Going to los padres national forest for hogs

[theseacow]

Hey guys,

Im planning on going to Los Padres national forest this weekend for hogs. I will be coming down from san jose so Ill probably take arroyo seco road from 101 towards the coast to find a spot. Is that entire area the ventana wilderness? How far should I drive in before staking out for pigs? I plan on covering some distance, and hopefully find some sign. I would like to get to a spot around 5:30 am or so to give me some time to get out there and maybe see some pigs if im really lucky. Anybody know a good starting place?

Also, how does that adventure pass work for the wilderness if im just going there to hunt for one full day and not camp? I am planning on picking one up if necessary. Since this place is so big, Im planning on multiple trips to see what different parts of the area are like(unless of course i find pigs the first time!). Id really like advice on the place, and any tips or info you can give a newbie like me to help show me what to expect, would be greatly appreciated. Ive seen alot of great advice here, and Id love to get some of it on this national forest. Any roads in particular I should travel? Any trails? How is the access situation in this weather? Where can I go to get away from people there? Im planning on staying in the upper part of this park, because it is closer to san jose, and Id love to find a close place where I can hopefully find pigs.
(btw, ill be usin a .30-06 with premium bullets)

Any advice on this place is greatly appreaciated!!

Thanks in advance,
-theseacow

 

[reddog5]

You will need an adventure pass if you park your vehicle in any national forests and, or wilderness areas. There pretty cheap and if you plan on hunting more than a couple of times in these areas it is a good idea.

Sorry, but i have never hunted that far north. I've only heard of pigs being taken up there.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!!

 

[bighorn67]

I've never hunted up there, but from what I've read you'll need to hike in at least a couple of miles. Find a water source and look for trees with rubbing spots about two feet up the trunk.

Let us know how it goes. We love hunting stories

Good Luck

Dave

 

[sdbowyer]

theseacow,

I think you're on the right track taking arroyo seco road to the coast. After you hit the 1 there are a couple of forest access roads that you can take (if they are open). They are North of the road that takes you to Fort Hunter Ligget on the coast side. You take those in and find a place to park and/or camp. You will need an adventure pass. There were pigs up there when I camped there but you never know when they'll pass through. And wait until you see how steep of a hike you're in for LOL! But you're also in for some of the most beautiful scenery you could ever hunt in.

I have a couple more ideas for you but you'll have to PM me.

 

[theseacow]

Does anyone know of any specific places to avoid? What about elevation? Will the pigs be past a certain height above sea level? Thanks for the help.

 

[sdbowyer]

You could see them at any elevation. In fact, I saw one AT sea level around this time of year- meaning he was crossing Highway 1 to go nosing around for food by the sea. I've heard that there are certain parking places to avoid leaving your vehicle, but I don't know where they are. Try to drive in to a remote place if you have 4WD.

 

[Backcountry]

Originally posted by theseacow@Jan 20 2004, 10:04 PM
Does anyone know of any specific places to avoid? 

If you really wear out the boot leather and make it back in to Sykes Hot Springs (which is a loooong way from where you're entering), you'll run into a bunch of nekid tree-huggers.

I hike in there a couple times a year (mostly in the winter) from the coast (11 hilly miles, 1 way) to soak in the pools by the stream, but only during the week (too many noisy littering tree-huggers on the weekends).

I've seen pigs back there, and some BIG bucks too, but the cover is as thick as Hillary's lies and the poison oak will get ya iching like Bill in a whorehouse.

I've contemplated hunting back there, but have ruled it out because of the poison oak. I think if I had to drag and dress and animal back there that I'd be in the hospital within a day due to a systemic poison oak infection (ick!). Never seen the stuff so thick.

Cheers, and good luck!

Backcountry

 

[Kentuck]

Aww, Backcountry! That hill wasn't that bad! Now I know why you didn't even blink when I said it might be tough getting up that hill! It's all good, us older folks just have to take our time!

 

[rtbx15]

Sea Cow, how was your trip down to Los Padres? Good, I hope. I recently talked to a friend of mine who used to hunt that area, (he has'nt in a while due to a wife and children; the whole tragedy) When he was going he told me that.he had good luck in the Chews Ridge area. It's down the Tassahara Springs Road just past the Ranger watch tower. It's a rutted, slow road and the area is probaby. two hours driving time below Carmel Valley. He also said the terrain is very steep, but that they are often there. Good luck and let us know how you did. Bob

 

[dreaminhogs]

I know there are pigs in the Chews Ridge area but it is a good day worth of hiking to get to them. If you get one a good Day to pack it out. The terrain is pretty steep but again they are there if you are willing to work for them. Good luck.

 

[theseacow]

Well I was planning on giving a report of the place, but there isnt much to report....

