Hawg Hunting in Hollister or King City

[yotegetter]

I'm looking to do a hawg hunt in a few months. I'd like to do some hunting with a guide in the Hollister area. I've heard of Ed Sparling. Has anyone hunted with him before? How's his operation? What does he charge? Any info on this guy would be great.

I would consider King City as well(not Mustang Guide Svc.). Looking at Nessen Schmidt. Anyone hunt with him before? Anyone else in King City?

I prefer Hollister or around Gilroy since I have a place to stay in Gilroy.

One thing I should probably add is that I don't want to use a guide that primarily uses dogs. If they can go without the dogs, fine. Or I won't mind using dogs to track a wounded hog, but not to pin them down and hold them for me. Will Sparling go with dogs as secondary?

Also, I'm looking for a rifle/pistol hunt. I'd definitely go with Chopper, except I'm not a bowhunter.....yet anyways.

One more thing....my price range is up to $450.

Thanks.

 

[manfreddy]

I know the Sparlings well. PM coming your way.

 

[reddog5]

ive been on 2 different hunts with nesson schmidt. Both very successful!! he has so many damn hogs on his ranches it will make you sick! I paid 300 dollars for a "meat pig" both times. I kid you not I shot both pigs In about 30 min. from time we arrived on property. i saw about 80 pigs on the way back (after i already got my pigs!) great outfit. I just wish he wasnt 5 hours away.

 

[hoytrdye]

i'll take any info you guys will give up on these two guides

 

[Freedivr2]

A guide in the San Miguel (South of King City) that I wouldn't hesitate to go with is Tom Willoughby. We stayed at the Allen Ranch many years back, nice bed and breakfast place in San Miguel (they also raise Morgan horses...nice place, good folks, cool lookin horses).

I haven't used Mustang Guide service, but have heard nothing but good things about them until your mention that you wouldn't use them. Could you tell us why? Is it because he uses dogs on all the hunts?

 

[reddog5]

Nesson Schmidt has dogs too but we never had to use them either time i went. I took my 16 year old brother with me and he missed about 10 different hogs! one shot was at 25 yards. he went through about 60 rounds untill we realized his scope mounts were loose. Anyway he finally got one using the guides gun. The guide was so patient never got upset and kept looking for pigs. Made an awesome hunt and a lasting impression. He gutted ,skinned ,and quartered our pigs and all we had to do was shoot! They are also the lowest prices i seen for a pig hunt. I paid 300 for my meat pig and i beleive my partner paid 500 for his trophy.

 

[Brian S]

I'll second the recomendation for Tom Willoughby. I took my first pig hunt with him and his son Blake back in June. Both are hard workers and put us on pigs. The only time I saw them use dogs was to look for one that ran off with my 165 grain slug and to put an elderly guy on one that didn't get one the night before. His group of 4 had three down the first night. Tom has access to lots of properties around Paso Robles, on up to San Ardo where we shot our's. If you want to do a little hard labor to get your pig follow Blake on the trail. He had me hoofing it over hill and dale to get on hawgs, he likes to put the stalk on them and get to within rock throwing distance.
Brian