Hunting Tejon

[dan97526]

Friends,

As a followup to my earlier post, I wanted to let you know that my Dad and I have decided to hunt the Tejon Ranch Pig Management Hunt (South), 27 Feb-01 Mar. I want to open up a dialogue about a few questions I have. The unfortunate thing is that being totally new to pig hunting and unfamiliar with Tejon Ranch, there are probably questions that need to be asked of which I am unaware. The ones I have I'll just bullet point, and please, if you think there is anything else I need to know, throw it out there.

Productive areas?

Obtaining maps?

Are horses allowed?

Open fires allowed? Stoves?

In late February, what weather conditions does one need be prepared for?

How early should one register for the hunts? Do they fill up? How many hunters usually show up for the pig hunts?

What type of terrain are we likely to encounter?

Any board members hunting Tejon that weekend?

I do have some additional technique and gear questions, but I will post them in a different thread. Thanks!

 

[Rancho Loco]

Productive areas? We'll get into that... First, do a search of the previous JHO Tejon trips..

Obtaining maps? You can buy one at the orientation, but it's pretty hinky beyond indicating the boundaries. Better yet is Terraserver and Mapquest believe it or not.

Are horses allowed? No.

Open fires allowed? Stoves? Most probably that time of year.

In late February, what weather conditions does one need be prepared for? Everything between and including driving rain and snow, 0 visability fog to searing heat. Maybe all in the same weekend. Seriously.

How early should one register for the hunts? Do they fill up? How many hunters usually show up for the pig hunts? Register now. They're capped at 50 hunters, but in February, you'll have less than that. Don't worry about numbers - you'll have 90,000 acres to disappear into.

What type of terrain are we likely to encounter? Rolling to sharp oak/scrub hills and valleys. Good road acess into productive areas, but you'll need to dismount and glass to realize the potential.

Any board members hunting Tejon that weekend? Most likely.

I do have some additional technique and gear questions, but I will post them in a different thread. Thanks!

 

[3springs]

When I hunted there a few years ago it was required to get my truck inspected and approved by the local fire department. No fires were allowed. You were also required to carry a shovel. Better have 4WD or chains for when there is heavy rain or snow. I carried a come-a-long but never needed it.

 

[socalkid]

4 wheel drive will be a must that time of year.
Be prepared for some steep terrain.
The ranch is a beautiful place and there are TONS of pigs on it.
Don't forget your non-lead ammo.

 

[Rancho Loco]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (3springs @ Nov 1 2008, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

When I hunted there a few years ago it was required to get my truck inspected and approved by the local fire department. No fires were allowed. You were also required to carry a shovel. Better have 4WD or chains for when there is heavy rain or snow. I carried a come-a-long but never needed it.[/b]

No inspection anymore, and if it's any kinda wet - fires will be allowed... A good bet for February/March.

 

[greyghost10]

Last year hunted there for my first time. Weather report on the internet said, Sunny but cool. Drove up in the morning and almost froze. very cold temps, the rain only stopped so it cold rain. Left soaking wet, freezing, after an hour or so. Vowed to always cary multi weather gear after that. Place is beautiful. Make sure your truck is 4 wheel drive with beefy tires. Those roads can get sooooooo muddy wshen they get wet. Most importantly - enjoy yourself.

 

[yupurs]

A repeat--- but--- don't forget the non-lead ammo.
The darn demo---- uh-- liberals took care of that.

 

[Cold1nhand]

And when you get your lead free ammo, clean the crap out of your barrel before attempting to resight for copper. I cannot stress that enough. If you don't, you could end up copper fouling your barrel... and that is no fun.

 

[Lurediver]

"Productive areas?"

Carbon Canyon, just follow the trail of broken arrows.

 

[Rancho Loco]

I'm surprised they haven't back-charged you to clean that mess up.

 

[dan97526]

Thanks, guys. I'm still looking over the boards to gather intel, but all this is helpful.

On to riflery. My choices are a 7mm-08 or a 35 Whelen. Opposite ends of the spectrum, I know, but it's a chance to hunt for the first time with these rifles. I'm leaning towards the 7mm-08 simply because of the sheer mass of the Whelen. Big honking bullet in a big honking rifle. The 7mm-08 is a slick little Model 70 Classic Compact, 20" barrel.

