Fort Hunter Ligget

[Dirk J]

Heh guys,
I just have one question if you register on Friday to hunt Saturday, but can't scout anything on Firday how an the hell am I supposed to know where to go. I hope to god this is not a stupid question, but like I said upon entering this site is, I am new at this. Even though I spent 4 glorious years in the United States Marine Corp, I am weapons knowedgeable just not pig knowlegdeable.

Thanks

Dirk J

 

[Richard McCullough]

Unfortunatley you cannot go scout the day before, You aren't allowed in the training areas the day prior, in this case Friday. Sometimes I wish I could scout a little but that is just the rules.

 

[Kickaha]

Yep, that's one of the drawbacks to FHL. When hunting a training area I haven't been to, I usually spend 1/2 day driving around the whole thing and on the major internal roads. Based on what I see, I'll usually then start hiking around near the truck and work my way outwards depending on the terrain and sign. For a two-day weekend in a new area, I'll spend all day Saturday looking for a good place to go back to Sunday morning.

The problem is, unless you've been around the training area before (like semi-scouting an area on the left side of the road while you're current training area is the right side of the road), you can't really start this till after sunrise.

It helps if you don't leave to go get lunch. Just take a sandwich or two and maybe a granola bar with you. Or at least have lunch in your truck. Use the extra couple hours to make up for the lack of time earlier in the day.

 

[Ironwood]

Dirk J, If I'm going to hunt an area that I haven't been able to scout. I get a topo map of the area. I look for roads, trails, streams, marshes, low lying areas along fence lines, power lines, and pipe lines. There is a topo map available online at www.topozone.com . A topo map is no substitute for some good scouting before hand, but it will give you a good idea where to start looking.

 

[grtwythunter]

When you get there ask Cindy....I hear she's real helpful

Just kidding Dirk. In reality you probably won't get alot of help from the check-in station. There are areas at FHL that produce more hogs than others. I haven't been there in awhile, but I've seen pigs in areas 7, 10/13, 24, 29, and 30. I'd start in one of these zones and put some time into learning them. Good luck.

Scott

 

[Kickaha]

Areas 29 and 30 are very popular, but they are shotgun, muzzle-loader, and archery only. They also tend to fill up with hunters. If it's really busy, you're going to have to get away from the roads. Too many people like to hunt from their truck. Area 29 is also park and walk. Maybe that's one reason why it gets good results.

grtwythunter was kidding. Do yourself a favor and have an idea where you want to go before getting to the check-in window. Nearly everyone asks the window workers where they should go and they can't all fit in the same area.

Make sure you go over Jesse's stuff at http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/fhl.html/ He has maps of all the training areas there you should download and print.

 

[Greenleaf]

http://www.biggamehuntingmaps.com

 

[Speckmisser]

Welcome to the list, Greenleaf! Glad to have you aboard.

Typically, it's nice to hear a little bit from someone, in addition to just getting a web link.

Are you associated with Big Game Hunting Maps? I've got their pig hunting mapbook, and gotta say that it's OK, but leaves a lot of room for improvement as far as detail and map quality. Don't remember seeing anything on FHL in there, though. It would be a good addition.

At any rate, come on in, pull up a chair (or a log), and enjoy the conversation!

 

[Greenleaf]

I just noticed the booth at the Sportsman's Expo in Pomona recently. So the maps aren't that great, you say? Oh well, good to know before I bought them.

 

[Speckmisser]

Let's just say they're minimal. It's good to have the short write-ups about each area that comes with the book, and to have all the maps in one binder, but a couple of hours on the BLM and National Forest websites could pretty much result in the same thing. I guess it depends on what your time's worth.

I think the guy's specialty is supposed to be elk and deer units, which may be better quality than his pig book.

 

[Dirk J]

Thehog packet is pretty basic. nothing on fhl in there at all and all it says about Willaims hill is "bushy" and nothing about the sob on stockdale mt.

thanks again for the advise and.......GO RAIDERS


Dirk J

 

[wmidbrook]

I've had the pig package from BG hunting maps for a few+ years now and I've been to a few of the spots he's suggested in his. I'd agree with Speckmisser in that it's okay and steers folks toward public lands that do have some pig.

I did see pig right next to the NW side (private) of William's Hill BLM. I didn't see any sign in the area he mentioned would be good for pig but I was not there during the traditional pig hunting time of Winter/Spring.

His maps have helped me in C4, D6, the Wasatch NF in Utah and the Ochoco NF of Oregon. I thought it would beat going there without any other information or would add to information I had from elsewhere too...and it did.

The pig packet is xerox'd while the deer/elk/antelope maps are hand-marked with 'quality' areas, popular areas and major migration routes (not all) are marked on the maps. For the price, I thought it was worth the information.

But, hunting public lands for pig is pretty darned dismal compared to some good private lands...it's just no comparison really in terms of the overall number of pig.

 

[wavesfr]

Hey dirk some of us are going to fhl. Presidents day weekend. Maybe ya wanna go? It's open on monday then too.

 

[Dirk J]

Thanks specks

But I am supposed to be heading out to Glammis, that is if my buddy's rail is up and ready to terroize, but i don,t know as of know, how would we hook up if I can go send me some info.

Dirk j

 

[Dirk J]

One more thing I should of thought of this before my parets live in Moro Bay and they have a rental if it is not occuiped that weekend may be we could use it


Dirk J