Hog Damage at VAFB Northstar

[myfriendis410]

LtDan: you asked for it. Here's a few shots from the Northstar cantonment and all pictures taken were at the south end of the exercise area. I never left the truck to take these pictures. This is only a sample. There's hundreds of acres like this.

 

[ltdann]

Niiiice! Have you had any luck in the area or are the hogs nocturnal? May have to switch campgrounds now.

 

[myfriendis410]

We've seen 'em. A couple of sows, 14 piglets and one boar. That was a couple of weeks ago, and they are all over the oaks so good luck finding them.

 

[ltdann]

We'll give you a call when we get in town.

 

[weekender21]

I ran into a wet sow, 5 little ones, and a small boar this weekend. Easy muzzle loader range but no bow shot offered. I saw more hog sign than I've ever seen. Lots of little bitty pig tracks too.

 

[Knock 'em Down]

I went out tonight for my first real search for pigs. I have a few questions for you guys. First, can we drive through the gate south of the Northstar? (the one that says OHV Club members only) I got to that gate, saw the sign, and turned around. Being my first time out I certainly did not want to get in any trouble. Second, is all the white turds i keep seeing pig fodder? I saw a ton of it tonight. (walked up the road behind the fam camp) I did see a bobcat and some deer but no hogs. Lots of game tracks but I can't tell if I was seeing pig or deer tracks. Are they similar? I saw some that were way to small to be deer so I assumed they were pig but there were no bigger tracks with them and I can't imagine a pig that small wandering alone. Then again, I don't really know what I'm doing with this pig game.

 

[weekender21]

-White scat = old scat

-hog tracks are more rounded and shorter than deer tracks

-lots of small piglet sized tracks around now

-small deer tracks will be showing up any day now. All the does I saw this weekend are about to pop!

 

[Knock 'em Down]

Yeah the scat was definately old. All dried up. There was newer scat but it was dry as well. The white stuff just stuck out. That's why I used that example. I did see alot of it though. And I didn't even think about the fact that the new fawns should be showing up soon so very well could've been deer tracks. I saw an area at the fam camp that the hogs had rooted up. Pretty destructive.

 

[weekender21]

Yeah, they aren't hurting anything out there. From my experience, they do most of there rooting between December and March on base. After that, they switch to the wild oats and then to the acorns in the fall.

 

[myfriendis410]

Hog droppings look just like human crap. Deer leave pellets. Coyotes leave dog droppings. The track is a rounder, deeper split hoof than a deer. They also have a short gait and tend to walk on their own track, except when running. They also tend to meander more than deer.

Next time you are out at the club, I have pictures.

 

[ltdann]

I ran into a wet sow, 5 little ones, and a small boar this weekend. Easy muzzle loader range but no bow shot offered. I saw more hog sign than I've ever seen. Lots of little bitty pig tracks too.

Out at northstar? I'll be up in a coupla weeks to try my hand at hogs....again. You'd think after deer hunting that place for 20 yrs, somewhere along the way I'd have shot a hog. Not the case.

One day....

 

[weekender21]

You have weird looking crap Allen! PM sent Dan.

 

[ltdann]

Yeah the scat was definately old. All dried up. There was newer scat but it was dry as well. The white stuff just stuck out. That's why I used that example. I did see alot of it though. And I didn't even think about the fact that the new fawns should be showing up soon so very well could've been deer tracks. I saw an area at the fam camp that the hogs had rooted up. Pretty destructive.

Congrats on being stationed at one of the finest hunting destinations on the west coast! I hope to run into you in the field one day.

 

[calikiller4ya]

here is a picture of a hog track, notice how the tips of the hooves are spread out and not closed like a typical deer track. also note the length to width ratio, much different then a longer more narrow deer track.
in addition to looking for fresh sign keep a note pad with you when you're scouting and keep track of the fresh sign (date i.e. 12MAR2010 right and left side of OHV gate in C3) i have found that the pigs on VAFB have worked the same areas around the same times year after year. although this year is a wet year and there was a HUGE acorn crop, which will change some things. but when things start to dry up it will all go back to normal.
the best tip for hog hunting is: Hogs are not Deer, separate the two and you'll be on the right path.

 

[calikiller4ya]

anytime, good luck with the hogs!

 

[Knock 'em Down]

Cool picture. I appreciate it. Actually I appreciate all the advice. However, I may be an idiot but when you said "Hogs are not Deer, separate the two and you'll be on the right path." What does that mean? Where you see deer, you won't see hogs? Or am I taking it too literal.

 

[myfriendis410]

That's pretty much what he means. When you are looking high in the brush, you aren't looking down low where the hogs are. I've seen hogs chase deer right out of a field.

I'm telling you: get up high and just sit for the last hour with a good pair of binoculars and glass. If you don't walk back to the truck in the dark you didn't wait long enough. Glass the edges of brush, the bottoms of brushy valleys, North facing slopes with brush etc. Be patient and you'll see 'em.

 

[ltdann]

I believe he means you hunt them differently. They behave differently and deer tactics won't work.

 

[Knock 'em Down]

Thanks again gentlemen. Dan, it would be a pleasure to meet you.

 

[richracer1]

I went out tonight for my first real search for pigs. I have a few questions for you guys. First, can we drive through the gate south of the Northstar? (the one that says OHV Club members only) I got to that gate, saw the sign, and turned around. Being my first time out I certainly did not want to get in any trouble. Second, is all the white turds i keep seeing pig fodder? I saw a ton of it tonight. (walked up the road behind the fam camp) I did see a bobcat and some deer but no hogs. Lots of game tracks but I can't tell if I was seeing pig or deer tracks. Are they similar? I saw some that were way to small to be deer so I assumed they were pig but there were no bigger tracks with them and I can't imagine a pig that small wandering alone. Then again, I don't really know what I'm doing with this pig game.

Don't worry about that OHV Club or any of their trail signs around the Northstar area. They only applied to those in the VAFB OHV club that rode the trails around Northstar. They never applied to hunters and where they could drive. You have the VAFB hunting instruction that governs where you can drive your vehicles.