/Tuesday hunt. They saw 2 hogs about 1000 yds away, feeding about 200 yards from another hunter that didn't see the hogs. They only hunted Monday because he got sick.

 

[hoover]

son got drawn for period 4 hunt, meet up with fellow JHO member Mallarditis and his son at the gate at 5;30 am. Thanks for letting us tag along as it was my sons first ever pig hunt and i've only killed 1 pig before my self. F@G told us that the other hunters have being seeing the the pigs but no junior hunters were able to get a shot off F@G lady let us in the gate. @ 6 am and off we went in the dark of the early morning. Tried to hike away from the rest of the guys and their sons, so straight up the hill. Twenty feet in side the gate the ground was just tore up everywhere, half expected to run the pigs off before light. after an hour of hiking up hill ,seeing less sigh as we went and not even any animals we stopped to take a break and check the map. The area was rugged, up and down but there was only sparse cover were we were.

As we snuck along looking down over a lush creek bed(dry) we heard a shot and not to far from where we were. we all went on alert and keep are eyes open for escaping pigs, nothing and never heard anything else. kept going toward the back of the property and saw less sigh the whole way. worked are way back to the front gate and thought about lunch and what to do next. At the front gate several dads and sons were talking about their mornings hunt and one dad saw a big boar but was worried the shot would be to far for his son so they held off. The boy that did get a shot (the one we heard) said that they came up on two bedded sows and he got off a quick shot at them before they went in the thick brush, missing completely.That was it for the morning, great day hiking with mallarditis and his son. The boys seem to get along well and us dads shared stories of passed hunts, good and bad. it was already two o'clock and my son and i headed back out for the afternoon.

We sat and watched a brush chocked hill side until dark, only seeing on lone doe on her way down the hill to feed. After a good nights sleep we meet again at the gate and chose to try to get to the back of the property and see something different and hopefully see more sign than the day before and some pigs too. Two straight hours of hiking and not seeing anything we finally started to see deer but no pigs. Where were the pigs???? We did see some sign but only where they were crossing and not feeding or bedding. Hiked a lot of the ranch and never did see any pigs or any of the other hunters, Reached the main gate @1:30 pm. Only four trucks left in the parking lot and one was the F@G truck. Saw the boy who got a shot the first day and the father said they went back to the same spot again as the day before and the son was able to connect with a 80 yard shot on a 220 lb sow.

They tried to drag it out but after 20 feet the dad said no way and started to bone and pack it out. It was the boys first pig hunt and his first pig, i think he will be wearing that smile for some time. We parted ways with Mallarditis and his son (it was nice to meet you two and we enjoyed hunting and trying to keep up with you and your son. ) Gave my boy the option to go home or keep hunting, thinking we wood be home in a few hours. Wrong, he says he's not giving up yet as we can hunt until dark right. With one other truck in the lot besides the F@G truck we head off to hunt until dark. We worked side hill up to some dense brush and started to see fresh rooting in the soft hill side. As we sat to watch the side of the hill for any movement the wind picked up and the shadows started to creep over the hills. After ten minutes or so my son says dad i here them, we listen and i don't here anything he says they are getting closer.

Finally i here the grunting and noise of what sounds like a heard coming closer to us. We were fifteen steeps from the edge of the thick brush that dropped of in to the canyon when all of a sudden we see these little pigglets coming out to the edge off the brush rooting and play like we weren't there. After seeing 10 little ones and hearing more in the brush i tell my son to be ready for a big one to come out and drop the hammer on him soon as he see it. we stood there for what seemed like forever at a distance of fifteen steeps(paced it later) and after ten minutes of these pigs not even knowing that we were there i see a big black head coming up out of the shadows. It stops just before coming out of the bushes an stares right at me, i tell my son there it is shoot it. nothing happens as this pig continues to look right at me and i know we don't have much time.that beast and i locked eyes for 10 maybe 15 seconds both knowing it was about to take a dirt nap.

Telling my son the shoot in a whisper the black beast snorts at me and is gone. I look to my right and see my son still with the scope of the rifle up to his eye ready to shoot. He said he never say the big one and as i looked where he stood , that boar was just behind a green bush and concealed the whole time from my son. That was the most excited i've ever been on any hunt and to be that close i nearly pissed my pants. we were so close to closing the deal and yet so far away. The pigs all scattered down the canyon out of sight never offering a shot. My son says dad can we stay over and try to get them again tomorrow,i tell him it's only a two day hunt and we head down the hill in the dark. What a great hunt my son and i had together and with Mallarditis and his, to bad they weren't able to stay and experience what we did in the afternoon. thanks to F@G for being able to put together this hunt that my son and i will remember for ever. So as far as i know only one pig has been harvested on this hunt so far. Mallarditis hope your other son was able to connect on his hunt and maybe we will share another hunt together some time. sorry for the extra long story .

