Hog hinting in So/Cental California. Help needed!!

[MikeE]

Gents, I’m located in Southern California and I would like to do some hog hunting. I’m a relatively green hunter. I’m not looking for anything expensive or private. Just for a place to go for a 2-3 day hunting trip, backpacking.
I’m looking for a public place where I can backpack, scout and learn the basics first hand, enjoy myself in semi-hilly landscape. If I find some hogs, great. If not, I guess I’ll get back happy dreaming of the next time I’ll get out there.
Is there such a place in So-Cal or Central California? I guess Central Cal will be preferable since it’s less arid. If there is such a place, what do I need to do, other than getting tags and showing up there on a sunny Sat morning? Am I a dreamer or such places exist in Cal?
Right now I have a BAR 338 WM. It’s a little heavy to curry around for 3 days “hiking”. I’ve been looking into the Rem700 Titanium. Most likely the 308 or the 300Mag . Maybe it’s too much of a caliber for a hog but intend to sell the BAR for some cash... and I need a caliber that is somewhere between the light deer optimized calibers and the heavy bear basting cannons. What is the accuracy I should expect with such a rifle out of the box? Any other alternatives to a Rem700 Ti?
Please, any feedback, hints and tips will be greatly appreciated. Personal and subjective opinions are very welcome.
Mike

 

[Speckmisser]

Mike,

You've asked an awful lot of questions that'll take an awful lot of answering. But you've come to the right place, and welcome!

You'll probably get some good responses right here, but for more info on all the questions you've asked, you should also try the search feature. You'll find discussions on all the topics you raised, and then some!

For a quick answer to some of your questions...

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I’m not looking for anything expensive or private. Just for a place to go for a 2-3 day hunting trip, backpacking.
I’m looking for a public place where I can backpack, scout and learn the basics first hand, enjoy myself in semi-hilly landscape.[/b]

Well, if you want hogs on public land, in a "semi-hilly" landscape, you're gonna have to look at Camp Roberts (closed 'til April), or Fort Hunter Liggett. Pretty much any other public land with any number of hogs is way beyond "semi-hilly". Steep canyons are the rule, because the hogs are way too smart to be living in easily accessible country. There's a lot of pressure on public land, and hogs are probably some of the smartest, most adaptable critters you'll ever hunt.

You'll have to go at least as far as the Los Padres Nat'l Forest, since the pigs pretty much stop along that area. Up near the Grapevine, you have Tejon Ranch, which is not public but offers some good hog hunting opportunities. But for public hunting you'll generally have to head further north.

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If there is such a place, what do I need to do, other than getting tags and showing up there on a sunny Sat morning?[/b]

You mention that you're green. How green? There's a lot you can and should do before you ever head out on that "sunny Saturday morning." Study up on hogs and habitat. There are a couple of good books available, as well as the CA DFG's hog hunting brochure (which contains some really good, basic info).

Read up on some threads on this list, and learn what are good shots on a wild hog. There's a diagram posted on one of the recent threads that shows the vital areas of a wild hog. It's good information. Hogs can be difficult to trail, not to mention potentially dangerous. You want to kill it quick, and on the spot.

Practice at the range with whatever weapon you'll be hunting with, and learn your limitations. Be prepared to stay within those limitations. Just because a gun/load combination can kill a moose at 1000 yards, doesn't mean you should be taking 1000 yard shots.

Which leads us to:

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Right now I have a BAR 338 WM. It’s a little heavy to curry around for 3 days “hiking”. I’ve been looking into the Rem700 Titanium. Most likely the 308 or the 300Mag . Maybe it’s too much of a caliber for a hog but intend to sell the BAR for some cash... and I need a caliber that is somewhere between the light deer optimized calibers and the heavy bear basting cannons.[/b]

While I'm a firm believer in "use enough gun", that 338 would be slight overkill on most hogs. Hogs are tough, and a big one can take some killing. However, a fairly light round that you shoot well is going to be a far better choice than a heavy magnum that kills on both ends. They're not Cape Buffalo, and most of the time you can get pretty close to deliver the shot.

You'd do well with the 300 mag, or the 300WSM would make for a good, lightweight hog and deer combination. .308 is good, but a lot of folks would tell you it's on the light side for hogs. Personally, at reasonable range (200 yards or less), I think it's more than enough... especially if you can shoot it well. I primarily shoot a 30-06, and like it a lot for its versatility and availability.

But there are so many great calibers out there now... well, it's hard to go wrong, as long as you don't end up trying to hunt with a varmint round. You'll want to use a good, controlled expansion bullet. Premium bullets like the Nosler Partition or the Barnes X are common favorites, but good old, Remington Core-lokt has been around a long time for a good reason. You should avoid the particularly frangible bullets, including (in my opinion) the ballistic tips.

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What is the accuracy I should expect with such a rifle out of the box?[/b]

Most quality rifles are going to come "out of the box" shooting much better than hunting really requires. This can lead to a hot debate, but for big game hunting, you really don't need to be shooting MOA. If you can, it's that much better. But a rifle that doesn't make "cloverleaf" patterns shouldn't necessarily be discarded.

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Any other alternatives to a Rem700 Ti?[/b]

That Remington 700 has a great reputation. There's a reason it's been widely used by police and military snipers (in various configurations).

Due to individual variances, some rifles will shoot better with different types and brands of ammo. You're well-advised to try a couple of different kinds in a new rifle, to see what it "prefers". But I'd be willing to bet you can find something that will make a new, out-of-box rifle shoot 1" to 1.5" groups. And that's more than fine for hunting.

Alternatives?

For lightweight, there are a bunch of good choices, though. The Short Magnum (WSM) revolution has provided some pretty awesome choices in short-action rifles, allowing you to carry some pretty serious firepower in a very lightweight rifle.

Winchester offers the Model 70 in some really nice, lightweight setups. Kimber has some beautifully made, lightweights as well. Then there's Sako. Browning is in the field. Fact is, it's really a Ford vs. Dodge decision. They're all really high quality rifles. You just have to find something that feels good in your hands, and go with it.

The rifle, though, is only as good as the marksman behind it. Once you pick something, get out there and shoot it. Practice, and practice some more. You owe it to yourself and to the game to make yourself as skilled and consistent as you can be.

Good hunting!

 

[elkron]

Mike,
If you want to learn how to hog hunt and you are a "Green"hunter I would go on a guided hog hunt. Tejon Ranch, has an excellent staff of guides and you will learn how to do it right. Going on a quality guided hunt can teach you in a weekend information that would take you a year to learn on your own.
Shot placement, field dressing and skinning, best hog guns and loads,where to find hogs, how to age hogs are just a few of the items you could learn about on your hunt. I think you would find the cost of a guided hunt to be money well spent.

Good hunting,

elkron

 

[Live2hunt]

Thinking about backpacking in for a two-three days, try the Coalinga Mineral Springs.

 

[Speckmisser]

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I think you would find the cost of a guided hunt to be money well spent.[/b]

Didn't even think about that in my first response, but it's dead on.

I had been hunting deer for most of my life when I moved to CA. Started trying to hunt hogs, but it wasn't until I'd had the chance to hunt with a guide that I really caught on. I read the books and learned a ton, but nothing can replace what an experienced guide can teach you right out in the field.