hiking lake sonoma

[signguy707]

hi all, so i know pig season is closed for lake sonoma, im new but i wanted to scout the area for the nexr season....that place is feakin huge! i hiked along the lake for about 3 miles...i think its called grey pine. but is there a particular way to traverse the area to find where the pigs congregate?? do they stay on top of the hills or more so by the water...or do they just constantly range that scouting this far out from the season is a waste of time? btw, i also have a tracking dog...is it illegal to use the dog to track a pig while the dog is on a leash? i was thinking to use the dog to maybe just find good places that the pigs nestle down....
sorry if the questions are way to basic....just trying to collect intel and learn what i need to do to properly survey the land....

Thanks for any help!

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Hey signguy it's not a waste of time to scout there off season it gives u a chance to scout out the land and get familiar with the trails and get or stay in great shape. Have a lake Sonoma trail map and just hit the different areas all the trails are marked then when u come across some pig sign go off trail to investigate. Then when u see a good spot that might be holding pigs check that's out. U can use game cams but they do get stolen sometines.They can be high or low so be ready for some billy goating. It's a big place to try and cover during the season especially if u live far from there so off season scouting will give u a lay out advantage. U can walk your dog through the park that's legal. And when I use to scout off season there I use hiking sticks u cover a lot more ground and can climb and decend easier. Have good boots a water blader and some good binos and u are good to go. Don't forget to stop in at the visitor and chat with them they are very helpful with info. Also rangerjoel who works at the park is a jho member if u ever bump into him he is a great guy and knows the lake well. Also the best way to get tips where pig's have been seen there are regular hikers of the lake, I would always get good info on pig sightings from them they cover a lot of ground. There's just a hand full of parking lots and they all cover different areas and trails of the lake so just try a new area each time u go there. Then if u want u can drive a little farther up 101 north to Cloverdale and there's a road that takes u to the other side of lake Sonoma but it would be good to go with someone who's done that side before. Hope this helps and good luck.....tra