Hog Damage at VAFB Northstar

[calikiller4ya]

you are both correct, Alan is absolutely right with the glassing for them and with the whole quality optics. don't cut corners on binos. there is a reason most of the deer hunters on Vandenberg don't see hogs, it's because they don't now how to look for them and when to look for them. if you are out at noon glassing for hogs, pack a lunch you'll be there awhile. if you are hunting hogs during the middle of the day, it should be for sign. look for were they are bedding, pigs are different then deer in most cases hogs will dig out there beds. where a deer will just lay down. hogs need water or mud to stay cool in the summer so find the water sights that they are using and figure out if they are coming at last light or if they are coming in the middle of the night. if a water spring is just out side the bedding area then there is a good chance you'll see them at last or first light. if not it is seldom that a mature hog will travel far during shooting light in this case it's better to hunt the bedding areas. VAFB has a good deal of hunting pressure so it doesn't take long to educate a pig. looking for trees near a wallow is also a good tool, pigs will rub up against the trees and leave a mud line letting you take an educated guess at how big they are. also boars will take their cutters and notch the trees, this is a good sign if you are a gentlemen and only kill boars.
good luck and look for the nutts

 

[weekender21]

I KILL sows! I'm an equal opportunity hog killer, no discrimination here.....unless she has little ones.

 

[calikiller4ya]

I thought you'd like that whole gentlemen part Andy!

 

[Knock 'em Down]

Just got back from hunt #2. Didn't see any pigs but it was a beautiful night to be out of the house. I did get up higher, and I did glass right up until dark. I tend not to stray too far from my vehicle when I'm out by myself. Especially when I'm only armed with my bow. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about but that's me. And not that I haven't heard it before, but when you're in unfamiliar country and that sun goes down, when those coyotes start yipping, boy that's eerie. If only there were elk to bugle through these valleys.

 

[ltdann]

Just got back from hunt #2. Didn't see any pigs but it was a beautiful night to be out of the house. I did get up higher, and I did glass right up until dark. I tend not to stray too far from my vehicle when I'm out by myself. Especially when I'm only armed with my bow. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about but that's me. And not that I haven't heard it before, but when you're in unfamiliar country and that sun goes down, when those coyotes start yipping, boy that's eerie. If only there were elk to bugle through these valleys.

Gawd, wouldn't that be great? You can hunt elk 2 hours up the road at FHL.

You know something else I've never seen there? Turkeys. I wonder why?

 

[Redneck75]

Gawd, wouldn't that be great? You can hunt elk 2 hours up the road at FHL.

You know something else I've never seen there? Turkeys. I wonder why?

Elk on VAFB would be awesome!

I'm thinking the reason there's no turkeys may have something to do with spotting a coyote/bobcat every 15 minutes on that base...just too many predators.

 

[myfriendis410]

Mike is right: too many predators, too much thick chaparral and not enough big oaks. Don't forget there's lots of hawks and owls too.

Andy: I would shoot a dry sow too if I only had a weekend to hunt as well, but as we are hunting 4-5 nights a week and the freezer is full, it's not like there's any real pressure, you know? Josh is just messing with you anyway.