Going on a Pig Hunt!!!

[Surfswest]

Wow, I can't believe all the information and news and articles that are posted here on this site! I only got interested in pig hunting within the last 2 months or so and finally going out on my first pig hunt later this month. Got 3 other friends going

and some good info about excellent areas around tehachapi. actually got permission to cross and access private land up there just by talkin to a couple locals and makina couple of phone calls. not bad for two weeks work!
anyway, hoping i can soon add my pictures to this site and show off my first pig.

Frosty

 

[Lurediver]

Surfswest, Good Luck and killem dead! Can't wait for a story, Post some pics

 

[Speckmisser]

Welcome to JHO Surfwest, and congrats on getting access to private property. Two big scores in one quick series!

Seriously, way to go on getting permission. I believe it's out there, if folks will just ask.

 

[MikenSoCo]

I can vouch that Speck

 

[switch]

Surfswest, welcome. I'll be hiking the back hills of Tejon looking for pigs this weekend. know how you feel.

 

[baboltin]

welcome to jho its awesome. what area in tehachapi are u hunting?

 

[Surfswest]

Thanks guys. I actually grew up in Rosamond just south/east of tehchapi, so that gave me a couple of contacts to start with, and from there a friend of a friend of a friend said he has access and is looking for an excuse to go. Perfect!! The 18th is set and my hopes are high.

I have another question. What are the thoughts about ammunition? From everything I've read, it says 150 grain count or higher is good, but how about tips? Should i use a soft tip (assuming this is best), a hollow tip, or a reg ammo tip? I've heard both arguments for "one blows more possible meat" while the other side says "it assures a better kill" with a hollow.

What do you guys out there hunt with?

ps. hey switch, let me know where you check out and what you find. I might have some helpful intel for you as well about up there for possible pigs on public BLM land.

 

[Speckmisser]

What are YOU shooting, Surfwest? That'll help us to better discuss, debate, and generally brawl over what is best.

Seriously, it really depends on what you're shooting. A .270 or .260 with 150gr bullets would be an interesting experiment, while a .338 with 150s would almost seem a varmint round.

I shoot a 30-06 and like 180gr Nosler Partitions, but that's because I like to use the same rifle and same load for everything from deer to elk. Pigs kinda fall in between. The 180 shoots great in this rifle, but I know a lot of guys swear by 165 grains, which is plenty of bullet for hogs.

As far as bullet type, go with a soft-point bullet. Hollow-points in a rifle are for varmints or blowing up pumpkins. You want controlled expansion. That can come from something as basic as the Remington Core-Lokt (standard, green-box Remington big game ammo) or from something like the Barnes X (which is factory loaded only by Federal, I believe). You don't have to spend a ton of money, or go loaded for elephants. I recommend against the "ballistic tip" ammo, due mainly to my own and others' experience with meat loss.

The ideal, of course, is to take a few boxes of different ammo to the range, and see what shoots best out of your rifle. It's not gonna matter if you have a round that'll drop a charging cape buffalo if your rifle won't keep it inside a 3 or 4 inch circle at 100 yards (ideally, of course, you're looking for groups inside 2 inches). You want to find something that your rifle really shoots well, then practice with it.

If you do some searching on this site, you'll find a ton of discussions about best caliber, rifle, and bullet for hogs or anything else you might find yourself hunting.

 

[Rancho Loco]

What are you going to be carrying?

Whatever it is, don't use hollow or ballistic tips. Use a good tough bullet - corelokt, partition, accubond, Barnes X or TSX, interbond, are some good choices. Pigs aren't hard to kill if you get 'em in the right spot - but light bullets can blow up pretty fast on bone or cartilage plate and not allow a hit to the vitals.

And even with a lethal hit, alot of times they'll have some run in 'em. Which brings up penetration, that's another key to bullet selection - if you get a pass through it will give a better blood trail if they do give a dying sprint into the thick stuff.

Good luck and take pix.

 

[Rancho Loco]

heheheh...Speck beats me by a few minutes.

Bet he doesn't beat me at who gets his first hog this year..

Speaking of boolits, I'm working on my final loads of 200 grain Triple Shock X's for my .300 Win mag..I might be hunting tejon with some anti-tank rounds this year.

 

[Surfswest]

Oops..........forgot that vital info.

Ill most likely be using a 30-06 but also have an option of using my grandfathers .257 x 6.5 Jap paratrooper rifle.

He used it for everything from pig to deer to elk. the only challenge is finding the ammo around for it. He used to load all of his own and I inherited all the equipment to do it, but just don't have the time to pull out all the equipment, figure out how to do it, and to do it properly.

Unless i can find the ammo, ill probably be using the 30-06.

 

[Hot barrel]

My dad owned some desert property on the south side of the Tehachapi's. It was north of Rosemond Blvd. and north of the aqueduct off of 140th (Dirt Road). We grew up riding dirt bikes there in Places like Bean Canyon and Tylerhourse Canyon.

I went on a private Pheasant hunt on the north side a few weeks ago. The place we go to is near the end of Banducci Road next to the prison. I have heard that the whole area north and south of the Tehachapi Mts is all private. I took a drive on the south side on my way home from the pheasant hunt to check out the property and area that I have not seen in over 20 years. It looks the same for the most part, but with a few more small homes and or shacks.

I checked the area out on a map and found that there was some BLM land up in there, but I heard that it was all land locked. I would sure like to get access to the BLM sections to check for pigs.

 

[bigtusker]

If you are using your .06, just grab some remington core-lokt's in 150 or 165 grain and go to the range. See which one shoots best and use those. They are not super expensive but are good bullets. I have probably whacked a couple hundred hogs with my .06 using them.

 

[Gyopo]

I'va had good luck w/the 180 grainers from my '06.
The one pig I shot w/a 150 grainer, the bullet stopped against the spine.
Not a long shot either.

The Federal red box is good stuff.
Reasonably priced and good shooting.
I don't think the box is red anymore, though.

Make sure it shoots well and have a good time.

 

[Rick]

Haha - one of the last pigs I shot was with Chopper's rifle and a 150 gr Corelokt... the bolt release on my rifle broke so I had to borrow his.

 

[bigtusker]

Damn Rick, that had to be 4 years ago!

 

[hunt hard]

I agree withbig tusker

 

[baboltin]

Hot barrel u hunted at 4 seasons in tehachapi. ya most of the land here is private that is why it isnt worth getting a d10 unless u have private property to hunt or permission to hunt it.

Surfswest were are u hunting maybe i can help u out with the area.

 

[Surfswest]

Awesome, thanks for the helpful info guys, I really appreciate it.

The area I'm going to is definately private and have to cross three other private areas to get there. Luckly my local contact has permission to cross those areas to get to this prime hunting land way up in the hills. If you know the area, all I know (since I haven't gotten up there yet) is that it's NW off Rosamond Blvd. and 170th and that I'm told you can look down on the hidden military range in there. Ill have more info after the 18th when I go up there.

Some other areas though I'm curious about are on the back road from rosamond to Tehachapi. If your familiar with this area, email me and lets figure out this one spot Im thinking of, if its private of not.

Hey hot barrel, you from rosamond? Rosamond high class of '97 here.

Frosty

 

[Rick]

Yeah, Chopper - that was one of your last rifle hunts. (Not that We were the cause of that change!!!!)

I am actually looking at bows, so maybe someday soon, I'll be back at your place. (About time, eh?) Is a 60 lb draw enough for hogs? What arrows do you recommend?

Yeah, that was about 150 yard shot on a 175 pound sow, as I recall. Good eating!