Going on a death march!!! Help me decide where to go.

[JK_Hog]

HI All,

I recently posted about my secocnd guided hog hunt (successful weekend hunt at RnJ) and I'd like to get some input on where to go on public land.

So, this Wednesday and Thursday I have off from work! I'm a Chemical Engineer that works for Genentech and Bayer. I prefer not to go out on weekend hunts since I have 2.5 and 3.5 year old girls that I spend my weekend time with. I'm going out on an overnight death march

on public land and I'd like to hear back on where you'd recommend.

I've tried a couple of public land hunts in the past at clear creek (now closed) and griswold hills and I'm not going to go back to Griswold hills (any luck would be with transient pigs) yet it was fun hiking all the way up to the top and cruising along.

So here are the places I'm considering:

Laguna Mountain- a little close to the bay area so possibly a lot of pressure yet its walk-in so who knows?

Colinga Mineral springs- No good bedding areas around and doesn't appear to have water so most likely transient pigs?

Stockdale Mountain- Make sure you stay on the BLM land since the adjascent private landowner's will be watching.

Williams Hill- DFG states that you can drive on some roads within this area is it a dirt biker place or worth a gander?

Curry mountain- Just have the usual DFG info.

Cottonwood area- Does this exist? I thought there was a place to hunt near San Luis Reservoir off of 152. Is it just BLM land that I have access to because I didn't find cottonwood on the DFG website?

I'm going to be trying Hunter liggett next I just haven't sent in the permit application.

I'm also thinking I'm gonna bring the paperwork to ask permission to hunt some property too and maybe I'll get lucky. Posting on craigslist didn't work

Sorry for so many questions. Just feel free to comment and tell me which public land spot/spots from above you would go to!


Now I just gotta find some copper in .270 caliber. I hope Reeds has it since Mel Cotton's didn't.

Thanks!!!

joshua_kuhl@yahoo.com (just in case you don't want to give out your public land info on a forum)

 

[myfriendis410]

Go to FHL: that's gonna be your best bet. Check beforehand as there is a high training volume through there with frequent closures.

 

[efm1aug1]

I am not sure about any of these,but I did hear something about pigs at cottonwood..
I am also courious about any piggies on public land up around Arnold..I heard there are some off of Sheep Camp rd..Any info would be appricated..

 

[Cold1nhand]

We used to get some pigs at FHL. Just make sure that you stay in your area and don't speed. Out of the list you posted I wouild say that is your best bet.

 

[JK_Hog]

I can't go to FHL for another two weeks since I just sent the application in so if you were to choose between the above choices minus FHL which would it be?

Thanks,

JK_Hog

 

[Speckmisser]

If you're just going for a death march, any of the areas you listed would be fine for that, especially in July.

If I were a gambling man and wanted to add in the chance at a hog on my death march, even though odds are really low I'd probably go with Laguna Mountain. If you're really willing to hump your ass off, you can get away from most of the people out there.

But nothing is going to compare with your recent private land hunt. You probably know this, but just to keep the expectations reasonable.

 

[rnjwildhoghunts]

Josh, good luck on your hunt, pack lots of water.

 

[ooja]

I have no better input than you already have on the locations.

Consider, if it is uncomfortable for you to be cruising around, it will be uncomfortable for them to be also. If it is hot and you don't want to move, neither will they. I guess you could get lucky pushing some out of their beds. If you want to spot them up and about, try the first hour after sunrise, and last hour and a half before sunset. I bet you probably already know this though.

A few veteran hog doggers have mentioned that they will stick to cover even with people moving pretty close near by, so I won't bust brush for them. That means I generally hunt very few hours in the day.

Perhaps you could go some place you could do something else, like fishing in a creek for the hot hours? I just thought I would put that out as it could influence where you choose to go.

 

[scottosan]

I have had good luck at Stockdale....just bring the GPS and you should be ok.