So assuming I take the 7mm-08 (a caliber with which I have no field experience), what bullet would you recommend? I have plenty of time to sort out a load. My bullet choices are the Barnes TSX in 130, 140, or 150-gr, or the tipped TSX in 120 or 140. Barnes is the only no-lead bullet I know of; are there others I should consider?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[Rancho Loco]

7-08 in a 120 TTSX will lay out any hog you come across. Same for the TSX in any of those weights. Shoot whatever runs best in your gun..

But if you want to really anchor a pig - break out that Whelen.

 

[dan97526]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rancho Loco @ Nov 12 2008, 08:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

But if you want to really anchor a pig - break out that Whelen.[/b]

I mulled it over a few days, popped off a few rounds....it's the Whelen, going away. Now to decide between the 200gr and 225gr TSX.

 

[Use_Enough_Gun]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dan97526 @ Nov 15 2008, 09:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rancho Loco @ Nov 12 2008, 08:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But if you want to really anchor a pig - break out that Whelen.[/b]

I mulled it over a few days, popped off a few rounds....it's the Whelen, going away. Now to decide between the 200gr and 225gr TSX.

[/b][/quote]

If "minute of hog" is accurate enough...go HEAVY for caliber. Worked for me for the last 30 + years...

 

[hunch]

I'm also considering this hunt with some friends (waiting on a call back to see if there is still room). I have a few questions that I'll tack onto this thread versus starting my own...

We have the choice of a 26' travel trailer or a pickup bed camper. With 3 of us, the trailer will be the most comfortable, but I don't want to find myself stuck in the mud. What is the condition of the camping area and the road in and out of the camp? Is there adequate room for a trailer this big? I also don't want to be obnoxious and take too much space.

From what I read, it seems the trick with Tejon is to drive to a particular spot and then get out of the truck and hike to the pigs. Is this correct, or is it just a hike from the camping area?

I guess I am just looking for some advice from the Tejon veterans in the group as far as required gear and realistic expectations as to how things will go. So far, my best source of information has been the countless stories by all of you. Definitely more interesting than a FAQ!

I already dropped the $50 for the Winchester E-Tip in 300WSM. Now with Los Angeles making it illegal to buy ammo online, I can only imagine the cost going forward...

 

[Speckmisser]

The roads to the camping area are fine. A lot of guys bring full-sized RVs and camping trailers into the place. Plenty of room.

Short answer to the next... you're right. Get up high if you can, then glass and walk. Stay high until you spot hogs. For more details, do some searching as there are about six years' worth of Tejon reports and discussions on here.

What's this about LA banning online ammo purchases? Can't imagine they'd be able to pull that off without some huge uproar (interstate commerce and all).

Edit to add...

Just did quick research. The internet sales ban is only on businesses in L.A., so you CAN still purchase online from other vendors such as Cabelas and MidwayUSA.

 

[One Track]

Take the trailer. Plenty of room for big trailers. There will be everything from tents to Class A Motorcoaches towing Jeeps. Roads are paved all the way to the camping area, at least on the south ranch. Not sure where they camp on the north side.

Gather as much rope as you can. If you kill a hog downhill, you will want to get as much rope out as possible and tow it out with the truck. I carry 1000+ feet of 1/4" nylon rope on a big spool. Cheap and does the job.

4x4
Water
Rope
Shovel
Tire chains
Binos
Knives
Tow strap
Friends
Bottle of Jack

 

[MJB]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (hunch @ Dec 22 2008, 02:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

We have the choice of a 26' travel trailer or a pickup bed camper. With 3 of us, the trailer will be the most comfortable, but I don't want to find myself stuck in the mud. What is the condition of the camping area and the road in and out of the camp? Is there adequate room for a trailer this big? I also don't want to be obnoxious and take too much space.

From what I read, it seems the trick with Tejon is to drive to a particular spot and then get out of the truck and hike to the pigs. Is this correct, or is it just a hike from the camping area?[/b]

The trailer will be fine, plenty of room and I would not be in a tent in Febuary if you paid me. Get there early spaces do fill fast and or you may have to park the trailer along ways away. Best bet call the Ranch the day before the hunt to see what the roads are like for the trailer.

As for the trick to the ranch? My first hunt I got lucky, I was hiking in an area that had fresh scat, I was eating a muffin and my scent woke a big old boar and I had a 25 yard shot to the back of the neck. That was beginners luck and has never happened to me or any of my hunting partners since, and I have hunted Tejon a lot. I would not recommend that to anyone unless you just want to pay money to go hiking and not hunting. It was a big waste of time and a lessoned learned by me and my hunting partner that weekend.

