Guided hunts -- public land

[jpichler]

does anyone know if there is any guides that would guide on public land? I have been hunting for a little while here in California and take any chance i get to get out and walk around places like (BLM land) Coalinga, San Luis Resevoir and this weekend Cache Creek.

i was going to go th FHL this weekend until they decided *NOT* to open any training areas

some of the bigger places like Cache Creek are "overwhelming" size wise even with all my homework gathering maps, reading forum posts and so on, my point is that I love getting out but all this driving around wasting gas and time when your not that familiar with the area seems (despite the good time had) wastefull when I only get so many "hunting passes" from the wife and kid.

i know everyone always says "save up and go on private land" but i would rather spend my $$ paying for someones (read guide or outfitter) time and experience instead of being lead to the pigs on private ranches. you might say "well arent you just being led to the pigs by guides on public land". well..you might think so but we all know the chances of bagging a pig on public is much harder than private.

anyway share your thoughts on the subject, all feedback is welcomed by a new'ish CA hunter.

BTW great times were had, scouting, cooking and telling stories around the fire.

safe hunting.

--JP

 

[upper]

J,you don't get any more pleasure payin to spit into the wind.Upper

 

[Rancho Loco]

J-

Go out and beat the bushes in BLM, have a good time getting outside, and learn what to look for on your own dime.

Or pay to learn some stuff from guides, and most likely get a pig.

Or come to the May pig-o-rama with the JHO crew, learn alot from the veteranos, see a great ranch and lots of pigs, and have fun with the crew.

 

[tradman]

I really don't see what you would have to gain by paying a guide to take you on public land versus paying them to guide you on private. I can't imagine there'd be too much difference in the price. And I'd be really surprised if your odds increased at all of getting on hogs on public land even you had a guide. The animals are either there or they're not. What it really takes is spending some time getting to know an area and humping some hills.

There are some very reasonable (in the $500/2-day range) private land hunts that will give you a decent chance of getting on game. I don't know what guides are charging, but I suspect you'd be paying pretty close to that after you factor in gas, accommodation, etc.

If your concern is canned hunts or high-fence operations, there are plenty of ranches that are every bit as big and wild as any BLM area that would hold game.

 

[bigtusker]

Paying a guide to hunt on private land only increases your odds it doesn't guarantee that you'll kill anything.

 

[bayedsolid]

I sent you an e-mail. Give me a call I have a couple of ideas for you.