Hogs Wild Ranch

[Raully]

Spyder you can do both. The pigs move a lot. I made the mistake of moving to put a stalk on several pigs only to turn around see a bunch run right through were I was hiding. You will get lots of action and be prepared. I had pigs jumping out of every where. Best bet is to sit and wait. I know its hard to sit there and see the pigs below you or across the canyon, but just be patient and they will run to you. There are literaly hundreds and hundreds of pig trails so try and sit in an area where a few intersect and you have some shooting lanes. The brush can be thick but I shot a few arrows through some openings. I think the saddel they are talking about is more like a bowl. That is a good spot to sit. Just hide in a bush and try to be as scent free as possible. They are smart and heavly hunted. The minute they catch scent they are gone. And I mean gone. The hills are steep but negotiable. Many people make the mistake of chasing. Just be patient wait for them to come to you.
Arrow placement is key. These suckers are tuff. We put good shots on some of these boars and they still wouldnt go down.

Good luck and make sure to post some pics. As soon as I develope the pics on my disposable I'll post the boars we got up there in december. I'm off to shoot some coyotes some where near San Diego and scout for turkeys this weekend.

 

[spyder2]

I want to say thanks for ALL the info from everyone. I will put all this advice into action!! I will post pictures for certain when I return. Bigtusker: I had a coversation about your operation last night, sounds fun. I would like to make a visit to your place this year also.
Raully: Did you find the hogs you shot and did not go down?
Rwlittle: There are still spots left! March 20-22 Tue-Thurs.
Thanks Again!

 

[Lurediver]

When hunting a high fenced operation do you need pig tags in California?
How often does Hogs Wild kick pigs loose in the fenced in area?

 

[spyder2]

Lurediver, you do need a license and tags. As for the hogs I have heard they are self sustaining, and do have holes around/in/under the fence they move in and out of. I will ask when I get there to find out for sure.

 

[MikenSoCo]

My uneducated guess is they feed and breed

I've been hunting hogs on private prop for 25 plus years. If there's a spot where you can sit and wait(and not stalk hogs seen on an opposite hillside) and KNOW for sure hogs will come by that day, it's a canned hunt period. If that's what you like, more power to ya, it's a free country. Between the fence and the numbers of hogs, you can't tell me they're truly wild hogs. Now,

dtractors let me have it

 

[Bill in SD]

It is a very difficult hunt. Lots of poison oak as well and also rattle snakes. Lots of pigs to see, but virtually impossible to sneak up on them. Sitting and ambushing is the best method.

Also, even though your hunt starts at noon on Friday wait until the evening out there on the milkweed flats and the pigs will come out. If you charge around and bet the brush Friday afternoon it will make the evening hunt tougher as the pigs will come out later. Listen to the owner he will tell you how to hunt the place.

It's right in there in the San Andreas Fault zone, check out the geology and twisted rocks in there, very fun place.

Bill

 

[Raully]

In regards to the high fence topic. I have hunted other ranches with out the the fenced areas and seen just as many hogs and I feel its just as easy to kill one there. They can get out if they want to and they are self sustaining. Saw many deer and some coyotes so the game can get in and out. I wont lie, and due admit that the fencing does make it a bit easier beause you wont have to cover so many miles chasing them. Its still a challenge mainly cause of the terrain. To each his own right?

 

[dirtpoor]

Mikensoco, let me be the first, the key phrase in your post was "uneducated". Have you been to an operation like Big Horn ranch ? now thats a canned shoot, Hogs Wild is in no way from my experience a canned hunt, lots of guys don't even get a shot while many others have seen very few pigs . Like you I've hunted a long time but I don't see the difference of hunting over bait on private land or running them with dogs, the guides that I've talked to on other ranches tell me that many times they have to slow up the process or their client will kill a pig in 20 min or less( they have to justify the $$$$) wheres the sport in that ? Hogs wild appears to be not fenced on one side, maybe that area goes into the rest of his ranch . it's all about the money and damn few places are left where you can hunt for 3 days for $325 , it just seem's a shame to me that we constantly diminish others hunting places and styles, When you go out on public land and get pigs with a bow then I'll take my hat off to you , but as far as I'm concerned your "private "land hunt,s aren't anymore challenging than Hog's Wild, your turn .

 

[MikenSoCo]

re read my post, I didn't diminish his hunt and did say to each his own. I was simply pointing out what others have said. I don't do pissin' matches, just throw out my own 2 cents once in awhile. I'm "uneducated" in this particular ranch as I admitted. I'm very educated in shoe leather and the school of hard knocks, oh ya, peoplology too. Heck, a four year degree even fell in my pocket some where along, but it doesn't help much around here.... Happy hunting, fence or no fence

PS- I don't hunt over dogs or bait, but to each his own.....

 

[dirtpoor]

OK, I did go back and reread your post and I arrived at the same conclusion, you had nothing positive to say and cast doubt on the quality of the ranch hunt without ever being there... I don't hunt over bait either my point was there isn't any difference between this hunt and most private land hunts, they all weigh the scales toward the hunter. the young man asked for advice and experiences about this ranch not opinion's, end of pissing match !

 

[spyder2]

Fellows,
I am heading out hog hunting really for the first time at a private facility. I have cut my chops running around the Los Padres Nat Forest for nothing and thought Hogs Wild was charging a reasonable rate. From whom I have spoken to outside this post I think I have made a good decision. I appreciate ALL kinds of opinions and advice, and I will report back with a first hand experience on March 23rd!

 

[MikenSoCo]

Huge difference dirt, it's called a fence.... Spyder, if you get skunked give me call.... I take public land warriors to my place often, carte blanche..... Mike

 

[wtpops]

Here are some pics of hogs taken during a hunt in October.

 

[spyder2]

Nice!!! Just more fuel for the upcoming trip!! That bottom one looks perfect for the smoker!

 

[wtpops]

Ya she was a nice sow. It doesnt look it in the pic but she was about 125#

 

[Cal hunter]

Hogs look like wild ones to me

 

[Metdawg44]

Pretty nice offer Mike.

 

[spyder2]

I just returned from H.W.......Empty handed. There are definitely hogs there and opportunity to shoot! This is some of the thickest brush I have had to deal with, and to make it even more fun it is nearly straight up and down. Best bet here is to be there first and last light on a good convergence of trails. I tried the spot and ambush thing but they are so easily spooked it is hard to believe. We were the only ones back there on the last day, I would think it would be better if you could get the hogs to move around a bit more. I was told it is much easier when it is hot because they will head for water. It rained half the time I was there and was pretty cold so that was not an option. Epic Scenery from the peaks, and nice folks at the ranch. All in all a fun time away from work mid week!

 

[Raully]

Sorry to hear about the weather. It ruined my hunt when I was there too. That mudd is the worse. But I hope you at least had a good time. Chalk it up as a learning experience. I'm sure if you go again you will score.