What I do recommend....Friday drop the trailer ASAP get the map they sell and drive the roads to the top and glass the ridges as soon as you can and get the lay of the land using their map, a good topo map that you must bring and a good GPS so you know where you are on the map. This is the most important part because you will see pigs but you must figure out how to get there and you will have to drive to get close to them before you can stalk them. If there is snow glass the snow line and just above, if the snow is deep they have a hard time moving and feeding. Then the last 2 hours of light hopefully you'll know how to get there.

Saturday am get on top of a good glassing spot that you can see for miles and multiple ridges you know how too get to, hopefully you will have found one from driving and hunting on Friday. If you don't see pigs with in a half hour or less get in the truck and drive the tops of the ridges, get out and glass often this way you cover a lot of land because the pigs do to. Don't stand next to the truck to glass walk out to the edge of the ridges with your gun and binos sometimes the pigs are just off the road or way off but hidden due to the terrain and the way the road bends. If you do spot hogs get on them fast they tend to move very fast. If you spot pigs but don't know how to get there remember that spot and during the mid day try to figure out how to get there, be fore warned, some places on the ranch will have pigs and you can see them but their is no way to get there even by foot unless you have all spring to do it. Also while you’re driving to the spot where you saw the pigs don't forget to have everyone but the driver look for pigs on the way over. Several times I have had pigs show up in areas we did not glass but popped up on the way to other pigs that are far away that we did glass up, this brings me to a general rule don't pass up any pig some people have passed on small pigs trying to get a 200lber only to go home empty handed. Now if someone in your group gets a pig be quick about getting back to the hunt. You can waste a lot of prime hunting time trying to load or even getting to the dead pig. When you don't see anymore pigs while glassing now head back to camp or pick up your dead pig and drop off the luck hunters in camp.
Now the fun part, for those that weren't lucky get into two vehicles and remember from the morning hunt where the pigs ducked into the cover and never came out the same area that looks like a great bedding area? Find a road that’s on the bottom of that ridge and drive both vehicles down. Park one, have everyone GPS it then drive to the top in the other vehicle with everyone in it or leave one person on the bottom because the pigs will run down the canyon right to him. I can't stress enough how important it is to be safe when shooting pigs in an area close to your buddy so be carful and use your head not your trigger finger. For this I love a 30-30 or similar caliber or handgun something that does not go far or just take shots that you know there is no chance your bullet will travel anywhere near another hunter (don't forget almost all copper bullets will pass through the animal) you can do this by fanning out on the ridge or have everyone on top walking down and no one in the bottom. Once back on top walk real slow and quietly down the ridge minding your wind stopping about 25 yards from the thick bedding area. Move parallel or into the bush you will soon start to see fresh sign stay there until you hear them or even smell them, then get a bearing where they are and be prepared anything can happen at this point and always does. Be patient if you move too fast or too soon they will bust out of there and you'll have blown your chance, one of your buddies may get a shot at a pig you spooked so be ready and alert. When you have an idea where they are inch closer to them but take your time they will move around and do other pig stuff. This will give you a shot if your patient and sometimes if the wind is bad don't worry they can't really tell where you are if your quiet. They just run to get safely away, sometimes right by you. Give a grunt or not, and they will stop to look back at what the heck was going on. Most of your shots are 10 feet to 30 yards shooting between the breaks in the bushes. Do this all the way down the hill until you hit the bottom. If one of you does get a shot off the rest better be ready, the pigs will run in any direction up, down or side hill you never know sometimes after a shot they run right at you so be prepared to use your boot to redirect the pig or jump in the bushes, or climb a tree. So far I've yet to have one charge me but I'm sure it’s just a matter of time. This is also not recommended for everyone; like kids, old people, or people that can't move very fast when the pigs are running right at you, but I can tell you this its' the most fun you will ever have in your life and one you won't forget!!! You can do this all day long until the evening hunt.
Now if you can't do that go back to learning the roads, ridges and the ranch and repeat the same process for the evening hunt as you did in the morning hunt with glassing.

Once you know the ranch a little you can take a nap and be one of those veterans that only hunt first and last light. That way you can drink some beer, cook some food and sleep in after you get your pig instead of hunting all day long.

Good luck and have some fun.

 

[hronk]

Excellent Post: This should be required reading for any "newbe" at the ranch....hronk

 

[MJB]

Here is a view of the south ridge on the southside of Tejon. It can give you an idea of the snow.

http://www.lonejuniper.com/