I travelled down from San Jose, down 101, and took arroyo seco road. I passed alot of campsites on the way in, and many of them were filled with campers and various trailers. I didn't think this would be the case this time of year, with the weather and all, but there were people noneoftheless (ive never been to los padres before). So I passed carmel valley road, and passed the 2 small lakes. I believe this is where the road becomes a little more unstable, (according to my map, the line that represents the road, gets alot thinner), eventually this turns into Indians road i think. My plan was to drive down that road, and eventually turn off into the mountains and hike way back there to look for sign. Bottom line is, when I got to where the road thins out, just past the lakes, it was closed and blocked off. There was also a sign nearby that said to avoid hiking the closed off roads. I had no choice but to turn back at that point and find someother enterance, so I backtracked, and turned down ______ canyon road, (I need to check my map for the name ( i forgot)). I drove down that road all the way to where it becomes FHL, and had to turn around. I could not find any enterance into the park from there, and it looked to be alot of private land. I turned around again and realizing that I had no way of getting into that park without MAJOR backtracking and heading down highway 1 to explore, I jumped on elma avenue to 101 and headed to laguna mountain. I plan on studying the maps again, and going down highway 1 next time, and hopefully Ill be able to find a decent hunting spot.

Anyways, travelling down coalinga road to laguna mountain, I did see alot of animals including deer, turkeys, a couple of pheasants, rabbits, and a fox. nature was really active that day it seemed. I went to laguna to explore some parts of it i hadnt seen yet, and maybe get lucky and see a pig. I know that the weekend hunting at these places are pretty much dead, but I had to get out somewhere and hunt. I didnt see any pigs, but plenty of birds and rabbits. I even ran into some big mountain quails. I hiked all over that mountain, and did see sign, but no luck. I was also being followed by a mountain lion, which kept me moving and alert the whole time. I never saw it, but the trails for somewhat muddy, and the only tracks on it were my boot tracks and a few pig tracks. I would backtrack every now and then, and each time I did, there were HUGE mountain lion tracks right on top of my boot tracks fresh. This happened everywhere I went, and kept me on the draw the whole time. I never saw it, but it was there following me, I guess it was trying to smell me and get a good look or something. who knows.

So no pigs for me this last weekend (still havent gotten one yet, but hoping to change that). But ill keep at it. Im gonna do some research on the highway 1 side of los padres, so any advice here is welcome. Other then this weekend, Im gonna try to be out lookin for pigs or new spots everyweekend of feb and march, and any advice on other spots or anything is welcome.

Good luck hunting, everybody!

-theseacow

 

[Loye]

Awesome story. Try going up by Nacimiento Ferguson Rd or Coast Ridge Rd.

 

[raidernation]

seacow-
Let's see where do I begin? You threw me for a loop with the Lion tracking

As far as not being able to get to Chew's ridge or to better Forest access, Here are the correct directions. Take Arroyo Seco Rd. TO Carmel Valley Rd. YOU NEED TO TURN ONTO CARMEL VALLEY RD(left). Follow Carmel Valley Rd. take a left onto Cachagua Rd. Just a little ways up you will take another left onto Tassajara Rd. This is a dirt road and goes at least 5-6 miles. DO NOT TAKE ANY TRAILS OF THE ROAD FOR THE FIRST 2-3 MILE (PRIVATE PROPERTY). It is posted so, You should not have any problems. You will also see some STRANGE STRANGE people that live right around the Cachagua/Tassajara juction. You will think you were on the set of deliverance or something

Anyways once you get to the top of Tassajara Rd. you will know your at Chew's Lookout. You are on the top of the ridge and there is a few primitve campsite's on the right. You can follow the road for a little longer and then hike from there. This is the best access when coming from the north. As it gets you 4-6 miles inside the forest. The two Lake's you mentioned MUST have been the wide swimming pools of the Arroyo Seco River as there are no lakes up there. The gate that you got to is ALWAYS closed(As of about 6-8 years ago). This sucks as you used to be able to drive WAY up there, In fact you used to be able to drive right into Tassajara Hot Springs from here. Anyways, The maps never show closed roads, Especially dirt/forest roads. I hope this helps, In fact next time you decide to make the trip send me a PM and I will try to meet you somewhere or ride up there with you. I live here in Salinas Valley and have some experience with not only the area,But Hogs as well. P.S. Once you turn onto Carmel Valley Rd. about 1-2 mile on the left are some dirt roads that are N.F. I think its ????? loop rd. or something like that. It only goes in maybe 1/2 mile but you can park and hike from there. Hope this helps!!

 

[raidernation]

Just reading my part of the thread and relized thatI said"Take a left onto Carmel Valley rd" YOU ARE TO TURN RIGHT AS THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO!!
sorry

 

[theseacow]

Raidernation-

Hey man! Thanks for the advice! I will try that out. Ill do that within the next few weekends. Ill send you a PM, because I still have a question on the roads, and I dont want to run into any squinty eyed kids with no teeth, playing banjo.


-theseacow

 

[Cazador]

Hey you might check out Boulchers Gap, my dad and I used to hunt this area 10 years ago and I saw the biggest boar of my life camped out on a ridge up there.

-Cazador

 

[Cazador]

I have heard the rattlers are really bad in Los Padres these days, is this true? Anybody have any experiences with them lately?

 

[raidernation]

I have never seen a Rattler up there. On the north side of the park anyways. I have seen some down in the lower elevation, Especially on the west side (Coast Rd.) Chew's ridge is COLD for the next 2-3 months. If they are there, They won't be out until at least late May.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Yep...Buzztails be snoozing right now.