 

[mallarditis]

son got drawn for period 4 hunt, meet up with fellow JHO member Mallarditis and his son at the gate at 5;30 am. Thanks for letting us tag along as it was my sons first ever pig hunt and i've only killed 1 pig before my self. F@G told us that the other hunters have being seeing the the pigs but no junior hunters were able to get a shot off F@G lady let us in the gate. @ 6 am and off we went in the dark of the early morning. Tried to hike away from the rest of the guys and their sons, so straight up the hill. Twenty feet in side the gate the ground was just tore up everywhere, half expected to run the pigs off before light. after an hour of hiking up hill ,seeing less sigh as we went and not even any animals we stopped to take a break and check the map. The area was rugged, up and down but there was only sparse cover were we were.

As we snuck along looking down over a lush creek bed(dry) we heard a shot and not to far from where we were. we all went on alert and keep are eyes open for escaping pigs, nothing and never heard anything else. kept going toward the back of the property and saw less sigh the whole way. worked are way back to the front gate and thought about lunch and what to do next. At the front gate several dads and sons were talking about their mornings hunt and one dad saw a big boar but was worried the shot would be to far for his son so they held off. The boy that did get a shot (the one we heard) said that they came up on two bedded sows and he got off a quick shot at them before they went in the thick brush, missing completely.That was it for the morning, great day hiking with mallarditis and his son. The boys seem to get along well and us dads shared stories of passed hunts, good and bad. it was already two o'clock and my son and i headed back out for the afternoon.

We sat and watched a brush chocked hill side until dark, only seeing on lone doe on her way down the hill to feed. After a good nights sleep we meet again at the gate and chose to try to get to the back of the property and see something different and hopefully see more sign than the day before and some pigs too. Two straight hours of hiking and not seeing anything we finally started to see deer but no pigs. Where were the pigs???? We did see some sign but only where they were crossing and not feeding or bedding. Hiked a lot of the ranch and never did see any pigs or any of the other hunters, Reached the main gate @1:30 pm. Only four trucks left in the parking lot and one was the F@G truck. Saw the boy who got a shot the first day and the father said they went back to the same spot again as the day before and the son was able to connect with a 80 yard shot on a 220 lb sow.

They tried to drag it out but after 20 feet the dad said no way and started to bone and pack it out. It was the boys first pig hunt and his first pig, i think he will be wearing that smile for some time. We parted ways with Mallarditis and his son (it was nice to meet you two and we enjoyed hunting and trying to keep up with you and your son. ) Gave my boy the option to go home or keep hunting, thinking we wood be home in a few hours. Wrong, he says he's not giving up yet as we can hunt until dark right. With one other truck in the lot besides the F@G truck we head off to hunt until dark. We worked side hill up to some dense brush and started to see fresh rooting in the soft hill side. As we sat to watch the side of the hill for any movement the wind picked up and the shadows started to creep over the hills. After ten minutes or so my son says dad i here them, we listen and i don't here anything he says they are getting closer.

Finally i here the grunting and noise of what sounds like a heard coming closer to us. We were fifteen steeps from the edge of the thick brush that dropped of in to the canyon when all of a sudden we see these little pigglets coming out to the edge off the brush rooting and play like we weren't there. After seeing 10 little ones and hearing more in the brush i tell my son to be ready for a big one to come out and drop the hammer on him soon as he see it. we stood there for what seemed like forever at a distance of fifteen steeps(paced it later) and after ten minutes of these pigs not even knowing that we were there i see a big black head coming up out of the shadows. It stops just before coming out of the bushes an stares right at me, i tell my son there it is shoot it. nothing happens as this pig continues to look right at me and i know we don't have much time.that beast and i locked eyes for 10 maybe 15 seconds both knowing it was about to take a dirt nap.

Telling my son the shoot in a whisper the black beast snorts at me and is gone. I look to my right and see my son still with the scope of the rifle up to his eye ready to shoot. He said he never say the big one and as i looked where he stood , that boar was just behind a green bush and concealed the whole time from my son. That was the most excited i've ever been on any hunt and to be that close i nearly pissed my pants. we were so close to closing the deal and yet so far away. The pigs all scattered down the canyon out of sight never offering a shot. My son says dad can we stay over and try to get them again tomorrow,i tell him it's only a two day hunt and we head down the hill in the dark. What a great hunt my son and i had together and with Mallarditis and his, to bad they weren't able to stay and experience what we did in the afternoon. thanks to F@G for being able to put together this hunt that my son and i will remember for ever. So as far as i know only one pig has been harvested on this hunt so far. Mallarditis hope your other son was able to connect on his hunt and maybe we will share another hunt together some time. sorry for the extra long story .

How awesome! What an exciting finish to the hunt!
Hey, it was great hunting with you guys. As a side note, special note of respect to Cody and Bailey who did great pounding those mountains. They were steep and those boys attacked them. Very impressive for a couple of 13 year olds!

 

[hoover]

How awesome! What an exciting finish to the hunt!
Hey, it was great hunting with you guys. As a side note, special note of respect to Cody and Bailey who did great pounding those mountains. They were steep and those boys attacked them. Very impressive for a couple of 13 year olds!

couldn't agree with you more they did better than i expected them to and they keep hunting the whole time.